Sometimes it seems that beauty comes with a high price tag. It is easy to blow an entire months pay check at Sephora or Blue Mercury. But, high quality make–up can actually be very affordable. It’s important to remember that the beauty business is a for–profit industry, and the products that are often so heavily touted by beauty bloggers are exactly the same as the drugstore versions. Most of the time, the higher price is due to the brand and fancy packaging, not because of a difference in quality. Achieve flawless beauty with the following dupes of high–end products—trust me, you won’t look cheap.
High–End: Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow Pomade at $18
Dupe: Milani Stay Put Brow Pomade at $8
These matte brow pomades are alike in most aspects: they’re both long–lasting, smudge–proof, highly pigmented, and give you beauty blogger worthy brows. With eight shades, Milani lags behind Anastasia’s range of 11 shades, but Milani includes a dual–ended professional brush for precise application.
You save: $10
High–End: Urban Decay Naked Palette at $54
Dupe: Maybelline ‘The Nudes’ Eyeshadow Palette at $12
The Urban Decay Naked Palette is known for its high color pay–off and its versatility in creating looks for day and night for a wide variety of skin tones. The original version is perfect for nude looks, containing both shimmer and matte shadows. However, its closest rival is Maybelline's ‘The Nudes’ Eye Shadow Palette, boasting 12 neutral eye shadows to mix and match.
You save: $42
High–End: Beautyblender at $20
Dupe: Eco Tools Perfecting Blender Duo at $10
These pink, egg–shaped sponges are iconic, having revolutionized the way people blend their foundation and concealer. But $20 for what—a pink, egg–shaped sponge? Why not spend half as much on two sponge make–up applicators with the Eco Tools Perfecting Blender Duo? It comes with a large base blender to cover greater surface area and a smaller, firmer sponge for a more precise application.
You save: $10
High–End: Benefit High Beam Liquid Highlighter at $26
Dupe: ELF Essential Shimmering Face Whip at $1
No need to splurge on a popping highlight. The ELF highlighter does exactly what the Benefit high beam advertises: when applied on the face, it provides a “dewy glow,” with a “satiny pink” sheen to reflect the light. The consistency is thicker and you’ll need to use less product, but it gives you a radiant, natural–looking shine free of glitter. Plus, using less each time means you actually get more uses in the long run; it's a double save.
You save: $25
