🔗 Share this article

Rachael Parnell

Upon hearing Rachael Parnell heard a supermarket was selling a fresh skincare range that appeared akin to products from high-end label Augustinus Bader, she was "extremely excited".

Rachael rushed to her nearest outlet to purchase the supermarket face cream for a low price for 50ml - a small portion of the £240 cost of the high-end 50ml cream.

The sleek blue packaging and gold cap of each products look strikingly comparable. Although Rachael has not used the premium cream, she says she's satisfied by the alternative so far.

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

More than a fourth of UK shoppers state they've tried a beauty or cosmetic alternative. This rises to 44 percent among 18-34 year olds, according to a recently published survey.

Alternatives are skincare products that copy well-known companies and present cost-effective alternatives to high-end products. These products frequently have alike labels and design, but in some cases the formulas can vary significantly.

Victoria Woollaston

'Costly Isn't Necessarily Better'

Skincare professionals contend certain substitutes to high-end labels are reasonable standard and assist make skincare cheaper.

"In my opinion costlier is always better," says consultant dermatologist one expert. "Not all low-budget product line is inferior - and not every premium beauty item is the finest."

"Certain [dupes] are absolutely excellent," says a podcast host, who hosts a podcast with famous people.

Numerous of the products modeled on high-end labels "run out so rapidly, it's just insane," he says.

Scott McGlynn

Medical expert Ross Perry argues dupes are suitable to use for "basic skincare" like moisturisers and cleansers.

"These products will serve a purpose," he says. "These items will handle the essentials to a acceptable degree."

A consultant dermatologist, thinks you can spend less when seeking simple-formula items like hyaluronic acid, Vitamin B3 and a moisturizing ingredient.

"If you're purchasing a simple item then you're probably going to be okay in opting for a budget alternative or a product which is fairly inexpensive because there's minimal that can go wrong," she adds.

'Do Not Be Influenced by the Container'

However the professionals also suggest buyers check details and note that higher-priced items are at times worthy of the premium price.

With premium skincare, you're not only funding the name and advertising - sometimes the elevated cost also comes from the formula and their quality, the strength of the active ingredient, the technology employed to create the item, and tests into the item's efficacy, she says.

Skin therapist Rhian Truman suggests it's worth thinking about how certain alternatives can be sold so inexpensively.

In some cases, she says they could have less effective components that don't have as numerous positive effects for the complexion, or the materials might not be as high-quality.

"One key question mark is 'How is it so low-priced?'" she asks.

Expert Scott notes in some cases he's bought skincare items that look similar to a big-name brand but the actual formula has "no connection to the original".

"Don't be convinced by the packaging," he warned.

SimpleImages/Getty Images

For advanced products or ones with ingredients that can inflame the skin if they're not made accurately, such as retinoids or vitamin C serums, Dr Bhate suggests selecting research-backed companies.

She says these probably have been through expensive tests to determine how efficacious they are.

Skincare items must be assessed before they can be sold in the UK, notes consultant dermatologist Emma Wedgeworth.

If the label states about the efficacy of the item, it must have data to support it, "but the manufacturer doesn't always have to perform the testing" and can alternatively use testing done by different brands, she says.

Examine the Back of the Pack

Are there any ingredients that could signal a product is poor?

Components on the label of the tube are listed by quantity. "The baddies that you want to be wary of… is your petroleum-derived oil, your SLS, fragrance, benzel peroxide" being {high up