43 Swaps For Pricier Items If You Love Saving Money

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30-05-2025

Buttery soft high-waisted leggings giving Lululemon and other pricey brands a run for their money, according to some reviewers. They're squat-proof, stretchy, and actually stay up without rolling down!
A Renpho percussion massager here to save the day because that $300 TheraGun just isn't in the budget rn. It has five different head attachments for targeting different muscle groups, plus five speeds to customize the intensity. Your sore muscles, tense neck, and deep knots are ready for some much-needed relief.
E.l.f. Suntouchable Invisible Sunscreen if you're still trying to find a daily sunscreen you don't hate. This clear gel sunscreen offers SPF 35 and goes on so smooth and lightweight, you'll immediately forget you're wearing it — no white cast here, folks. It doubles as a blurring primer, so it's great for wearing under makeup too! If you love Supergoop but the price is becoming hard to swallow...may I suggest trying this, because it's *very* similar.
Some breathable, machine-washable pointed-toe flats ready to cushion and support your feet while looking impeccably stylish...and asking for way less money out of your wallet than Rothy's or Vivaia would. The stretchy knit upper is so comfy and trendy-looking (meet your new office staple!), and you can toss 'em in the wash before they even have the *chance* to get stinky.
A 20-pack (!) of extra thick magic cleaning pads most reviewers agree is a great swap for the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. They're extra durable, so you can put them to work on your toughest cleaning jobs and watch the mess just ✨ disappear ✨.
Rael Beauty's Miracle Patch, a budget-friendly hydrocolloid acne patch option with ultra-thin edges that make it way less detectable on your face. Keep a pack around if you're prone to sudden breakouts, and they'll come in clutch: Just apply one to a zit, and it'll literally suck out all that gunk, leaving the area noticeably flatter with less redness overnight.
A set of internet-famous Mellanni sheets reviewers said they're reaching for over their Cozy Earth and Egyptian cotton sheets that cost $$$. They're made of silky soft, moisture-wicking microfiber that doesn't fade, pill, or stain, and feel like pure luxury — you may just shed a tear of happiness the first night you snuggle up in them.
A ribbed workout jumpsuit considered a great Skims alternative, with reviewers claiming it looks and feels just as high quality. It's compressive but breathable, with four-way stretch so you can pull off all your squats with ease (plus it's thick enough that it won't show your undies).
And a long-sleeve bodysuit that's also *dying* to make your acquaintance if you find yourself on the Skims website frequently, scrolling wistfully before remembering your credit card has LIMITS. The "Smoke Cloud" fabric is buttery smooth and *not* sheer, and the sweetheart neckline will add a little extra ~elegance~ to your 'fit even if you're just slipping on your faded Levi's.
A set of aesthetic wrist and ankle weights because *yes* you can achieve your fitness goals and have cute gear without shelling out $50+ on a set of trendy Bala Bangles. Happy tears, commence — but not for too long, because it's time to go for a power walk.
A bottle of Elizavecca Hair Treatment formulated to deeply repair and hydrate your hair thanks to restorative ingredients like collagen and ceramide 3. You just apply it after shampooing, wait as little as five minutes, then rinse it out for hair that looks *and* feels silky soft. Some reviewers say it's even BETTER than Olaplex, which is over three times the price!
A professional MUA–approved black makeup sponge — reviewers sing its praises as a budget-friendly swap for Beauty Blender and Real Techniques. When it comes to blending foundation, concealer, powder, and BB creams, there's no better tool for a ~flawless~ finish. *Plus* the black color of this one makes it easier to see product on your sponge for applying it — and it won't be all stained after cleaning!
And some makeup brush-cleaning shampoo because chances are, your sponges and brushes are overdue for a good cleaning. Made with gentle, plant-based ingredients, this cleanser will remove all the built-up makeup, oil, and impurities from your tools — and watching all the gunk be washed down the sink is *so* satisfying.
An Overmont cast-iron Dutch oven that'll save you nearly $300 if you're not loyal to Le Creuset and just want a durable pot for all your stewing, boiling, roasting, and frying needs. It's oven safe up to 500 degrees F, and the lid is designed for water vapor to condense and drip back onto your food evenly, which ensures your pot roast will come out juicy and delicious instead of dry.
