20150423

the £200 Face vs. the £60 Face | Beauty Dupe Challenge



As I'm sure you know by now, I can't resist a bargain but at the same time I like to treat myself occasionally. I thought I would challenge myself to do two faces of makeup with similar products, one being all high-end and the other being all drugstore, to see if there really is that much of a difference. 

First, let's take a look at the two makeup looks and you can have a think about which you reckon looks more expensive. Then keep scrolling (or hit 'continue reading') to find out which is which, how much they cost and about the products I used!

FACE 1


FACE 2



I can reveal the cost of each face is... *drumroll*

Face 1: £215.69
Face 2 : £67.42

PRIMER: Benefit's the Porefessional (£24.50) vs. Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser (£7.99), review of both here
I personally always use a primer as I find my base goes on easier, lasts longer and looks more flawless. Although the Porefessional is more of a paste or balm texture and the Maybelline Baby Skin is definitely a silicone-based gel, I thought they were equivalents as they both aim to minimise the appearance of pores. Whilst the Porefessional is more effective, I do think Baby Skin is a good alternative. 

FOUNDATION: Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation (£29.50) vs. L'Oreal True Match Foundation (£9.99)
Both of these products offer a medium build-able coverage that's sort of satin-y, as it's not quite fully matte. I do find that the L'Oreal is a little 'wetter' (therefore sheerer and dewier) whereas the Estee Lauder applies streak-free a little more easily and remains flawless and shine-free much longer. Double Wear is also an easier colour match for me, however I think the finished look is pretty similar. If you want this sort of finish for a price that's slap bang in the middle of these two then try MAC's Studio Fix Fluid.

CONCEALER: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (£22) vs. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer (£5.99), review, swatches and comparison here
The formula of these two definitely differ; the Maybelline is wetter and lighter coverage, whereas the Nars is a thicker, drier consistency and offers a fairly full coverage. However you do use them in a really similar way. I find Fit Me is a little less prone to caking under the eyes whereas the Nars is more effective at concealing blemishes. It really depends what you're after but I personally prefer the Nars.

I chose these as they're both 'two-in-one' blusher and highlight products. The colour of these two isn't identical; Luminous Flush is more of a vibrant coral, whereas Seductive Pink is a little more muted, however I think the formulas are similar. The texture of the Hourglass one is a lot smoother and softer, however I think they give a really similar natural highlighting flush of colour on the cheeks.

EYESHADOW: Urban Decay Naked 1 Palette (£38) vs. Collection  Eyes Uncovered Palette in Bronze Nude (£3.99) review, swatches and comparison here
I applied the equivalent shades from each palette in the same way and I really don't think you can see much of a difference once they're applied. I do find the Urban Decay shadows smoother and longer-lasting however the Collection version is pretty amazing for the price so you have to ask yourself if the difference is worth £34!

EYELINER: Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper (£12.69) vs. Soap & Glory Supercat (£6, review and swatch here)
My Bobbi Brown Gel Liners are officially done, and as I've been more into pens recently I thought I'd compare these two. They're both super-pigmented inky black and perfect for winged liner. The Kat Von D applicator is thinner and actually isn't a felt tip, it's made up of lots of little bristles, whereas the Soap and Glory is more of a traditional pen.

EYEBROWS: Benefit Brow Zings in Dark (£24.50) vs. Sleek Brow Kit in Dark (£8.49) review, swatches and comparison here
This is the one area where I feel the products are effectively identical! The Sleek version is perhaps slightly warmer-toned but to be honest I'm clutching at straws to find something different about them. They both have a wax for shaping and a powder to give an illusion of fullness, which work the same for me.

Mascara isn't an area I usually go high-end with, however Benefit's They're Real is my one weak spot. I find the brush and formula are perfect for lengthening and adding volume, really making the most of my natural lashes. The Bourjois wand isn't dissimilar as it is also rubberised with a large number of spikes to grab hold of every single lash. I would say the Bourjois formula is a little drier where They're Real is quite wet, however they give a similar look.

LIP COLOUR: Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Curviest Caramel (£17) vs. Rimmel Colour Rush Balm in Not an Illusion (£5.99)

I'm afraid these are slightly different colours as I didn't have an exact match. The Clinique is more of a nude, whereas the Rimmel is a more pigmented pinky-red. However they're both similar sheer lip crayons and I don't see a huge difference in quality between the two.

