Baddie On A Budget: Drugstore Dupes That Give High-end Make up Looks

Spring is here. These dupes let you add some beautiful new shades to your makeup bag this season and without spending a fortune.

I don’t know about you, but spring is one of my favorite times of year to give my makeup bag a complete overall. For me, that means out with the dark shades of winter and in with fun lighter shades that add a little sunshine to my face.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
AI Is the New Civil Rights Frontier: Loren Douglass on Wealth, Politics & Power

But buying new makeup can get expensive for a product junkie like me who’s rarely met a lip gloss I didn’t like. That’s why I’m always looking for less expensive dupes to save myself a few coins. Lucky for you, I’m paying it forward and sharing all of my frugal finds with you. Check out these makeup dupes that let you look just as great without breaking the bank.

e.l.f. Power Grip Primer ($10) vs. Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer ($38)

Screenshot: sephora.com, elfcosmetics.comScreenshot: sephora.com, elfcosmetics.com

If you want your makeup to last all day, a good primer is everything. At $10, e.l.f.’s Power Grip Primer is cheaper than Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip Primer ($38). And it’s a damn good dupe, if I do say so myself.

Milani Baked Blush – Dolce Pink ($10.99) vs. NARS Blush – Orgasm ($32)

Screenshot: narscosmetics.com, milanicosmetics.comScreenshot: narscosmetics.com, milanicosmetics.com

I’m not going to lie, I’ve been rocking NARS blush for way too many years to count. At $32, the Orgasm shade is universally flattering. But when I discovered that Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink ($10.99) is just as gorgeous at a fraction of the cost, I was quickly converted.

L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise ($12.49) vs. Two Faced Better Than Sex Mascara ($28)

Screenshot: sephora.com, target.comScreenshot: sephora.com, target.com

The Better Than Sex Mascara from Two Faced ($28) has been the talk of beauty influencers everywhere for a while. But L’Oreal Paris’ Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara ($12.49) will give you lashes that are just as lovely for less than half the price.

Juvia’s Place Blushed Duo – Vol 4 ($18) vs. Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush – Pink ($40)

Screenshot: dior.com, ulta.comScreenshot: dior.com, ulta.com

Dior’s Backstage Rosy Glow Blush is everywhere these days. But not everyone wants to spend $40 on color for their cheeks. At $18, Juvia’s Place Blushed Duo is a much cheaper alternative – and you get two shades.

NYX Sweet Cheeks Soft Cheek Tint Blush – Baby Doll ($9.50) vs. Rare Beauty Soft Punch Liquid Blush – Encourage ($23)

Screenshot: sephora.com, nyxcosmetics.comScreenshot: sephora.com, nyxcosmetics.com

At $9.50, NYX Sweet Cheeks Soft Cheek Tint Blush is light cream blush in a soft pink shade that is perfect for the warmer weather. It’s also a great a great dupe for Selena Gomez’s more expensive Rare Beauty brand, which will set you back $23.

Sheglam Jelly Wow Hydrating Lip Oil – Berry Involved ($3.99) vs. Dior Lip Glow ($40)

Screenshot: dior.com, sheglam.comScreenshot: dior.com, sheglam.com

At $3.99, Sheglam’s Jelly Wow Hydrating Lip Oil is almost too good to be true. It’s not sticky and it lasts for hours. It’s also a much cheaper alternative to the $40 Dior Addict Lip Glow.

Maybelline Nudes of New York Eyeshadow Palette ($13.99) vs. Too Faced Born This Way The Natural Nudes Eyeshadow Palette ($52)

Screenshot: maybelline.com, sephora.comScreenshot: maybelline.com, sephora.com

A beautifully neutral eyeshadow palette is a makeup bag must for spring. And we love the Born This Way Natural Nudes palette from Too Faced ($52). But Maybelline’s Nudes of New York ($13.99) is a 16-shade eyeshadow palette that comes with beautiful shimmer and matte shades that are pretty close.

Alter Ego Luster Charm 10 Color Eyeshadow Palette ($22) vs. Pat McGrath Labs Mothership VII Eyeshadow Palette – Divine Rose Collection ($128)

Screenshot: sephora.com, shopalterego.comScreenshot: sephora.com, shopalterego.com

The Pat McGrath palette is stunning. But at $128, it’s not exactly budget friendly. Alter Ego’s Luster Charm Palette has similar shades. And at $22, you’ll have a little money left over to buy yourself a lipstick, blush and mascara.

NYX Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray ($9.50) vs. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray ($36)

Screenshot: sephora.com, nyxcosmetics.comScreenshot: sephora.com, nyxcosmetics.com

It’s no secret that NYX is a great budget friendly alternative to more expensive products. But if you’re not up on their Matte Finish Setting Spray, what are you waiting for? You may never want to pay $36 for Urban Decay’s All Nighter Setting Spray again.

Makeup Revolution Shimmer Bomb Lip Gloss – Light Beam ($7) vs. Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer in Diamond Milk ($21)

Screenshot: sephora.com, ulta.comScreenshot: sephora.com, ulta.com

I love all things Fenty Beauty, including the Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer ($21). But I have to admit, Makeup Revolution’s Shimmer Bomb lip gloss is a damn good dupe.

Tree Hut Skincare Tropic Glow Firming Whipped Body Butter ($10.49) vs. Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream ($48)

Screenshot: soldejaneiro, ulta.comScreenshot: soldejaneiro, ulta.com

A few months ago, we put you on to Tree Hut Skincare’s Tropic Glow Firming Whipped Body Butter ($10.49) as a near perfect dupe for the ever-popular pistachio-scented Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream ($48).  

Milani Color Fetish Lipstick – Peony ($9.99) vs. Charlotte Tilbury Look of Love Lipstick – Wedding Belles ($38)

Screenshot: charlottetilbury.com, milanicosmetics.comScreenshot: charlottetilbury.com, milanicosmetics.com

What’s not to love about Charlotte Tilbury’s Look of Love Lipstick? That is, except for the price, if you’re on a budget. Lucky for you, Milani Color Fetish Lipstick is just as gorgeous

e.l.f. Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow – Disco Queen ($6) vs. M.A.C Dazzleshadow Liquid – Diamond Crumbles ($25)

Screenshot: maccosmetics.com, elfcosmetics.comScreenshot: maccosmetics.com, elfcosmetics.com

If you’re looking to add a little something extra eyes without spending a lot, e.l.f’s Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow is a quick-drying liquid shadow option with plenty of sparkle. And while it’s not an exact dupe for M.A.C’s Dazzleshadow Liquid, we have to admit, it’s really close.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

Exclusive: AG Andrea Campbell, More Black Leaders, Celebs Share Life-Changing Lessons

Exclusive: AG Andrea Campbell, More Black Leaders, Celebs Share Life-Changing Lessons

The Root Exclusive Series: Black History Month was established 100 years ago, in February 1926. To commemorate this momentous occasion, 100 Black thought leaders and creators share their collective wisdom and insight for the culture in this ongoing series …
Trump Is Getting Away With These Dangerous Actions Right Under Our Noses

Trump Is Getting Away With These Dangerous Actions Right Under Our Noses

From rolling back civil rights protections to Trump’s violent threats against Americans, here’s all the political events happening right under you nose …
Trayvon Martin and Other Black People Who Were Unjustly Killed in America

Trayvon Martin and Other Black People Who Were Unjustly Killed in America

14 years after Trayvon Martin was killed, these other Black men and women were also murdered in shocking similarity …
Austin Police Release Body Cam Footage of Black Shooter at an Austin Bar

Austin Police Release Body Cam Footage of Black Shooter at an Austin Bar

Austin police are piecing together the motive behind Ndiaga Diagne, the Black man who killed three and injured over a dozen in a March 1 mass shooting …
F1 Champion Lewis Hamilton Calls for a Movement to 'Take Africa Back' as He Tries to Bring Racing to the Continent

F1 Champion Lewis Hamilton Calls for a Movement to ‘Take Africa Back’ as He Tries to Bring Racing to the Continent

The first and only Black driver in F1 history is empowering the people of the continent to “take Africa back” from European powers …
Jill Scott's Break From Music is Part of a Growing Trend of Black Women Pausing With Purpose

Jill Scott’s Break From Music is Part of a Growing Trend of Black Women Pausing With Purpose

