Sophomore Rossi Moe shows off her L’Oreal Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner on Aug. 25. Moe said she feels $30 or more is a steep price to pay for hair products when cheaper ones do the same job. Photo courtesy of Rossi Moe
Duplicate products or “dupes” are alternatives to expensive, high-end items, often sporting similar looks at a fraction of the cost, according to The Fashion Law.
College students said they engage in buying these duplicate products as a way to maintain their lifestyle while on a budget.
“A lot of the bigger name brands have quality products and it isn’t just a brand name,” sophomore Catherine Craig said. “But the price tag doesn’t feel worth it at all.”
Products Worth the Splurge
Craig said there are some products that are worth the money. She said she often looks at the quality of ingredients, the efficiency of the product and its longevity when deciding to go the dupe route or not.
Craig said she is an avid user of the ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint, which is a tinted moisturizer that she uses as the base for her daily makeup routine.
“It not only has SPF 40, [but] it makes my skin really dewy,” Craig said. “It’s very glossy and it also moisturizes. It just does everything.”
Craig said the serum is worth the price tag of $48 for 30mL, according to ILIA Beauty, because the product lasts her months and is perfect for the California heat.
Beyond beauty and clothing products, senior Ella Sadri said she received a Canon G7 X camera as a gift and believes it is worth the $880 price tag.
There are many dupes and cheaper alternatives for the digital camera, such as the Sony Cybershot HX50 or the Canon G9 X Mark II, but Sadri said the G7 X is one piece of technology she would spend her hard-earned money on if she was not gifted the camera.
Senior Ella Sadri styles her purse, a dupe for the Coach Brooklyn 28, while studying abroad in London on July 9. Sadri said this photo was taken with her Canon G7 X camera, which strangers constantly ask her about. Photo courtesy of Ella Sadri
Sophomore Rossi Moe said her skincare routine, which includes the Rhode Glazing Milk and Barrier Restore Cream, is one that works best on her sensitive skin.
“I would say it’s worth it if it makes you feel more confident in yourself,” Moe said. “But it is hard to justify spending over $60 on my three-step skincare routine.”
More Affordable Options
When it comes to makeup tools, Moe said the e.l.f. makeup brushes are the best dupe because they work the same as other brushes at a much cheaper price of $2 to $6.
“I just spend $3 on a brush that works the exact same,” Moe said.
In terms of skincare, Craig said the Evian Facial Spray is the best replacement for the Tower 28 SOS Daily Recipe Facial Spray. The 5-ounce Evian spray, which is only $15 compared to Tower 28’s 4-ounce spray for $28, moisturizes, refreshes and tones, she said.
“It’s not the exact same product, but it is very similar, costs less, lasts longer and I like it,” Craig said.
Sadri said her best dupe is the MIX:BAR Vanilla Bourbon Mist from Target, a dupe for the Victoria’s Secret Bare Vanilla Mist. The Vanilla Bourbon Mist is priced at $4.99 for 2.5 fluid ounces, compared to $19.95 for 8.4 fluid ounces for the Victoria’s Secret mist, according to Target and Victoria’s Secret.
“I’d rather get [the Target mist perfume] because it was a lot cheaper than a lot of other perfumes,” Sadri said. “It’s not expensive and it smells just as good as other perfumes.”
Moe said she would recommend the L’Oreal Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner as a dupe for the Olaplex No. 4 and 5 Bond Maintenance Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner. She said she buys the L’Oreal products for $11 and each container lasts her a long time.
“It just works the same, if not better than, the $34 bottles of shampoo and conditioner,” Moe said.
Sadri said she visited Florence this summer, where she found quality Florentine leather bags — specifically one that resembled the Coach Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 28.
“It was just nice to have something that’s good quality but not crazy expensive and breaking the bank,” Sadri said.
Senior Ella Sadri wears a red purse in Edinburgh, Scotland on July 25. She said she bargained the original price of 65 euros down to 35 euros (about $41). Photo courtesy of Ella Sadri
Sadri said she often went thrifting while abroad, which included good quality items that were not overly costly.
“I just like finding unique pieces and that’s how [my thrifting hobby] started,” Sadri said. “And then more and more, I just liked the budgeting aspect. If you can find a cheaper version of it and it’s still good quality, then it’s just as good.”
_________________________________
Follow the Graphic on X: @PeppGraphic
Contact Jordan Baquiran via email: jordanisabel.baquiran@pepperdine.edu