47 Cheap Product Swaps You'll Wish You'd Made Earlier

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25-05-2025

Nortiv 8 walking shoes with the pillowy comfort and bold color combos of Hokas on the cheap, so you can splurge a little bit on that boutique boxing class this week instead of shelling out more to replace the name-brand shoes.
Gold Bond's firming neck and chest cream to *gently* hydrate, exfoliate, and tighten the skin that's more sensitive than the rest of your body but less sensitive than the skin on your face. This makes for a lovely, quite effective in-between formula packed with aloe, salicylic acid, and jojoba oil in a formula that reviewers say works just as well as much pricier creams.
Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder made with natural rice starches and pineapple, kiwi, and papaya extracts that'll foam up and *gently* polish skin, giving you similar results to the $68 Dermalogica version. You can use it up to four times a week to see (and feel) the benefits without harsh scrubs or panicking a little bit at your Ulta total.
Plus, Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel. Reviewers swear that this works just as well as $$$ eye creams at minimizing puffiness and swelling thanks to a powerhouse duo of caffeine and hyaluronic acid.
A set of seamless "invisible" underwear that are an awful lot like pricier versions from Victoria's Secret you always wait 'til a sale to stock up on. Now you won't have to do math to figure out how much longer you can put off laundry based on what undies are clean.
Hanes Ultimate ankle socks that'll pass the comfort test for fans of Aritzia's TNA line. Yes, we're at that age where socks can be luxurious.
An Elizavecca hair treatment to give you "rich girl hair" thanks to its collagen and ceramide 3 formula. And it'll take just a few minutes of your time, like as little as five minutes post-shampoo. Because time is money, money is power, and power is pizza. (In case you were curious, lots of reviewers say they prefer it over $$$ Olaplex.)
E.l.f. Lash Xtndr Tubing Mascara if you've tried pricier versions but have shied away from rebuying because of $$$. Seriously, just try this! It's so good that I'm currently on my THIRD tube.
A Lululemon-inspired tennis skirt with built-in shorts and a secret inner pocket because are you even living your best summer life if you're not claw-handing your iced coffee and phone in one hand while you wildly gesticulate as you tell your friend a story on a neighborhood walk? No need to worry about a strong breeze.
A tinted lip balm you'd SWEAR is Clinique's $25 "Almost Lipstick" Black Honey for the lovely, sophisticated hue it'll turn your lips. This is great for people who 1) always want a little lip color, 2) hate a sticky feel, and 3) love a bargain.
A pair of wireless over-the-ear headphones you might mistake for AirPods Max if you weren't paying close attention thanks to the similar shape and shade options. These beauts are at a small fraction of the price (I swear, that math is easy) with good noise-blocking, 10 hours of play per charge, a built-in mic for calls, and cushy padding so you can put those extra HUNDREDS you're not spending on AirPods Max for a flight to your college roommate's wedding.
Essence's Drop of Sunshine Bronzing Drops will help you fake that you spent the weekend taking in the sunshine instead of sick and holed up on your couch catching up on all the horror movies you've been meaning to watch. And at $33 cheaper than the Drunk Elephant version, you might just go ahead and invest in a second or third bottle now. Reviewers say it's super hydrating and buildable!
A CZ tennis bracelet with tons of reviewers who say it can pass as actual diamonds. Listen, you want a glamorous stack but you don't have to choose between that and a long weekend at a beach resort.
A set of wrist and ankle weights will feel like an extra fun accessory after you look up how the pricing ($22-ish) compares to similar Bala Bangles ($50-ish). Slip on these before you take a stroll with a pal to get in your steps. Just be prepared for the onslaught of compliments by passersby.
A pair booty-highlighting biker shorts people say are dead ringers for $48 Buffy Bunny ones in case warmer weather has you looking for workout shorts that'll stay put through runs, squats, and more.
An elegant set of square wineglasses that reviewers point out are VERY similar to the pricier ones sold at Crate & Barrel. Whether you're just drinking some water out of them or some actual Prosecco, they'll certainly elevate the moment. (Now you won't have to be SO precious about your wineglasses!)
Sliick Ingrown Rescue Solution to halt painful (and unsightly) ingrown hairs before you realize they've rudely shown up on your first beach day of the year, no matter how you're DIY-ing hair removal. AND it's half the price of holy grail Tend Skin!
B.tan Self-Tanner for some super-easy-to-apply color that'll develop in an hour. No need to book a (costly) spray tan appointment. (Psst, reviewers who've previously sworn by St. Tropez products have made the switch!)
A trendy tote bag that'll give Longchamp Le Pliage vibes for about a sixth of the price. This bag silhouette is SO handy and practical but looks sophisticated, even if you've got some Flamin' Hot Cheetos in there that's your only potluck contribution to your pal's bday picnic.
A long-sleeve bodysuit will wrap you up in an incredibly soft fabric that reviews oft compare to Skims. AND it's supportive enough so you can wear it without a bra, which is always a great thing!
Plus, a stretchy bodycon pencil dress with heaps of Skims comparisons for the shape and stretch. I'm guessing this is what Morticia Addams would wear to an all-inclusive beach resort.
Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener can be a quick, easy fix for concealing and brightening your under-eye dark circles because you don't wanna have to do a full face every single day. This "invisible" coverage oft gets compared to the $33 Becca version.
A cutesy juice glass that'll run you $6 less a pop than the iconic Anthro icon juice glasses. Once you start collecting 'em, you may not want to stop!
E.l.f. Soft Glam Foundation has buildable full coverage without *looking* like you put on a layer or two (I should know, it's become my go-to!). Its satiny finish leaves you looking all dewy and has garnered some compliments from friends who see me often enough to tell the difference! After all, finding your holy-grail foundation is a JOURNEY. Might as well try the affordable, effective ones first!
E.l.f. Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm in case your lip balm habit (and losing-your-lip-balm habit) is start to eat into your fun money. Fans of Laneige, Rhode, *and* Summer Fridays are in the reviews singing this stuff's praises.
A baroque-inspired mirror to instantly dress up an entry or hallway. The gilded frame looks equally great hung on a wall or atop a console. And every time you gaze upon your reflection in it, you can think about the dough you saved by opting for this one over the more expensive Anthro version. Now you can FINALLY replace that mirror from your college dorm.
E.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter that'll free up a bit of coin if you've been eyeing Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Flawless Filter as a glow-getter on a budget. This stuff has hyaluronic acid and squalane to give you that lit-from-within for less than the cost of a pricey chopped salad from that place beside your office.
Some sharp-looking pointed-toe flats with similar comfy, machine-washable features to pricier Rothy's or Vivaia flats. You'll be glad you packed these to get you from Notre-Dame to the Eiffel Towel on a long but gorgeous scenic view! And when you get home, you can toss 'em in the wash to look like new for your next adventure!
A pair of retro-style oval sunglasses your nemesis will mistake for the $400+ Miu Miu ones, which is fine. Let 'em think that and put that extra cash toward whatever else you want.
Or some oversize square sunnies if you've been admiring the Bottega Veneta version but have such a horrible track record with keeping sunglasses in fighting shape that you can't in good conscience spend hundreds on a pair.
Slip-on mules because you're not allowed to wear sneakers to the office (I'm emailing HR on your behalf) but don't do heels. You'll get all kinds of use out of these comfy alts to the pricier Madewell Gemma mules without having to MAKE yourself wear them enough times just to make yourself feel better about dropping serious dough on them.
Platform slippers you've eyed on so many other people in public (or, well, the similar but more expensive Ugg Tazz) and want in on the cozy style. Once you slip your feet into the faux-fur shoes, you'll find every which way to wear — even in the sweaty pits of summer.
A multipurpose blush stick you can try out to create the lovely watercolor blush trend. Y'know what's even lovelier? Paying $7 for this instead of the $18 Pixi Beauty version so you can build and blend color to your heart's content.
Cushionaire slides to help satisfy your old dogs' yearning for comfy Birks (there are 1k+ reviews comparing them) for significantly less.
A "Soft" perfume rollerball that's definitely made an appearance or five in your FYP scroll. It's only $5 and smells totally delightful (it gets compared to sweet treats like waffle cones). BUT! That's not the only reason to love it. It reminds reviewers of the $65 bottle of Pink Sugar 👀 and layers like a dream.
Or a Creamy Coconut fragrance rollerball to have everyone assuming you paid full price for the $25 Sol de Janeiro fragrance. Even if your immediate plans don't entail sitting on a beach and drinking out of an actual coconut, you can still catch a whiff of the island vibe with this sweet scent.
A longline sports bra you can (and tbh, SHOULD) just wear as a crop top. It's too hot out for shirts that cover your belly button and regular bras.
E.l.f.'s Holy Hydration! Thirst Burst Drops made to help plump up (hydrating hibiscus complex and hyaluronic acid) and brighten (niacinamide) your complexion for similar results to the $35 Glow Recipe Watermelon Dew Drops. Reviewers say it works great alone *or* mixed in with foundation.
Dossier's "Ambery Vanilla" perfume because you thought about shelling out for YSL's Black Opium but your budget said no despite all your other perfume bottles being on empty.
Etude's delightfully multipurpose Dear Darling Water Tint, which a lot of reviewers compare to Benefit's Lip Tint. This smudgeproof formula is designed primarily to be a natural-looking, weightless lip stain, but reviewers use it as a blush as well!
A Briotech spray can help soothe rosacea, eczema, rashes, sunburns, and other skin irritations for when your skin is just not cooperating thanks to hypochlorous acid (it's in your white blood cells and helps soothe inflammation). Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Spray is also what some call a miracle in a bottle. But Briotech is in a cheaper bottle.
Some mid-weight sweatpants in case you wanna bring some luxe feel to your couch-rotting. Folks on TikTok compare these to Aritzia's for a fraction of the price. Everyone wear sweats but they don't have to be expensive sweats.
A half-zip pullover sweatshirt that'll run you far less than Lulu's $118 scuba hoodies.
Mise En Scene Perfect Serum, a K-beauty product that's probably come across your radar for its stunning before-and-after results *and* lower price tag than a comparable $46 Gisou hair oil. Locking down a cheap but transformative hair oil will soften the blow of putting off having your split ends snipped off for a few more months.
Catrice's Magic Shaper Face Cream Palette to help you build out and highlight your face's gorgeous assets for a mere $8 instead of $88 with a similar Makeup Forever palette. Listen, you don't have to spend a bunch of money to LOOK it. And a palette like this is gonna last you a while.
A set of satin pillowcases that are MUCH cheaper than other brands' but they're so legit that I own five pairs of them. I even pack them for travel! Once you start sleeping on one of these (they're cooling and keep your hair and skin more moisturized), you won't want to go back to a cotton pillowcase.
A slightly compressive layering T-shirt that comes in different colors and at a very budget-friendly price, so you can stock up on them to help fill wardrobe gaps. Oh, and the kicker? Reviewers say it feels like Skims shirts but, obviously, for cheaper.