High-Street Skincare Lookalikes Could Save You Hundreds. However, Do Affordable Beauty Products Perform?
Rachael Parnell
When Rachael Parnell found out Aldi was launching a new product collection that appeared akin to products from high-end label Augustinus Bader, she was "extremely excited".
She dashed to her nearest outlet to buy the supermarket face cream for £8.49 for 50ml - a tiny percentage of the £240 of the Augustinus Bader 50ml item.
The sleek blue container and gold cap of the two products look strikingly alike. Although Rachael has never tried the high-end cream, she claims she's satisfied by the dupe so far.
Rachael has been using beauty alternatives from high street stores and supermarkets for some time, and she's not alone.
Over a 25% of UK shoppers report they've tried a skincare or makeup dupe. This jumps to 44% among 18-34 year olds, according to a recently published survey.
Lookalikes are skincare products that mimic established companies and present cost-effective options to luxury items. These products typically have similar branding and containers, but occasionally the ingredients can differ substantially.
Victoria Woollaston
'High-Priced Isn't Necessarily Better'
Beauty professionals contend some substitutes to premium brands are reasonable standard and aid make beauty routines less expensive.
"I don't think costlier is necessarily more effective," comments consultant dermatologist Sharon Belmo. "Not every low-budget skincare brand is inferior - and not all high-end beauty item is the finest."
"A number of [dupes] are truly impressive," notes Scott McGlynn, who runs a program with celebrities.
A lot of of the products based on high-end labels "disappear so fast, it's just unbelievable," he observes.
Scott McGlynn
Aesthetic and dermatology doctor a doctor thinks alternatives are suitable to use for "fundamental products" like moisturisers and cleansers.
"Dupes will serve a purpose," he says. "These items will perform the basics to a acceptable level."
A consultant dermatologist, thinks you can spend less when searching for simple-formula items like HA, niacinamide and squalane.
"If you're purchasing a simple product then you're probably going to be okay in using a budget alternative or something which is quite inexpensive because there's not much that can cause issues," she explains.
'Do Not Be Swayed by the Container'
However the experts also suggest shoppers do their research and say that costlier products are occasionally worthy of the extra money.
Regarding high-end skincare, you're not only paying for the brand and promotion - at times the elevated cost also comes from the components and their standard, the potency of the effective element, the technology used to create the product, and trials into the item's performance, the expert says.
Facialist another professional says it's important questioning how some alternatives can be sold so cheaply.
In some cases, she believes they could contain bulking agents that do not provide as numerous benefits for the complexion, or the materials might not be as well sourced.
"One major uncertainty is 'How is it so low-priced?'" she remarks.
Podcast host McGlynn notes in some cases he's bought skincare items that look similar to a well-known brand but the item has "no connection to the luxury product".
"Don't be convinced by the container," he warned.
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For more complicated products or those with components that can inflame the complexion if they're not created properly, such as retinoids or vitamin C, she suggests using medical-grade brands.
She explains these probably have been through comprehensive studies to assess how efficacious they are.
Skincare products must be evaluated before they can be available in the UK, says skin doctor Emma Wedgeworth.
When the brand makes claims about the performance of the item, it requires evidence to back it up, "but the brand doesn't necessarily have to do the trials" and can instead cite testing done by different brands, she says.
Read the Label of the Container
Is there any components that could suggest a product is low-quality?
Components on the back of the container are ordered by quantity. "The baddies that you want to look out for… is your mineral oil, your SLS, parfum, benzel peroxide" being {high up
