High-Street Beauty Lookalikes Can Save Shoppers a Bundle. However, Do Affordable Skincare Items Really Work?
Rachael Parnell
When Rachael Parnell found out Aldi was offering a new beauty line that looked similar to products from high-end label Augustinus Bader, she was "incredibly excited".
The shopper rushed to her closest shop to purchase the store-brand face cream for under £9 for 50ml - a tiny percentage of the £240 of the Augustinus Bader 50ml cream.
Its smooth blue packaging and gold lid of each items look remarkably alike. While she has never tried the premium cream, she claims she's pleased by the product so far.
Rachael has been purchasing lookalike products from mainstream retailers and supermarkets for years, and she's in good company.
More than a fourth of UK buyers state they've purchased a skincare or makeup dupe. This increases to nearly half among 18-34 year olds, according to a recently published survey.
Alternatives are beauty items that copy bigger name labels and offer affordable alternatives to high-end items. These products often have similar branding and containers, but occasionally the ingredients can change considerably.
Victoria Woollaston
'Expensive Is Not Always Better'
Beauty experts argue some dupes to high-end labels are reasonable quality and aid make beauty routines less expensive.
"It is not true that higher-priced is necessarily superior," says skin specialist a doctor. "Not all affordable beauty label is inferior - and not all luxury beauty item is the best."
"Some [dupes] are absolutely impressive," adds Scott McGlynn, who runs a podcast about public figures.
Numerous of the products inspired by high-end labels "run out so quickly, it's just crazy," he says.
Scott McGlynn
Medical expert Ross Perry thinks alternatives are fine to use for "simple routines" like hydrators and face washes.
"Dupes will be effective," he explains. "These items will do the fundamentals to a acceptable level."
Another skin doctor, thinks you can save money when seeking single-ingredient products like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and a moisturizing ingredient.
"If you're purchasing a simple item then you're likely going to be okay in opting for a budget alternative or something which is quite affordable because there's not much that can be problematic," she adds.
'Don't Be Influenced by the Container'
Yet the professionals also advise consumers check details and state that more expensive products are sometimes worth the premium price.
Regarding luxury skincare, you're not only funding the name and advertising - at times the increased cost also stems from the ingredients and their standard, the concentration of the key component, the science used to produce the product, and trials into the products' efficacy, she explains.
Skin therapist another professional argues it's valuable considering how some dupes can be priced so cheaply.
Sometimes, she states they may have less effective components that do not provide as significant advantages for the complexion, or the components might not be as carefully selected.
"The major question mark is 'Why is it so low-priced?'" she says.
Commentator Scott admits in some cases he's purchased skincare items that appear similar to a well-known label but the item has "no connection to the original".
"Do not be fooled by the container," he added.
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Regarding advanced products or ones with components that can aggravate the complexion if they're not made properly, such as retinols or vitamin C serums, she recommends sticking to medical-grade companies.
The expert explains these probably have been subjected to expensive tests to determine how effective they are.
Skincare products need to be evaluated before they can be available in the UK, notes consultant dermatologist Emma Wedgeworth.
When the company makes claims about the effectiveness of the product, it needs research to verify it, "but the manufacturer does not necessarily have to perform the trials" and can alternatively use studies done by other companies, she clarifies.
Read the Label of the Bottle
Are there any ingredients that could signal a product is low-quality?
Ingredients on the label of the container are ordered by quantity. "Potential irritants that you should be wary of… is your mineral oil, your SLS, parfum, benzel peroxide" being {high up
