Is Your Product “Dupe” Doing You Dirty? Plus, Budget Tips!
Dupes are cheaper versions of higher-end products. Some are intentionally meant to resemble or knock off a specific product, and others are organically discovered and found to be a suitable alternative at a lower cost.
Dupes began in the makeup world with cosmetic fans searching for more affordable eye shadow colors that resembled those of popular trend-setting brands. But now that there are endless beauty and skincare products, many dupes have become TikTok legends. Here, we help you understand why they may not even be worth their small ticket price.
But to be fair, because we know you're well-meaning with your dupe search, we will give you three budget hacks to better afford the good stuff! Remember, the least expensive product is the one that works.
Formulation Matters
You may think you are getting the same thing as a more expensive product if the ingredient deck of two products looks similar. But without a lab to test the effectiveness of your product, you are probably the one getting duped!
The most crucial ingredient of a product is not an ingredient at all but the recipe – this is what we call "formulation" in the skincare world. In baking, you can't just plop a bunch of ingredients in a recipe and expect it to work. The same goes for skincare products; it's all about the formulation so that the quality ingredients in the product can get to where they need to go within your skin.
The most over-duped and overhyped product line is probably The Ordinary. Their concept is that the products are cheap because there is not much in them, making them more "pure." The trouble is that without delivery ingredients to drive the star ingredient of a serum into your skin, you will not penetrate the deeper layers of the skin. You may put their retinol or hyaluronic serum on, but it won't get far because there isn't technology in their formula.
For the most part, outside of designer skincare, where you pay for the brand, there is a correlation between how much a product costs to make and what the company sells it for. Of course, marketing is a significant factor, which is why small lines are usually better, but that is a blog for a different day. The point is, if a product is exceptionally cheap to buy, it is even cheaper to make – which probably means low-quality raw materials and no delivery system in the formulation.
That said, if you love a deal – here are the ways to save without compromising your skin. Remember, the least expensive product is the one that works.
Face Reality
Face Reality is on a mission to eradicate acne, and they are doing a great job! Their products are clean (yes, we hate that word) and exfoliate and brighten the skin. If you are acne-prone, their products like Sulfur Spot Treatment and Sal-C Toner will make a massive impact at a low cost. Even if you are not acne-prone, you can still love their staples like Ultra Gentle Cleanser, Mandelic Face and Body Wash, Daily SPF Lotion, Calming Facial Toner, and Moisture Balance Toner.
Lavender Mask and Aquaphor
We love Le Mieux products for many reasons and have stocked them since the beginning of Skin MPLS. Lavender Floral Mask is a fantastic choice for quality hydration at an affordable cost. Serums usually come with higher price tags, so we recommend using this leave-on mask on top of your actives or when your skin is dry to revive your skin without having to use a spendy serum.
If you're really dry or compromised, skip your active serums altogether for a night or more and layer Aquaphor (or Vaseline or another petroleum-based jelly) right over your Lavender Mask and moisturizer for serious moisture balance.
Use your products deliberately and cautiously or less often
If you want to save money, don't buy a worse product; just use less of a better product. You can either concentrate on where you're applying that product or use it every other day – or just once a day. It all depends on the product.
Here's another thing people don't often realize. Cheaper products can just mean smaller packaging or more watered-down formulations so you will use more. One of our products' most common praises is that they last for months. We can help you explore ways to save that won't compromise your skin results!
Find a routine that works in the morning and night
You can limit your initial investment in skincare products if you find a cleanser, moisturizer, and serum that you can use in both the AM and PM. Then, if you like to keep it simple – all you need is an SPF product. That’s just four total products which you should be able to keep to a budget-friendly price.
Lean on makeup dupes, not skincare "dupes"
Makeup is instant gratification; if it looks good and lasts all day, it works. You can verify a dupe instantly with makeup colors, but skincare takes weeks to work, and several other variables are at play. Way too often, people come in using expensive makeup and drugstore skincare. Flip it. When your skin looks better, your makeup looks better – and you use less foundation, concealer, and highlighter.
To wrap up, we want you to know that many cosmetic brands you see in the stores are owned by a few beauty and pharmaceutical powerhouses, so there may be truth to lower makeup lines being similar to high-end lines. There may also be some good dupes out there, but we see skincare as skin health and aren’t willing to take that risk. We look for professional brands that offer something unique and come with passion and integrity for their ingredients and product development. They aren’t dupes; they’re the real deal.