,

Our Favorite Makeup Dupes That Let You Spend Less to Keep Your Face Beat

Just because the price of bread and gas is going up doesn't mean you have to stop wearing makeup. Check out some of our favorite high-end makeup dupes

Right now, inflation rates are higher than they’ve been since the early 1980s, causing the price of everything from the food you buy to the gas you put in your car to go through the roof. And it doesn’t look like there’s an end in sight.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?

But if you’re worried that you’ll have to choose between lip gloss and a tank of gas, take a deep breath. We’ve got some great inexpensive dupes for some of your favorite high-end makeup products that will save you a little cash and keep your face looking fresh at the same time. Who knows? Once you get used to those extra coins in your pocket, you may say goodbye to those fancy brands for good!

Blush

Splurge - Nars Orgasm Blush - $32

Save - Milani Baked Blush - $10.99

Nars’ blush has been a fan favorite for years, earning a spot on best of beauty lists everywhere. But if you’re looking for ways to save, Milani’s Baked Blush is a great substitute. Their Dolce Pink comes closest to Nars’ Orgasm, but there are nine other shades to choose from that will give your skin the perfect glow. And they are all vegan and cruelty free. One happy customer wrote, “These are honestly the most incredibly buttery, smooth, blendable blushes I’ve found.”

Contour Palette

Splurge - MAC Studio Fix Sculpt and Shape Contour Palette Medium Dark/Dark - $41

Save - Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette - $9.99

A contour palette is a makeup bag must-have that will give your face a perfectly chiseled look. The Black Radiance palette is a great lower-priced alternative that comes in three complexion options – light to medium, medium to dark, and dark to deep.

And as an added bonus, the folks at Black Radiance give you easy to follow instructions so you know exactly how to give your face the perfect definition. One happy customer called it the “Holy grail,” writing in part, “I have been using this product for years and was elated when they got the even darker palette “deep-dark;” would recommend all my dark skin girls. I love it so much.”

Eye Shadow Palette

Splurge - Melt - Four Twenty Palette - $58

Save - Juvia’s Place Nomad Palette - $17

Melt’s Four Twenty Palette is a colorful eyeshadow palette with shades of green and yellow that are perfect for summer. The Juvia’s Place palette is a much more affordable option with nine neutral shades that are made with melanated women in mind. One happy customer wrote, “The colors are rich and beautiful! They show up on you well and I get many compliments when I wear the colors.”

Red Liquid Lip

Splurge - Smashbox Always on Matte Liquid Lipstick in Bawse - $26.00

Save - Coloured Raine Matte Lip Paint, Cherry Blossom - $5.00

There aren’t too many things a good red lip can’t fix. And when it comes to red lipsticks and glosses, I’ve practically tried them all. So you can imagine how excited I was to find Coloured Raine’s Matte Lip Paint, an inexpensive liquid lipstick that looks so good that no one will know you got change back from your $20.

Bright, Bold Lip Color

Photo: Screen grab from Blackopalbeauty.com

Splurge - MAC Powder Kiss Liquid Lip Colour in Make it Fashun! - $25

Save - BLK/OPL - COLORSPLURGE Liquid Matte Lipstick in Fab Fuchsia - $10.95 

Sometimes a bold lip color is all you need to make a statement. But if you’re new to wearing bright colors, you might not want to blow your entire beauty budget. BLK/OPL beauty products are made for women of color. Their liquid matte lipstick comes in fresh, fun colors that look great on a variety of skin tones and they’re all under $20.

Masacra

Splurge - Tarte Lights, Cameras, Lashes - $24

Save - L’Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara - $11.99

The right mascara can make the difference between long, luxurious lashes and a hot clumpy mess. But if you’re looking for an alternative to your pricey mascara brand, you don’t have to sacrifice quality. All it takes is one coat of L’Oréal’s Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara to give you dramatic lashes that go on for days.

Setting Spray

Splurge - Charlotte Tilbury - Mini Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray - $20

Save - Milani Make it Last Setting Spray Prime + Correct Set - $10.99

When your look is complete, a good setting spray will keep your makeup in place as you go about your day. And Milani’s Make it Last gets the seal of approval from makeup influencers everywhere. Not only does it keep your face looking fresh for up to 16 hours, with a 60 ML bottle, you get almost twice the amount of spray as Charlotte Tilbury’s 34 ML mini bottle at nearly half the price.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

Steve Harvey's Gorgeous $15 Million Once Owned by Tyler Perry

Steve Harvey’s Gorgeous $15 Million Once Owned by Tyler Perry

With a 70,000 gallon infinity pool to a home theater and wine cellar, Steve Harvey's mansion is one of the most expensive properties in Atlanta, Ga ...
The Best, Black TV Shows, Movies to Stream on AppleTV+

The Best, Black TV Shows, Movies to Stream on AppleTV+

From Brian Tyree Henry getting down and dirty to David Oyelowo searching for a fresh start: we've got what you need to watch! ...

