This week team beauty have been talking beauty dupes!
What is a dupe? A dupe is a high street product that looks and performs very similar to its costly, high-end counter-part. Why shell out over twenty quid for a blusher and have to stay in on Saturday night when you can pay a fiver for a cheaper version and still have change for a glass of wine?
We’ve rounded up our favourite beauty dupes, which will always have a place in our hearts (and makeup bags) whenever we’re skint!
Sleek Blush in Rose Gold vs Nars Blush in Orgasm
The best selling NARS Blush in Orgasm is a favourite amongst bloggers, beauty editors and makeup artists. The gorgeous pinky-coral hue with gold flecks is sublime. But retailing at £22.50 it might leave you crying into your clutch bag. Our favourite alternative is the Sleek Blush in Rose Gold. At £4.49 you get change from a fiver and still have a stunning pink blusher with a golden shimmer. The Sleek version is slightly brighter so apply with caution but for a quarter of the price of the NARS version, we’re not complaining.
W7 In The Buff Palette vs Urban Decay Naked 2
The cult Naked 2 palette by Urban Decay contains 12 taupe-hued neutrals eyeshadows and is arguably Urban Decay’s most well know product. The Naked range is so popular that it has grown considerably to include the original Naked palette, a Naked 3, two Naked Basics palettes and, the newly launched, Naked On The Run. We’re probably not alone when we say we love our Naked palettes but when we saw the W7 In The Buff Palette we had to give it a go. In The Buff also contains 12 neutral shades along with a blush applicator, housed in a tin case. Whilst the colours are very similar, some of the matte colours in the W7 version don’t pack as much punch in the pigment stakes. For those who don’t use eyeshadows regularly but are keen to join the club, the W7 palette is a purse friendly £5.49 but if you’re a die-hard neutral eye shadow fan then the £37.00 Naked 2 Palette is a solid investment.
No 7 Instant Radiance Highlighter vs Benefit Watts Up
A highlighter is a makeup must-have for creating a dewy glow and can brighten a complexion when used correctly. If you’re a fan of Benefit High Beam but prefer an easier and mess-free application then Watts Up is ideal. The wind up stick formulation with a creamy texture dries to a powdery finish but is priced at £24.50. Now, as much as the average woman may kill for some supermodel cheekbones, we’re not quite sure at what price that may be so a bargain version for £9.95 from Boots No.7 is our first pick. The main difference between these is the colour – Benefit’s version is more golden whilst the No 7 one is more pink, other than that the texture and finish is almost the same. Our verdict – fairer skin tones should definitely give the No 7 version a try!
NYX Matte Lipstick in Perfect Red vs MAC Ruby Woo
MAC Ruby Woo is said to be the holygrail of red lipsticks. A favourite worn by Dita Von Teese and Gwen Stefani, it’s safe to say that the red lip will never go out of fashion, which is why we’re such huge fans of this iconic shade. MAC Ruby Woo is £15.50, which we’re happy to pay for considering it is the perfect red but given the NYX version comes in at £6.00, was it worth switching to the cheaper alternative? Whilst the staying power of the MAC version is unbeatable, the NYX formula did last longer than we anticipated given the price. This one is definitely a tie because it’s impossible to pick a winner so we’ll leave one up to you and whether you want to spend or save.
By Clodagh Coward