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One product you should never skimp on – makeup experts reveal the best affordable options for this summer
By Emily Mee, Money Reporter
If TikTok is anything to go by, many of us are aiming for that Sabrina Carpenter-esque bronzed look this summer (myself included).
But without a pop star’s makeup team and the bank account to boot, how can the rest of us achieve that flawless glow?
We asked four beauty experts to give us their best affordable dupes of high-end products. Here’s what they had to say (before one of them reveals the product you should never skimp on)…
Suzanne Baumfreelance beauty editor
For Suzanne, affordable makeup brand Elf is unbeatable when it comes to its range: “Super affordable, long-lasting and provides the perfect finish for a summer glow.”
These are her picks from the brand…
elf tanning drops, £12
It’s a knockoff of… Drunk Elephant’s D-Bronzi drops, £34
“A nourishing tinted serum for a sun-kissed glow,” she says.
Simply add one to three drops to your moisturizer, facial oil, or body cream.
e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter, £15
It’s an imitation of… Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter, £39
“A multi-use, liquid glow booster that gives your skin a real-life soft-focus social filter effect,” says Suzanne.
Use alone for sheer coverage, under foundation as a luminous base, as a highlighter, or mixed with foundation for a dewy glow.
e.l.f. Power Grip Primer, £10
It’s an imitation of… Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer, £35
“A hydrating gel face primer that smooths skin while setting makeup in place,” says Suzanne.
Halo Glow Contour Beauty Wand, £9
It’s an imitation of… Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand, £30
“A liquid contour applicator with a cushioned tip for naturally sculpted skin,” says the beauty expert.
Apply to the hairline, temples, sides of the nose, hollows of the cheeks and jawline, then blend with a brush.
e.l.f. Camo Liquid Blush, £7
It’s a dupe of… Rare Beauty Soft Pink Liquid Blush, £24
“A long-wearing liquid blush that delivers a highly pigmented flush of color to the cheeks with a dewy finish,” says Suzanne.
Glow Reviver Lip Oil, £8
It’s a dupe of… Dior Lip Glow Oil, £32
“A tinted, ultra-shiny lip oil that nourishes, hydrates and enhances the natural color of your lips,” says Suzanne.
Joyce Connormakeup artist
Joyce usually prefers luxury brands over knockoffs, but there was one product that she thought was even better than the real thing.
Here are her picks…
Revolution Pro CC Perfecting Skin Enhancer, £10
It’s a dupe of… IT Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow, £37
The IT Cosmetics product is Joyce’s favorite, but she says the Revolution version is a “pretty good” imitation.
She says it gives a “beautiful glow without being shiny, because in the summer we don’t want to be covered in makeup.”
It’s worth noting that IT Cosmetics’ version includes SPF 40, while Revolution’s doesn’t.
Apply before foundation to add shine.
Boots Glow Essence Serum, £5
It’s a dupe of… Glossier Future Dew Facial Oil Serum Hybrid, £30
There’s a big price difference here, and Joyce says the Boots version gives a “beautiful glow” under foundation.
However, she notes that the Glossier product has a more golden hue.
Massage two to three drops into skin before moisturizing.
Avon Radiance Ritual Touch Of Gold Body Oil, £5
It’s a knockoff of… Sol De Janeiro GlowMotions Glow Body Oil, £35
For added shine, massage into skin and do not rinse – or you can use it as a bath oil.
NYX Professional Makeup Lip Oil Lip Drip Lip Gloss, £7.99
It’s a dupe of… Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil, £32
“To be honest, I prefer Fat Oil to Dior,” says Joyce, choosing it as her favorite imitation.
“It lasted longer on my lips. I didn’t need to touch up as quickly. I liked the shine. The color was beautiful,” she raves.
Sue Moxleybeauty expert
Sue believes you don’t have to spend a fortune to get quality products – and she’s a fan of “good old” Revlon and L’Oreal.
Here are her picks…
Revolution Fix and Glow Setting Spray, £8.99
It’s a knockoff of… Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, £39
Okay, so this isn’t a direct dupe, as it’s a setting spray rather than a foundation. But Sue says that if you pair this with your favorite foundation, it should give you that “gorgeous, flawless glow” similar to Flawless Filter.
She recommends spraying the product about 10 inches away from your face and letting it dry for a few minutes.
NYX Bare With Me Blur Tint Foundation, £9.99
It’s a rip-off of… Jones Road What the Foundation, £42
A good alternative to the trending Jones Road foundation is NYX’s Bare With Me, which Sue says “smoothes pores but looks really light and natural.”
“Apply with a makeup brush all over the face for a professional finish,” she says.
Lacura Luminous Filter Foundation, £5
It’s a dupe of… Clinique Even Better SPF15 Foundation, £34.50
TikTok has gone wild over this Aldi knockoff, which Sue says is an alternative to “high-end glitter foundations”.
“It’s a bargain, it’s definitely up there,” she says.
She recommends applying it all over your body with a sponge, pressing it into your skin rather than rubbing it in.
Rimmel Natural Bronzer, £6.99
It’s a dupe of London’s iconic Kissed By the Sun Bronzer, £25
Sue says this is a lightweight bronzer that “glides on easily with a blush brush.”
Apply to the hollows of the cheeks, moving up to the temples, down below the jaw and to the tip of the nose.
So how much difference is there between counterfeit products and high-quality products?
You might be wondering how noticeable the difference is if you opt for the cheaper alternative.
It’s a tough question to answer, as it can vary from product to product — and not all the experts we spoke to were in complete agreement.
Sue Moxley says many budget brands use similar ingredients to their more expensive competitors.
“You might get better packaging or the quality of the packaging is better, but it’s also the brand that’s driving up the prices,” she says.
Luxury brands add extra ingredients, she says, but “they don’t justify the price difference.”
“It’s still lovely to go and buy a Chanel lipstick or something and have it in your bag and it makes you feel wonderful. You take it out and it’s in beautiful packaging and you put it in the restaurant,” she says.
“It makes you feel good, but I believe there are products out there that are equivalent in quality and ingredients.”
But Joyce Connor says luxury brands are often worth it, although she says you can “mix and match.”
More expensive brands rarely sell single-ingredient products, she says, and that can make a difference in terms of what you’re getting.
For example, she says a store-brand hyaluronic acid cream will often have that single ingredient, but a similar product from a higher-end brand will likely include peptides and ceramides, all of which provide extra value.
An item that should not be skimped on
Joyce says if you’re going to spend money on anything, it should be your moisturizer, so you have a flawless base for your makeup.
“There are a lot of knockoff versions out there that will be effective as long as you’re moisturizing,” she says.
Her pick is the Goldfaden MD Vital Boost Even Skintone Daily Moisturiser – but at £60 for 50ml, it might be a little pricey for some.