Dupe Alert!

Any time I find or hear about a new high end product, I'm always looking for a cheaper version before I splurge. There's certain things I will splurge on (eyeshadow palettes, limited edition products, or holy grail items). I have a really hard time going to spend $30+ on items such as a foundation because I know I'll probably fall in love with it and then I'll keep repurchasing lol. So instead, I do my research and look for alternatives & most are exact dupes and sometimes even better quality than some of the high end products. The dupes I've listed I have personally tried except some of the brushes. I've left reviews on some of the products that I did have a few pointers/opinions about. I hope you guys find these dupes useful. If there's any products you are looking to find a dupe for, leave it in the comments & I'd love to help!      xo Vanessa

MAKEUP

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation ($62) - L'Oreal True Match Lumi ($10.99)



Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder ($38) - NYC Smooth Skin Face Powder in Translucent ($4)



MAC Melba blush ($22) - NYX Mauve blush ($4.99)

I love both of these blushes. Of course the MAC blushes are more pigmented since they are higher end, but the colors are identical and you really can't beat the price of NYX.

TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer ($24) - Wet n Wild Reserve Your Cabana Bronzer ($3.97)

These two highlighters are AMAZING. I have at least 10 or more highlighters, but these two are always my go-to. The Wet n Wild Bronzer (I have no idea why it's called a bronzer when it's clearly a highlighter lol) is so pigmented and the exact color as the Mary-Lou Manizer. The WnW highlighter comes with SO much product and is such a good price. You really can't beat it. Wet n Wild really stepped their game up!

Stila Kitten eyeshadow ($18) - L'Oreal Infallible Shadow in Iced Latte ($6.99)

These shadows are super pigmented since they're pretty much Frost finishes. I didn't end up buying the Stila Kitten shadow because I did read reviews that the L'Oreal Iced Latte is a lot more pigmented & easier to use with a wet synthetic brush to make a foiled effect.

MAC Stone lipliner ($16.50) - NYX 1000 Years lipliner ($3.50)

I'm a big fan of MAC lipliners because they go on very smooth, but they dry my lips out so easily. The NYX lipliners aren't the smoothest going on, but they are long lasting and don't dry my lips out! Both of these liners are hard to find since MAC is usually out of stock & the NYX liner is discontinued in most stores but can be purchased online.

MAC Vino lipliner ($16.50) - Pleasant Plum Sephora Nano Liner ($5)

These liners are identical! I went to MAC to purchase Vino since I always see it in makeup gurus' pictures. I bought it, brought it home, went to look through my liner collection & OF COURSE I had a color that's literally the exact same color. Sephora liners are so cheap but super high quality. I have at least 10 Nano liners & am always reaching for them.

MAC Brave ($17) -NYX Thalia lipstick ($3.99)

 Surprisingly, I love Thalia a thousand times more than Brave. The formulation of the "Round Case" lipsticks are super creamy and very hydrating. Most MAC lipsticks, to me, are drying. The colors are super close, but Thalia has a little more of a sheen gloss to it.

MAC Velvet Teddy ($17) - Wet n Wild Bare It All ($1.99)

If there's one dupe that I always get asked about, it's this one. I wear Velvet Teddy as an everyday lipstick & everyone always asks what I'm wearing but when I tell them, I always mention that they need to buy Bare It All instead of wasting money on a product that is literally exactly the same & only $2!!! They're both matte finishes & both dry my lips out (matte lipsticks 100% of the time dry my lips out lol).

MAC Verve ($17) - Wet n Wild Mocha-Licious ($1.99)

Verve is more hydrating for my lips than Mocha-Licious. Verve has a little more of a sheen to it and is an easier application than Mocha-Licious.

MAC Rebel ($17) - Wet n Wild Sugarplum Fairy ($1.99)

Both are super pigmented, but Sugarplum Fairy needs to be applied with lips that are prepped for a matte lipstick. The application of Rebel is smoother than Sugarplum Fairy.

MAC Cyber ($17) - Wet n Wild Vamp It Up ($1.99)

When I swatched these two, I felt like Cyber was just a tad darker than Vamp It Up. But, after swatching again, I noticed that Cyber is more pigmented than Vamp It Up and I had to swatch over the same spot twice to get the same color pay off as I did with Cyber.

BRUSHES

MAC 224 Tapered Blending ($32) - Morphe M511 Large Round Blender ($5.99)

Sigma E40 Tapered Blending ($16) - Morphe E27 Pro Round Blender ($6.99)

Sigma F25 Tapered Face ($33) - Morphe M438 Pointed Contour ($9.99)

Sigma F82 Round Kabuki ($24) - Morphe M439 Deluxe Buffer ($13.99)

Sigma F56 Accentuate Highlighter ($22) - Morphe E16 Pro Angled Contour ($6.99)

Beauty Blender Sponge ($20) - Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge ($6.99)

I have gone back & forth numerous times between these two sponges and love them both. I love different features of each of these. The Original Beauty Blender's tear drop shape is perfect for getting into tight corners (around the nostrils, under the eyelid) & the flat edge of the Real Techniques sponge does the exact same & has the same quality. The one difference that I did have to get used to was the shape of the Real Techniques sponge. It was awkward positioning at first and it took some time working with it.