High-end versus Drugstore: Makeup Product Dupes

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Have you ever used a high-end product and realized you have something completely identical to it? Yes, that has been me over the last couple of months.

In 2015, my makeup collection seemed to explode and I purchased a lot of products without even thinking that I had something similar in my collection. Of course, as a beauty blogger and makeup artist, makeup has really become my job and my hobby. This means that my collection seems to always be growing but to help combat that I've put myself on a low-buy this year and I've really been focusing on the products that I'm bringing into my collection.

Because I've found quite a few products in my collection recently that seem to be so similar I thought I would go ahead and share them with you today in this dupes style post.


Each of the products featured in this post are also some of my holy-grail favorites even though they have some dupe counterparts. I'm really excited to share them with you today, so before I ramble anymore let's get into the post:

CLINIQUE CHEEK POP IN HEATHER POP 
VS. JORDANA POWDER BLUSH IN ROSE SILK:

Clinique Cheek Pop in Heather Pop:
0.12OZ retails for $22

Description: "Discover pure, natural cheek color that looks virtually powderless. Its unique, patented technology transforms pure liquid pigment into a smooth, silky powder through a process of slow baking, leaving true color - from compact to cheeks. This silky smooth, stay-true formula creates a vibrant, healthy-looking glow without a trace of powder residue." { Sephora Website }

Jordana Powder Blush in Rose Silk:
Retails for $2.99

Description: "You don't have to be in love to look like you are! A swipe of Powder Blush gives you the flush of true love and keeps everyone guessing! Choose a dark shade to sculpt the cheekbones and a bright shade for a sweet refreshed look." { Jordana's Website }

These two products are some of the most reached for in my collection and are without a doubt some of my favorite formula's and colors. I will tell you right up front that these two products are absolutely different formula's but it's the colors when applied to the skin that makes them dupes, in my opinion. The Clinique Cheek Pop formula is a cream to powder finish but doesn't leave the skin with a powder residue whereas the Jordana Powder Blush in your traditional powder.

When you look at the two shades swatched on the skin they do seem to be a little bit different in shades. However, I can assure you that when the two shades are applied onto the cheeks they look like identical colors. The other difference you will notice is the finish that the products give because Clinique's Cheek Pop is going to blend and melt into the skin easier than the Jordana Powder Blush that is going to sit more on the skin and give that powdery appearance.

If you are a fan of the Clinique Cheek Pop in Heather Pop or a similar shade to this that's up there in price, I highly recommend checking out the Jordana Powder Blush range!


MARC JACOBS HIGHLINER GEL CRAYON IN BLACQUER
VS. RIMMEL SCANDAL EYES WATERPROOF KOHL KAJAL IN BLACK:

Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Crayon in Blacquer:
0.01OZ retails for $31

Description: "Highliner Gel Crayon Eyeliner gives you the luxury of a gel eyeliner with the ease of a pencil. Make a bold statement with this extreme-wear, waterproof eyeliner that glides on effortlessly to deliver instant color payoff...Use it to create flawless, precise lines, or smudge immediately after lining for an instant smoky eye." { Sephora Website }

Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Black:
0.042OZ retails for $5.48 at WalMart

Description: "Smokey eye look made easy with Soft Kohl. Intense color, easy application. Soft and blendable formula for an easy smokey look. Smudge-proof long wear formula up to 12 hour wear." { Rimmel's Website }

I never thought I would see the day where I would own a Marc Jacob products and while it might just be the sample size of the Blacquer Crayon, I know it was made with the other Marc Jacob products and that makes me happy. But I don't think I could ever justify spending $31 on an eyeliner that I don't use every single day and when there are so many others out there that are just like it. I have tons of black eyeliner in my makeup collection and all of them are extremely similar to the Marc Jacobs Highliner but one that I thought was a dead on dupe was the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal.

Everything from the formula of these products to the color and longevity are absolutely identical. So if you are in the market for an amazing pencil style eyeliner that has the formula of a gel and you don't want to pay a hefty price, I recommend heading to the drugstore and grabbing the Rimmel Kohl Kajal....even though I'm head over heels for the Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Crayon!


