17 Amazon beauty dupes that are almost identical to the real thing
Seventeen cheaper versions of cult products, compared with the originals on formula, finish and shade range. We say which ones are only almost.
By the editorsUpdated 4 min read
How we chose: This is a research roundup. We compared formulas, finishes, shade ranges and what buyers report after weeks of use. It isn't a hands-on test, and we'll say so in the post when we've tried something ourselves.
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A good dupe copies more than the packaging. It copies the formula idea, the finish and ideally the shade range, for a fraction of the price. Every product here was compared with the original it gets matched to most often.
Most are close. A few are only almost, and we've said so on the card, because "almost identical" is doing some work in that headline.
How we picked
We started with about forty dupes that keep coming up in reviews and on social media, and cut anything that only matched in a swatch photo. For what's left, we compared ingredient lists, finishes, shade ranges and prices, and read buyer reviews for how each one wears after a few weeks. Everything here was available on Amazon when we checked.
Base and glow
Dupe of Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filtere.l.f. Cosmetics
1. Halo Glow Liquid Filter
The same idea: a soft-focus liquid glow you can wear alone or under foundation, with more half-step shades. We compared them in detail.
Best for: Glow on a budgetCheck price on Amazon
Dupe of Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primere.l.f. Cosmetics
2. Power Grip Primer
Like Hydro Grip, a tacky gel primer with hyaluronic acid that gives foundation something to hold on to. Much cheaper per ounce.
Best for: Makeup that slides offCheck price on Amazon
Dupe of IT Cosmetics CC+ Creame.l.f. Cosmetics
3. Camo CC Cream SPF 30
The same pitch: color-correcting, medium-to-full coverage, SPF 30. It's thick, so start with less than you think.
Skip it if you want a sheer, skin-tint finish. This is closer to a full foundation.
Best for: Redness and uneven toneCheck price on Amazon
Dupe of Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blushe.l.f. Cosmetics
4. Camo Liquid Blush
A highly pigmented liquid blush in a doe-foot tube, like Soft Pinch. Both are strong, so a dot per cheek is plenty.
Skip it if you're new to liquid blush and want something forgiving.
Best for: Long-wearing colorCheck price on Amazon
Dupe of Drunk Elephant D-Bronzie.l.f. Cosmetics
5. Bronzing Drops
Drops you mix into moisturizer for a warm glow, the same idea as D-Bronzi, at a much lower price.
Best for: Fake sun in winterCheck price on Amazon
Dupe of Urban Decay All NighterMilani
6. Make It Last Setting Spray
A setting spray and primer in one, with the same job as All Nighter: keep your base in place all day.
Best for: Long days and humid weatherCheck price on Amazon
Lips
Dupe of Dior Addict Lip Glow Oile.l.f. Cosmetics
7. Glow Reviver Lip Oil
A tinted, glossy lip oil in the same spirit as the Dior, without the luxury packaging.
Skip it if the Dior tube is half of why you'd buy it.
Best for: Shine without stickinessCheck price on Amazon
Dupe of Laneige Lip Sleeping MaskBurt's Bees
8. Overnight Intensive Lip Treatment
One of the almosts. It's waxier than the Laneige and not as jelly-like, but it does the same overnight job.
Skip it if you love the Laneige's texture and berry scent. This has neither.
Best for: Chapped winter lipsCheck price on Amazon
Dupe of Fenty Beauty Gloss BombMaybelline
9. Lifter Gloss
A high-shine, non-sticky gloss in lots of shades, and the drugstore pick people suggest most for Gloss Bomb fans.
Best for: Everyday glossCheck price on Amazon
Eyes and brows
Dupe of Too Faced Better Than Sex MascaraEssence
10. Lash Princess False Lash Mascara
A cone-shaped fiber brush for volume and length, the same promise as Better Than Sex, for a few dollars.
Best for: Dramatic lashesCheck price on Amazon
Dupe of Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow WizNYX Professional Makeup
11. Micro Brow Pencil
The same ultra-fine retractable tip as Brow Wiz, for hair-like strokes in sparse spots.
Best for: Filling in gapsCheck price on Amazon
Dupe of Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freezee.l.f. Cosmetics
12. Brow Lift
A clear wax for brushed-up, laminated-looking brows, the same job as Brow Freeze.
Best for: Fluffy, laminated-looking browsCheck price on Amazon
Skincare
Dupe of SkinCeuticals C E FerulicTimeless
13. 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum
The same vitamin C, vitamin E and ferulic acid trio at a fraction of the price. The vitamin C percentage differs, so it's a close cousin, not a copy.
Best for: Dull skin and dark spotsCheck price on Amazon
Dupe of Clinique Take The Day Off Balme.l.f. Cosmetics
14. Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm
A melting cleansing balm that does the same job: dissolve makeup and SPF, then rinse clean.
Best for: Taking off long-wear makeupCheck price on Amazon
Dupe of Tatcha The Water CreamNeutrogena
15. Hydro Boost Water Gel
Not the same formula, but a similar light, watery gel texture, and far easier to find.
Skip it if fragrance bothers your skin. There's a fragrance-free version of the Hydro Boost.
Best for: Oily and combination skinCheck price on Amazon
Dupe of SkinCeuticals Discoloration DefenseGood Molecules
16. Discoloration Correcting Serum
Both lean on tranexamic acid and niacinamide for dark spots. Give either one a couple of months.
Best for: Dark spotsCheck price on Amazon
Hair
Dupe of Dyson Airwrap (sort of)Revlon
17. One-Step Volumizer Plus
The biggest stretch on the list. It's great for a smooth, bouncy blowout, but it can't do the Airwrap's curls and attachments, and it runs much hotter.
Skip it if your hair is fine or already damaged. The heat is a lot.
Best for: Thick, straight to wavy hairCheck price on Amazon
The ones that didn't make it
Plenty of dupes look identical in a photo and fall apart on paper. Setting sprays were the worst: several were mostly water and fragrance. We also left out "dupe" serums that named the hero ingredient without saying how much was in the bottle.
If a dupe you love isn't here, tell us. We're always looking at the next batch.
