Grocery Store Beauty Lookalikes Could Save Shoppers a Bundle. However, Do Budget Beauty Items Perform?

Rachael Parnell

After discovering a consumer learned a supermarket was launching a new skincare range that appeared similar to products from premium company Augustinus Bader, she was "extremely excited".

The shopper dashed to her local shop to buy the store-brand face cream for a low price for 50ml - a tiny percentage of the £240 of the high-end 50ml product.

The sleek blue packaging and gold cap of both items look strikingly comparable. Although she has not tested the high-end cream, she states she's satisfied by the product so far.

She has been purchasing lookalike products from popular shops and grocery stores for a long time, and she's part of a trend.

More than a fourth of UK consumers say they've tried a beauty or cosmetic lookalike. This increases to nearly half among younger adults, based on a recently published survey.

Alternatives are beauty items that copy well-known labels and present budget-friendly options to premium items. They frequently have alike labels and design, but occasionally the formulas can differ substantially.

Victoria Woollaston

'Expensive Isn't Always Superior'

Beauty professionals contend certain dupes to high-end labels are good quality and aid make skincare more affordable.

"It is not true that costlier is always better," says consultant dermatologist Sharon Belmo. "Not every affordable product line is poor - and not every high-end skincare product is the finest."

"Some [dupes] are really excellent," adds Scott McGlynn, who runs a program about famous people.

Many of the products based on luxury labels "run out so quickly, it's just insane," he says.

Scott McGlynn

Medical expert a doctor believes dupes are suitable to use for "basic skincare" like hydrators and cleansers.

"Alternatives will serve a purpose," he says. "These items will handle the basics to a satisfactory standard."

Ketaki Bhate, thinks you can cut costs when searching for simple-formula products like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and a moisturizing ingredient.

"If you're purchasing a simple product then you're likely going to be fine in using a lookalike or something which is very affordable because there's not much that can cause issues," she adds.

'Don't Be Sold by the Packaging'

Yet the professionals also advise consumers check details and say that more expensive products are at times worth the extra money.

Regarding high-end skincare, you're not just funding the label and advertising - sometimes the increased price also is due to the ingredients and their quality, the strength of the key component, the technology used to produce the item, and trials into the item's effectiveness, Dr Belmo explains.

Skin therapist she argues it's worth thinking about how certain dupes can be sold so at a low cost.

Sometimes, she believes they could include less effective components that lack as numerous positive effects for the skin, or the ingredients might not be as carefully selected.

"One key doubt is 'Why is it so cheap?'" she remarks.

Commentator Scott says in some cases he's bought beauty products that look comparable to a big-name label but the product itself has "little similarity to the original".

"Do not be fooled by the packaging," he added.

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For potent products or ones with components that can inflame the complexion if they're not made properly, such as retinols or vitamin C serums, the specialist recommends sticking to research-backed companies.

She explains these will likely have been subjected to expensive studies to assess how efficacious they are.

Beauty products must be tested before they can be sold in the UK, notes consultant dermatologist Emma Wedgeworth.

If the company states about the performance of the item, it requires research to verify it, "but the brand doesn't always have to do the testing" and can alternatively reference studies done by other brands, she says.

Read the Ingredients List of the Bottle

Are there any components that could signal a item is inferior?

Components on the back of the tube are arranged by amount. "Potential irritants that you need to look out for… is your mineral oil, your sodium lauryl sulfate, fragrance, benzoyl peroxide" being {high up