If 2022 couldn’t be anymore distressing, the cost of living is increasing. With the inflation rate sitting at 5.1 per cent in March, the overall price jump is surely going to take a toll on our bank accounts.
But that doesn’t mean your skincare routine needs to suffer, especially if your beauty cabinet is made up of serums, moisturisers and foundations with a higher price tag.
For skincare fanatics and makeup masters, there’s no denying that Estée Lauder has become a legacy brand in the beauty industry and has earned cult status time and time again. From their Double Wear Foundation to their magic-in-a-bottle Advanced Night Repair serum, there’s a reason why beauty savants rant and rave about the brand’s offerings—they’re that good.
However, they can cost a pretty penny. And understandably so, the beauty brand is known for their intricately developed formulas and high-quality ingredients.
And while we’d happily scoop up every item from Estée Lauder‘s product range, not everyone has the change to spare in these unprecedented times. But what if we told you that you can find yourself versions of Estée Lauder’s best-sellers without saying goodbye to your pennies?
Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best almost-identical dupes for Estée Lauder’s products. Your bank account can thank us later.
If you want to try: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation
Try this instead: L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation
Not only is L’Oréal’s offering almost $50 cheaper than Estée Lauder’s foundation, but the former also offers waterproof coverage, that won’t even budge from sweat for up to 24 hours. Lightweight and buildable medium-to-full coverage, one difference is that the Infallible foundation comes in less shades than its counterpart. While it will leave your skin feeling hydrated, it also boasts a slightly less matte finish than Double Wear and doesn’t oxidise throughout the day.
Infallible 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundatoin by L’Oréal Paris, $18.49 at Priceline.
If you want to try: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum
Try this instead: MISSHA Time Revolution Night Repair Ampoule 5X
Advanced Night Repair has long been known as the number one best-selling repair serum on the market, thanks to its clear results. But that doesn’t mean that there can’t be a runner-up out there with a smaller price tag. MISSHA’s Night Repair Night Repair Ampoule closely mimics ANP’s ingredient list, with a formula including bifida ferment lysate, hyaluronic acid and butylene glycol.
Time Revolution Night Repair Ampoule 5X by MISSHA, $38 at Lila Beauty.
If you want to try: Estée Lauder Pure Colour Envy Sculpting Lipstick
Try this instead: Nude By Nature Creamy Matte Lipstick
Estée Lauder’s Pure Colour Envy is tough to beat, but Nude By Nature puts up a good fight. A creamy matte lipstick with full coverage colour, the shade range is just as extensive and the formula leaves the application smooth and comfortable. On the lips, the product leaves a soft-focus finish with long-lasting wear and its rich formula boasts ingredients like vitamin E, native Australian Kakadu Plum, mango seed butter and castor seed oil.
Creamy Matte Lipstick by Nude By Nature, $12.47 at Priceline.
If you want to try: Estée Lauder Revitalising Supreme+ Youth Power Cream
Try this instead: Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Moisturiser
Olay’s Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 moisturiser is enriched with collagen peptide and pure grade niacinamide. While Estée Lauder’s offering is top of the range, Olay’s is designed with collagen peptides that work just like naturally occurring collagen in the skin, meaning they are easily absorbed for plump and bouncy skin all day long.
Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Moisturiser by Olay, $35.99 at Priceline.
If you want to try: Estée Lauder Double Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara
Try this instead: bareMinerals Strength & Length Serum-Infused Mascara
Going up against Estée Lauder’s Lengthening Mascara, bareMinerals’ vegan and clean multi-tasking offering is infused with a plant-based lash serum for stronger, longer and fuller lashes. Inspired by lash-enhancing serum, its unique formula minimises lash fallout, no flaking, no clumping and no smudging, while lengthening and defining.
Strength & Length Serum-Infused Mascara by bareMinerals, $33 at MECCA.
If you want to try: Estée Lauder Perfectionist [CP+R] Wrinkle Lifting and Firming Serum
Try this instead: Paula’s Choice Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum
Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum by Paula’s Choice, $62 at Paula’s Choice.
If you want to try: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Flawless Concealer
Try this instead: L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer
Honestly, L’Oréal Paris’ entire Infallible range is a front-runner in the dupe department. This time, the collection’s Full Wear Waterproof Concealer serves as a more affordable replacement. Boasting a large doe-foot applicator to help you sculpt, the formula itself is creamy and feels hydrating on the skin like its foundation counterpart. Plus, it is also water-resistant and transfer-resistant.
Infallible Full Wear Waterproof Concealer by L’Oréal Paris, $29.95 at Adore Beauty.
If you want to try: Estée Lauder Soft Clean Silky Hydrating Lotion Toner
Try this instead: Caudalie Vinoclean Moisturising Toner
Perfect for removing any final traces of make-up and toning the skin in one go, Caudalie’s Vinoclean range is a viral favourite for a reason. This moisturising toner, in particular, includes soothing and hydrating Vinolevure combined with mattifying organic rose water and leaves the skin fresh, clear, comfortable and ready to fully benefit from skincare products.
Vinoclean Moisturising Toner by Caudalie, $19 at Sephora.
If you want to try: Estée Lauder Futurist Aqua Brilliance Watery Glow Primer
Try this instead: Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Illuminating Primer
This gel primer is virtually weightless and enriched with ultra-fine pearls for a lit-from-within glow. Packed with a water-based formula, this gel primer cools upon contact while it smooths, hydrates, and illuminates. It’s also infused with ultra-fine pearls for instant radiance and contains a botanical blend of lotus, gardenia, and white waterlily to help soothe and calm skin.
Always An Optimist Illuminating Primer by Rare Beauty, $45 at Sephora.
If you want to try: Estée Lauder Perfectly Clean Multi-Action Foam Cleanser/Purifying Mask
Try this instead: Laneige Cleansing Multi Deep-Clean Cleanser
Cleansing Multi Deep-Clean Cleanser by Laneige, $30 at Adore Beauty.
