Drugstore Beauty Dupes of Cult Favorites

By Michelle Tannahill

As a college student, I am always trying to shop smart and save money where I can. Stores like Sephora and Ulta have a wide variety of great products, but not all of them are affordable, especially if you use these products every day. That’s where local pharmacies and drugstores come in. Filled with countless beauty brands, these pharmacies have equally good products that don't break the bank. I recently took a stroll to some drug stores in College Park and bought all new products to test out in my everyday makeup routine. I looked for dupes of more expensive, name brand products and was pleasantly surprised to have successful results.

Primer

Cult Favorite: Benefit POREfessional Face Primer ($32)

Drugstore Dupe: NYX Pore Filler Primer ($9)

I browsed for a primer that could contend with Benefit’s POREfessional primer. For only $9 at CVS, you can try out NYX Pore Filler Primer which smoothes your skin before applying the rest of your everyday routine. When I tested this out, I discovered that it was almost identical to its name brand counterpart, which I had used prior to finding this amazing and much cheaper product. It is definitely a great product to lay the foundation for the rest of your makeup look.

BB Cream

Cult Favorite: Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream ($42)

Drugstore Dupe: L’Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream ($8)

I love a light coverage BB cream as much as the next girl, but I love it a little less when a 1 oz. tube is $42. However, during my adventure down the beauty aisle at Target, I stumbled upon L’Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream and instantly fell in love. For only $8, this BB cream mimics the glowing, camera ready look of the Smashbox product without making you pay the price. The only downside to this product is that there are only four shades to choose from, but besides that it’s the perfect dupe!

Foundation

Cult Favorite: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($64)

Drugstore Dupe: NYX Born to Glow Foundation ($10)

If you’re more of a foundation type of girl, then a comparable stand in to Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation is another wonderful product by NYX. Recently released, NYX Born to Glow Foundation will give you the same silky, radiant look without making you pay the price. This foundation costs $10 compared to the $64 you would spend on the name brand product, making it a cheaper substitute to use for a night out on the town.

Highlighter

Cult Favorite: Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Highlighting Powder ($38)

Drugstore Dupe: Wet n Wild’s MegaGLO Highlighter ($5)

I was very surprised to discover this next product, as I had never been a fan of the brand’s products previously. Wet n Wild was quite successful in creating a highlighter that could hold a candle to Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Highlighting Powder. I have been using Wet n Wild’s MegaGLO Highlighter for the longest time and I am still in love with it. The shade Golden Flower Crown is comparable to any Becca highlighter and gives you the sunkissed glow of summertime year round. The best part is, it is only $5 at CVS. What a steal!

Mascara

Cult Favorite: Two Faced Better than Sex Mascara ($25)

Drugstore Dupe: L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara ($9)

A dupe that has been very popular over the past 2 years is L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara that poses as a near replica of Two Faced Better than Sex Mascara. Both products boast the same shape applicator which accounts for a partial similarity in the final look. Only $8 at Target, this product beats the price of Better Than Sex by close to $20 and it is just as durable!

Setting Spray

Cult Favorite: Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray ($33)

Drugstore Dupe: Morphe Continuous Setting Mist ($16)

Of course to complete the look, you need an effective setting spray to keep your creation appearing flawless throughout the day. I used to swear by Urban Decay’s Up All Night setting spray until I discovered a $16 alternative: Morphe Continuous Setting Mist. This product comes in a 3 oz. bottle that, so far, has lasted me a month longer than my previous product, and on top of its longevity, it actually keeps my makeup on while giving my face a dewy finish.

Odds & Ends

The last products I wanted to include are not necessarily dupes of high end products, but I discovered them a while back and have sworn by them ever since. If you are aiming for a sunkissed look in the winter, then I recommend Milani Silky Matte Bronzing Powder. It gives your skin a soft glow without looking oily which is perfect if you want to pretend like summer isn’t over. If you are looking for a matte setting powder, then Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder is my go to. It comes in 8 shades and is on sale at your local Target for only $8! And finally, Revlon Insta Blush is a sheer, cream based blush that will give your face a faint rosy color during the cold, winter months that lie ahead. I don’t use blush very often, but this has been recommended to me by many beauty fanatics, and I’m so glad I finally tried it out.

Leave us a comment with your favorite dupes below!