E.l.f's Camo Liquid Blush, which is extremelyyy similar to Rare Beauty's wonderful Soft Pinch if you're on a tighter budget. Reviewers love its *gorgeous* pigmentation that lasts all day.
A bottle of Nyx setting spray so your carefully crafted makeup look can survive up to 16 hours of wear, through humidity, sweat, rain, and snow, without any smudging or melting. Reviewers have put it to the test and say it's a cheaper swap for MAC and Urban Decay's setting sprays.
And a 12-pack of soft microfiber makeup removing towels, a true hack for budget-savvy makeup wearers, since they can gently remove makeup using only water and be reused over and over! Perfect for travel and everyday use, they'll cost you just over $1 per cloth, which amounts to nearly 20 times cheaper than the infamous Makeup Eraser.
An ultra-hydrating TruSkin vitamin C serum concocted with hyaluronic acid (which locks in moisture), organic aloe vera, and vitamin E. It not only brightens and smoothens the skin; it also fades blemishes. Many reviewers say it's a worthy swap for SkinCeuticals' pricey CE Ferulic serum.
A Briotech spray for soothing rashes, sunburns, rosacea, eczema, and other skin irritations, *extremely* similar to the beloved (but pricey) Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Spray. Its secret is hypochlorous acid, an ingredient found naturally in our white blood cells that helps soothe inflammation and strengthen the skin barrier. This stuff = magic in a bottle.
A pack of duster sponges to help you stay on top of all the dust that seems to magically reappear in your home every few days. Their curved ridges are designed to trap dust and pet hair (and actually pick it up, not just move it around). These are reusable and just need to be soaked and softened before use to unlock their full cleaning power!
Essence's Lash Princess Mascara beloved for its ability to give you bold, dramatic lashes while also separating them to prevent clumping — and for its $5 price tag. People *rave* about this bestselling tube as a swap for more expensive mascaras like Too Faced Better Than Sex, L'Oreal Telescopic Lift, and many, many more.
*Or* the lash-extending E.l.f. Cosmetics tubing mascara that uses ~tubing technology~ to wrap around your lashes and visibly extend them well beyond their natural length, with a tapered brush that helps separate each one. And thanks to jojoba seed oil in the formula, your lashes are also getting a lovely conditioning treatment at the same time!
A set of satin pillowcases to make your bed feel more ~luxurious~ for a fraction of the price that you'd spend on brands like Slip and Blissy. Plus, satin pillowcases stay refreshingly cool and are good for both your hair and skin: They help prevent breakage, frizz, and tangles in your hair and absorb less moisture from your skin overnight, keeping it more hydrated.
A cruelty-free brightening facial scrub that leaves your skin positively glowy thanks to Madonna lily in the ingredients, but this popular vegan formula also packs in lemon peel, French green clay, and sea kelp to cleanse and de-gunk your pores. It works so well, reviewers ditched pricier options from brands like Clinique, The Body Shop, and Rodan + Fields.
A new-and-improved Govee neon rope light to incorporate super customizable lighting that doubles as unique wall decor. Its bendable design lets you twist it into all sorts of neat shapes (though the squiggle is classic), and by using an app, you can program it to all sorts of color combos and lighting effects! The cozy glow this gives at night is unmatched. Hue, who?
E.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer, which blurs your pores and creates a smooth, velvety texture for makeup to glide over and also grip onto. Infused with squalane for hydration, Poreless Putty Primer has a mattifying effect that doesn't look dry — plus, it's small enough to take on the go in case you need touch-ups. Blink, and you might mistake it for Tatcha's Silk Canvas primer and other pricier options.
An eyebrow soap kit reviewers love as an alternative to name brands to help you sculpt your brows so they have the exact shape, volume, and texture you're going for — and keep them looking defined and fluffy throughout the day. When it comes to precision and hold, this stuff is *chef's kiss*.
A trio of hydrating lip sleeping masks if you've been hesitant to pull the trigger on that $24 Laneige lip mask that's *everywhere* these days — getting three flavors for under $10 feels like a great alternative if you ask me. Just smear some on your dry, cracked lips before bed and dream of the smooth, soft lips you'll have come morning.