As much as I love having a touch of luxury in my makeup collection, this post has really made me think! I actually sort of prefer the drugstore version of this look and even if you don't it's definitely made me wonder if high-end products are really worth the amount more they cost than the drugstore (here almost 4x as much!) I think my base is the one thing I'm always willing to invest in to get something flawless and long-lasting but there are so many areas where the drugstore might be a better option.

Did you guess correctly which was which? Do you think it's worth splashing out on expensive products or do you prefer drugstore brands?

Also if anyone wants to try this little challenge, I'd love to see it - make sure you tweet me :)

 


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96 comments

  1. Face 1 looks slightly more high coverage so I did guess right ;) that's the only thing that gave it away! xx

    www.ohhellomango.co.uk

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    Replies
    1. Yeah it's a bit more of an evening one for me! xx

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  2. I guessed it right too, the double wear definitely has better coverage! Great post though, I often wonder whether my high end purchases are worth it too since they're effectively made my brands from the high street Xx
    Karan/www.studentbeautyhack.co.uk

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    1. Yeah - you have to wonder if things are really worth 4x the price xx

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  3. Great challenge! I like to use a mix of highend and drugstore makeup, so I guess my average face would fall somewhere in between both.

    RachelShuchatMakeup

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  4. Girl look how stunning you are! Fab post, loved reading this! Can i just have your whole makeup collection?!?! Hahaha you have some amazing products!
    xprincessjas | ♥

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  5. I thought that picture two was the high end and the drug store picture looks lovely, not that the first picture doesn't but I agree that it doesn't have to cost the earth to have a good face of makeup on :) Great post and great idea!

    Pams Stuff and Things

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    Replies
    1. Aw I'm glad you enjoyed it - I didn't think there was much between a lot of the products to justify the price difference xx

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  6. I can tell the difference in terms of coverage, but honestly the cheaper one has a far more natural look, which I prefer!

    Check my blog HERE :)

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    Replies
    1. Yeah I think it all depends on personal taste xx

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  7. What a lovely idea!
    I don't know if I have enough products for that, to actually replace all the high end things with drugstore dupes... I might do it in the future, when I built up my collection :)

    Love, Charline | Charline Has a Blog

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    1. Yeah I definitely didn't a few months ago! I just tried to find rough equivalents :) xx

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  8. I guessed face 1 because it is less shiny but apart from that they are the same :)

    Sarah | sarahanne14.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unfortunately the only thing I didn't include was a powder haha xx

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  9. This is such a fun post, you look stunning in both photos! I actually thought that the first one was the "$60-face" (sorry, for the dollar symbol, don't have a pound sign handy haha :D), not really sure why. I love my luxury products as well, but there are definitely quite a lot of drugstore gems out there too! I love Estee Lauder's DW by the way :)

    Paula
    Thirteen Thoughts

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    Replies
    1. I love Double Wear too :) the drugstore is getting so good these days! xx

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  10. First of all, you are beautiful! The make-up is identical! I really couldn't tell the difference! xx

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  11. Loved this post, such a great challenge - Both looks look identical to me x

    www.pintsizedbeauty.com

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  12. This is a great idea for a post! I definitely have to say that I prefer double wear over the true match, especially for coverage! But this post really goes to show how much you really don't have to spend on makeup! You look gorgeous in both of your pictures :) xxxx

    http://gbeautyblog.blogspot.fr

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    Replies
    1. Yeah I think foundation is one area where high-end always beats drugstore for me! And thank you lovely :) xx

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  13. Amazing dupes! love this! xo

    Lauren // The Beauty Ideal

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  14. This was a brilliant post. You've picked some excellent dupes. Definitely going to look into the Maybelline concealer now because I love the Nars one.

    Christina x
    Christina Campbell Hughes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah I think the Maybelline will be great for a lighter summer look :) xx

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  15. Oh my you're so beautiful! Love the products you used, especially that primer and the mascara.
    It's a gorgeous makeup look. Kisses from Hungary xo

    Csenge | Csenge's Point

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  16. That is crazy! You look lovely in both. This is a wonderful post idea. I really enjoyed it. I also think it's great for girls who are just starting out with makeup to see that they can start small and that all of us beauty bloggers didn't start with the gobs of makeup that we have now at the prices we sometimes spend.
    http://www.lipstickisalife.com/

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, exactly - you don't just start with makeup and immediately spend £28 on a blusher or whatever :) xx

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  17. Such a good post! I have to admit to me there isn't much difference in the pictures apart from the coverage of foundation. You can get some amazing dupes! x
    Emma | Emmys Blog

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  18. Loved this post! You look so pretty in both, what a nice smile :) Definitely can tell that the Estee Lauder has higher coverage but I actually like that your freckles peek out with the L'Oreal foundation.

