This summer, we’re doing things that serve our best interests ONLY, in whatever way that manifests for each of us. That could look like binge-reading Colleen Hoover novels, partaking in Friday happy hours, or treating ourselves to those new Lululemon leggings we’ve been wanting for months. Regardless, serving your best interests can start to get pricey. Thus, it’s helpful to save money with the best high-end makeup dupes whenever possible.
One area that makes it easy to save money? The beauty industry. This summer, we’re going for beauty on a budget. We’re going for cruelty-free, easily accessible clean beauty dupes at our local drug stores that WON’T break the bank. While this may seem like a daunting, unachievable task, I’m here to remind you that it is possible to achieve your desired makeup look for less using more affordable (and as a bonus, often more sustainable) alternatives.
Here’s a list of the 10 best high-end makeup dupes that will save your bank account and make it possible to keep treating yourself in other ways.
Via Giphy
2. Revlon Colorstay Full Cover Makeup
3. L’Oreal Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer
4. ELF Cosmetics High Definition Powder
5. Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer Murumuru Butter Bronzer
7. Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder
9. NYX Professional Makeup Butter Gloss
10. Maybelline Lifter Gloss with Hyaluronic Acid
This cruelty-free and vegan primer rivals the viral, high-end Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer for only a fifth of the price. Infused with squalane, this primer helps to lock your makeup onto your skin and shield it from losing moisture. It’s known for providing all-day wear and a flawless finish. True to its name, this product smoothes your skin and shrinks the appearance of pesky pores.
When using this product, make sure to apply a thin, even layer to already-moisturized skin prior to applying your foundation. For best results, let it sit for at least 30 seconds. Bonus tip: this primer is best applied with your fingers all over your face. The body heat from your fingers breaks down the product for the best application.
A good foundation sets the tone for the rest of a good makeup day. Fortunately, this high-end dupe for the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Makeup – which retails for $46 – will surely do the job.
This product is known for being one of the best, most affordable, long-lasting face products on the market. It embodies everything it means to be a natural, flawless finish foundation. Nobody wants to feel cakey after applying foundation, and the whipped, light, mousse-like texture of this foundation understands this. The best part? She is sweat and heat resistant – perfect for us summertime babes that are just trying to survive the heat.
The classic Tarte Shape Tape Concealer. We all know her. We all love her. But she can wear down the wallet for sure. L’Oreal has saved the day (and our wallets) by releasing the beautiful Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer that comes in 25 shades.
With 4.4 stars on Ulta.com, this concealer is known for its excellent pigmentation (goodbye dark eye circles), great blending, and long-lasting, everyday wear. Due to the full coverage nature of this product and the extra-large applicator, this product can double-time as a concealer and a foundation. Not to mention it is waterproof and transfer and fade-resistant. Overall, this opaque concealer is out here doing the most, all for the least. If you decide to use this product, make sure to consider that a little bit goes a long way.
Set, bake, and (don’t) break the bank. The Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder is one of the top-ranked powders, but it comes with a hefty $38 price tag. Beauty enthusiasts have scavenged the industry to find the best dupes– and this ELF powder is one of them. It’s lightweight, easy to apply, minimizes shine, and lasts all day, not to mention vegan and cruelty-free. What more can you ask for? The goal of this loose setting powder is to double as a photo filter that blurs for the *perfect* finish.
With 4.7 stars on Ulta.com and over 15,000 reviews, this iconic high-end dupe for the Nars Laguna Bronzer takes the cake for one of the best high-end makeup dupes out there. Words used to describe this product in some of the reviews include “ultra-rich,” “creamy and soft,” “melts into skin,” and “silky.” I mean, does it get any better?
Actually, yes. It does. This beautiful bronzer is hypoallergenic, paraben, gluten, oil, and cruelty-free, and non-comedogenic. A bonus for my dry skin babes: the bronzer is infused with tucuma, cupuacu, and murumuru butters to seal in moisture rather than drying out your face.
If you’re looking for the perfect dupe for the NARS Orgasm Blush, check out the Milani Baked Blush (specifically in the shade Dolce Pink.) This product offers a pigmented, blendable, and buildable formula that allows you to channel anything from a sweet and subtle look to a bold and beautiful glam. The Milani Baked Blush is the perfect option to top off a fresh-faced makeup look for any occasion and any season.
Via Giphy
As a personal favorite of mine, this stunning highlighter is a shimmering dupe for the Becca Champagne Pop Highlighter. You don't have to take just my word for it either – this product is top-rated on Ulta.com.
Staying true to its name, this MegaGlo Highlighting Powder will leave you glowing like the gods. It is well-known for its easy application, pigmentation, long-lasting formula, and smooth texture. If you’re looking for the best dupe for the Becca shade, the reviews recommend Golden Flower Crown. My go-to shade is Bloom Time for a rose-gold glow.
The telescopic mascara went viral on TikTok recently, and for good reason. This dupe for the Benefit Roller Lash Mascara claims that their formula and applicator lengthen your lashes by up to 60%. While I can’t confirm that number exactly, I can say from personal experience (and through the reviews of others) that this mascara gives me the longest, most perfect lashes that I have ever had. For less than the price of a good margarita, I really can’t complain.
This tried and true drugstore dupe is certainly one of the best high-end makeup dupes in stores. Over 87% of almost 72,000 reviewers on Amazon have rated this product at least 4 stars.
The “butter” formula stays true to its name with an easy-to-apply formula that smoothes perfectly over the lips. Like butter. Each one of the 32 shades it comes in provides a sheer to medium coverage, and the non-sticky texture makes it the gloss of our dreams. Use it on its own for a little oomph, or layer it on top of your favorite lipstick to create an irresistible lip look.
Via Giphy
Last, but certainly not least, we have a dupe for the classic Fenty Beauty Glow Gloss Bomb. It’s easily the most popular lip gloss formula on the market right now (not to mention all over my TikTok feed). Thus, I find it my duty to present you with the perfect dupe.
It comes with an extra-large applicator wand to enhance lip contour and provide easy application. In addition to providing a fuller lip look and adding the *perfect* tint to your lips, Maybelline’s Lifter Gloss gives lasting hydration. In a consumer study, 90% of consumers agreed that their lips felt significantly more hydrated after using this gloss, and with 4.6-star average reviews, I think the stats speak for themselves.
Overall, it’s pretty clear that celebrity endorsements, celebrity brands, and viral TikTok trends give plenty of high-end products a “better quality” reputation; however, this isn’t always the case. There are plenty of products that retail for a fraction of the price but provide the same flawless results.
Remember: this summer, we’re doing things that serve our best interests, and these best-of-the-best high-end makeup dupes will definitely leave you flawless, flirty, and balling on a budget like the beauty babe that you are. Sounds like a win-win.
Written by Morgan Taylor
SOURCES:
