Beauty dupes are nothing new.
‘Dupe’, short for duplicates, refers to cheaper alternatives for products that are from well-known, higher-end brands. They usually contain similar features, ingredients and packaging.
Makeup dupes (or duplicates) are usually a product that functions similarly to a higher-end one but at a more affordable price.
Aldi is just one chain store well known for duping big-name brands such as La Prairie, Charlotte Tilbury, MAC, Benefit, Nars and more with its own skin, face and body care brand Lacura.
And social media users are quick to share their favourite dupes.
A major trend on TikTok is how to find the best beauty dupes at a fraction of the price of the original product.
The power of the dupe was recently highlighted by former MAFS star Martha Kalifatidis and ‘skinfluencer’ Roj Torabi.
Martha and Roj co-host a weekly podcast, Swipe Up, where ‘they talk all things skincare, beauty, sex and relationships while giving you a no-bulls*** guide on the products you should swipe up on’.
During the podcast, Roj spoke about her best dupe for the cult Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, which retails for $28 on Sephora.
She said the W7 Sweet Dreams with Vitamin E Aloe Vera & Grape Seed Oil Strawberry Overnight Lip Mask was just as good as the original.
“It’s literally the same,” she said.
“Normally I’m not a big fan of dupes, but I’m mind blown at this. It’s only five bucks.”
The $4.99 mask was sold out on the Chemist Warehouse online store in just one hour after the podcast aired.
Albina Reale, National Category Manager- Fragrance and Beauty at Chemist Warehouse Retail Group, said dupes were becoming increasingly popular with budget-conscious consumers who wanted to stay ahead of the latest trends.
“Customers want to try trend-based products and explore new ‘it’ products but at a more accessible and affordable price point,” she said.