Is there such a thing as cheap makeup versions, and if so what are they?

mikki6416

Hi All,

I am sure this question has been asked before but I couldn't find a chat about it anywhere (well, I found one chat on another site but it wasn't that helpful). If it's already been chatted about then please feel free to let me know and where I can see it

So as the title says - are there such things as cheap makeup versions? I've read about fragrance knock-offs and alcohol copies and I wondered about makeup. What is reallly close to the premium brands? Many women (or men?) say what they're favourite brand of make-up is but that's not what I'm trying to find out - I'd like the good stuff at a far cheaper price, if it exists.

Personally I'd particularly like to hear about foundation and cover powders, but please share any cheaper makeup versions that you know of.

Many thanks!

mum2one

I'd suggest trying boots natural collection - around £2 a product, next range is no 17.

X

poppy_f1

MUA and revolution are pretty good and very cheap you can get them in superdrug

Hermia

In a way surely all the 'drugstore' (I wish there was a UK term that said that same thing as 'high street' doesn't sound accurate) brands are dupes of high end brands. Especially these days where they can copy products so quickly. I mean look how many cheap versions of the Naked palettes there are. Personally I tend to just google (or search on YouTube) for 'dupe for' and then put the premium product I like. It does take a bit of research as I find cheap brands tend to have some awesome dupes and some terrible ones.

SavvySar

MAKEUP Revolution do a great dupe of the Urban Decay Naked palette & also the Chocolate palette from TooFaced.

Sleek have some good dupes of a few MAC lipstick shades (Heroine / Mystic & Ruby Woo/Vixen)

Not too sure about foundations... But if you're looking for the actually high end product for cheap maybe try eBay ?!?

chuckley

Bourjois is made by Chanel
Topshop is made by MAC

I can't remember the others, but there's another big one I think it was UD.

anyway I do believe you need a dupe for foundation only, as eyeshadows/lipsticks/blushers are value for money when bought from a legit brand as you'll never need to replace it or as often.

I rate Avon for budget foundation, GOSH and Natio for primers (I steer clear of any 'expensive ones' as they're plumped full of silicone *SMASH BOX*

GOSH have great mascaras but MUFE is a dupe for YSL original but around the same price. But MUFE you can usually find on a slightly cheaper deal over YSL.

Essence is also another GREAT cheap brand (German) and available in Wilko. Literally everything is great! First tried a mascara and it was better than some others and most things are under £5.

For me the one to steer clear of is Benefit, ever since the daughters took over. the products are NOTHING like they were a decade ago, even Hoola.

I don't believe 'premium is best' overall though as MAC is a croak of...

savingfortomorrow

lip sticks- sleek and rimmel are good, mayelbine is good. nyc meant to excellent
heard a lot good stuff about burgoise but the colour range is poor

no 7 eye shadows are great and maybeline have great mascara.

the best high street make up is sleek and catrice (hard to get in the UK) but they are fashion forward and have excellent pigment quality. Use catrice lip liner, love it.

Look at the diffusion lines from l'oreal. Higher end but great quality.

Don't look for the dupe look for the best item in a range, then it is not a compromise!

shandyclover

I love Catrice too!

I tend to stock up when I go to RO Ireland as its widely available there on the highstreet and pharmacy/chemist type shops have their stands.

:j

jenniewb

If I had to name a good budget brand, I'd say Boots No.17 or Rimmel. I'd not seen or tried anything which costs less and I'd pay money to use again.


I'd also say although some brands make other brands (eg Chanel, Bojours, Lancôme/YSL/L'Or!al...etc) I don't think that this instantly makes them the same, I've used Chanel mascaras before and they were excellent but if I use Bojours mascaras they flake all over my cheeks every time and every type of mascara from the brand I've tried. Chanel mascaras are not the same as Bojours mascaras and I've no doubt there are other products which buck the idea that they're all the same.

donnac2558

chuckley wrote: »

Bourjois is made by Chanel
Topshop is made by MAC

I can't remember the others, but there's another big one I think it was UD.

anyway I do believe you need a dupe for foundation only, as eyeshadows/lipsticks/blushers are value for money when bought from a legit brand as you'll never need to replace it or as often.

I rate Avon for budget foundation, GOSH and Natio for primers (I steer clear of any 'expensive ones' as they're plumped full of silicone *SMASH BOX*

GOSH have great mascaras but MUFE is a dupe for YSL original but around the same price. But MUFE you can usually find on a slightly cheaper deal over YSL.

Essence is also another GREAT cheap brand (German) and available in Wilko. Literally everything is great! First tried a mascara and it was better than some others and most things are under £5.

For me the one to steer clear of is Benefit, ever since the daughters took over. the products are NOTHING like they were a decade ago, even Hoola.

I don't believe 'premium is best' overall though as MAC is a croak of...

Sorry totally wrong, a myth that has done the rounds many many times.

Bourjois make up is far older than Chanel, at one point they where made in the same factory. But had nothing to do with each other. Both owned by totally different companies

MAC is owned and made by Estee Lauder a US company. EL does not own or has anything to do with Topshop.

MAC used to be a good brand mid priced. Since Estee Lauder bought them out in the early 00s the quality had gone down. Many makeup artists will not use the brand now.

PancakeBunny

Its also worth investigating totally different brands that you may not have heard of. Eg I buy "Dermacol" on Ebay. Its from the Czech Republic but an amazing foundation that is so thick it is best used as concealer. £6.50 from Ebay, I have bought from this seller before and it was a genuine product. For lighter coverage I use Skin79 pink BB Cream, a S. Korean brand.

Both of these products I found by reading beauty blogs or googling the properties of what I want eg "full coverage concealer inexpensive" or "best BB cream" and reading a variety of blog posts and the comments below them. You can discover some real gems that way