32 Affordable Swaps For Pricey Beauty Products

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Essence's Drop of Sunshine Bronzing Drops that'll add a golden glow to help you channel your inner Drunk Elephant (we all have one). Just mix a few drops of this into your moisturizer for a subtle glow, or apply directly to your face for a super sunkissed look that'll have everyone asking, "Did you just get back from vacay?!"
A tinted lip balm for anyone intrigued by Clinique's "Black Honey" lipstick that went wildly viral on TikTok for its sheer shade that's meant to blend seamlessly with your natural lip color. It's impressed several reviewers, including loyal fans of Clinque's pricier shade.
A nail concealer that's a multitasking marvel, and it gives Dior a run for its money. It helps strengthen nails thanks to its blend of biotin and keratin, and it also provides a sheer hint of pink color that works great on its own or as a fast-dry top coat. It's basically a manicure in a bottle — which is an absolute STEAL at under $5. Just be sure to tip yourself when you're done.
A moisturizing hair serum from Korean hair care brand Mise En Scéne made with SEVEN nourishing oils: argan, coconut, jojoba, marula, olive, camelia, and apricot. They all work together to protect your strands from damage (including up to 446-degree heat protection!) while adding some hydration and shine. One reviewer even said the results are comparable to Crown Affair's $40 hair oil!
Catrice's Magic Shaper Face Cream Palette that asks the question, "What if the Make Up For Ever HD Skin Face Essentials palette was only $8?" The answer? A super convenient mix of two bronzers, two highlighters, and two blushes that will work for basically any look, making a perfect travel companion.
The Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener — it'll have you singing 🎵 "where have you been all my li-i-i-i-i-ife?" 🎵 when you realize it might just replace your beloved Smashbox x Becca Under Eye Brightening Cream. Reviewers say it blends seamlessly into the skin and adds light coverage to dark circles — and now it comes in four shades!
A cruelty-free lengthening Essence mascara with a whopping 266,000 5-star ratings and some seriously impressive before and after photos. Oh, did I mention it's UNDER $5 and comparable to Tarte?! Unlike other mascaras at previous price points, reviewers say this one doesn't easily clump or smudge throughout the day and is suitable for sensitive eyes.
And a cruelty-free E.l.f tubing mascara that's basically lash extensions in a tube. The formula wraps your lashes with lengthening tubes for a fuller appearance, which also makes it SO easy to remove at the end of the day. No, really, you just peel it off! If you're new to the world of tubing mascara, you might want to try this first before splurging on the Blinc version.
A multipurpose blush stick with the same vibe as the $18 Pixi Beauty version. The stick format makes it a breeze to swipe on, and reviewers say the creamy formula also works well as a lip and eye color. Just imagine: you give your face a few swipes, blend with your fingers, then rush out the door and hope you can make it to work by 9 a.m., even though it's currently 9:08 a.m.
Or an E.l.f. camo liquid blush — its results will turn you into a rare beauty, if you catch my drift. 😉 Reviewers say the pigment is super strong with a glossy finish but is still easily blendable and buildable.
Or!!! A convenient Catrice blush compact with matching cream and powder formulas so you can achieve Patrick Ta's signature cream-over-powder technique without paying Patrick Ta prices. You can totally use them separately if you want (or go with the traditional powder-over-cream method), but layering the cream on top of the powder will give you a dewy finish and a slightly more vibrant color. It sounds weird — but just trust the process!
E.l.f. Suntouchable Invisible Sunscreen that acts as an SPF 35 sun protectant and a blurring primer that plays well under makeup. The best part? Reviewers say it leaves no white cast behind, which is a rare feat in the world of affordable sunscreens. Plus, reviewers say this can hold its own against pricier brands like Supergoop.
A hair-repairing serum made with argan oil and aloe leaf extract that reviewers say might be even better than pricey brands like Moroccanoil. It'll add softness and shine without making your hair greasier than a Wendy's triple cheeseburger — although it's basically the same price as one! Smooth it through damp hair for easy styling, or apply a few drops to dry hair to smooth flyaways and frizz.
A pack of star-shaped pimple patches so cute you won't mind wearing them out and about. They're made of a wound-healing gel called hydrocolloid that can help drain fluids from any open pimples and cover any that are already on the surface, and they also contain salicylic acid to help dissolve excess sebum.
SeoulCeuticals' Day Glow Serum that brings vitamin C, ferulic acid, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, citrus stem cells, and organic centella together to form the most powerful sextet since Friends. The result? It can help fade discoloration, brighten your complexion, and add a serious dose of moisture. That very expensive and extremely tipsy elephant has some serious competition.
An adorable polar bear hydrating eye stick reviewers are comparing to Milk Makeup's Cooling Water Stick — it's basically a venti iced coffee for your under-eye area. It features Iceland glacier water to help relieve the appearance of puffiness, and the niacinamide in the formula can provide a brightening effect to lessen the severity of dark circles. Also, reviewers love putting this lil' cutie in the fridge for an extra cooling sensation! I mean, it is a polar bear, after all — it only makes sense to keep it cold.