A Revlon one-step hair dryer and volumizer so you can give yourself a gorgeous blowout without visiting the salon — it knocks out drying *and* styling your hair in one step to save time in the mornings too! Dropping $500+ on a Dyson Airwrap suddenly seems...even less appealing.
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer, a cult-favorite you can wield as part of your multistep daily routine *or* for quick touch-ups (without cakiness!) on days when you're not feeling a full face of makeup. Dark, puffy under-eye circles and redness are no match for it — and neither are the name-brand concealers, at this price.
Skin1004's Zombie Pack, which works in just 15 minutes to noticeably reduce the appearance of fine lines, tighten pores, improve texture, and brighten your complexion. The mask itself tightens and cracks as it works on your skin — hence the name! — but when you rinse it off, your skin is left soooo soft and smooth.
A Coty setting powder that's a good swap for Laura Mercier's $43 powder. It regulates your skin's oil product to keep your face from getting too shiny throughout the day; plus, it has a blurring effect that reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and blemishes.
A fanny pack perfect for keeping your essentials *literally* close to your chest during travel or everyday life. The strap is long enough to wear crossbody or around your waist, which keeps your arms and hands completely free. Psst — people say it's very similar to Lululemon's belt bag, which is over double the price!
Nyx Fat Oil Lip Drip in case that $40 Dior lip oil has been in your cart forever, but you just can't bring yourself to pull the trigger. At $9, this version's a much lighter hit to your wallet, with the same burst of hydration (made with vegan squalane!) sheer color, and non-sticky finish reviewers can't get enough of.
A pair of lightweight legging-style joggers remarkably similar to Lulu's Align joggers, reviewers have noticed. With four-way stretch and a stretchy elastic waistband, these will keep you in peak comfort while lounging, running errands, or exercising.
And a soft, stretchy longline sports bra drawing comparisons to a tank from the same collection, so you could achieve the whole Lulu Align ~look~ for a lot, lot less.
CeraVe's Retinol Serum in case you've been wanting to add a retinoid to your routine but have been scared off by potential flaking and redness — or the price tag of other brands, like Murad's $92 retinol serum. This uses encapsulated retinol designed to help prevent irritation while still resurfacing the skin to help reduce the appearance of acne scars, pores, and more.
L'Oreal's illuminating Lumi Glotion if you're going for a dewy, no-makeup makeup look — this works beautifully as a lightweight foundation alternative or for adding a little glow on top of your makeup! And at under $15, it's a reviewer-fave swap for pricier options like Glossier Futuredew and Drunk Elephant's D-Bronzi Drops.
BestLand's high-performance matte lipsticks, which might be cheap (less than $2 each!) but bear results that feel ~expensive~ — reviewers are comparing to sooo many pricier brands like Tarte, Stila, and Kylie! This set is honestly a must-have if you love red and pink lip shades, since it contains six long-lasting staples that'll have you look fierce all day long.
Or the long-lasting Peripera Ink Velvet Lip Tint, worth the try if you like a little color on your lips but can't be bothered with lipsticks that constantly need touch-ups. This'll give your pout a smooth, ultra-pigmented stain with a silky finish, *and* it also has a lightweight feel that's not sticky or clumpy!
Some cleaning tablets that'll rid your retainers and night guards of the gunk that builds up on them over time, but lean in close and I'll tell you a secret: You can also use them to deep clean your water bottles and coffee tumblers instead of the popular, pricey Bottle Bright tablets. These'll run you just 15 cents a tablet!
An ultra-light milky toning lotion to balance your skin's pH level, exfoliate, fight inflammation, and moisturize, leaving your face balanced and radiant. It actually strengthens and restores lipids in your skin for softness that lasts. It's similar to Laneige's Cream Skin Toner, but cheaper — and from a small biz!
A highly rated pair of hoop earrings if you have designer jewelry taste but not a designer jewelry budget. Reviewers compare these to Jennifer Fisher hoops that go for up to hundreds of dollars and say they don't hurt your ears!