The best beauty dupes under $20
Every pair here has a dupe that costs less than $20 and replaces a product costing at least twice that. The list is ordered by how much you keep per ounce, not by how loud the saving sounds: a $12 dupe of a $30 original beats a $19 dupe of a $45 one only if the sizes agree.
What are the best beauty dupes under $20?
NIVEA Creme Moisturizing Cream, about $10 ($0.74 / fl oz), against the $200 La Mer Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream — 99% less. Both are built on a mineral oil, petrolatum and glycerin base, which does most of the moisturizing. NIVEA lacks the kelp ferment and has a stronger scent. The price difference is more than 250× per ml.
- 12
- 99%
- $641
1. NIVEA Creme Moisturizing Cream for La Mer Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream
$10 against $200, 99% less ($0.74 / fl oz versus $197.16 / fl oz). Both list Mineral oil and Petrolatum.
Cost per fl oz
La Mer$197.16 / fl ozNIVEA$0.74 / fl oz- Size
- 30 ml
- 400 ml
- Key ingredients
- Miracle Broth™ (fermented sea kelp), Mineral oil, Petrolatum
- Mineral oil, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Panthenol
What matches
Both are built on a mineral oil, petrolatum and glycerin base, which does most of the moisturizing.
What the dupe does worse
NIVEA lacks the kelp ferment and has a stronger scent.
2. Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder – Translucent Extra Coverage for Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
$8 against $43, 92% less ($3.49 / oz versus $42.04 / oz).
-92%Cost per oz
Laura Mercier$42.04 / ozCoty Airspun$3.49 / oz- Size
- 29 g
- 65 g
- Key ingredients
- Not disclosed
- Not disclosed
What matches
A drugstore classic that makeup artists use for baking.
What the dupe does worse
Slightly more coverage and a heavier feel.
3. The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA for Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment
$9 against $85, 89% less ($8.87 / fl oz versus $83.79 / fl oz).
Cost per fl oz
Sunday Riley$83.79 / fl ozThe Ordinary$8.87 / fl oz- Size
- 30 ml
- 30 ml
- Key ingredients
- Lactic acid, Licorice, Lemongrass
- 10% lactic acid, Hyaluronic acid, Tasmanian pepperberry
What matches
Same main active (lactic acid) at a disclosed 10%.
What the dupe does worse
It has a thinner texture and no fragrance. It's also offered at 5% if your skin is new to acids.
4. COSRX Peptide 132 Ultra Perfect Hair Bonding Treatment for K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
$19 against $75, 89% less ($4.68 / fl oz versus $44.36 / fl oz).
-89%Cost per fl oz
K18$44.36 / fl ozCOSRX$4.68 / fl oz- Size
- 50 ml
- 120 ml
- Key ingredients
- K18Peptide™
- Tripeptide-132 HCl, Biotin, Soluble collagen, Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid
What matches
Both rebuild broken keratin bonds with a low-molecular-weight peptide — K18Peptide in one, Tripeptide-132 in the other — and both are aimed at bleach, colour and heat damage.
What the dupe does worse
This one is rinsed out after a few minutes instead of left in, and it is silicone-and-oil heavy, so fine hair can be left with a slight film K18 never leaves.
5. wet n wild MegaLast Matte Lip Color – Stoplight Red for MAC Cosmetics Retro Matte Lipstick – Ruby Woo
$3 against $24, 89% less ($25.77 / oz versus $226.80 / oz).
-89%Cost per oz
MAC Cosmetics$226.80 / ozwet n wild$25.77 / oz- Size
- 3 g
- 3.3 g
- Key ingredients
- Not disclosed
- Hyaluronic acid
What matches
Same cool-toned blue red in a flat, high-pigment matte that photographs the way Ruby Woo does.
What the dupe does worse
Softer bullet and a semi-matte set, so it feels less drying but transfers more and needs a liner to hold its edge.
