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The 10 Best e.l.f. Dupes: Affordable Alternatives for Higher End Makeup and Skincare Products
By Anna Traver,
6 days ago
We’re officially naming e.l.f. Cosmetics the winner of dupes. If you’re on makeup TikTok like us, then you’ve definitely seen the thousands of videos floating around of viral e.l.f. products that are dupes of popular high-end makeup items. The brand has been around for two decades, and they’re known for their affordable price tags while providing great, high quality products. The majority of products that make up the line cost less than $15 and are available at drugstores, like CVS and Target, making them very accessible. Creators have even done side-by-side swatch tests and comparisons of e.l.f. dupe products and high-end picks, and more often than not, you can’t tell any difference — many even say they prefer e.l.f. over the high-end option! That’s why we rounded up the best e.l.f. dupes that will save you money and make you feel fabulous!
Why does e.l.f. have so many dupes?
The answer to this ultimately comes down to the fact that people want affordable products that still work well — and that’s exactly what e.l.f. does. They don’t make you feel like you need to spend $50 on one foundation or $25 for a mascara. The brand offers consumers alternatives to expensive makeup products, showing them that they don’t have to spend a fortune to get a good product.
Also, a brand having popular dupe products is also a great marketing strategy. When people find a great dupe, they’re likely to share it with friends and on social media — it gets people talking. The more buzz around a brand or product, the more people are willing to try it and purchase it.
Halfpoint Images/Getty
What popular high-quality brands does e.l.f. often dupe?
There are a few high-end brands e.l.f. Is known for making dupes of. Some of the most well-known are Charlotte Tilbury, Clinique and Tarte, but there are quite a few others. You may have seen TikToks on e.l.f. Black Honey dupes (alternatives to Clinique’s Black Honey) or e.l.f. Charlotte Tilbury dupes. The brand sometimes even makes their packaging slightly similar to the higher-end version, which makes it easy to figure out what it’s supposed to be a dupe of.
The 10 best e.l.f. dupes
Keep reading for our top e.l.f. dupes that are shockingly similar to expensive, high-end products, but are much more wallet-friendly.
e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter: Dupe for Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter
e.l.f./Ulta Charlotte Tilbury/Sephora
Starting off strong, we have the e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter as a dupe for the highly sought-after Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter . These two products are both commonly used as a glowy base under foundation or worn alone as foundation. Both have a slight tint and are meant to create a filter-like effect on skin. The Charlotte Tilbury version costs $49 a pop, whereas e.l.f.’s flawless filter dupe costs just $14. Reviewers say e.l.f.’s has a bit more coverage and Charlotte Tilbury’s is a bit more glowy and dewy, but overall, they look and feel very similar.
TikToker @KellyStrackofficial compares the high-end label and the e.l.f. Halo Glow in the video below and says she would wear the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter under a foundation and the e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter alone, as she says the latter is a little more pigmented.
e.l.f. Power Grip Primer: Dupe for Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer
e.l.f./Ulta Milk Makeup/Sephora
The viral e.l.f. Power Grip Primer has been compared to the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer since it was launched just a few years ago. Both primers are known for creating powerful, tacky bases for makeup to “stick” to, helping makeup last all day. Milk’s primer retails for $38 compared to e.l.f.’s primer which retails for a much more appealing $10.
In the TikTok above, the creator says the Milk primer actually causes her to break out, but when she uses the e.l.f. Power Grip Primer, she doesn’t run into that issue. So this is something to keep in mind for those with acne-prone skin .
e.l.f. Sheer Slick Lipstick in Black Cherry: Dupe for Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick
e.l.f. Cosmetics Clinique/Sephora
Clinique’s Black Honey lipstick is a nostalgic classic. It was launched in the 70s, and has remained highly beloved to this day. Maybe you grew up wearing it or have just been seeing the hype all over social media and want to try it, but before you do, consider trying this e.l.f. dupe: e.l.f. Sheer Slick Lipstick in ‘Black Cherry’ . People are raving about how it’s an almost exact match for Clinique’s Black Honey, but costs just $5 (Clinique’s version costs $25). In the e.l.f. dupe side-by-side comparison video below, you can see just how close the two really are to each other.
TikToker @theglownarrative explains in the video below that they are very close matches, but that the e.l.f. one is actually a little easier to blend since it doesn’t dry as quickly as the Charlotte Tilbury product.
One of the most talked about luxury makeup products is Dior Lip Glow Oil , which has gone viral multiple times for its pretty, glossy finish that doesn’t feel sticky like a lip gloss. Lip oils are a great way to keep lips hydrated and smooth while still providing a hint of color. However, it costs $40 for one. Thankfully, e.l.f. has a dupe for the Dior Lip Oil and it costs just $8 (about a quarter of the price): e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil . Some say it’s the best of all the e.l.f. dupes, and it feels great on lips.
e.l.f. Lash ‘n Roll Mascara: Dupe for Benefit Roller Lash Mascara
e.l.f./Ulta Benefit/Ulta
The packaging and names are way too similar to be a coincidence for this e.l.f. Dupe. Benefit Roller Lash Mascara is a cult-favorite, beloved for years now for its ability to beautifully lift and curl lashes. However, e.l.f. Lash n’ Roll Mascara is a great dupe to the $29 Benefit one, with a price of $6 (yes, you read that right!). They both have similar applicators: a slightly curved, thin wand with a mix of long and short bristles.
There is a caveat, though. Some say the e.l.f. version doesn’t hold a curl nearly as well as the Benefit one, so if you have naturally straight lashes, you may want to go with the higher-end option in this case.
A good mascara can make the world of difference and we’ve found 9 of the best mascaras for women over 50 for magnificently full, glamorous lashes.
e.l.f. Putty Primer: Dupe for Tatcha Silk Canvas Primer
e.l.f./Target Tatcha
The e.l.f. Power Grip Primer mentioned earlier in this list isn’t the only primer dupe e.l.f. has. e.l.f. Putty Primer — which costs $10 — is a close match to the Tatcha Silk Canvas Primer , a $54 product. And TikToker @parker_ewing says in the video below that “it’s gone viral on TikTok multiple times for a reason.”
e.l.f. Cream Glide Lip Liner: Dupe for Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Longwear Lip Liner
e.l.f./Target Make Up For Ever/Sephora
We love a good lip liner, and we love it even more when it’s priced at just $2 (!!). e.l.f. Cream Glide Lip Liner in shade ‘Mauve Aside’ is a great dupe for the viral Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Lip Liner in shade ‘Wherever Walnut’, a $24 liner. To put it in perspective, you could get 12 e.l.f. lip liners for the price of one Make Up For Ever lip liner: That’s a huge difference and even bigger savings!
e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer: Dupe for Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
e.l.f./Target Tarte
If you’re looking for a full-coverage concealer that won’t break the bank, you need to try e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer , a dupe for the iconic Tarte Shape Tape Concealer . The former is just $7 with the latter at $32, meaning the e.l.f. dupe will save you $25.
e.l.f. Suntouchable Whoa Glow Sunscreen: Dupe for Supergoop Glow Screen
e.l.f./Ulta Supergoop/Sephora
Supergoop Glowscreen quickly became a cult-classic after it exploded all over social media. It’s beloved for its ability to give skin a gorgeous glow while providing sun protection. The only downside? It will make a dent in your wallet, as it’s priced at $38 a tube. Before you take the leap and spend more than you have to, try e.l.f. Suntouchable Whoa Glow Sunscreen , a $14 dupe. It does have a slightly lower SPF — SPF 30 compared to Supergoop’s SPF 40 — but experts say SPF 30 is enough protection for daily sun exposure.
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