The 10 best makeup dupes for high-end beauty brands
21 October 2022
Whether you’re a contouring queen or just want a functional foundation that doesn’t slide off your face by midday, you might think the safest bet for your money is one of the top-selling beauty products in the UK. But although we love these cult classic products, the rising cost of living means we can’t handle the high prices!
So, we’ve scoured the internet to find the best makeup dupes — many of which have gone viral — for your favourite high-end beauty brands. From ALDI makeup dupes that are well worth your money to cheap alternatives to Charlotte Tilbury and more, here’s our vouchercloud ‘dupeshop’ beauty guide for 2024. So, you can look a million bucks without spending anywhere near as much.
And with incredible Christmas makeup deals on the horizon this month, you’d better start planning your shopping list.
The best UK makeup dupes for high-end beauty brands
1. The best Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter dupe
What can I use instead of Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter? e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter, Boots.
Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter is designed to work with your foundation to smooth, perfect and add a luminous glow to your skin. It's no wonder this cult beauty product has become a firm favourite among A-Listers! Luckily, e.l.f has developed budget Charlotte Tilbury dupe, filled with skin-enhancing squalane and hyaluronic acid. Who said a healthy glow needs to cost the earth?
Price comparison: Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter £36 vs e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter £14.
Cruelty-free? Yes, both brands produce cruelty-free makeup.
2. The best Estee Lauder Double Wear dupe
What foundation is similar to Estee Lauder? W7 Legend, Amazon.
Price comparison: Estee Lauder Double Wear £35 vs W7 Legend £4.95.
Cruelty-free? Estee Lauder is not considered cruelty-free because it sells products in countries that require animal testing. But W7 isn’t just cheap, it’s cruelty-free foundation too!
3. The best Charlotte Tilbury Contour Wand dupe
Is there a dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Contour Wand? Makeup Revolution Eye Bright Concealer, Lookfantastic.
The Charlotte Tilbury Contour Wand is a bronzer, blusher and highlighter hybrid that promises instant cheekbones in a few swift strokes. However, Makeup Revolution’s Eye Bright Concealer in the shade Warm Chestnut has gone viral on TikTok as a perfect dupe. We found Eye Bright to be a little less sheer than the CT version, and it required a little more blending due to a slightly drier consistency. But the overall effect was a perfect match.
Price comparison: Charlotte Tilbury Contour Wand £29 vs Makeup Revolution Eye Bright Concealer £8.
Cruelty-free? Yes, both brands provide cruelty-free contouring. Charlotte Tilbury carries the Leaping Bunny logo and Makeup Revolution is certified by PETA.
4. The best NARS Foundation dupe
What foundation is similar to NARS Natural Radiant? Makeup Revolution IRL foundation, Superdrug.
A breathable, lightweight foundation with 16-hour staying power, NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation is a best-selling beauty product designed to enhance your natural skin rather than cover it. But Revolution’s IRL Filter Longwear Foundation gives this powerhouse foundation a run for its money. Both boast long-wearing, oil-free, and smudge-proof credentials. But the IRL Filter is also enriched with blemish-fighting niacinamide to help keep your skin clear.
Price comparison: NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation £37.50 vs Revolution Makeup IRL Filter Longwear Foundation £9.99.
Cruelty-free? Looking for a cruelty-free foundation? You may want to avoid NARS as the brand sells its products in places where animal testing is required by law. But Makeup Revolution gets the cruelty-free thumbs up!
5. The best Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm dupe
What is similar to Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm? Missguided Stop I’m Blushing, Superdrug.
Yes, it’s another budget Charlotte Tilbury dupe, this time the globally-adored Pinkgasm liquid highlighter-blush. All you need is a light finger-tap of product on each cheek for a subtle wash of warm-toned rosy colour. But to get a nearly identical finish at a cheaper price, choose this Missguided liquid blusher in the shade ‘We Move’, and prepare to be amazed. This Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm blush dupe mimics the luminous, shimmery look to perfection. It is pretty sheer compared to the OG, but this Pinkgasm dupe costs just £9, so you can afford to use it that little bit more.
Price comparison: Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm £29 vs Missguided Stop I’m Blushing £9.
Cruelty-free? Both of these brands are cruelty-free.
6. The best Milk Hydro Grip Primer dupe
What is the best dupe for the Milk Hydro Grip Primer? e.l.f. Power Grip Primer, Superdrug.