A Wet n Wild lightweight tinted hydrator that gives you a perfect hint of coverage while also improving your skin over time — and it's impressed loyal fans of more expensive brands like Nars, Fenty Beauty, and Tarte. It goes on just like a normal moisturizer, but has just enough pigment to reduce redness and blur pores. Oh, and the hyaluronic acid and squalane will help make your skin feel soft and moisturized.
E.l.f.'s Halo Glow Liquid Filter — this can be used in so many ways. You can apply it to your high points like a highlighter, mix with your foundation or moisturizer for an all-over glow, or get wild and slather it all over for the ultimate lit-from-within shine. Charlotte, dahling, this is giving your Flawless Filter a run for its money. 👀
Byoma's Hydrating Milky Toner, which many reviewers say can stand toe-to-toe with Rhode's Glazing Milk. It's designed to soothe and calm sensitive skin while adding a light touch of moisture that's perfect for prepping your skin for the rest of your routine. Some people on TikTok are even mixing this in with their foundation to get a glowy look even Hailey Bieber herself would be impressed with.
A Nyx Fat Oil lip gloss to douse your lips in hydrating raspberry seed oil while adding a super glowy shine that'll have you forgetting all about Dior. You'll get the lightweight feel of a luxurious lip oil with the moisture of a heavier lip balm, all for under $10.
E.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer, which has gone mega-viral several times for providing a perfect base for makeup by blurring pores and smoothing the appearance of fine lines, and it might just remind you of Tatcha's The Silk Canvas Primer. It's formulated with squalene for an extra dose of hydration, and it's designed to grip onto your makeup to help it last all day long.
A non-aerosol, benzene-free I Dew Care "Tap Secret" mattifying powder shampoo you can pat directly onto your roots to mop up any excess oil right from the source. Just tap and massage it in — it'll even provide a little extra volume! If your go-to dry shampoos are from brands like IGK and Living Proof, this might be the ultra-portable and more affordable alternative you've been dreaming of.
A L'Oreal Infallible setting spray that takes just three seconds to apply to your whole face (thanks to wide-spraying microfine mist) and claims to help your makeup last for up to a whopping 36 hours. If you don't feel like parting with $32 dollars for the super viral One Size On 'Til Dawn setting spray, reviewers say this might just work even better.
A bottle of Elizavecca Hair Treatment with an impressive ingredients list for such a low price. Its blend of ceramides and collagen can help add smoothness and shine to your hair in just five minutes, making it perfect for those of us who care about our hair but not enough to devote extra time to it. Many reviewers say it's replaced Olaplex in their routines!
SkinSmart Facial Cleanser Spray — it can help reduce the bacteria that causes acne and breakouts in just a few spritzes. It features hypochlorous acid, which is meant to fight infection and promote healing. It's perfect for refreshing your skin after a sweaty workout, and you can even use it for body acne as well. If you've had you're eye on the Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray but the price is putting you off, give this a try instead.
A compact and super affordable ionic hair dryer that has reviewers questioning why they ever shelled out the cash for a $400+ Dyson. 😩 It has three heat levels and a temperature-regulating function to prevent overheating, and the powerful motor is designed to dry hair in less than 10 minutes.
A $4 E.l.f. lip balm reviewers have compared to both Laneige and Summer Fridays. It contains a blend of hyaluronic acid and shea butter to soften and moisturize, and some of the formulas contain a sheer hint of color.
And! A trio of hydrating lip sleeping masks that's less than half the price of a single jar of Laneige's popular version. They contain vitamin C for a brightening effect and come in fun flavors (lime, pomegranate, and berry) so you can switch up your routine every night.
E.l.f.'s Holy Hydration! Thirst Burst Drops, which might just convince you to save some cash and hold off on trying those Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Dew Drops you've been eyeing. This super lightweight serum is meant to provide an instant ✨glow✨ to the skin, whether you wear it on its own, under foundation, or mixed into your foundation for a radiant finish. Prepare for the onslaught of compliments coming your way.
A box of skin-lifting Skin 1004 face masks — it'll make you look like a terrifying zombie until you rinse it off, but it's worth it for the pore tightening and complexion brightening benefits! It contains albumin, an ingredient derived from egg whites that's known to tighten and lift the skin, even if reviewers say it's a bit smelly at first (but most say they get used to it quickly)! Reviewers say it's similar to the popular Hanacure mask, but way cheaper since you get eight of these in a box!
Nyx's extreme hold eyebrow gel to keep your brows in place for a whopping 16 hours — I think even Anastasia Beverly Hills herself would be impressed! Unlike the other countless brow gels collecting dust in your makeup drawer, this one is designed to dry down without a sticky finish — and it won't flake throughout the day.
A creamy, oil-based Juno & Co cleansing balm reviewers swear by for removing every trace of makeup, even stubborn waterproof formulas. (Seriously, take those makeup wipes out of your cart right now!!!) It's made with only 10 ingredients, including Japanese pearl barley to hydrate and brighten. If you've tried and loved Farmacy's Green Clean, keep this cheaper alternative on your radar.