I’m very much into quality over quantity and have no problem spending more money when it comes to clothing, shoes and my skincare, of course! But when I can find a good bargain on a product that works just as well as the pricier alternative, I’m all for it! That’s why I’m going to share my current best makeup dupes and their more expensive counterparts and give you my honest opinion 🙂
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L’Oreal Voluminous Original vs. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
You’ve probably heard of this Too Faced mascara – it’s a cult favorite. I have pretty much always used drugstore mascara, because the pricier ones I’ve tried never impressed me enough to continue using them. However, I’d heard so many great things about Better Than Sex mascara and because my lashes have been looking amazing since I started using Lash Boost, I decided to give it a whirl. I got mine from Sephora. I instantly loved this mascara and it made my lashes pop for sure.
When I started to run out, though, I decided to give my cheap(er) mascara one more try with my naturally much-better-looking lashes (thanks, R+F). I had used L’Oreal Voluminous off and on in the past, but honestly forgot how great it works! I’ve been using this tube for almost two months now and probably won’t go back to using Too Faced mascara (unless it’s a gift or I get a gift card to Sephora), because my lashes look pretty much the same. Verdict: save $17 and choose L’Oreal!
Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover vs. Up&Up Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
To be completely transparent, neither of these items are really that expensive and both can be picked up at Target. However, I’m a fan of saving money wherever I can and I also use the Cartwheel app to save even more $$$ when shopping at Target…and most of the time, Target brand products are at least 5% off when using the app.
I’ve used Neutrogena eye makeup remover for as long as I can remember and it works amazingly to remove even the most stubborn waterproof mascara. And I HATE makeup remover with oil in it, so I’m all about the oil-free stuff! I actually didn’t realize Target had their own version of this until we popped into the store on our way to the beach and I realized I’d forgotten my trusty Neutrogena kind back home. I wanted to spend as little as possible since I had a full bottle at home, so I decided to give the Up&Up eye makeup remover a try. Like pretty much every other Target brand product, I was impressed at how similar it was to the name brand and this will most likely be the kind I buy from now on! Verdict: save at least $1.30 (or more if it’s on Cartwheel!) and try Up&Up brand.
Almay Clear Complexion Concealer vs. e.l.f. Concealer
I always like to have concealer on hand, usually one kind for small spot fixes and another for under my eyes…because let’s face it, no matter how much eye cream and coffee I have, there are still dark circles under my eyes most days. #momlife I’ve used Almay concealer for a long time, really just because I’m a creature of habit with makeup and not so much because it was the ‘best’ out there. This past weekend, I was in dire need of a new tube of concealer…but Target was entirely out of the Almay kind I always get. So, while I bored my girls and husband to death searching for a replacement, I came across e.l.f. HD concealer. I had never tried any of their products, but love that they’re cruelty-free and the price point is great. So far, it’s been comparable to the higher-priced Almay brand concealer and I’d totally recommend it. Verdict: save a whopping $4 and get yourself a tube of e.l.f. concealer!
Kristin Ess Dry Shampoo vs. Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo
I hopped on the dry shampoo train a long time ago and have never looked back. With two little ones running around, it’s just not realistic to do the wash/dry/flat iron routine every single day like I used to! The first kind of dry shampoo I ever bought was Batiste, which a lot of people recommend. I honestly didn’t love it, so decided to try another cheaper brand, Tresemme, which I used for almost a year.
I love a good beauty product review myself, and had been reading what other bloggers were saying about their favorite dry shampoos and how great their hair looked after using certain brands. I started to notice that the Tresemme formula was pretty weak and my hair lost all its volume after using it once, which I felt made my hair look…dirty. Exactly the opposite of what dry shampoo is meant to do. 🙂 So, when I ran out, I browsed the aisles of Target (like every other mama’s favorite pastime) and on a whim, decided to give Kristin Ess dry shampoo a shot. WORTH EVERY PENNY…seriously. I’m usually all for saving $$$, but this is one product worth the extra money! Verdict: SPLURGE and get Kristin Ess brand for $14.
What are your best makeup dupes? Share in the comments below!
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