    Erin | Erin and Katherine Talk Beauty

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    Replies
    1. Aw thank you :) and yeah it depends on personal taste as well as if it's day or night which one is best! xx

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  19. I didn't guess right - I thought the drugstore 'face' was the high end! The Rimmel Colour Rush balm has better pigmentation in my opinion than the Clinique Chubby Stick which was what got me. I like the NARS concealer better than any drugstore ones that I've tried, I have to admit, but otherwise, I totally agree that you really don't NEED high end makeup at all because you can achieve as good a look with all drugstore products. This proves that you can actually apply the makeup you have very well, regardless of the price, because your technique is the same across both faces. Fab post idea!
    Rebecca | The Two Twenty Somethings
    Xx

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    Replies
    1. Yeah exactly - I'm glad you enjoyed the post :) I think base products are the main area I'll always prefer high-end for xx

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  20. I guessed it right :) I prefer the base and lips of face 1 but I think the difference isn't that huge for the rest. I tend to mix highend and highstreet products. If I find a good duper, I will go for the cheaper version but it's also nice to treat yourself to a nice luxurious item from time to time :) This is a very exciting challenge! xx

    Alexandra | Glam O’Clock - MAKEUP REVOLUTION GIVEAWAY

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    Replies
    1. Yeah me too - it's nice to have luxury products but you can do really well on the high street too :) xx

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  21. Yay I guessed the looks right and that was purely cuz I thought that the foundation in the first one was more coverage and had a more flawless finish to it (so it made me think it was the Estee version). Other than that they majority of the products are pretty similar and I completely agree as nice as it is having high end makeup sometimes it's just not worth it (certain products are worth investing in but not everything). You look gorgeous btw x

    Beauty with charm

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    Replies
    1. Yeah that's how I feel - bases are always good to invest in but colour products you can do well either way! And thank you so much :) xx

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  22. Yahh I guessed right only because of the coverage of the foundation in Face 1. Other than that, it would have been pretty hard for me to distinguish from the two faces. You looked amazing in both pictures and it goes to say that sometimes price does not matter. The only thing I know that is quite necessary to spend a little extra money on, in my opinion, is a good base (primer and foundation). Everything else can be substituted. Brilliant post as always!!!..xx

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    1. Thank you lovely and I agree - your base is the one thing to invest in! xx

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  23. yay i guessed it right. looove the details on this blog post!

    Love,
    N.
    http://makeupbyninas.wordpress.com

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  24. I love your make up in picture 2! Much more natural looking and suits you perfectly! :)

    britishgirlcanadianworld.blogspot.ca

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  25. Love the natural look for you. These are really pretty, and you can't even tell the products are lesser quality.

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  26. both look great :)


    http://allornothing-blog.blogspot.co.uk/

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  27. This is such a good idea for a beauty post! You look absolutely beautiful in your photos. I've been wanting to try the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and the baby skin primer for a while now but I keep getting distracted by other products. The Bourjois 1 sec volume mascara is one of my favourite products right now, along with the collection eye palette.

    Roxie ♥
    thebeautifulbluebird.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Aww thank you - I can't live without the Nars concealer :) xx

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  28. This is such a fantastic post Jasmine and so fun to read! Initially, looking at your two faces of makeup, they looked so similar (almost identical) I couldn't guess which was the high end one. It just goes to show that you don't need to spend a whopping ammount of money on products to get a great finished look. You can do just the same with drugstore products :) xx

    Brenda BusyBee | Makeup Revolution Highlighting Palettes Giveaway

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  29. I guessed face 1! I think that there is just a few slight differences that gave it away, the one that stuck out most is the coverage. I don't know if it's the foundation or the primer but your skin looks a lot smoother in the first :) great post!

    allthatshimmers.co.uk xo

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  30. Wow this is such a great post, I like the second option better but you look so gorgeous anyway!!

    www.angerawrs.co.uk

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  31. What a fab post!!! Looks crazy when you lay them all out like that and work out the price haha. There's some amazing products in the drugstore now that I rarely feel the need to go high end. x

    Kate | kateemmaloves.

