When it comes to affordable dupes for luxury makeup products, we really know our stuff. We’ve even found budget-friendly alternatives to cosmetics that have graced the red carpet, like this Charlotte Tilbury eyeshadow Michelle Yeoh wore to the Oscars, and this Charlotte Tilbury lipstick Reese Witherspoon used for the Emmy’s last year.
But it all gets a lot more difficult when we start talking about affordable alternatives to luxury skin care.
Unfortunately, in a lot of instances the technology and ingredients used in skin care are expensive, which means their price tag will reflect that. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find something that delivers a similar experience — or even results — for that matter.
Here, beautyheaven has rounded up 10 dupes for some of MECCA’s best-selling skin care products, and much like your eyebrows — they’re sisters not twins.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Oil dupe
Like Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Oil ($131 from MECCA)? Try Essano Vitamin C Facial Oil ($28.99 from Essano)
Sunday Riley’s C.E.O. Glow is an industry standard for vitamin C, combining a slew of radiance-enhancing supporting ingredients to feature alongside the hero ingredient. But while Sunday Riley leans on turmeric and evening primrose oil to perform such a task, Essano’s face oil employs the help of turmeric and astaxanthin. The latter of which is 6000 times more powerful than traditional vitamin C alone.
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream dupe
Like Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream ($480 from MECCA)? Try Naturium Multi-Peptide Rich Cream ($49.95 from Naturium)
All Augustinus Bader’s products contain a patented complex called TFC8®, which uses a host of biomimetic ingredients to ensure the skin’s natural processes are operating at their optimum. Although Naturium may not feature this impressive technology, it does contain a blend of peptides, ferulic acid, and linseed extract which promise to do the very same thing.
Glossier Balm Dotcom Lip Balm and Skin Salve dupe
Like Glossier Balm Dotcom Lip Balm and Skin Salve ($26 from MECCA)? Try MCoBeauty Butter Lip Balm ($16 from Woolworths)
Glossier’s Balm Dotcom was one of the first lip products to really get us excited about lip balm. Although a tube of the stuff isn’t exceedingly expensive, that doesn’t mean we don’t like to have options for those moments in life where an extra $10 could be better spent elsewhere.
Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream dupe
Like Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream ($118 from MECCA)? Try Aveeno Face Calm and Restore Oat Gel Moisturiser ($11.49 from Chemist Warehouse)
We would never have thought to connect these two products if it wasn’t for TikTok jumping on a recommendation from ex-Love Island contestant Molly Mae Hague. According to the reality star, the two feel near identical on the skin (read: refreshingly hydrating), and both wear beautifully under makeup. “This is not to say that Tatcha is not incredible, because it is, but for my girlies that want just a little bit more of an affordable product [try Aveeno Face Calm and Restore Oat Gel Moisturiser],” she said via YouTube.
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel dupe
Like Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel ($251 from MECCA)? Try Some By Mi AHA BHA PHA 30 Days Miracle Truecica Clear Pad ($22.40 from W Cosmetics)
If you’d have asked us 10 years ago if Dr. Dennis Gross’ peel pads were dupeable we would have laughed in your face. However, with K-Beauty becoming mainstream, we’re able to get our hands on products that aren’t just similar, but in some cases even better than the best-seller. These peel pads from Some By Mi for instance feature the same signature blend of AHA, BHA, PHA and cica you’ll find in their best-selling toner, which has been compared to Biologique Recherche’s P50 Lotion.
Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi™ Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops dupe
Like Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi™ Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops ($64 from MECCA)? Try Essence Drop Of Sunshine Bronzing Drops ($7 from Priceline)
Kind of skin care, kind of makeup, we love the ease of hybrid beauty products like these sunless bronzing drops with added pollution protection. The sun-kissed sheen synonymous with Drunk Elephant’s best-seller may be easy enough to emulate, but it’s the skin-loving slew of ingredients inside the formula that’s hard to beat. However that hasn’t stopped Essence from trying. The bargain brand has incorporated humectant glycerin and nourishing jojoba oil to mimic the effects of the cocoa extract and peptides evident in the Drunk Elephant original.
Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator dupe
Like Clinique Moisture Surge™ 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator ($115 from MECCA)? Try Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel ($22.69 from Chemist Warehouse)
Clinique’s Moisture Surge has long held pride of place in our skin care collections. After all, how many gel moisturisers can claim to hydrate skin for up to 100 hours after application? Well, as it turns out, none. However, this equally lightweight pick from Neutrogena will do the job for 72 hours, which isn’t a bad effort considering it costs less than $30 a jar at Chemist Warehouse.
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm dupe
Like Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm ($105 from MECCA)? Try Banila Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm Original ($20 from Adore Beauty)
We’ve never encountered a cleansing balm quite as luxurious and effective at removing makeup as Elemis’ Pro-Collagen formula. Banila’s viral entry in the category sure does give it a run for it’s money though. The only thing missing is the spa-inspired scent of the MECCA find.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex dupe
Like Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex ($199 from MECCA)? Try Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Ampoule 5X ($28.95 from Beauty Amora)
One of the most instantly recognisable skin care products the world over, Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex fan base is more like a cult. In other words, once you’ve used the anti-ageing formula once, you’ll likely be converted. However, with inflation being what it is, we can understand if you’d want to reassess your options and try this K-Beauty find, which uses fermented ingredients to support the gentle balance of the skin’s microbiome.
Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base dupe
Like Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base ($104 from MECCA)? Try Revlon Illuminance Balm Primer ($21.60 from Big W)
Bobbi Brown Face Base is the ultimate multitasker. It’s a moisturiser, but it’s also a primer, as well as a nourishing skin protector. We thought it was unique in it’s brilliance, but that hasn’t stopped Revlon from trying to emulate the multipurpose formula with this budget-friendly slashie.
Main image credit: @meccabeauty
What’s you favourite MECCA skin care dupe?
I need to try some of these out. They sound much more in my price range.
I love finding a good dupe!
a lot of those dupes are from very reliable companies – so they’re probably worth trying.
Love budget friendly skincare products.
Great to find something that is cheaper but equally as good
Always good to hear about a good dupe to save money
I would like to try them.
Skin care dupes are tricky.
Great article for those on a budget.
If the dupe product is good quality, then I’ll buy it.
Some of those dupes are from really reliable brands, too.
A dupe for Estée Lauder ANR? I like the Missha pricetag, but really?
Lots of new products in the dupes that I don’t know of
Some great affordables here. I’d like to try Essano Vit C face oil
I like Banila zero and have tried quite a few cheap cleansing balms, I don’t know why people waste their money on expensive ones.
I would love to try the Tatcha, maybe I’ll give the Aveeno one a go instead