They say beautiful makeup all starts with the base. And the Milk Hydro Grip Primer is one of the best primers money can buy! This cult classic injects instant hydration into your skin with a unique blend of aloe water, cherry blossom, hyaluronic acid and vitamins while simultaneously forming an invisible layer that will hang onto your makeup all day. This may sound like a lot to live up to, but our Milk primer dupe from e.l.f. looks, feels and applies exactly the same.
Price comparison: Milk Hydro Grip Primer £31 vs e.l.f Power Grip Primer £10.
Cruelty-free? Both Milk and e.l.f are certified as cruelty-free by the Leaping Bunny scheme. Cruelty-free primer for all!
7. The best dupe for Benefit Hoola Bronzer
What bronzer is similar to Hoola? Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sunlight, Boots.
Why is Hoola bronzer so popular? This award-winning bronzer from Benefit has won a legion of fans with its warm, sunkissed effect and subtle, matte finish. But that £28.50 price tag isn’t for everyone! Instead, why not try Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sunlight. Although it isn’t quite as long-lasting as Hoola, it effortlessly recreates that authentic island glow. Plus, it boasts a waterproof, lightweight finish for a mere fraction of the price.
Price comparison: Benefit Hoola Bronzer £28.50 vs Rimmel Natural Bronzer £6.99.
Cruelty-free? Benefit’s official line is that its ingredients may have been tested on animals at some point in development. However, Rimmel’s cruelty-free bronzer is Leaping Bunny-approved.
8. The best MAC lip liner dupe
Which is the best MAC lip liner dupe? Barry M Russet is a Mac Spice lip liner dupe while NYX Nude Truffle is the closest match to MAC Cork. Both are available at Superdrug.
Lip liners are the new lipstick, according to A-listers like Kylie Jenner. And what lip liner does Kylie use? Well, that would be MAC Spice, a deep brown/pink shade with a creamy, velvety texture. But if you don’t have a Kardashian-esque budget to hand, Barry M offers a lip-plumping pencil in Russet that’s nigh-on identical.
If a golden brown shade is more your style, you might prefer our MAC Cork lip liner dupe - the NYX Nude Truffle lip liner. With its buttery, long-lasting formula, you’ll have a perfect yet affordable pout.
Price comparison: MAC £18 vs Barry M £2.99 and NYX £4.
Cruelty-free? MAC sells its products in countries that require animal testing on certain products. But Barry M and NYX are proudly cruelty-free.
9. The best Benefit Gimme Brow dupe
What’s the best alternative to Benefit Gimme Brow gel? NYX Thick It. Stick It! Brow Gel, Superdrug.
Benefit Gimme Brow gel volumises, thickens and tints to make brows look visibly thicker. But it’s not the only beauty product that can give you the bushy eyebrows of your dreams. NYX Thick It. Stick It! Brow Mascara is a low-cost alternative to Gimme Brow, featuring a wand with the same micro-fibres to help create big eyebrows with dimension. Team with the famous NYX Micro Brow Pen for even more definition.
Price comparison: Benefit Gimme Brow £23.50 vs NYX Brow Mascara £11.
Cruelty-free brow gel? Benefit states there’s no guarantee its ingredients aren’t tested on animals at some stage of development. Fortunately, NYX is cruelty-free.
10. The best Urban Decay setting spray dupe
What is the cheapest Urban Decay All-Nighter dupe? Lacura Makeup Setting Spray, ALDI.
If you haven’t explored the world of ALDI beauty dupes, we highly recommend you start. The Lacura Makeup ALDI setting spray is a dupe for the cult favourite Urban Decay All-Nighter, a product that keeps your makeup fresh and dewy for up to 16 hours. Both sprays feel exactly the same as you mist the product lightly over your skin. And more importantly, this ALDI makeup dupe can hold its own when it comes to keeping your face in place.
Price comparison: Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray £27 vs Lacura Makeup ALDI Setting Spray £3.99.
Cruelty-free setting spray? Both Urban Decay and the ALDI beauty dupes are cruelty-free.
From retail giants Superdrug and Boots to Cult Beauty, Lookfantastic and more, we bring together all the best beauty bargains - from Christmas makeup deals to everyday discounts. So, you can say goodbye to expensive makeup and get your beauty fix for less.
Why not check out our guide to the best skincare dupes on Lookfantastic now to save even more cash?
