We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. E.l.f. Sheer Slick Lipstick in Black Cherry glides on smooth and feels like a hydrating balm. You'll get a subtle sheer plum tint that gives you a 'my lips but better' look much like Clinique's Almost Lipstick in Black Honey.
Promising review: "Ever since this pandemic, I don’t find myself using bold colors anymore let alone matte lips. I will wear lip stains, colored lip balms, and of course lip gloss. This product is almost a combination of the three above. It doesn’t stain lips badly to the point once it comes off, your lips look injured and they are very pretty and moisturizing on lips! I suggest getting cherry slush. It’s a light red stain with some coral undertones. Very nice!" —Peanutbutter92
Get the Sheer Slick Lipstick in Black Cherry from E.l.f. Cosmetics for $5 (available in eight colors) or Almost Lipstick in Black Honey from Clinique for $20.
2. Rimmel Magnif'eyes Eyeshadow Palette Spice Edition has all the essential shimmery and matte nude shades that every makeup lover should have in their collection. It's highly-pigmented, feels like satin on skin, and lasts all day, which makes it a perfect budget buy if you had your eyes on the Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette.
Promising review: "The shadows themselves are excellent quality. They're both pigmented and blendable. I personally got this as a dupe for the Naked Heat, and I got the look I was aiming for with this. My only minor complaint is that many of the colors end up looking the same on my eyes, meaning I can really only get one look from this palette. In addition, the purple shade on the far right doesn't have very much color impact, and tends not to look very purple on the eyes. Overall, though, I got what I wanted from it at a good price." —Jennifer
Get the Rimmel Magnif'eyes Eyeshadow Palette from Amazon for $6.96 (available in 13 colors and three styles) or Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette from Sephora for $54 (available in two sizes).
3. Revlon One-Step Volumizer Hair Dryer Brush delivers a salon-worthy blowout for a fraction of the cost. If you want the results of the Dyson Airwrap Styler Complete without having to use extra attachments or put a dent in your wallet, add this to cart.
Promising review: "This thing is amazing. I was looking for a Dyson dupe and heard this was potentially better. I tried it out and my hair was done, looking great in about 10 min. It saved me from having to use a flat iron after drying as well. The only con is that it's pretty hot and if you use the cool setting it's not as strong. But overall, this is a game changer for me." —amyfink13
Get the Revlon One-Step Volumizer Hair Dryer Brush from Amazon for $34.88 (available in three styles) or the Dyson Airwrap Styler Complete from Ulta for $549.99 (available in two colors).
4. LilyAna Eye Cream helps reduce dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines for under 25 bucks, which makes it the perfect replacement for the Lancôme Advanced Génifique Wrinkle & Dark Circle Eye Cream.
Promising review: "This cream really helped with my dark circles and made the skin around my eyes look healthier and rejuvenated. I wish I had taken before and after pictures because after about a week and a half of use, I can tell a significant difference. It works waaay better than the much more expensive Lancôme cream I'd been using. Will buy again and plan to try out some of their other products after the great experience with this one." —Lynda M.
Get the LilyAna cream from Amazon for $22.99 (available in four sizes) or the Lancôme cream from Sephora for $68.
5. Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eyeshadow Primer turns your eyelid into the perfect canvas — no more creasing or muddy eyeshadow that looks a mess because of oily lids. This nongreasy, pearl powder-packed formula will make sure your smoky eye stays put all day long. It's the perfect product to try before re-stocking up on the Nars Eyeshadow Primer.
Promising review: "OK, so I never write reviews. I am lazy. I avidly research and study reviews before buying anything, but never actually take the time to write them myself. I am an AVID Nars eye primer fan, and have been for years. My eyelids are oily and I always had mascara transfer issues until I started using the Nars primer. I have tried every eye primer on the market, and nothing had ever compared to Nars. UNTIL THIS. I am shocked that a product from an unknown-to-me company for only $15 blows Nars out of the water. I love this stuff. It feels good, dries quickly, colorless, only takes a small amount, lasts all day (I work 12-hour shifts, so that's 16 hours in makeup at least!), etc. etc. etc. I don't know what else I can say about this product other than I am shocked and will now be a die-hard fan. I love it." —Bucket
Get the Elizabeth Mott primer from Amazon for $13.75 or the Nars primer fromSephora for $26 (available in four shades).