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    1. I know what you mean - you can get everything from there now! xx

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  32. wow what a price difference, your face looks amazing in both makeup looks, but I must say your brows do look identical! x
    Hannah | Heyitshannaah

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  33. I guessed wrong oops haha! I can't believe there's such huge price difference :).


    Emily // Beauty and Lifestyle Blog

    xx

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    1. I know - it's amazing when you lay it all out like that! xx

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  34. I absolutely love this post! I personally prefer the £60 face as it lets your freckles shine through and just looks so lovely and natural. Drugstore products just seem to be getting better and better x

    jobrlw.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you :) and I agree - they've really upped their game and there's so much choice now xx

      Delete
  35. Wow it really is crazy to think what a difference in cost make up can be! I think you look great on both but guessed face 1 as been high end purely cos it was a bit more high coverage. But it's good to know that you can still look good no matter how much you spend!

    Beth x

    Bethany Georgina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you :) and yeah you can get so much at the drugstore now xx

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  36. I thought Face 1 might be the high end one but they're both really lovely. The Rimmel lipstick looks so pretty :) x

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    Replies
    1. Thank you - it's such a nice shade at a great price :) xx

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  37. Fab post, I really love the idea of it as I love finding some drugstore dupes and you honestly can’t see much of a difference between the two looks. I’m really loving the S&G eyeliner at the moment it really packs a punch! Not an Illusion looks gorgeous on you hun :)

    Charlee XO | CharmedCharlee

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    1. Thank you :) and Supercat is just amazing! xx

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  38. This was such an interesting post to read, and the results are incredible, I can barely notice a difference between the two photographs!

    Heather, porcelainbeautyx

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  40. This is an amazing challenge! The looks are definitely identical I can't tell the difference! I think though with foundation I wouldn't downgrade to a drugstore brand just cause I'd rather it last longer for long work shifts for example :)

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    1. I know what you mean - high-end ones seem to last longer on me! xx

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  41. Great idea for a post :) I personally prefer face 2!

    Natalie Ann xo // Petal Poppet Blogs ♥

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  42. Really good post! I find the fit me concealer to be quite orangey especially for pale skintones, even though I really love the formulation! :/

    pennethaa.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. It's pretty orange on me, as I definitely have a more yellow tone but so does the True Match so they sort of work together haha xx

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  43. The eyeshadows look more pigmented in the first photograph, however the lip colour looks brighter in photograph two. I love the idea of this post, I haven't seen anyone do this before!

    Lauren | Porcelain Queen

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    1. Thank you :) Im glad you found it interesting! xx

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  44. Great post! I thought about doing something similar a few weeks back but have been so busy, never got around to doing it! Loved the results!

    Angie x | Chocolate & Lipstick || UK Beauty and Lifestyle Blog

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  45. I'd say it's good to spend a bit more on a good foundation - everything else is not so important...

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  46. The only differences to me are the foundation coverage (although your freckles are lovely) and how dark the eyeliner is. Either way you're super pretty :)

    Rachel
    http://justadd-glitter.blogspot.co.uk/ / https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/just-add-glitter-13479841 x

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  47. So clever Jasmine... I got it completely wrong haha! xx

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  48. Great post! It's crazy when you look at the price difference like that! I surprisingly actually guessed right but only down to your foundation looking more full coverage on the first photo! But everything else appears so similar, it's crazy the dupes you can find to save money! X

    Toni x
    clarkecouture.blogspot.co.uk

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  49. What an interesting post! I tend to find high street foundations are okay but I use quite high end skincare and if your skin is healthy, then anything will work (I have found). I might have a go at this!

    Rachael at broomfie.blogspot.com

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    1. Yeah I tend to invest in skincare too :) there are a few great drugstore foundation formulas but I rarely find a good match! xx

      Delete
  50. Absolutely loved this post. Great to compare, and really think about cost versus end result. I did guess correctly - mainly based on coverage and mascara (Interestingly those are my weekend and weekday mascaras! - I guess I know them pretty well. I can never be bothered with trying to remove they're real after work...)

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