🔗 Share this article

Rachael Parnell

When a consumer heard a discounter was selling a recent beauty line that seemed similar to products from high-end label Augustinus Bader, she was "extremely excited".

Rachael dashed to her local shop to purchase the supermarket face cream for under £9 for 50ml - a small portion of the £240 cost of the luxury brand 50ml cream.

The smooth blue tube and gold top of each products look noticeably alike. While she has never tried the premium cream, she claims she's satisfied by the product so far.

Rachael has been buying beauty alternatives from popular shops and grocery stores for years, and she's part of a trend.

More than a quarter of UK shoppers state they've bought a skincare or makeup lookalike. This rises to 44 percent among millennials and Gen Z, as per a recently published study.

Dupes are beauty items that imitate well-known brands and provide budget-friendly alternatives to luxury products. These products often have alike names and packaging, but sometimes the ingredients can vary considerably.

Victoria Woollaston

'Costly Is Not Necessarily Superior'

Beauty professionals say certain dupes to high-end labels are decent standard and aid make beauty routines cheaper.

"It is not true that costlier is always superior," comments dermatology expert a doctor. "Not all budget product line is poor - and not every high-end skincare product is the best."

"Certain [dupes] are really impressive," notes Scott McGlynn, who hosts a podcast featuring famous people.

Numerous of the items inspired by luxury brands "disappear so quickly, it's just unbelievable," he remarks.

Scott McGlynn

Medical expert another professional argues dupes are acceptable to use for "fundamental products" like hydrators and cleansers.

"Dupes will serve a purpose," he comments. "These items will handle the basics to a acceptable standard."

Another skin doctor, suggests you can save money when searching for single-ingredient items like HA, niacinamide and a moisturizing ingredient.

"If you're purchasing a single-ingredient product then you're likely going to be okay in using a dupe or a product which is fairly affordable because there's not much that can be problematic," she explains.

'Do Not Be Swayed by the Packaging'

Yet the specialists also recommend shoppers check details and note that costlier items are sometimes worthy of the premium price.

Regarding luxury beauty products, you're not only paying for the brand and advertising - often the elevated cost also comes from the components and their standard, the potency of the effective element, the science used to develop the item, and studies into the item's efficacy, she says.

Beauty expert another professional suggests it's important questioning how certain alternatives can be offered so at a low cost.

Sometimes, she believes they may include less effective components that lack as many positive effects for the complexion, or the components might not be as well sourced.

"The major doubt is 'How is it so low-priced?'" she remarks.

Commentator McGlynn notes on occasion he's bought skincare items that appear similar to a established label but the item has "little similarity to the original".

"Don't be sold by the outer appearance," he added.

SimpleImages/Getty Images

Regarding advanced items or those with components that can irritate the complexion if they're not created correctly, such as retinols or vitamin C, Dr Bhate recommends sticking to research-backed brands.

The expert states these will likely have been subjected to comprehensive trials to assess how successful they are.

Skincare items are required to be tested before they can be marketed in the UK, says expert Emma Wedgeworth.

If the company states about the performance of the item, it needs evidence to verify it, "however the brand doesn't necessarily have to conduct the trials" and can instead reference testing conducted by different brands, she says.

Check the Label of the Bottle

Are there any components that could signal a item is low-quality?

Ingredients on the label of the container are listed by quantity. "Ingredients to avoid that you should look out for… is your petroleum-derived oil, your sodium lauryl sulfate, parfum, benzel peroxide" being {high up