Jill Scott, Beyoncé, Teyana Taylor and Simone Biles are part of a growing wave of Black women who have embraced the idea of stepping back …
Selma Was Not Just History, It Was a Warning

Selma Was Not Just History, It Was a Warning

Opinion: Sixty-one years after “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, we are once again watching the machinery of state violence turn toward Black and Brown communities …
Melyssa Ford Reveals the Unexpected Remedy That Helped Her Cope With Her Mother’s Death

Melyssa Ford Reveals the Unexpected Remedy That Helped Her Cope With Her Mother’s Death

Melyssa Ford is pulling back the curtain on her mental health journey, proving that sometimes, unconventional healing can help with unimaginable grief …
Big News On Sidney Dorsey, The Ex-Georgia Sheriff Convicted of Murder Conspiracy

Big News On Sidney Dorsey, The Ex-Georgia Sheriff Convicted of Murder Conspiracy

Sidney Dorsey died in prison after serving a life sentence for the shocking 2000 political murder after losing his reelection bid …
Eric Benét's Viral New War Protest Song is Exactly What We Needed

Eric Benét’s Viral New War Protest Song is Exactly What We Needed

The “Spend My Life With You” singer gave us a much-needed soulful protest anthem calling out the Trump administration decision to bomb Iran …
This Viral Content Creator is Keeping Our Black Food Traditions Alive - And Looking Great While Doing it!

This Viral Content Creator is Keeping Our Black Food Traditions Alive – And Looking Great While Doing it!

Sonja Norwood (aka Wick’d Creations) has built a massive social media following sharing the Black recipes you won’t find in cookbooks …
Queen Latifah Death Rumor Spurs This Unusual Development

Queen Latifah Death Rumor Spurs This Unusual Development

After a viral rumor spread on Facebook that Queen Latifah was dead, she hopped on Instagram to address her fans’ concerns …
Viral 'Sinners' Test Footage Has Fans Wanting More Behind-the-Scenes Content

Viral ‘Sinners’ Test Footage Has Fans Wanting More Behind-the-Scenes Content

Test footage from the first days of filming “Sinners” has fans wanting more behind-the-scenes content …
Why Stefon Diggs Is Having The Worst Week Ever, Black Twitter Responds

Why Stefon Diggs Is Having The Worst Week Ever, Black Twitter Responds

The NFL veteran wide receiver has been racking a bunch of L’s this week …
Black America Explodes After Trump Fires Kristi Noem

Black America Explodes After Trump Fires Kristi Noem

Kristi Noem spoke in Nashville during a conference right as Trump dropped the bombshell news of her replacement …
Is the Fear of Getting ‘Too Dark’ in the Summer a Personal Choice for Black Folks or Deep-Rooted Colorism?

Is the Fear of Getting ‘Too Dark’ in the Summer a Personal Choice for Black Folks or Deep-Rooted Colorism?

After a tweet calling out Black folks who avoid the summer sun went viral, a debate about loving one’s complexion versus colorism had the timeline on fire …
What Will Happen to Rep. Al Green Now That He Is Forced into a Runoff Against Rep. Christian Menefee?

What Will Happen to Rep. Al Green Now That He Is Forced into a Runoff Against Rep. Christian Menefee?

Rep. Al Green up against Rep. Christian Menefee– the new kid on the block– in the upcoming Texas runoff election …
Teyana Taylor Wants 'One Battle After Another' Sequel, But Fans Aren't Feeling It

Teyana Taylor Wants ‘One Battle After Another’ Sequel, But Fans Aren’t Feeling It

Though Teyana Taylor’s role in ‘One Battle After Another’ earned her an Oscar nomination, it looks like fans aren’t so hyped to see a spinoff of her character …
Black ‘Klan Whisperer’ Has Led Hundreds Away From White Supremacy —And Has the Robes to Prove It

Black ‘Klan Whisperer’ Has Led Hundreds Away From White Supremacy —And Has the Robes to Prove It

Daryl Davis has used open conversation and music to persuade hundreds to leave hate behind, collecting their Klan regalia as symbols of change …
5 Times That Stephen A. Smith Crossed The Line

5 Times That Stephen A. Smith Crossed The Line

The controversial host of ESPN’s “First Take” has a track record of being a habitual linestepper …