Base Makeup

Starting at the base of the makeup routine, the Hello, Good Stuff! Glow Serum Primer by Essence is a nearly identical product to the Glow Recipe Watermelon Niacinamide Dew Drops. The Essence dupe retails for $5.99 where Glow Recipe's is $36.

Another base option, the e.l.f Power Grip Primer ($11), works the same, if not better than, the Milk Hydro Grip Hydrating Face Primer ($38). The e.l.f. primer is a bit more tacky on the face compared to the Milk product, but both hold the rest of the makeup in place. Another great alternative if you are looking for something a little bit lighter is the NYX Marshmallow Smooth Makeup Primer ($16.99).

There have been so many different versions of skin tints and glowy foundation products since the 2023 clean girl aesthetic gained popularity, but figuring out which ones are the best can be a bit challenging. The most talked about one would be the e.l.f. Halo Glow Liqid Filter ($15), a dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter foundation ($50). Both of these lighter coverage products give the skin the same kind of dewy glow that’s perfect for a no-makeup-makeup look. 

Another glowy option is the CoverGirl Trublend Skin Enhancer Luminizer ($9.49). Although the packaging is more luxurious on the Saie Glowy Super Gel ($30), it is not worth the price due to how well the CoverGirl dupe works. 

Concealer

For concealers, many favor the widely talked about Tarte shape tape concealer ($32) and the Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Luminous Matte Concealer ($31), though there are many more budget-friendly options. If you like the shape tape formula, the L’Oreal Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer ($15.99) has an almost identical formula that offers high coverage and long-lasting results. The NYX Bare With Me Concealer Serum ($12) is another great product that holds the same full coverage as L’Oreal. 

Bronzer, Blush and Highlight

As for bronzers, there are two product dupes from Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Liquid Contour Wand ($44), with the only major difference being the formula. The wands are extremely similar to the Essence Baby Got Bronze ($4.99), and the cream bronzer holds the same qualities as the Rimmel Natural Bronzer ($5.99). You cannot go wrong with either of these products because they hold up the same and have a smooth application process. 

There are several different liquid and cream blushes that have strong, affordable dupes. The Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush ($25) has been a favorite because of the minimal amount of product it takes to show up on the cheeks, making bottles very long-lasting. A cheaper alternative is the ColourPop Liquid Blush ($6); the two have similar packaging and an extremely similar formula.

Similar to Rare Beauty, Rhode is all the rage because of the pocket blush ($25). MCoBeauty's Blush & Go Cream Stick ($9.99) has similar packaging and shade range. 

A bit of highlight is the perfect touch when crafting a strong base of makeup, but finding long-lasting products can be hard. Brands like ColourPop, NYX, and Wet n Wild offer great powder and liquid highlighters that mirror brands like r.e.m. Beauty, Rare Beauty, Fenty Beauty and others. 

Eyes and Lips

For eyes, L’Oreal Paris Telescopic, Essence Princess False Lash Effect, and Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High are all mascara dupes that work even better than the high-end product it’s modeled after. Some of these are even under ten dollars at any general or drugstore. Colourpop also has a lot of great eyeshadow palettes with a range of different colors, shimmers, and glitters that are on the more affordable side. 

Lip combos are a huge part of doing your makeup and tend to be what pulls the whole look together. In the last five years or so, there has been more of a preference for lip glosses and lip oils rather than matte lipsticks, but there are good dupe options for both. Vitamasques Plump & Repair Tinted Lip Butter ($4.99) is a great dupe in packaging and formula for Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm ($24). The e.l.f. Glow Reviver Tinted Lip Oil ($9) resembles the Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil ($42) and offers a wide range of shades.

Finishing touches

The finishing touch on any makeup look is the setting spray, which is important in order to lock the products onto your face so they don’t move throughout the day. The One/Size On 'Til Dawn Setting Spray is popular because of how well it holds up, but the L’Oreal Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist ($10.99) is a perfect dupe. The  L’Oreal setting spray works wonders, but it has a really strong hairspray smell when it’s first applied, so it can be a bit intimidating.

Since the dupe epidemic took off on social media platforms, there have been tons of other dupe products popping up, and not all of them fall under makeup. Trader Joe’s has dupe options for popular lotions from brands like Sol De Janeiro ($24), with the Brazil Nut Body Butter ($5.99) and L’Occitane ($34) being the Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream ($4.99). Target has also crafted whole perfume lines dedicated to being a cheaper option of popular name-brand men's and women's fragrances.