A single lip gloss at Sephora can range from $12 to as high as $42 because it exclusively carries high-end brands. Makeup products from notable, high-end brands are more expensive than common drugstore brands, yet price does not always equal quality. Most of the cost of such products come from packaging, shipping and marketing; the ingredients only make up about 15% of the products’ cost. As a result, makeup dupes have become popular, allowing people to buy quality products at lower prices and to experiment with their choices.
Fenty Beauty vs NYX Lip Gloss
Created by the famous singer Rihanna, Fenty Beauty makeup has become very popular due to the inclusivity it inspires. Fenty Beauty makeup offers shades for every skin tone and promotes diversity that was rare with other beauty brands back when Fenty was established in 2014.
“I like the quality of Fenty Beauty products. One thing I like about the Fenty lip gloss is how fluid it is,” senior Anusha Kuruganty said. “I prefer lip glosses to be a little liquidy and shiny to make my lips look shiny and I only saw that in the Fenty gloss as opposed to the NYX one.”
NYX professional makeup was founded in 1999 to create high-quality products at cheaper prices. NYX skyrocketed in its popularity through social media where influencers used the products and encouraged others as well. NYX ranks third among beauty brands in social media engagement.
“I like that there is a wider range of shades available for the NYX glosses,” Kuruganty said. “They fit the shade of my lips more, giving it more a nude look, but the Fenty gloss is mere gloss and shine and it isn’t really about the shade of your lips.”
According to Kuruganty, the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb is all over Tik Tok with so many people trying it on. It was ranked the most popular Fenty Lip Gloss according to a public poll by StrawPoll with 174 responses. The lip gloss is priced at $21 at Sephora and on the Fenty Beauty website. The NYX Butter Gloss similarly rose in popularity, a “fan-favorite” according to the NYX website. The lip gloss sells for $5.97 on Amazon.
“I definitely like the Fenty Beauty lip gloss more because it checks off more of my wants compared to the NYX gloss,” Kuruganty said. “I think the NYX is still a good gloss if someone wants a more affordable product, but I prefer the Fenty gloss.”
Rare Beauty vs e.l.f. Blush
Founded and owned by singer and actress Selena Gomez, Rare Beauty’s core initiatives are to create a supportive beauty community advocating for mental well-being and makeup as a way to enhance natural beauty. Rare Beauty has become one of the top cosmetic brands for Gen Z, ranking second on a list of popular brands per a survey by Piper Sandler where 9, 193 U.S. teens were polled.
“For the Rare Beauty blush, I like that you can only use a little bit and the pigment shows up pretty well,” junior Himagnya Elaporlu said. “But sometimes it seems like it doesn’t last that long, like after a little bit it seems like it’s not there anymore.”
The makeup brand e.l.f. stands for eyes, lips and face and it is ranked the number one cosmetics brand among teens. E.l.f has gone viral on Tiktok and is known for its vegan and cruelty-free products, its collaboration with influencers and its affordable prices.
“The e.l.f blush also has a good amount of pigment but it does need a little bit more,” Elaporlu said. “And sometimes the color is a little bit patchy and it needs a little bit more blending.”
The Rare Beauty blush is the most popular and trending product in the brand, with over $70 million worth of blush sold. It is known for its high pigment and long-lasting wear. The blush is $23 and can be found at Sephora or the Rare Beauty website. The e.l.f. Camo Liquid Blush is a popular dupe of the Rare Beauty one with the same high-pigmented formula, just at a more affordable price. It is $7 and can be found on the e.l.f. website.
“I got both of them as gifts, but if I hadn’t I think I would have bought e.l.f. because it’s pretty similar to Rare Beauty,” Elaporlu said. “I think Rare Beauty is overrated a bit and I wouldn’t spend that much on it when e.l.f. can do the same thing.”
Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter vs e.l.f. Halo Glow
Well-known makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury created her own makeup brand called Charlotte Tilbury cosmetics which has won numerous awards and personal accolades for the makeup quality. It has become one of the most successful makeup brands, known for its high-quality formulas and the universality of its shades; it reaches 1.3 billion TikTok views globally and is favored by celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Madison Beer.
“I like that the Flawless Filter has a wide range of shades compared to the e.l.f. Halo Glow, but it leaves my face looking oily rather than giving it a glow,” senior Diya Kohli said.
According to Kohli, another popular e.l.f.-made dupe is the Glow Reviver Lip Oil, with the branded product being the Dior Lip Glow Oil. E.l.f. extensively uses social media to promote their products and many people opt to buy e.l.f. products because of their affordability.
“The e.l.f. Halo Glow provides a good balance of shimmer,” Kohli said. “I feel like it’s lightweight and blends into my skin well and gives it a natural glow.”
The Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter was introduced in 2022 and skyrocketed in popularity, claiming the top beauty brand spot. It is $49 for one product and can be found on their website. The e.l.f Halo Glow is a dupe to the Flawless Filter and gained popularity for its similar quality to the expensive brand. The halo glow is $14 and can be found at elfcosmetics.
“I definitely prefer the e.l.f product because it looks better on my skin and it’s more affordable,” Kohli said. “The dupe is definitely worth it in terms of price and quality.”
Other makeup brands known for producing duplicates of expensive products include Maybelline, L’Oreal, Essence and Revolution. According to the University of San Diego, Gen Z is the “dupe generation,” opting for affordability rather than name brands and preferring to try new brands. In addition, people choose to buy dupes to try them out and experiment with different products.
“I really don’t see any worth in buying anything more expensive because I’m going to use the product the same amount as I do a less expensive one,” Elaporlu said. “So if it expires I want to get the most out of it by using a less expensive version. The expensive version might be higher quality but I don’t think it’s that serious.”
