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Rachael Parnell

After discovering a consumer heard a supermarket was offering a fresh beauty line that looked similar to products from high-end label Augustinus Bader, she was "super excited".

She dashed to her local store to purchase the store-brand face cream for £8.49 for 50ml - a small portion of the £240 cost of the Augustinus Bader 50ml item.

The streamlined blue container and gold cap of the two creams look noticeably similar. While she has not tested the premium cream, she says she's impressed by the dupe so far.

She has been buying lookalike products from high street stores and supermarkets for some time, and she's in good company.

Over a fourth of UK consumers say they've tried a beauty or cosmetic lookalike. This increases to 44% among younger adults, based on a recent survey.

Alternatives are beauty items that mimic established brands and present affordable options to luxury items. These products typically have alike branding and containers, but sometimes the components can differ substantially.

Victoria Woollaston

'High-Priced Isn't Necessarily Better'

Skincare professionals contend many dupes to premium labels are decent quality and aid make skincare more affordable.

"It is not true that higher-priced is necessarily better," states consultant dermatologist a doctor. "Not all low-budget skincare brand is bad - and not all premium skincare product is the finest."

"Certain [dupes] are truly amazing," says a podcast host, who hosts a show with famous people.

A lot of of the items inspired by high-end brands "run out so rapidly, it's just unbelievable," he observes.

Scott McGlynn

Aesthetic and dermatology doctor another professional argues alternatives are acceptable to use for "fundamental products" like hydrators and face washes.

"These products will be effective," he comments. "They will perform the essentials to a reasonable standard."

A consultant dermatologist, advises you can spend less when seeking single-ingredient products like HA, niacinamide and a moisturizing ingredient.

"When you're purchasing a simple product then you're likely going to be okay in opting for a lookalike or a product which is quite low cost because there's very little that can cause issues," she says.

'Don't Be Influenced by the Packaging'

Yet the professionals also advise consumers check details and say that more expensive products are at times worth the premium price.

Regarding luxury beauty products, you're not just covering the label and advertising - often the increased price also stems from the components and their quality, the potency of the effective element, the technology employed to produce the item, and studies into the products' effectiveness, the expert says.

Beauty expert she argues it's important thinking about how certain alternatives can be offered so inexpensively.

Occasionally, she believes they might contain bulking agents that do not provide as many advantages for the complexion, or the components might not be as carefully selected.

"One major question mark is 'How is it so inexpensive?'" she says.

Expert Scott says sometimes he's purchased beauty products that appear comparable to a well-known brand but the product itself has "no connection to the original".

"Don't be sold by the outer appearance," he added.

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For more complicated items or those with ingredients that can inflame the complexion if they're not made properly, such as retinols or vitamin C, the specialist suggests selecting research-backed brands.

She says these probably have been through expensive trials to assess how successful they are.

Skincare items are required to be assessed before they can be available in the UK, notes expert another professional.

When the company makes claims about the effectiveness of the item, it requires research to back it up, "however the manufacturer does not necessarily have to conduct the trials" and can instead use studies done by other firms, she adds.

Check the Back of the Pack

Is there any ingredients that could signal a product is inferior?

Components on the label of the container are arranged by concentration. "The baddies that you need to look out for… is your petroleum-derived oil, your SLS, fragrance, benzel peroxide" being {high up