I’m incredibly lucky that I get sent some of the most premium beauty products on the market to try out as part of my job. From £205 moisturisers to £109 facial steamers, I’ve had the chance to test some of the most luxurious formulations and beauty tools in the UK to find out what’s worth the hype. But does expensive always equal best? In a word, no. Despite having access to extravagant products and high-end beauty brands, I’ve found that there are tons of affordable options that rival their more expensive counterparts. In fact, there are plenty even the most experienced beauty editors would struggle to differentiate between once applied to the skin.
So whether you’re trying to stick to a budget or you just don’t want to spend excessively on a pricier counterpart when you don’t have to, here are the 22 best high-street beauty dupes to buy now that rival their expensive counterparts.
1. If You Love… Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
Charlotte Tilbury
Hollywood Flawless Filter
Try… E.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter
e.l.f.
Halo Glow Liquid Filter
This launch from E.l.f. went viral on TikTok, and we can see why. You can use it in the same ways as Charlotte Tilbury’s iconic base, but I would say it has slightly more coverage and the glow is a little less finely milled, so it tends to work better as a light foundation.
2. If You Love… SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum
Skinceuticals
C E Ferulic Serum
Try… Beauty Pie Superdose C- Suite Rapid Action Power Brightener
Beauty Pie
Superdose C- Suite Rapid Action Power Brightener
Price shown is member price.SkinCeutical’s iconic C E Ferulic serum is one of the brand’s most-loved products. But, with a big price tag, it’s not in reach of most people’s budget. If you want the results at just a snip of the price, then Beauty Pie’s formula looks very similar and reviewers say that it’s just as good as some of the more expensive vitamin C serums out there.
3. If You Love… Dr Barbara Strum Super Anti-Aging Eye Cream
Dr Barbara Strum
Super Anti-Aging Eye Cream
Try… Temple Spa Windows of the Soul Hydrating Eye Treatment
Temple Spa
Windows of the Soul
We adore Dr Barbara Sturm’s efficacious formulas, but they cost a pretty penny. Temple Spa’s results-driven eye cream delivers visible results on dark circles, puffiness and fine lines—it has a loyal following and several 5-star reviews.
4. If You Love… Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector
Olaplex
No. 3 Hair Perfector
Try… Revolution Haircare Plex 3 Bond Restore Treatment
Revolution Haircare
Plex 3 Bond Restore Treatment
Here at Who What Wear, we don’t necessarily support brands “ripping off” other successful products. And honestly, we think the branding on this Revolution Plex Bond Restore Treatment 3 is a little on the nose, don’t you agree? If you have bleached or damaged hair, there’s a high chance Olaplex’s No.3 Hair Perfector is already on your radar. As a pre-shampooing treatment, it works to restore broken bonds in the hair, leaving it healthier and stronger. It’s expensive, but it works. If you want to see what all of the fuss is about, this affordable dupe from Revolution does a pretty good job at mimicking the results. Is it equally as good? Not quite, but it’s the closest competitor I’ve ever tried.
5. If You Love… Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
Giorgio Armani
Luminous Silk Foundation
Try… L’Oréal Paris True Match Liquid Foundation
L’Oréal Paris
True Match Liquid Foundation
This foundation dupe has been a long-held beauty-insider secret. Both products come in around 30 shades and deliver velvety coverage to skin with a subtle radiance. With celebrities like Meghan Markle reportedly obsessed with the Giorgio Armani foundation, it certainly holds its own beauty gravitas. But for me, you just can’t argue with the price point and results of the L’Oréal foundation.
6. If You Love… The Beautyblender Original
Try… Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
Real Techniques
Miracle Complexion Sponge
To me, there is no better makeup sponge than the Beautyblender, particularly when it comes to creating a dewy base with your everyday foundation. However, I know that dropping almost £20 on a small sponge can seem excessive. If I were forced to pick a backup, then you can’t go wrong with the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. In fact, I know plenty of people who prefer this to the Beautyblender. I must admit that the flat edge is handy for slapping on foundation quickly when you’re in a rush.
7. If You Love… Dior Huille Apricot Nail Treatment
Dior
Huille Apricot Nail Treatment
Try… Templespa From Strength To Strength Nail & Cuticle Treatment Serum
Templespa
From Strength To Strength Nail & Cuticle Treatment Serum
Every nail tech I speaks to swears by Dior’s Huille Apricot nail treatment. However, if you want something similar that won’t break the bank then you’ll love Templespa’s From Strength To Strength formula, which helps nails grow long and strong, while hydrating dry cuticles and healing flaking nails.
8. If You Love… Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Highlighter
Yves Saint Laurent
Touche Éclat Highlighter
Try… Revolution Pro Brightening and Tightening Under Eye Concealer Wand
Revolution Pro
Brightening and Tightening Under Eye Concealer Wand
YSL’s iconic Touche Éclat is described by the brand as ”eight hours of beauty sleep in a click.” For years, I wasn’t entirely sure how to use it (was it a concealer or a highlighter?), but now I love applying it under my eyes and onto my cheekbones for a subtle luminosity. I was pleasantly surprised at how similar this brightening formula from Revolution Pro is to the beauty icon.
9. If You Love… Sand & Sky Flash Purifying Pink Clay Mask
Sand & Sky
Brilliant Skin Purifying Pink Clay Mask
Try… Revolution Skincare Pink Clay Detoxifying Face Mask
Revolution Skincare
Pink Clay Detoxifying Face Mask
You’ve probably spotted Sand & Sky’s iconic pink packaging in your Instagram feed over the past couple of years. Its pink-clay skincare products launched to huge waiting lists and rave reviews, and its mask happens to be one of my favourites for treating acne. This mask from Revolution also contains detoxifying pink clay to absorb excess oils and offer up similar mattifying benefits.