Share your best "dupe"

[Nicpem1982]

I've recently replaced all of my make up and have made the switch from high end to cheaper brands I used to buy lancome, Clinique, ysl, dior, mac, benefit and urban decay however when everything needed replacing I didn't feel I could justify 400 pounds plus so now switched to a couple of cheaper brands

The best switches I've made are

Elf primer instead of soft box saving 20.00

Make up revolution eyeshadow pallet instead of urban decay naked pallet saving 33.00

I literally can not tell the difference between high end and cheap and cheerful so what are your best dupes/switches?

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Hello, this thread is a little old and the links are out of date.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.

I was always a lover of Double Wear Foundation, but switched to Body Shop Foundation. Much cheaper.

I dont agree that cheaper is always better or even similar, but you can save tons of money by at least trying out a cheaper brand. After chatting to a friend who's lippy always lasted all day with minimal touch up I asked what she wore and she said Maybelline 24hr. Its pretty good and stays put!

The Superdrug version of the Liz Earle makeup remover washcloth cream cleanser thingy is pretty good. It even comes with a muslin!

The I heart Makeup chocolate palletes.

There dupes for ABH MR, Huda Beauty Rose Gold.. I love them.

Pass I have the salted caramel one I love it

I was coming on to say the Make Up Revolution palettes. They're amazing.

There's a Kate Moss for Rommel lipstick which is a wicked dupe for Ruby Woo; think it's called Kiss of Life?

I have recently discovered Essie Gel Couture nail polish which is INCREDIBLE. If you use it with their Gel Setter top coat, you can't actually distinguish between that and salon gel nails.

I would ask how old you are OP? Hope that doesn't sound rude, let me explain!
As I've aged, my skin ( especially my eyelids) has changed- when I was younger my skin was smoother, less randomly pigmented and less crepey in parts. I could throw any old make up on it and I looked great.
Now, cheaper make up works less for me than it did - drugstore foundation can look chalky and grey and I need finely milled, heavily pigmented non shiny eyeshadow otherwise it sits in the folds and creases of my hooded eyes. I cannot get on with the MUA palettes at all.

That said, I find any concealer works just as well as high end ones ( but then I don't have mega shadows that need erasing) - I have the Collection one from Superdrug that is about £3.

Rimmel eyebrow pencil is pretty good and again about £3

The Bourjois serum foundation is the best ' cheap' one I've found, but I use twice as much of it as my Nars Sheer Glow, so not convinced it's a saving as such.

Agreed that lipsticks can be found anywhere cheap as chips, although the cheaper brands do have a fondness for quite in your face colours which I find more tricky to wear.

Perfume parlour does amazing dupes, including higher end stuff like tom ford and serge lutens.

During the week I use Barry M matte efffect foundation , it smells lovely and was on 3 for 2 in Superdrug so got a few polishes too.

It’s just as nice as my Dior Foundation and means I can keep my good stuff for going out.

Amazingly I have found the Poundland Make Up Gallery range Eyebrow Pencil very good too.

I get the dark brown and it’s just as good as Rimmel and saves another few pounds.

Mentioned a few times on here before , MUA lippy shade FAWN is v similar to MAC velvet teddy

Also they do a MUA Matte lippy range and the scarlet siren shade is a good dupe for MAC ruby woo

Personally I don’t like the Make Up Revolution eye shadow palletes at all, I think the pigment and powder that drops off is terrible .

I use Urban Decay Eye palettes and even though expensive , use them daily so cost per wear it works out well

I also recommend the Morphe eye palettes , I bought one after seeing it being raves about on Mrs Gloss page on FB and they are excellent , highly pigmented and no fall out and about half the price of UD.

Loads a blusher

If the Barry M foundation is as good as the Dior one, why do you save that for 'best' as it were?
Not being snarky, genuinely interested. Is it that one feels more 'luxe' than the other?

Although the Barry M is really good it’s not quite as thick so prefer to keep the Dior for nights out or important days just so that it looks a bit more “ done “

I suppose there’s the rush factor too , if I’m rushing about doing my face in the morning before school drop just seems less indulgent to be slapping on Barry M

Weird how we keep things for best 🤷🏻‍♀️
I’m a bit like this with perfume too
I use Factory Shop £3.99 dupes during week then keep all my proper stuff for actual events or days / nights out

Yep, I kept a lovely Estée Lauder lipstick 'for best' - went to use it the other day and it had gone off!

I simply gave up daily make up and saved myself £100's.

I wear red lippy daily and buy whatever one I like. If you are only having 1 or 2 price no longer becomes an issue.

I do wear more make up very occasionally, but I look back at years of putting foundation/blush/eye shadow etc, on every morning which I used to love doing, and I really don't recognise myself.

As my self esteem and self confidence has risen, my use of make up has diminished.

Am I the only one sniggering at ‘Kate Moss for Rommel’ lipsticks?

What’s the shade called? Desert Fox?

LadyOfTheCanyon, I have noticed the same as you and keep meaning to shop for some more flattering eyeshadow, what have you found works for you?

I have sensitive skin and lots of things break me out so I don’t wear foundation or heavily perfumes creams. I’ve tried all the high end stuff. I switched from Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser (£35) to Nivea Day Tinted Moisturising Day Cream (£3). Don’t get me wrong, I still love the Laura Mercier, it’s the best but on a budget Nivea is the next best thing for me.

Also swapped Dermalogica / Origins/ Liz Earle moisturisers (££) for Olay 7 in 1 Total Effects (£7), it’s very good.

Lady - closer to 40 than 30

*@Moppet5
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The ones I'm using currently are a Zoeva palette (£18 for ten eyeshadows, but I use them all which is unusual so works out to under £2 per colour) as the colours are almost creamy even though they are powders. They stay on me all day without a primer.

The other one that I use which is brilliant ( and budget) is the Nip and Fab palette of 12 colours. It was £12.50 and full of really good neutrals.

They colour payoff isn't quite as good as Zoeva but with a primer it's excellent.

I also found with application I had to change the way I put eyeshadow on to allow for hooded sockets. Getting older is fun!

Just looked online and the Nip and fab palette is half price at £6.48!

Thank you Lady. Hooded eyes here too!

I stopped buying Lancome Hypnose Mascara at £25. I LOVE Collection’s lookalike product at £3.99. I truly think it’s an excellent alternative. I just don’t want to spend that much 😊

Primark "eyeconic" (silver tube) mascara for 2 quid is one of the best I have tried. Better than a lot of the high end ones IMO. I was gobsmacked when I first tried it. On my third tube now.

Me too, Nettle!

Just bought Boots natural collection mascara Waterguard in brown black for £2.49. I have always liked it but haven't bought for a while. I love what s does to my outer lashes and the end is great for "going vertical" as the Benefit Gal says on QVC! I also bought the foundation which felt lovely going on and their grey mono powder shadow and navy eye kohl oh and two lipsticks. Did not break the bank! Did not really need these as I have plenty of make up but I got a call whilst out and bear faced, to come into work this pm so rather than frightening the porters, I quickly dashed in and got some war paint!

Deathray I love natural collection lipsticks! Never got on with their foundation though. It doesn't settle on my skin, just smears around May well have to try the mascara now. Been looking for a nice brown one.

Freedom dipbrow is just as good as the ABH and it's on offer £2.50. I have really oily skin and it does not budge.

Also the new make up revolution concealer is amazing . Brilliant dupe for tarte and Nars.

I have yet to find a dupe for Estée Lauder double wear .