NARS VELVET MATTE LIP PENCIL IN CRUELLA
VS. NYX EXTRA CREAMY ROUND LIPSTICK IN HEBE:

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella:
0.086OZ retails for $33

Description: "Combining the convenience of a pencil with the application of a lipstick in a jumbo-sized crayon design, these pigment-rich sticks provide a matte, creamy finish that will not dry the lips. Enriched with emollients, vitamin E, and silicone, each gorgeous shade glides on and stays put!" { Sephora Website }

NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick in HEBE:
Retails for $7.00

Description: "NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick is our classic lipstick for all occasions. The mineral-based emollient formula offers a beautiful velvet texture, saturated color and it resits wear and smudging. It's your go-to lipstick!" { NYX Cosmetics Website }

Because I'm extremely fair in complexion I find it very hard to find red lipstick shades that are the perfect mixture of cool and warm undertones. When I was able to get a 100 point perk of NARS Cruella Lip Pencil I was excited to see that it was exactly what I was looking for. As I tried and continued to use the pencil I quickly found out that I had found my holy grail red lipstick. But like many other products I've fallin in love with I just can't quite justify the hefty $33 price tag. So I took to my makeup drawers in search of other red lipsticks that I owned that might be similar. I found that the NYX Round Lipstick in HEBE was very similar.

While I don't find these formulas to be complete dupes of each other it's the colors that make these dupes, in my opinion. The NARS formula is a velvet matte which means its extremely comforable on the lips but has a matte appearance. Whereas the NYX Round Lipsticks are a very creamy and shiny formula and don't tend to last as long as your tradiational matte lipsticks. But while these formulas are quite different it's the deep maroon red color that I'm loving within these two products.

If you are looking for the perfect red for you fair skin (or any skin tone) I highly recommend grabbing the NYX Round Lipstick in HEBE to play around with. Although, I absolutely love the NARS formula!


MAC COSMETICS LIPSTICK IN UP THE AMP
VS. REVLON SUPER LUSTROUS LIPSTICK IN BERRY HAUTE:

MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Up The Amp:
0.1OZ retails for $21

Description: "Formulated to shade, define and showcase the lips. Hundreds of hues, high-fashion textures. The iconic product that made MAC famous." { MAC Cosmetics Website }

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Berry Haute:
Retails for $7.46 at WalMart

Description: "Infused with silk and vitamins for smooth, conditioning color. In a dazzling array of fabulous, fashionable shades." { Revlon's Website }

One of the very first high-end lipstick lines that I fell in love with was MAC Cosmetics and one of the shades I've fallen in love with is Up The Amp. However, when I was pulling this shade out to wear it I quickly thought of another lipstick in my collection that was identical. Sure enough, when I pulled the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Berry Haute out of my collection and compared it to Up The Ampp - they were identical. Since this is my absolute favorite lipstick shade I don't mind having two that are very close in every aspect.

Everything from the formula of these lipsticks to the intense pigmentation makes then a dead on dupe. Both colors are extremely pigmented, a cream formula and they last approximately the same time on the lips. One thing I didn't notice was different was the scent. I find the MAC Cosmetics smells beautifully of vanilla while the Revlon counterpart can sometimes smell of plastic (but this doens't last long on the lips).

If you are wanting to play around with purple lipstick and don't want to invest in a $20 lipstick, I highly recommend heading down to the drugstore and picking up Revlon Super Lustrous in Berry Haute. While both of these products are my favorite, I would much rather purchase the cheaper alternative so I can save my pennies to purchase other high-end products that I don't have dupes for!


So now that you know some of the dupes hiding within my collection I want to know what yours are. Do you have a favorite high-end lipstick that looks like a drugstore one? Or do you have an eyeshadow that is the same color as that expensive one you bought at Sephora? Leave me your dupe suggestions in the comments below and if you've done a post like this link me to it so I can give it a read and indulge my makeup addicted self.

I love discovering new products and I love discovering products that dupes so I can be sure to purchase the best and most unique products that are going to benefit my growing collection!

Do you have any dupe products in your collection?
Have you tried any of the products from my dupe post?


*** All products were purchased by me excluding the Marc Jacobs Highliner which was from the Sephora Birthday Set!

1 comment :

  1. I love the sound of the NYX lipstick. I have a couple of the NARS velvet matte lip pencils and I love the formula and have been debating whether to get Cruella as it's a popular one. But I'm not sure if that shade would suit me as like you I'm quite fair, but I might get the NYX one for the shade and see if it suits!

    Great post!

    The Makeup Directory

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