6. Makeup Revolution Skin Silk Serum Foundation for Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation
$11 against $69, 84% less.
What each one costs
Giorgio Armani Beauty$68.02 / fl ozMakeup Revolution$11- Size
- 30 ml
- one unit
- Key ingredients
- Not disclosed
- Hyaluronic acid
What matches
Same serum-fluid texture and the same satin, skin-like finish that Luminous Silk is bought for, in a comparable medium coverage.
What the dupe does worse
Less shade depth at the extremes of the range and a shorter wear time on oily skin, around eight hours before it needs powder.
7. OGX Renewing + Argan Oil of Morocco Penetrating Oil for Moroccanoil Moroccanoil Treatment
$8 against $48, 83% less ($2.37 / fl oz versus $14.20 / fl oz). Both list Argan oil.
Cost per fl oz
Moroccanoil$14.20 / fl ozOGX$2.37 / fl oz- Size
- 100 ml
- 100 ml
- Key ingredients
- Argan oil, Linseed extract
- Argan oil, Dimethicone
What matches
Same argan-and-silicone base, same use on damp mid-lengths before drying, and the same shine without weight on fine hair.
What the dupe does worse
Thinner texture and a sweeter fragrance, and it runs out faster because people over-pour it.
8. e.l.f. Cosmetics Wow Brow for Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Fiber Gel
$6 against $26, 80% less ($48.60 / oz versus $245.70 / oz).
Cost per oz
Benefit Cosmetics$245.70 / oze.l.f. Cosmetics$48.60 / oz- Size
- 3 g
- 3.5 g
- Key ingredients
- Not disclosed
- Not disclosed
What matches
Also a fiber gel with a tiny brush.
What the dupe does worse
It adds a bit less volume but holds as well.
9. The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 for Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Serum
$9 against $45, 80% less ($8.87 / fl oz versus $44.36 / fl oz).
Cost per fl oz
Glow Recipe$44.36 / fl ozThe Ordinary$8.87 / fl oz- Size
- 30 ml
- 30 ml
- Key ingredients
- Five hyaluronic acid molecular weights, Plum extract
- Hyaluronic acid (multiple weights), Vitamin B5
What matches
Same core idea, multiple hyaluronic acid weights plus B5, without the fruit extracts and scent.
What the dupe does worse
Slightly tackier on the skin.
10. e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Face Cream for Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream
$15 against $72, 79% less.
What each one costs
Tatcha$42.59 / fl oze.l.f. SKIN$8.50 / oz- Size
- 50 ml
- 50 g
- Key ingredients
- Japanese purple rice, Okinawa algae, Squalane
- Hyaluronic acid, Niacinamide, Peptides
What matches
Similar bouncy texture and a dewy finish, in the same jar size.
What the dupe does worse
It's lighter, so very dry skin may need an oil on top. Fragrance-free.
11. NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Liner for Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
$10 against $24, 79% less ($295.73 / fl oz versus $1419.53 / fl oz).
Cost per fl oz
Stila$1419.53 / fl ozNYX Professional Makeup$295.73 / fl oz- Size
- 0.5 ml
- 1 ml
- Key ingredients
- Not disclosed
- Not disclosed
What matches
Brush tip instead of felt, so it's more flexible for thin-to-thick wings and needs a steadier hand. Just as black and just as waterproof, with twice the product for under half the price.
12. Tree Hut Coco Colada Whipped Body Butter for Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
$10 against $48, 79% less. Both list Coconut oil.
What each one costs
Sol de Janeiro$5.91 / fl ozTree Hut$1.18 / oz- Size
- 240 ml
- 240 g
- Key ingredients
- Cupuaçu butter, Coconut oil, Açaí
- Shea butter, Coconut oil
What matches
Same coconut-and-vanilla gourmand scent trail and the same whipped, fast-absorbing body cream texture.
What the dupe does worse
No guaraná caffeine and no cupuaçu butter, so it moisturizes without the firming claim, and the scent sits closer to the skin.