New AI TikTok Trend Has Gorillas Posing as Black Women, and Folks are <i>Pissed</i>

New AI TikTok Trend Has Gorillas Posing as Black Women, and Folks are Pissed

Yes, it's exactly what you think it is. And yes, you should be offended ...
Rumi Carter's Funniest Moment Even Made Beyoncé Stop Singing and Giggle

Rumi Carter’s Funniest Moment Even Made Beyoncé Stop Singing and Giggle

Rumi's latest moment on the Cowboy Carter World Tour was her most adorable yet ...
Why Diddy, Young Thug Attorney Brian Steel Is The White Johnnie Cochran

Why Diddy, Young Thug Attorney Brian Steel Is The White Johnnie Cochran

If you are rich, Black and get caught up, there is only one number you should call ...
'Sinners' Releases in Black American Sign Language. Here's What That Means

‘Sinners’ Releases in Black American Sign Language. Here’s What That Means

The deaf community was plagued by racial segregation, so Black Americans decided to create their own rendition of the language to serve their communities ...
A Burger King Employee Throws a Drink on a Child in Viral Video, and Black TikTok Goes Nuts

A Burger King Employee Throws a Drink on a Child in Viral Video, and Black TikTok Goes Nuts

The video of the volatile incident is making rounds on the internet and has everyone talking ...
Why NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Tried To Play The Black Card...Literally

Why NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Tried To Play The Black Card…Literally

Mamdani appears to have an interesting past when it comes to how he identifies racially, but what's it really all about? ...
If Poor Black, White People Unite, They'd Be An Unstoppable Force, But Here's Why The Powers That Be Won't Let Them

If Poor Black, White People Unite, They’d Be An Unstoppable Force, But Here’s Why The Powers That Be Won’t Let Them

We need to understand that America's current racial political divisions did not happen naturally. People in power did not want Black and white people to work together ...
What Diddy Will Eating and Doing In Prison This Fourth Of July

What Diddy Will Eating and Doing In Prison This Fourth Of July

Wondering what Diddy will be eating and Doing this holiday? Here's all the tea ...
A White Male TikToker Decided To Use Black Hair Relaxer... The Results Will Surprise You

A White Male TikToker Decided To Use Black Hair Relaxer… The Results Will Surprise You

A white TikTok Creator decided to use relaxer on his hair and... it worked? ...
Diddy's Best Friend Charlie Liucci is Being <i>Loud</i> About His Next Moves Will Be Following Acquittal

Diddy’s Best Friend Charlie Liucci is Being Loud About His Next Moves Will Be Following Acquittal

He's been spotted wearing "FREE PUFF" merch, now, Charlie Liucci has an inside scoop on what Diddy will do once released ...
How Baltimore Beat 'The Wire' Homicide Curse Under This Black Mayor

How Baltimore Beat ‘The Wire’ Homicide Curse Under This Black Mayor

Violent crime has plagued Baltimore for generations, and "The Wire's" depiction of drug and gang life surely hasn't helped... but there's hope ...
Best Self-Help Reads for Black Resilience in Uncertain Times

Best Self-Help Reads for Black Resilience in Uncertain Times

In these challenging times, these books can give you the hope you need ...
'Hey Google' and Other Voice Assistants Are Terrifying Children and Confusing Bemused Parents

‘Hey Google’ and Other Voice Assistants Are Terrifying Children and Confusing Bemused Parents

Social media is buzzing about the strange reaction kids are having to smart speakers in their homes ...
Internet Believes Eerie Photo Predicted Black Fort Worth Family's Tragedy

Internet Believes Eerie Photo Predicted Black Fort Worth Family’s Tragedy

A big rig driver admitted he fell asleep at the wheel in Kaufman County before he collided with stopped traffic ...
Why Philadelphia is Going Viral For Streets That Look Like a Landfill

Why Philadelphia is Going Viral For Streets That Look Like a Landfill

Libraries are closed, the medical examiner's office has a backlog of bodies, and trash is piling up everywhere ...
How Bakari Sellers Just Got the Ultimate Revenge on His MAGA CNN Colleague

How Bakari Sellers Just Got the Ultimate Revenge on His MAGA CNN Colleague

Sellers and Jennings often go back and forth on the CNN show, and this was only amplified when Jennings asked Sellers not to touch him during one viral interaction from December ...
The Scary Reason 'American Idol' Winner Jamal Roberts Declined a Key to This Southern Town

The Scary Reason ‘American Idol’ Winner Jamal Roberts Declined a Key to This Southern Town

While Roberts' reasoning is understandable, it's a shame he had to make the decision in the first place ...
A Black Mom Posted Video of a Terrifying Exchange She had with Police in Delaware

A Black Mom Posted Video of a Terrifying Exchange She had with Police in Delaware

Black Mom Says Cops Approached Her and Her Children With Guns Drawn ...