Splurge or Save: The 7 best makeup dupes

While the occasional spree can be forgiven, for most of us forking out on lust-worthy cosmetics isn’t something we can afford to do all the time. Olivia O’Grady investigates which high street beauty bargains measure up to their cult-classic counterparts

Bargain beauty might just be the best way forward (Rex)

If your makeup collection is looking poor but your bank balance is too, it’s time to swap high-end products for high street. We all crave a cult classic, but bargain beauty might just be the way forward. Masses of luxury products can be switched-out for cheaper doubles and with our top seven makeup dupes creating a full face for less has never been easier.

Foundation

L’Oreal True Match Liquid Foundation £9

Mac Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 £22 vs. L’Oreal True Match Liquid Foundation £9.99

Saving: £12.01

Mac Studio Fix Fluid is the go-to foundation for a sundry of beauty fanatics, but what if you could get the same coverage for almost half the price? L’Oreal’s True Match Liquid Foundation has 23 colour choices – which may fall short of Mac’s 36 – but with additional shade enhancers in the new formula, you’re sure to find a match with L’Oreal.

Concealer

Maybelline Fit Me! Concealer £5.99 superdrug.com

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer £22.50 vs. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer £5.99

Saving: £16.51

Praised by beauty bloggers and coveted by us mere mortals, NARS concealer is the crease-proof solution to covering imperfections and highlighting. But if splurging more on this concealer than some high-end foundations just doesn’t work for you, Maybelline appears to have created a real ‘dupe’ in all senses of the word. With near-identical packaging, the same style applicator and similar shades, the Maybelline concealer is a bargain to be had.

Highlighter

Lord and Berry Highlighter £14 selfridges.com

Benefit Watt’s Up £24.50 vs. Lord & Berry Luminizer Highlighter and Concealer Stick £14

Saving: £10.50

Cream highlighters are a makeup staple and few are as wearable as Benefit’s champagne hue. Lord and Berry, albeit a strobing stick and concealer in one, is an equally wearable shade. The easy-apply stick makes both highlighters blendable and natural looking – but one costs less than half the other.

Eyeshadow

MUA Undressed Palette £4 muastore.co.uk

Urban Decay Naked 2 Eyeshadow Palette £38.50 vs. MUA Undressed Palette £4

Saving: £34.50

Urban Decay Naked 2 was a sought-after sequel offering 12 neutral tones in both matte and shimmering formulas. Despite a little less stay-power, the MUA Undressed Palette offers 12 near-identical shades that rival Urban Decay in pigment and price. Just like the Naked 2, Undressed comes equipped with a double-ended brush and an additional feeling of frugality that you just can’t beat.

Lip Colour

Sleek Matte Me £4.99 boots.com

Kylie Jenner Liquid Lipstick £12.87 (+$14.95 international shipping fee) vs. Sleek Matte Me £4.99

Saving: approximately £20

The Kylie Jenner Lip Kit launched onto the makeup scene with a manifold sell-out of matte liquid lipsticks. With all the longevity of Kylie’s Liquid lipstick, Sleek’s Matte Me lip cream is an absolute steal. For a fraction of the price Sleek’s shade ‘Birthday Suit’ is twins with Kylie’s Dolce K.

Blending Sponge

Real Techniques Sponge £5.99 boots.com

Beauty Blender Classic Sponge £16.00 vs. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge £5.99

Saving: £10.01

Whether you’re using high-end or high street foundation, you can blend your way to a flawless base. The Beauty Blender Classic Sponge, raved about by the likes of Kim Kardashian, is the modern solution to all your blending needs. With a patent-pending elliptical shape, the sponge makes light work of foundation, concealer and more. Out to rival this though is Real Techniques’ alternative which combines a precision tip with flat and round edges. Both blenders can be used wet or dry and are a macquillage must-have for your cosmetic bag.

The Oval Brush

Primark Oval Brush £4

Mac Oval Brush 6 £34.50 vs. Primark PS. Pro Oval Brush £4

Saving: £30.50

This social media sensation may look alarmingly like a toothbrush, but the unusual design makes this makeup applicator completely fool-proof. Just like the Mac Oval Brush 6, the Primark PS. Pro Oval Brush offers a dense oval of super-smooth bristles – but for £30 less.

With a roundup of over £130.00 savings, your makeup bag could be looking a lot fuller; as could your purse.