Expensive products that aren't worth it and alternatives

[susiefen]

Inspired by the previous "beauty products you hate" thread, I thought it might be starting one for products that you've spent a lot on but been disappointed. I'll start with the Estee Lauder serum everyone raves about but I don't find it's done anything for me and also Creme de la Mer - absolutely lovely and smells utterly divine, but I'm not sure it's done more for my skin over the last 6 months than Olay ever did...

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Hello, this thread is a little old and the links are out of date. Take a look at this handy page for a round-up of Mumsnetters' favourite beauty dupes.

Touche Éclat, as I said on that thread, the Collection 2000 version is £3 and doesn't smell after a few days and is identical.

Apparently Atrixo hand cream (!!!) is the same as Crème de la Mer (apart from smell)

I have just sent my Mum (because I'm abroad) to Aldi to get me some Sea Minerals stuff because apparently it's the same as Elemis Marine Cream.

One of the Bourjois foundations is apparently like a Chanel one. (can't remember which!)

There's a cheap Byblos perfume called Cielo (which costs about £10 on ebay for a huge bottle) which is identical to Angel. (Thierry Mugler)

Off to buy Atrixo today - got to be worth a try!

I'm sure I've read somewhere that Chanel own Bourjois so that'll be right, Grapes!

Oh god, there are so many!

YSL Touche Eclat Highlighter (insipid pink crap) - use Collection 2000 conc instead

EL Doublewear Light (orange crap) - use Collection 2000 long wear fndtn or Revlon Colourstay instead

Sisley Oil Free Foundation (£60 of orange crap) - use Bobbi Brown Long Wear instead

Sisley Flower Mask (£70 a tube, feted by Lisa Eldridge DID NOTHING) - try Eucerin Face Moisturiser instead

EL Advanced Night Repair (did nothing) - try Melvita Extraordinary Water instead

EL DW Powder Foundation (orange powdery crap), Lancome Powder Foundation (white powdery crap) and Stila Powder Foundation (beige powdery crap) all a waste of money - try Body Shop One Step powder foundation instead, a much better product

Any Smashbox primer - (none did a thing on me) - try Bioderma Pore Refiner instead (brilliant product)

Bobbi Brown Tinted Oil Free Moisturiser (slimy orange crap) - try Skin79 BB cream instead

Any pricy eyeshadow pallettes - try MUA pallettes at £4 a pop, fantastic

Armani Matte Lipstick (no, I do not want lips that are shiny around the edge and matte in the middle thanks) - use instead Rimmel Matte lipsticks

Urban Decay Pore minimising products (useless) - Bioderma Pore Refiner or Boots Matte Makeup Base

La Prarie Anti-Aging Foundation (worst foundation I've EVER used, £60) - MUA Matte Foundation at £2 is a massively superior product but without SPF

Very sobering when I think how much money I've spent on upmarket products that have turned out to be poor-performing compared to cheaper alternatives that provide a superior result. The french pharmacy brands (Eucerin, Bioderma, La Roche Posay) are such good value for money and seem to perform better than the big high st names, dominated by EL and Lancome houses. Hmmm.

Need to try some of the bioderma stuff. I've also used lanacane gel as a primer when very skint, better than smashbox i think

Lol claudie - i love the number of 'craps' in one post!!

Have to agree about Touche Éclat - triple crap. I like Soap & Glorys kick ass concealer instead but might try the Collection 2000 one

Claudia, that is so helpful! Can you possibly tell us your best buys too? Sorry for hijack !

Yes please tell us what you rate! I remember Bonsoir telling us about Avene (IIRC) and how fab that is. I'm just a sucker for airbrushed adverts!

Eight Hour Cream - try Vaseline
Bio Oil - try ordinary baby oil

(The latter is essentially the same product as the former, only lacking the mystery/snake oil ingredient and fragrance).

Most of the expensive nail polishes - try Avon

Watching with interest- what is a good cheap alternative to EL double wear? I've used it for years as it is the only thing with good coverage that goes the distance.

Any "hot cloth" cleanser - use olive oil and wash in the same way, does the job better

peachypips I used to use double wear and my skin was getting worse and worse, switched to Lily Lolo mineral make-up and it covers well and my skin has improved so much I need to use a lot less!

Chanel does own Bourjois.

Yes but owning a company does not mean the products are the same. E Lauder owns Clinique, Bobbi Brown and I think Origins. In fact most of the high end brands are owned by 1 or 2 companies, such as EL and L'oreal.

No, products are not the same but the different brands often share the same research labs - think Genifique and Youth Code. reps Lancome/L'Oreal.

Bourjouis foundations and blush are very similar to the Chanel equivalents.

The budget dupe for EL Double Wear is Revlon Colorstay. Decent pale shades too!

Bourjois is actually the mother of Chanel cosmetics. They date back to 19th century, specializing in theatrical makeup that no decent woman would wear. When Chanel started doing perfumes and cosmetics, she outsourced production to known experts. Wertheimers, the owners of Bourjois, manufactured the perfumes.

Eyelash curlers. What's with the £20ers? The £5ers are exactly the same. Just warm them under the hairdryer first and bob's yer uncle.

Likewise with tweezers.

Clinque DDM = shit .Superdrug own brand Naturally Radiant day cream for normal/dry skin is really really good. My skin has never been softer than since I started using the superdrug own brand, no breakouts either. I have awful dry skin on my face and the DDM was nowhere near rich enough. The Naturally radiant stuff does smell a little like Brylcrem but I wouldn't trade it now, not after the massive improvement in my skin.

Claudia I'm another fan of Skin79 BB. Can also recommend the Missha anti-wrinkle one.

I use Lancôme eau fraiche douceur as a cleanser. Just ran out. Quite sensitive skin. Any suggested cheaper replacement?

Thanks Frugal for that info

Aldi do a concealer thats the same/better than touche eclait and its about £4

I tried Sudocreme as a primer after reading it on here and it was good just need to remember to only use a very small amount.

Aquaeous cream is also good as a cleanser

Dior capture totale - wtf was I thinking? :( bought it when I was broke a few years ago - must've thought it would solve all my problems. Looked in a shop today 145 euros !

It's all bloody snake oil and I like the lidl moisturiser. No pot of magic on god's green earth is going to make me any less than the 39 years I am!

I did love the smell of Dior Capture though..... I bought it in 1994 when it was "only" about £40!

Capture totale, awful stuff. Soooo expensive, got it duty free and it gave me cystic spots on my jawline. This is a great thread! Especially recs for cheaper and better products, really useful. And Touche Éclat - too pink to blend with anything and stinky in a few weeks...