My personal best drugstore makeup dupes 2021: products that’re seriously stellar, and ALSO dupes of very high-end products you might covet.
Good dupes, bad dupes and shameless copying
When I prepared the first part of this post that dealt with skincare, body care and fragrance I already wrote about ‘bad’ dupes: you know the ones. You saw an IG or TikTok, it looked great, but then it wasn’t and you ended up buying not only the dupe, but also the duped product. Result? A useless, so-called dupe that’ll collect dust somewhere, and more money spent than you wanted anyway.
I’m not dealing with that.
Nor do I even want to give space to brands that copy successful products exactly. Get creative and make your own, brands!
No, I’m dealing with the GOOD dupes here. These are products that are great on their own, but also are wonderful stand-ins for luxury products – but within your budget.
They may not match the exact formula or colour scheme, but they’ll perform great (or even better).
What I’m always buying at the drugstore
I mean, honestly: I don’t see any reason to buy high-end mascaras or brow products. NYX makes really good eyebrow products, however you do your brows. (And does a good dupe of ABH’s Brow Whiz.) For mascaras I always reach for L’Oreal. My fave concealers also are from the drugstore (Maybelline: Fit Me Concealer is a good dupe for Nars’ Radiant Concealer and their Instant Age Rewind for Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Away), and I don’t see a reason to switch for higher end products in a category that I’ve to replace often anyways (you DO use all of those near your eyes).
The best drugstore makeup dupes 2021
OG: Anastasia Beverly Hills eyeshadows – dupe: bh cosmetics eyeshadow palettes
I’ve to admit that I started to follow bh cosmetics only at the end of last year. It has been around since 2009, but in 2020 they changed. From a brand that started from private labelling like Morphe, formulas got better and collections became more innovative. I’ve only tested their eyeshadow palettes, and. They. Are. Stellar.
Especially their matte formula is easily on par with high-end brands, while their shimmers vary from a thinner to sometimes a super creamy formula. Their duochromes, tbh, aren’t on indie level. The Flower Power Palette (pictured above find swatches at the twindly Instagram), for example, is a great stand-in for ABH’s Norvina eyeshadow palette (not pictured). I can promise you that you won’t spot a difference in the formula.
OG: By Terry Ombre Blackstar – dupe: Elf no budge shadow stick
By Terry Ombre Blackstar (around 30€) was at one time SUCH a hyped product, along with Laura Mercier’s eyeshadow sticks, for the coveted one-and-done eye look. I love a good cream shadow stick, but the By Terry formula always fell short for me – too emollient, which meant it creased on me, and dare I say it – too glittery.
The elf no budge shadow sticks (around 7€) feel drier (but still creamy!), and the formula is shimmery, not glittery. They honestly don’t budge, and if you find a colour you like, I can only urge you to try them.
OG: Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Liner – dupe: Kiko lip liners
Charlotte Tilbury seems to be an exhausting person. I mean, I don’t need to have ‘DAAAAAAAAHHHHHLING’ shouted at me in every email, do you?! Also, that persistence for rose gold, rose, pink, mauve, with a dash of gold for a change – I personally find it boring. But still, there’re formulas in that portfolio that are impeccable, and her Lip Cheat Lip Liner (22,95€) is one of those.
But: look at it. Made in Germany, 1,20g, gold packaging with a plastic cap. Now look at Kiko’s Creamy Colour Comfort Lip Liner (4,99€). Made in Germany, 1,20g, gold packaging… Yup. It also comes in 24 colours (CT has 15), and it’s so, so, SO GOOD! Creamy, comfortable, doesn’t drag. 303 Tea Rose is my all-time fave, and also a decent Pillow Talk dupe.
OG: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush – dupe: Max Factor blushes
Max Factor is an old brand. It’s one of the oldest cosmetics brands out there, in fact, and it shows. It’s packaging is old-fashioned, and in my local drugstores, it’s often relegated to the farthest corners. They’re never talked about and they never launch new exciting products. The thing is, they carry one product that’s absolutely stellar and on-par with the most expensive out there.
And that’s their Pastell Compact Blush (in other regions called Creme Puff Blush), around 7€, that’s just as good as Hourglass’ Ambient Lighting Blushes (travel size around 26€). (Their Creme Bronzer is supposed to be just as good as Hourglass’ Ambient Lighting Powders, but it’s always sold out where I am.) I’ve mentioned them as faves before here, for example.
They apply and blend like a dream, no matter of you do it with a ratty travel brush in the back of a bus, or with a Hakahudo at your vanity. The colour range is flattering, and different to Hourglass, they actually carry colours suitable to POC. Their blushes are the only ones I’ve finished. Twice. Don’t sleep on them.
Please note that this post is not sponsored in any way. We buy products ourselves, with our own money, and don’t accept exchanging goods or money for reviews. We are completely independent, and our reviews reflect that.
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