6. L’Oreal Paris Elvive 8 Second Wonder Water revamps your hair quicker than you can say "abra cadabra!" This rinse-out treatment uses a blend of moisturizers and amino acids to reverse damage in seconds, making your tresses feel light as a feather while looking shiny and feeling silky. Give this a shot if you want similar results to the Olaplex treatment.
Promising review: "This is the best hair product I have ever purchased. It truly lives up to its claims. I have thinning, coarse hair and was stymied by its proclivity to frizz and its cotton candy texture. After one use of Wonder Water, my hair was shiny and the frizz and flyaways disappeared. Friends even remarked at how great my hair looked — something that has never happened to me. The only product I can compare this to is Olaplex, which is almost as effective, but five times as expensive and much more time consuming to use. Applying Wonder Water is foolproof (the exact amount to use with each application is marked on the container) and it only takes eight seconds to work. Initially I thought that Wonder Water was too good to be true, but I am already midway through my second bottle and I continue to be delighted." —Maureen Bolton
Get them from Amazon: the L'Oréal treatment for $8.97 or the Olaplex treatment for $28.
7. Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick is perfect for anyone tired of re-applying their lipstick after every sip or kiss. It glides on evenly and settles at a matte finish that won't dry your lips out. Finally, a lippie that won't smudge or budge, which makes it the perfect dupe for the Kylie Lip Kit.
Promising review: "Wow! See ya later expensive matte lips. This matte lip has been the lipstick of a lifetime. I found it in looking for a Kylie Lip Kit dupe and this quality far surpasses any Kylie matte lip and then some. I hatedddd how dry my lips felt with the Holly Berry Kylie matte lipstick on it and I also wanted something that would be food, drink and kiss proof on my wedding day. It does just that! You have to use a makeup wipe and with pressure, scrub to remove it. For some, that may be a turn off but it stays put for hours and doesn’t budge or smudge. Name a lip that does both all day. I’ll wait." —Janelle Friedman
Get the Maybelline lipstick from Amazon for $7.98+ (available in 45 shades) or a Kylie Lip Kit from Ulta for $29 (available in 25 shades).
Read our full review of the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick here.
8. Coty Airspun Powder does a lot more than just set your makeup — it can diminish fine lines, cover blemishes, make your skin appear smoother, and absorbs oil all day long. If you love the KVD Powder but want to save some money, this is your best bet.
Promising review: "This product is amazing!! I did get the wrong color initially for my skin tone and had to return but even then, it applied and set my face so well! I have looked into multiple setting powders and generally they are pricey so I opted for this one instead but it did not disappoint! I actually ended up getting the Kat Von D setting powder later in my Sephora birthday gift but this powder trumps it. I still use it over that one and will continue to. Also an amazing value for money — they give you a lot and it will last you a long time. Love this powder!! Don't waste your money on those other brands!" —Zebarth
Get the Coty Airspun powder from Amazon for $5.72 or the KVD powder from Sephora for $33 (available in two sizes).
9. Essence Lash Princess Mascara that can give the falsies effect for under $5. You'll get phenomenal volume that won't flake or dissolve all day every day; plus, it's cruelty-free and buildable, so you won't get the spider lash look. If you're a fan of Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara, then you and your wallet will absolutely love this.
Promising review: "After using Lights, Camera, Lashes by Tarte for the past year, I got tired of breaking the bank over mascara. My sister suggested Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect and I IMMEDIATELY fell in love. It provides dramatic length and great volume. I can honestly say I can’t stop looking at my eyelashes in the mirror every single day because of how awesome they look. Also, it is very long wearing. I go from an eight-hour workday right to the gym and sweat like crazy...and this stuff doesn’t budge! I love it!!" —Carrie E Miller
Get the Essence from Amazon for $4.99 or the Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara from Tarte for $24.
