Best Makeup Dupes of Summer 2023: Six Affordable Product Swaps for Gorgeous Hair, and Skin

A quick scroll through TikTok, Instagram or YouTube beauty feeds and you’ll be bombarded with ‘dupes’ — anti-aging products that are identical swaps for high-end formulas yet cost a fraction of the price! So, we scoured the feeds to find the best makeup dupes, skincare dupes and more to target any beauty woes you may encounter this season. Read on to discover the right one for you.

For smoother, shinier hair, try this pre-shampoo.

The splurge: Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector (Available at Ulta, $30 for 3.3 ounces)

The dupe: L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Strengthening Concentrate (Available at CVS, $9.29 for 5.1 ounces)

Once the weather warms up, we love a quick dip in the pool, but chlorine can alter hair’s pH, causing breakage and frizz. What helps: a once-weekly, pre-shampoo treatment that contains citric acid. It lowers hair’s pH to reduce hair fiber friction, making strands less frizzy, explains Francesca Fusco, M.D., a New York City dermatologist who specializes in hair care. While Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector is known as a go-to fix, online buzz found citric acid-infused L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Strengthening Concentrate does the job for a third of the cost!

To keep makeup from melting, try this mattifying primer.

The splurge: Tarte Clean Slate Blur Balm (Available on QVC, $35)

The dupe: e.l.f. Cosmetics Matte Putty Primer, Universal Sheer (Available on Amazon, $8.82)

Rising temperatures put oil glands into overdrive, leaving an unflattering sheen that causes makeup to “melt.” To avoid it, New York City-based makeup artist Judi Gabbay says to prep skin with a mattifying primer before applying makeup. “It creates a barrier between skin and makeup to ensure a long-lasting result.” A favorite makeup dupe? Tarte Clean Slate Blur Balm, a putty-like skin primer that contains absorbent kaolin clay to sop up sweat and oil. But beauty aficionados on social media apps like TikTok are singing the praises of e.l.f. Cosmetics Matte Putty Primer since it works just as well to help makeup stay put and keep skin shine-free — for $25 less!

For moisturizing sun protection, try this sunscreen.

The splurge: Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 (Available on Ulta, $38 for 1.7 ounces)

The dupe: Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40, (available at Trader Joe’s stores, $9 for 1.7 ounces)

Old-school sunscreens tend to leave a sticky, white layer sitting on skin all day. But the latest crop of “clear” sunscreens, like Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40, absorb into, while also hydrating, skin so it feels soft and silky, not sticky — but the $38 price tag? Ouch. Thankfully, dermatologists like Houston-based Andrea Suarez, M.D., have posted to YouTube to share how Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 does all that but for so much less! “The formula is clear and colorless, and I can guarantee it is not going to leave a whitish cast on skin,” she says in a video on her YouTube channel @DrDrayzday. “It is identical in performance, appearance and wear to the Supergoop one!”

To erase spider veins from legs, try this sunless tanning water.

The splurge: Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Water, (Available on Amazon, $30.40 for 6.76 ounces)

The dupe: Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Tanning Water (Available on, Amazon, $8.70 for 6.76 ounces)

If you’re like us, the pesky purple clusters make you hesitant to wear spring’s breezy skirts or cute shorts. To the rescue: applying sunless tanning water — an innovative spin on sunless tanning lotions and mousses! The warm undertones in the spritz-on liquid formula correct the cool hues of spider veins. Bonus? It helps even out skin’s tone to mask any other skin discolorations, all while adding a radiant glow! “Plus, it tends to fade away on skin instead of becoming patchy or piled up like a spray tan might,” notes Gabbay. Makeup artists rave about Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Water, but beauty influencers swear you can reap the benefits with Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Tanning Water. It works the same way for less than half the price!

For lush lashes that won’t smudge, try this mascara.

The splurge: Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara (Available on ThriveCausmetics.com, $25)

The dupe: Essence Bye Bye Panda Eyes! Mascara (Available at Ulta, $4.99)

Mascara works wonders to help lashes look thicker, but humidity can cause it to smudge easily. The easy fix: a mascara that coats lashes with polymer “tubes,” which bond to hairs so they look full, long and plump all day. “The tubes only come off with warm water and agitation,” notes Gabbay. The award-winning Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara is one of the most popular tubing varieties on the market, but TikTok and Reddit users have discovered that Essence Bye Bye Panda Eyes is one of the more effective and affordable makeup dupes that (bonus!) contains beeswax to help moisturize lashes, so they’re less prone to breakage or fallout.

For soft, voluminous lips, use an overnight lip mask.

The splurge: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in Berry (Available on Amazon, $24)

The dupe: Lottie London Sweet Lips Overnight Lip Mask & Balm (Available on LottieLondon.com, $7.98)

Keeping your pout plump in the moisture-sapping sun is as easy as slicking on an ultra-hydrating lip mask each night, like the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. This number-one-in-the-U.S. lip treatment is non-sticky, lightweight and contains an ultra-moisturizing blend of shea butter, oils and waxes that deeply hydrate parched lips. The downside? A tiny pot costs $24! The good news: You can get the same benefits for just $8 with Lottie London Sweet Lips Overnight Lip Mask & Balm, says beauty influencer Grace Llewelyn-Leach (@graces.faces_ on TikTok) of one of her favorite makeup dupes. “The color, consistency and flavor are very similar,” she shares in a TikTok video. What’s more, these lip masks double as a moisturizing, long-lasting gloss!

A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, First for Women.