High-end makeup dupes: Shop these drugstore products to get luxury makeup for less
By Gabby Angelo
September 19th, 2024
Image credit: Photo by Jake Peterson on Unsplash
A trip to Sephora or Ulta can easily turn into a pricey haul, with only a handful of products costing hundreds of dollars. Luckily, with the rise in high-end makeup comes an influx of drugstore duplicates that are just as good. Check out a few of the best drugstore makeup dupes that will save customers from the unwanted price tags of luxury makeup.
e.l.f Halo Glow
Known for its luminous, sheer cast on the face while also providing good coverage, the Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter is a beauty favorite – with a price tag of $49. However, e.l.f Cosmetics has created an almost exact duplicate of this product for a fraction of the price.
The e.l.f Halo Glow comes in 12 different shades and applies seamlessly, allowing users to build a base color to their liking. It's versatile enough that it can be worn with or without makeup on top and even can be used to contour or highlight—perfect for light coverage over moisturizer, or the base of a full face of makeup.
The Halo Glow can be found on a quick trip to most local drugstores or Target, and retails for $14.
“The Halo Glow creates the perfect full coverage look without actually being full coverage,” freshman Lillie Spiegelman said. “It's long lasting, and perfect for any night out.”
With nearly the same results as the Flawless Filter for significantly less, the next time you run errands be sure the Halo Glow ends up in your cart.
L’Oreal Lumi Glotion
As summer tans begin to fade, it's only natural to want to keep that bronzy glow. Drunk Elephant currently sells their D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops, which can be mixed with moisturizer or other skin care serums to add a bronze cast to the face, for $38.
L’Oreal, however, has their own product: the Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer drops. This is a slightly larger container of a shiny bronzing serum that, just like Drunk Elephant, can be mixed with skincare to create the same tanning effect. The Lumi Glotion sells for about $17 at most local drugstores, and is the perfect way to elevate any makeup look.
“When I’m feeling pale I know I can count on these drops to make me feel sunkissed,” freshman Talia Macchi said. “I think they do the same job as the Drunk Elephant ones for a cheaper price.”
Lumi Glotion gives you that glow without the blotching or pilling, proving customers don't need to spend big to look radiant.
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
The search for the perfect concealer is never ending. Everyone wants a dependable concealer that won't crease, will effectively cover unwanted blemishes and blends well with other makeup.
The NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer checks all of the boxes, but costs $32.
Maybelline’s Fit Me Concealer delivers the same creamy, blendable formula for a fraction of the price. The product comes in 18 different shades, ranging from cool tones to warm tones and creates the perfect makeup harmony with any foundation.
NYX Fat Oil Lip Drip
The staple to every good lip combination is a shiny lip oil to top it all off. It's often hard to find one that is a happy medium of glossy but not too thick. For $40, the Dior Lip Glow Oil is a popular option. But, sold at most drugstores and Target, NYX released their Fat Oil Lip Drip, an almost exact dupe to the Dior Lip Glow Oil for only $9.
The NYX product comes in seven tinted shades and one completely clear gloss. The applicator, gloss and scent are all similar to the Dior one, and the NYX Fat Lip Oil Drip is actually less sticky than Dior’s, which has been a common criticism across many social media platforms.
In the product description, NYX claims the Fat Lip Oil provides hydration for up to 12 hours, and prides themselves on using clean, safe ingredients to give users the best results possible.
Catrice Sun Melted Cream Bronzer
Cream bronzers are a favorite to add to any makeup look. The Chanel Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream retailing for $60 is super popular for its soft, smoothing effect and creamy, blendable formula. But, for just $7 and a quick trip to your local drugstore, you could get the same effect.
Catrice Cosmetics has released their Sun Melted Cream Bronzer, a soft bronzing product that melts right into the skin. It’s available in two different shades that are buildable and long lasting. Just like the Chanel bronzer, the Sun Melted Cream Bronzer gives the illusion of the perfect tan.
These products are just a few of the many high-quality drugstore dupes that you can add to your next makeup routine—a great way to save money while still having an expensive looking makeup routine.