🔗 Share this article

Rachael Parnell

When Rachael Parnell learned a supermarket was offering a new skincare range that seemed similar to offerings from high-end label Augustinus Bader, she was "extremely excited".

Rachael dashed to her nearest outlet to pick up the Lacura face cream for under £9 for 50ml - a tiny percentage of the £240 cost of the luxury brand 50ml cream.

Its smooth blue tube and gold lid of the two creams look strikingly similar. Although she has not tested the high-end cream, she claims she's impressed by the alternative so far.

She has been using beauty alternatives from mainstream retailers and supermarkets for a long time, and she's not alone.

Over a fourth of UK consumers report they've bought a beauty or cosmetic alternative. This increases to 44% among millennials and Gen Z, based on a recent study.

Alternatives are beauty items that imitate established brands and offer cost-effective substitutes to premium items. They typically have similar names and packaging, but sometimes the formulas can change considerably.

Victoria Woollaston

'Expensive Isn't Always Superior'

Skincare experts say some dupes to premium brands are good quality and help make skincare more affordable.

"I don't think higher-priced is always superior," states dermatology expert one expert. "Not every low-budget product line is bad - and not every high-end skincare product is the best."

"Certain [dupes] are absolutely excellent," adds a skincare commentator, who presents a program with celebrities.

Many of the products based on high-end brands "sell out so rapidly, it's just unbelievable," he observes.

Scott McGlynn

Aesthetic and dermatology doctor another professional thinks dupes are acceptable to use for "simple routines" like hydrators and face washes.

"These products will serve a purpose," he comments. "These items will perform the basics to a satisfactory standard."

Ketaki Bhate, thinks you can save money when you're looking for simple-formula products like HA, niacinamide and squalane.

"If you're buying a simple product then you're probably going to be alright in opting for a lookalike or something which is quite low cost because there's very little that can cause issues," she says.

'Don't Be Sold by the Container'

But the experts also suggest buyers check details and say that costlier items are at times worth the premium price.

Regarding luxury skincare, you're not only paying for the brand and advertising - at times the elevated cost also comes from the ingredients and their grade, the strength of the effective element, the research utilized to produce the item, and tests into the item's efficacy, the expert explains.

Facialist she argues it's important considering how some dupes can be sold so inexpensively.

In some cases, she states they might contain filler ingredients that don't have as numerous advantages for the complexion, or the materials might not be as well sourced.

"One big doubt is 'How is it so inexpensive?'" she asks.

Commentator Scott admits sometimes he's bought beauty products that appear comparable to a well-known brand but the actual formula has "little similarity to the premium version".

"Do not be fooled by the container," he added.

SimpleImages/Getty Images

For advanced products or those with components that can inflame the skin if they're not formulated properly, such as retinols or vitamin C serums, Dr Bhate recommends using research-backed brands.

The expert says these probably have been through expensive studies to evaluate how effective they are.

Skincare products must be evaluated before they can be marketed in the UK, says consultant dermatologist another professional.

If the label advertises about the efficacy of the item, it needs evidence to support it, "but the brand does not necessarily have to do the trials" and can alternatively use testing done by other brands, she clarifies.

Examine the Label of the Container

Are there any components that could indicate a product is inferior?

Ingredients on the list of the bottle are listed by concentration. "Ingredients to avoid that you want to be wary of… is your petroleum-derived oil, your sodium lauryl sulfate, fragrance, benzoyl peroxide" being {high up