Drugstore Dupes: Affordable Alternatives to High-End Makeup, Skincare, and Haircare

I've raved about the Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate system before. The shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in treatment are truly amazing. They add beautiful dimension and shine to my hair. The leave-in conditioner is especially fantastic – it's super light, airy, and offers heat protection. However, at around $30 per product, the cost can quickly add up.

Luckily, I've discovered a fantastic alternative: the L'Oreal EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing system. This system also includes a shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in treatment. The similarity to the Redken system isn't a coincidence – L'Oreal actually owns Redken! I genuinely believe they share formulas (why wouldn't they?). The entire L'Oreal system costs a little over $30, the price of one Redken product. While the L'Oreal bottles contain slightly less product (8.5 oz vs. 10 oz), it's still an incredible value. In my experience, the L'Oreal system delivers comparable shine and dimension, and the leave-in treatment provides similar lightweight conditioning and heat protection.

The Color Wow Dream Coat is a cult-favorite styling treatment that promises sleek, frizz-free hair, even in humid conditions. I've repurchased it many times, but it's definitely a splurge. A more budget-friendly option is the Hair Chemist Sleek Anti-Humidity Shine Coat. It claims to offer the same benefits: sealing the hair cuticle, protecting against heat and humidity, adding shine, eliminating frizz, and detangling. I've used it on my super-straight hair with excellent results, saving a significant amount compared to Color Wow. It effectively smooths my hair and keeps it sleek, even in challenging weather. I'm unsure how it would perform on curly hair, as that's a different hair type altogether.

Two COSRX products have taken the skincare world by storm: the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence and the Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream. The Snail Mucin essence is a phenomenal hydrator, perfect for prepping skin before makeup. It plumps the skin and minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The Snail 92 cream is also packed with snail mucin and provides excellent all-around moisturization. COSRX also offers a six-peptide serum, boasting copper peptides (a popular ingredient known for its anti-aging properties) to penetrate deep into the skin and plump wrinkles. Peptides are the building blocks of amino acids, which are the building blocks of collagen, making them essential for maintaining youthful-looking skin.

While I love both of these COSRX products, I've found an even better option that combines their benefits: the Benton Snail Bee Ultimate Toner. This toner contains snail mucin, bee venom (which is surprisingly calming for sensitive skin), peptides (including copper peptides!), five layers of hyaluronic acid, and Saccharomyces (a fermentation process used in Korean skincare for its anti-aging benefits). This watery toner absorbs instantly, providing intense hydration without interfering with makeup application. It's a true game-changer for my skincare routine.

The Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is a beloved rice-based powder exfoliant that brightens, polishes, cleans pores, and removes dead skin for a radiant complexion. It's a wonderful product, but it comes with a hefty price tag. My alternative is the Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder. Both are powders that you mix with water to create a paste or cream cleanser. They're both gentle enough for daily use and effectively remove dead skin cells, revealing smoother, brighter skin. The Good Molecules powder provides a similar high-end experience without the high-end cost.

The Rare Beauty Pore Diffusing Primer is a favorite of mine. It's not overly thick with dimethicone, but it still provides some hydration (essential for my dry skin) while blurring pores. However, it's a high-end product with a high-end price. My alternative is the ColourPop No Filter Primer. It performs similarly, blurring pores and smoothing texture, but it has a slightly thinner consistency, which I prefer. Thinner formulas tend to work better on mature skin, as layering thick products can sometimes accentuate texture. The ColourPop primer offers beautiful results at a fraction of the cost.

I recently repurchased the travel-sized Benefit Porefessional Super Setter Setting Spray. It contains powder-like particles that diffuse makeup for a flawless finish. It's great for normal to oily skin, but it might be too drying for very dry skin types. The full-size bottle is quite expensive. My alternative is the ColourPop No Filter Setting Spray. It also contains those refined powder particles that create a diffused look, just like the Benefit spray. While powder can sometimes look dry and aging on mature skin, when incorporated into a setting spray, it melts into the makeup beautifully. Shake the bottle well to mix the powder, spray it on, and watch your makeup seamlessly blend together. The ColourPop spray is a fantastic, affordable alternative.

Risa Does Makeup introduced me to the Say highlighter. It's a gorgeous, creamy highlighter with a subtle sheen. I found a very similar product from Cokie Cosmetics in the shade Rosy Dream (the Say shade is Pink Glow). Both are creamy, apply beautifully, and offer a similar rosy glow. The Cokie highlighter is slightly more rose-gold, while the Say is a truer rose, but the difference is barely noticeable on the skin. Both are perfect for mature skin and offer a beautiful, affordable glow.

Stick bronzers and contours are incredibly popular right now. The Westman Atelier Face Trace Cream Contour Stick in Biscuit is a beautiful, blendable option for fair skin, but it's incredibly expensive. My go-to alternative is the Kiko Milano Sculpting Touch Creamy Stick Contour. It's the perfect shade for me, with no orange tones, and it blends seamlessly. It appears slightly darker than the Westman Atelier in the stick, but once blended, they look virtually identical. The Kiko Milano stick is a luxurious, creamy, and affordable option.

The Merit Flush Balm Cream Blushes are lovely, creamy, and blend beautifully on mature skin. They can also be used on the lips and even the eyes. Moira recently released their own version, and while the shades aren't identical, the formula and performance are very similar. They offer that same balmy, creamy texture that's perfect for mature skin. I've fallen in love with the Moira blushes, especially the shades Sweet On You and Talk To Me. They're beautiful, versatile, and affordable.

Finally, a quick mention of the Natasha Denona My Dream Palette. It's a beautiful palette with deeper tones, but it's expensive. The Alter Ego Sundown Palette is a great alternative. It offers similar colors and performs beautifully, giving you that high-end look without the high-end price tag.

I hope you found some amazing new alternatives to try! Take care of yourselves, and I'll see you soon!