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We’re all just trying to pay our rent and look fabulous while doing it.
Major makeup and skincare brands make it tough when they’re pricing teeny-tiny lip oils at $40 and concealers at $30. But we have a guardian angel (who has great skin) looking out for us, and their name is e.l.f.
These are the best e.l.f. products that are unapologetic copycats of luxury brand items. e.l.f. isn’t here to make friends; they’re here to keep us looking pretty without driving us to the poor house. Here are the top dupes we live, die, and budget by.
1. Power Grip Primer ($10)
Dupe for: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Hydrating Makeup Primer ($38)
You might think foundation is the foundation of a stellar makeup look, but it’s actually your primer. Milk Makeup created a sticky, viscous primer that’s just tacky enough for the rest of your makeup to cling to. But they priced it close to $40! Thankfully, e.l.f. duped this product flawlessly. Could be, it’s better than the OG. We also recommend the Power Grip Primer + 4% Niacinamide if you’re looking to manage breakouts and oily skin.
2. Halo Glow Liquid Filter ($14)
Dupe for: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter ($49)
The Halo Glow Liquid Filter has a devout cult following, and for good reason. It ripped off (and we say that lovingly and with gratitude) The Hollywood Flawless Filter, which provides a shimmery, poreless look. It’s practically impossible to tell the difference between these two products… until you look at your bank balance.
3. Hydrating Camo Concealer ($7)
Dupe for: Tarte Shape Tape Concealer ($32)
Yeah, you read that right, e.l.f. ‘s dupe of Tarte’s top-notch concealer is only $7. And while the Tarte Shape Tape is an excellent product, the Camo Concealer might be better, with an easily blendable texture with plenty of decent shade options. The packaging isn’t as cute, but who cares when you’re saving $25?
4. Halo Glow Contour Beauty Wand ($9)
Dupe for: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand ($42)
All the Halo Glow products are popular among e.l.f. customers, but the Contour Beauty Wand is particularly beloved. At a quarter of the price, it’s a must-buy for budget beauties who love Charlotte Tilbury. Although it may take a little extra effort to blend properly, it delivers the same shimmer and snatched face as the Hollywood wand. Just make sure you blend from all angles and check yourself in different lights before heading out.
5. Camo Liquid Blush ($7)
Dupe for: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush ($25)
Selena, we love you, girl, but we gotta budget. The e.l.f. Camo Liquid Blush is an extraordinary dupe for the Rare Beauty Liquid Blush. It comes in almost as many shades as the Rare Beauty blush (12 vs. 13) and is just as ridiculously pigmented. Seriously, pigmentation is out of this world. A little goes a long way with both of these products, but your dollar goes further with e.l.f.’s.
6. Halo Glow Setting Powder ($8)
Dupe for: Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder ($52)
We’re confident in saying the Halo Glow Setting Powder beats out the Hourglass Veil Powder. It comes in more shades and has a more natural look on most complexions. There’s no contest here. The only thing we’ll concede is that the Hourglass powder is super silky, but the e.l.f. powder is soft too, so you’re not missing out on anything, except credit card debt.
7. Suntouchable! Whoa Glow ($14)
Dupe for: Supergoop! Glow Screen ($38)
e.l.f. is completely shameless with this dupe. They even added the exclamation point to the name to mimic Supergoop!’s style, and they used a similar yellow for the bottle. The product is also impressively similar, but it’s not quite as smooth as the Supergoop! version. It takes a little more effort to rub it in completely, but spending that extra 60 seconds massaging your face saves you $24!
8. Glow Reviver Lip Oil ($8)
Dupe for: Dior Lip Glow Oil ($40)
We’re listing this as a dupe for the Dior Lip Glow Oil, but it’s also an impeccable alternative to Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Lip and Cheek Stain ($26). The e.l.f. oil doesn’t have nearly as many shades as Dior does, but they’re working on it! Recently, they’ve been fresh shades and shimmery options. So if you don’t see a decent dupe for your favorite Dior color, stay tuned.
9. Poreless Putty Primer ($10)
Dupe for: Tatcha Silk Canvas Primer ($54)
Tatcha, you’re fantastic, but you’re killing our wallets. Both of these primers are thiiiiick but also creamy and smooth. It makes you look like you’re the first human to be born without pores. The only downside to these – and it applies to both products – is they’re not ideal for quite oily skin. They get cakey and separate, but the Tatcha isn’t any better for greaseballs than the e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer.
10. Wow Brow Gel ($5)
Dupe for: Glossier Boy Brow ($22)
The Boy Brow was a revolutionary product upon its debut. Finally, a brow product that created a natural brow look, not angular, tattooed-on brows. Thankfully, e.l.f. didn’t take long to give us a $5 alternative. Glossier’s subtle tinting is still elite, but for a quarter of the price, the Wow Brow is wonderful. While we’re here, we also love the Maybelline Superfluff Brow Mousse, which comes in more shades than the Wow Brow.
11. Sheer Slick Lipstick Black Cherry ($5)
Dupe for: Clinique Black Honey Lip Tint ($25)
Both sheer lipsticks are decadent, giving your lips a luscious color that won’t fade easily. We’ll admit, the Clinique tends to last a little longer, and the silky texture is unmatched. But the e.l.f. Sheer Slick Lipstick is a very close runner-up that costs a fifth of the price. Really, we’re splitting hairs here; you’ll love the e.l.f. dupe.
12. Holy Hydration! Face Cream ($13)
Dupe for: belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb ($38)
While e.l.f.’s makeup gets a ton of attention, the company truly shines when it comes to skincare, helping you shine. The belif True Cream Aqua Bomb leaves your skin dewy and hydrated, but we’d pick the Holy Hydration! Cream every time. It’s smoother, more lush, and genuinely feels more expensive. This cream is also a brilliant alternative to Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel ($22), which isn’t too pricey, but e.l.f. is still cheaper.
13. Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm ($11)
Dupe for: Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm ($44)
Another Holy Hydration! product that excels in its category is this Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm. These two products are practically identical. If you read the ingredients, there’s hardly any difference. If you read the price tag, they’re from different planets. They both help stubborn makeup slide off your skin while leaving it hydrated and healthy, making your nighttime routine easier.
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