10. Physician's Formula Bronzer so you can achieve that sun-kissed glow year-round. It's comparable to The Balm's Bahama Mama.
Promising review: "Love this formula. It's so easy to apply and blend out on the skin. I'm pale and a little goes a long way. If I apply too much, it tends to look orange, so build it up slowly to suit you. It has a little bit of shimmer and looks very similar to The Balm's Bahama Mama." —Alyx
Get them from Amazon: the Physicians Formula bronzer for $11.97 (available in eight shades) or The Balm bronzer for $19.64.
11. Fanola No Yellow Shampoo is perfect for gray, bleached, or streaked hair because it tones down yellow hues much like Davines Shampoo.
Promising review: "I have naturally almost black, thick, Asian hair that is highly processed and toned to high heaven just so I can be blonde. Not just sandy blonde. Platinum blonde. Now, any 'bottle blonde' knows that purple shampoo is the sweet baby Jesus in a manger necessity that they MUST use if they don’t want to end up looking like a wannabe ginger with greasy orange-tinged hair. It’s just that blonde life. I have tried almost every purple shampoo under the sun, ranging in process from $7 to $70 a bottle. The top contenders so far have been Davines Alchemic Shampoo in Silver, L’Oréal Shimmering Lights Purple Shampoo, and now, THIS. Fanola takes the cake and is hands down the winner when it comes to toning even the most stubborn brass out." —CatsonCatsonCats
Get them from Amazon: the Fanola shampoo for $9.49 or the Davines shampoo for $30.
And check out our full writeup of the Fanola No Yellow Shampoo to learn more.
12. Bio-Oil works like a magician to help make scars and marks go ~poof~. It's packed with essential oils and vitamins to deliver long lasting hydration to all skin types without that sticky feeling. This will work wonders if you like Mederma's results.
Promising review: "I bought the oil to use on my scars. I usually use Mederma but it was getting to be very expensive because I was going through those small tubes of gel very quickly. This bottle is really lasting me a long time because I only need a few dabs of oil on my specific scars. My scars have been actually fading. They’re not completely gone but I can tell that they are a lot harder to see than before. The scent is a bit unique. It’s not overpowering but I think I can do without it." —Limmy Lee
Get them from Amazon: the Bio-Oil from Amazon for $8.92+ (available in three sizes) or the Mederma for $24.14.
13. Bamboo Charcoal Oil Blotting Sheets absorb shine in seconds without messing up your makeup. Dab these rectangular papers over any greasy areas of your face instead of packing on more powder, and you'll be amazed at the results. You get almost triple the sheets for half the price of Tatcha's Blotting Papers.
Promising review: "These are great for oily skin. I normally can get through half the day before my face looks like a grease pit and that's after applying anti-shine under makeup. These wipes are a miracle. They absorb quickly and I love having them in my purse. I normally use two a day — much better than Tatcha." —Leslie R. McCree
Get them from Amazon: the PleasingCare sheets for $6.95+ (available in two styles and multipacks; 100 sheets/pack) or the Tatcha sheets for $12 (40 sheets/pack).
14. E.l.f. Cosmetics MintMelt Cooling Primer uses a combo of hyaluronic acid and antioxidants to create a hydrating gel that will cool your skin and help your makeup glide on flawlessly. Plus, it has a delicious sweet mint scent! If you like the Milk Hydrogrip Primer, you'll love this.
Promising review: "All I can say is E.l.f., please don’t ever discontinue this primer. I’ve just recently started getting back into makeup and this was the first primer I bought and it’s unlike any primer I’ve ever used. I’m surprised I like the jelly-like texture and I like that it’s tacky so my makeup sticks throughout the day. Seriously I will buy like 20 if I ever find out they plan on discontinuing this." —evelynford
Get the MintMelt Cooling Primer from E.l.f. Cosmetics for $6.40 or Milk Hydrogrip Primer from Sephora for $36 (available in two sizes).
