If you love quality makeup but don't want to splurge on high-end brands, drugstore dupes can be a game-changer for your beauty routine. Affordable yet effective, these dupes can help you achieve the same look as luxury products without breaking the bank. Here’s a list of the best drugstore makeup dupes that are comparable in performance, finish, and staying power to high-end counterparts.
Let's face it – we all love luxury makeup, but our wallets don't always agree
with our high-end beauty aspirations. The good news? The drugstore makeup
industry has evolved dramatically, offering incredible alternatives to
prestigious brands at a fraction of the cost. In this comprehensive guide,
we'll explore the best drugstore makeup dupes that rival their high-end
counterparts in quality and performance.
1. Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless vs. Estée Lauder Double Wear
For fans of Estée Lauder’s Double Wear, the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless is a fantastic dupe. Both foundations offer a matte, pore-blurring finish with long-lasting wear, perfect for oily and combination skin types. Fit Me’s lightweight formula provides buildable coverage, making it a versatile alternative at a fraction of the cost.
Why You’ll Love It: Affordable, long-wearing, and comes in a wide range of shades.
2. Concealer: NYX HD Studio Photogenic Concealer vs. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
High-End: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
Get it from Amazon for $26.99.
NARS’ Radiant Creamy Concealer has long been a cult favorite for its smooth, medium-to-full coverage and creamy texture. The NYX HD Studio Photogenic Concealer provides similar coverage, with a blendable formula that hides imperfections and dark circles seamlessly. This dupe gives you a radiant finish that rivals NARS without the luxury price tag.
Why You’ll Love It: Blends easily, conceals imperfections, and doesn’t crease.
3. Primer: e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer vs. Tatcha The Silk Canvas
The e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer has quickly become a fan-favorite dupe for the Tatcha Silk Canvas. Both primers are infused with skin-loving ingredients and help blur pores, creating a smooth, even base for foundation. This e.l.f. primer helps makeup adhere well and lasts throughout the day without breaking the bank.
Why You’ll Love It: Blurs pores, provides a smooth base, and contains hydrating ingredients.
4. Blush: Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso vs. NARS Orgasm
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
High-End: NARS Blush in Orgasm
Get it from Amazon for $26.99.
Milani’s Baked Blush in Luminoso is widely recognized as a dupe for NARS’ iconic Orgasm blush. Both have a peachy-pink shade with a golden shimmer that flatters most skin tones, providing a natural, radiant glow. Luminoso’s baked formula offers a similar, glowy finish that’s hard to distinguish from NARS, making it a budget-friendly option for everyday use.
Why You’ll Love It: Natural glow, buildable pigmentation, and universally flattering shade.
5. Eyeshadow Palette: Wet n Wild Color Icon Palette in Rose in the Air vs. Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
High-End: Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette
Get it from Amazon for $38.99.
The Wet n Wild Color Icon Palette in Rose in the Air is a standout dupe for the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette. This budget-friendly palette features warm and neutral tones that are highly pigmented and blendable, making it perfect for creating both subtle and dramatic looks. With a similar color scheme, Rose in the Air is a fraction of the price.
Why You’ll Love It: Pigmented, blendable, and versatile shade range for a variety of looks.
6. Bronzer: Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer vs. Benefit Hoola Bronzer
Get it from Amazon for $38.99.
High-End: Benefit Hoola Bronzer
Get it from Amazon for $32.99.
If you’re looking for a smooth, natural-looking bronzer, Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer is an excellent alternative to Benefit’s Hoola. Both bronzers provide a warm, sun-kissed glow with a matte finish that’s perfect for contouring or warming up the complexion. With a tropical scent and buttery texture, the Butter Bronzer is a luxurious experience at a drugstore price.
Why You’ll Love It: Blendable, natural-looking finish with a tropical scent.
7. Mascara: L'Oréal Lash Paradise vs. Too Faced Better Than Sex
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
High-End: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
For voluminous lashes that rival Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Mascara, L'Oréal Lash Paradise is a perfect match. This mascara lengthens, volumizes, and defines lashes with a formula that holds up all day without flaking. With a similar brush design and effect, Lash Paradise delivers gorgeous lashes at a fraction of the cost.
Why You’ll Love It: Dramatic volume, intense length, and long-lasting wear.
8. Highlighter: Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder vs. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector
Get it from Amazon for $5.99.
High-End: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter
Get it from Amazon for $20.99.
Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder is a stunning alternative to Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfector. This drugstore highlighter delivers a beautiful, buildable glow that can go from subtle to intense with just a few swipes. With a soft, finely milled formula, MegaGlo provides a radiant glow that’s comparable to high-end highlighters.
Why You’ll Love It: Blinding glow, buildable intensity, and smooth, blendable formula.
9. Lipstick: Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick vs. MAC Matte Lipstick
Get it from Amazon for $5.99.
High-End: MAC Matte Lipstick
Get it from Amazon for $23.99.
Maybelline’s Creamy Matte Lipstick line offers a wide range of shades that deliver a beautiful, matte finish without the drying effect typical of matte lipsticks. The formula is similar to MAC’s, providing long-lasting color with a comfortable feel. Whether you’re looking for a nude or bold red, Maybelline has you covered with shades comparable to MAC’s iconic colors.
Why You’ll Love It: Comfortable matte finish, wide range of shades, and highly pigmented.
10. Setting Spray: NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray vs. Urban Decay All Nighter
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
High-End: Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
Get it from Amazon for $27.99.
The NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray is a fantastic dupe for Urban Decay’s All Nighter. While All Nighter is known for its staying power, the NYX Dewy Finish provides a long-lasting hold that keeps makeup looking fresh throughout the day. It also adds a dewy, radiant finish that many love, making it a great choice for those who want their makeup to last.
Why You’ll Love It: Long-lasting hold, dewy finish, and affordable price.
Conclusion
With these drugstore dupes for high-end brands, you can achieve a luxury makeup look without the premium price tag. These affordable options offer comparable quality, shade options, and wearability to their high-end counterparts, allowing you to enjoy the best of beauty without overspending. Next time you’re at the drugstore, keep an eye out for these budget-friendly products—they might just become your new go-to favorites!