When you work in the internet game for a long enough time, you start to pick up on things. People like lists, people like Carpool Karaoke, and people really, really like talking about dupes. Don't believe it? Check this thread. At publication time, we're pushing 400 comments. Scroll through them—there's a lot to learn. Or, if you don't have the time, below is a quick skim of the best of the best.
Makeup
"L'Oréal Lash Paradise for Too Faced Better Than Sex! Every time I buy something on Amazon I just throw in a tube or two because I'm terrified they'll discontinue it!!" —Elizabeth
"Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Soft Raspberry is an excellent dupe for my favorite Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien. And it's super moisturizing, too." —CeeEm
"My new discovery is the NYX Micro Brow Pencil is just as reliable as the Anastasia one! Been using it for 2 weeks and am surprisingly shocked at how much better my brows look." —Caroline Dweck
"Essence Make Me Brow and Benefit Gimme Brow." —tuberoseandvetiver
"Nars Orgasm --> Milani Luminoso" —Joelle Hyman
"I feel like a broken record because I talk about how much I love this pen so much, but Physician Formula's Eye Booster Eyeliner Pen (the silver one) is a great dupe for Kat Von D's eyeliner pen." —Kelly
"Maybelline's Touch of Spice is texturally and visually an amazing dupe for Charlotte Tilbury's Bond Girl. $30 difference. Learn from this one, ladies." —Bethany Wood
"The Wet n Wild Bronzer in Reserve Your Cabana is EXTREMELY close to the Hourglass Powder in Dim Light. it doesn't have the same staying power when used as a setting powder but for being only 3 bucks (I think) I don't even care. Also it has a tiny bit more shimmer but just barely. It is so pretty!" —Emily Ziller
"The E.L.F. Gotta Glow Lip Tint for Dior Lipglow! I actually prefer it, it's way more moisturizing." —Lindsey Hook
Hair
"The Sonia Kashuk hairbrush from Target is as good or better than the Mason Pearson brush!" —Zauberwald
"Kristin Ess Beach Wave Spray for the Oribe Aprés Beach spray. Very similar effect for less than half the price! Doesn't have that classic Oribe scent, but I think it smells good." —Casey C
Scent
"Maison Louis Marie Bois de Balincourt is an almost exact dupe for Le Labo Santal 33 tbh." —Dareen
"Paddywax Fig & Olive candle is a dupe for Diptyque Figuier!" —Or Gotham
"The only dupe I've discovered lately is MAC Shadescents in Velvet Teddy smells sooo similar to Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille." —ModernGrace
"Well the cheaper version of Bal d'Afrique would be Zara's Tonka Wood sold in Zara Home." —ayse
Skincare
"I LOVE Drunk Elephant's C-Firma Day Serum, but the $80 price tag makes my heart, and wallet, hurt. After my last bottle ran out I purchased The Ordinary's Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%. Love this even more than DE!! I've seen much better results and it doesn't have the infamous DE smell. The formula is a bit gritty, but I quickly got used to it. 10/10 would recommend for anyone looking for a DE dupe!" —mariahg
"K-beauty brand Missha is my (wallet) savior! A dupe for SK-II essence is Missha’s Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence." —chc
"Skinceuticals CE Ferulic is amazing, but so is NuFountain C20 + Ferulic, which is mixed when ordered, has a nearly identical inci list to Skinceuticals, and costs $27." —Caddiewoodlawn
"Not sure how many of you are Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream fans, but the Nivea Crème (in the blue tin!) is the same in terms of the base product. La Mer adds their antioxidants and extracts etc, but an argument can be made that the potency of the antioxidants diminishes each time you open the jar! Only caveat, make sure the Nivea Crème tin is the one that is made in Germany. That's the better formula!" —RJS
"Twenty Four Seven Honey Lip Treatment Oil vs. Hourglass Lip Oil... even though both are bomb, you can find 24/7 at Target in the K-Beauty section and it smells like honey!" —Skya Eiland
"Boiron's Calendula Ointment is a good dupe for Homeoplasmine (if not nearly the same exact product.) Boiron is the maker of both, but Homeplasmine seems harder to come by in the US, whereas the calendula ointment can be found at lots of pharmacies (Walgreens) and whole foods/natural grocers. And it's usually under $10!" —Vi Huynh
Photographed by Tom Newton.
More drugstore picks right this way.
