🔗 Share this article

Rachael Parnell

When Rachael Parnell heard a discounter was offering a fresh product collection that appeared akin to items from high-end label Augustinus Bader, she was "extremely excited".

Rachael dashed to her local store to buy the store-brand face cream for £8.49 for 50ml - a small portion of the £240 of the Augustinus Bader 50ml cream.

Its smooth blue packaging and gold cap of the two items look strikingly comparable. And though she has not used the premium cream, she states she's satisfied by the dupe so far.

She has been purchasing lookalike products from high street stores and supermarkets for years, and she's part of a trend.

More than a quarter of UK consumers say they've tried a beauty or cosmetic lookalike. This jumps to 44% among millennials and Gen Z, based on a recent poll.

Dupes are skincare products that copy well-known labels and provide cost-effective substitutes to high-end items. These products often have similar names and packaging, but occasionally the components can change considerably.

Victoria Woollaston

'High-Priced Isn't Always Superior'

Beauty professionals contend some alternatives to premium labels are reasonable quality and assist make beauty routines more affordable.

"It is not true that costlier is invariably better," comments dermatology expert a doctor. "Not all low-budget skincare brand is poor - and not every high-end beauty item is the finest."

"A number of [dupes] are truly impressive," adds Scott McGlynn, who presents a show about celebrities.

Many of the items inspired by high-end labels "disappear so fast, it's just insane," he says.

Scott McGlynn

Aesthetic and dermatology doctor a doctor believes alternatives are fine to use for "simple routines" like moisturisers and face washes.

"Alternatives will be effective," he explains. "These items will perform the fundamentals to a acceptable level."

A consultant dermatologist, advises you can save money when you're looking for single-ingredient items like HA, niacinamide and a moisturizing ingredient.

"When you're buying a simple product then you're likely going to be okay in opting for a budget alternative or something which is very affordable because there's not much that can be problematic," she explains.

'Don't Be Swayed by the Packaging'

But the experts also suggest buyers check details and state that costlier products are occasionally worthy of the additional cost.

With high-end skincare, you're not just covering the name and marketing - often the higher price tag also is due to the formula and their quality, the strength of the key component, the technology utilized to develop the product, and studies into the products' efficacy, the expert explains.

Beauty expert she suggests it's valuable considering how certain dupes can be priced so inexpensively.

Occasionally, she states they may contain less effective components that lack as significant benefits for the skin, or the ingredients might not be as carefully selected.

"The major question mark is 'How is it so inexpensive?'" she says.

Expert McGlynn admits on occasion he's purchased skincare items that look comparable to a well-known label but the item has "no resemblance to the original".

"Don't be sold by the packaging," he cautioned.

SimpleImages/Getty Images

Regarding advanced products or ones with ingredients that can irritate the complexion if they're not created accurately, such as retinoids or vitamin C serums, she advises sticking to research-backed brands.

The expert says these typically have been through comprehensive studies to determine how efficacious they are.

Beauty items need to be assessed before they can be sold in the UK, notes skin doctor another professional.

When the company advertises about the performance of the item, it must have research to verify it, "but the seller doesn't necessarily have to conduct the trials" and can instead cite testing done by different companies, she clarifies.

Check the Back of the Pack

Are there any components that could signal a item is inferior?

Ingredients on the back of the container are listed by quantity. "Ingredients to avoid that you should be wary of… is your mineral oil, your SLS, fragrance, benzoyl peroxide" being {high up