15. Technic Get Gorgeous Highlighting Powder will make you look like someone sprinkled a bit of gold dust above your cheekbones. It is the most luxe highlighter and it's less than seven bucks. The glow you get is very similar to Fenty Trophy Wife Highlighter.
Promising review: "Love this highlight. It can be used without applying foundation if you just want to apply to your nose, high cheek area and under your eyebrows. I get compliments all the time. I’m a minimalist so I don’t use concealer and blush and all that and people say I see your makeup or I see your bronzer. So it gives you that effect even though you don’t have that on, so a little goes a long way. I will repurchase and look for another shade also." —E v e
Get the Technic Get Gorgeous Highlighting Powder from Amazon for $6.49 or Fenty Trophy Wife Highlighter from Sephora for $38 (available in eight shades).
16. Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush delivers a highly pigmented dose of color to your cheeks. This liquid blush blends out beautifully and is perfect for a natural everyday makeup look. It's definitely giving Glossier Cloud Paint a run for its money!
Promising review: "I was skeptical about this but decided to try it since the price is so good. I had read that it is a good dupe for Cloud Paint and I agree. This is very pigmented, spreads easily, and is a decent size (.27 oz vs. .33 for Cloud Paint). And it's one-third of the price." —Heather Kulper
Get the Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush from Amazon for $5.98 (available in six colors) or Cloud Paint from Glossier for $18 (available in eight shades).
17. E.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer with squalane, which ensures your makeup goes on flawlessly because it blurs your pores and helps your complexion feel soft as silk. It's perfect for oily skin because it will give you a matte finish without making your skin look dry, plus it's tiny enough to toss in your bag in case you need a mid-day touch up. It's a no-brainer if you're a fan of Tatcha's The Silk Canvas Protective Primer.
Promising review: "This stuff is amazing. I’m not a very skilled makeup wearer but my sisters are and when I tried this out the other day under my foundation and then did my normal everyday makeup, I didn’t say anything about it but they both complimented me. I have huge pores and makeup tends to clog them and make them super visible- this primer made my face look so smooth I literally couldn’t believe it. Even my fiancé mentioned that my makeup looked good. I saw a video saying that this was a dupe for a high end primer and after seeing the results from the video and on myself, I would only buy this one." —Savanna Schmidt
Get the e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer from Amazon for $8.50 (available in two sizes) or Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer from Sephora for $52 (available in two sizes).
18. Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink looks strikingly similar to the cult classic Nars Orgasm blush. It's a pretty pink hue that looks amazing on practically every skin tone.
Promising review: "Great dupe for the much more expensive Nars blush. Got the shade Dolce and it's a bright rose pink. It stays put and is complementary to my summer tan. I will definitely buy again and again!!" —Momjeans1980
Get the Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink from Ulta for $9.99 (available in eight shades) or Nars Orgasm Blush from Amazon for $27.29 (available in 23 shades).
19. Real Techniques Beauty Sponges are soft, squishy, reusable and help you blend your makeup like a pro-MUA. Plus, you can get four for less than the cost of one Beauty Blender.
Promising review: "The only beauty blender dupes I’ve found! They are soft, easy to clean and at a great price point! Do yourself a favor and get a pack! Won’t go back to the real deal after finding these gems!" —Michaela
Get them from Amazon: a four-pack of Real Techniques Makeup Sponges for $13.82 (available in three shades) or The Beauty Blender for $20 (available in 23 shades).
20. Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water removes waterproof makeup that won't budge, getting rid of dirt and excess oil to leave you with clean skin sans residue. Reviewers say this works just as good as Bioderma Micellar Water for half the price.
Promising review: "A dupe for the Bioderma micellar water, for sure. I love this stuff. Takes off my eye make up very well. I especially love it because I wear contact lenses and I hate when I clean my eye make up off and I can't see for 10 minutes. This doesn't do that!" —Eliza J.
Get them from Amazon: Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water for $6.99 (available in four sizes) or Bioderma Micellar Water for $14.99 (available in five sizes).
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