The 7 Best Affordable Dupes for High-End Makeup in 2026
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Everyone loves a luxury makeup product, but finding pretty much the exact same shade and formula for a fraction of the price feels so much better.
Thankfully, the high street has plenty of alternatives worth knowing about. While an affordable dupe won’t always be an exact match for its luxury counterpart, some come surprisingly close in colour, texture or finish.
Here are the seven best high-end makeup favourites and their more budget-friendly alternatives to consider in 2026.
1. Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Powder vs Maybelline Fit Me Loose Powder
Huda Beauty's Easy Bake Loose Powder is a makeup routine staple if you love a smooth, airbrushed finish that helps keep your makeup in place throughout the day.
What’s really exciting, though, is that Maybelline's Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder has recently become available in the UK. It’s been spoken about constantly in the US for its lightweight formula, which helps set makeup while giving the skin a smoother-looking finish, at an affordable price. They also offer the Fit Me loose powder in a pink shade, just like Huda Beauty, for under-eye brightening.
Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Powder in Cupcake (left) vs Maybelline Fit Me Loose Powder in Translucent (right).
Huda’s Easy Bake is priced quite steeply at £34, whereas Maybelline’s Fit Me is at £9.99, saving you around 71%. It’s important to note that you do get a bit more product with Huda Beauty (20g) vs Maybelline (15g).
2. Rare Beauty Liquid Contour vs e.l.f. Camo Liquid Bronzer & Contour
Rare Beauty’s Liquid Contour has become a favourite for creating highly blendable, soft, sculpted warmth around the face.
However, the e.l.f. Camo Liquid Bronzer & Contour offers a more affordable way to try liquid bronzing. Its pigmented formula means a little product can go a long way, so start with a small amount and blend before adding more.
I’ve owned both and found that they each give that sculpted, bronzed effect, that’s super easy to build up, and I noticed the e.l.f. one lasts longer throughout the day.
e.l.f. Camo Liquid Contour in Fair (left) and in Fair/Light (right) vs Rare Beauty Liquid Contour in Gentle.
Rare Beauty prices their contour at £28, while e.l.f’s liquid bronzer/contour is at £8, saving you 71%.
3. Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand vs L'Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush
Charlotte Tilbury's Beauty Light Wands are loved for their luminous finish and their blendable liquid formula, but honestly, I find that they disappear from my cheeks in about an hour.
I prefer the L'Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush, which offers a similar formula, giving you that radiant, healthy-looking finish. The shades between the two brands don’t exactly match, but the ranges are equally stunning.
Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand in Pinkgasm (left) vs L'Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush in Glowy Gold Pink (right).
Charlotte Tilbury’s Light Wands will cost you £31, whereas L'Oréal’s Liquid Blush will set you back £11.99, saving you 61%.
4. Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm vs a Boots Glossy Lip Balm
Summer Fridays' Lip Butter Balm has earned its place in many makeup bags thanks to its buttery texture, glossy finish and sheer wash of colour. The formula contains shea butter, vitamin E and nourishing waxes, giving it the feel of a lip treatment with the appearance of a gloss.
For a budget alternative, look at Boots’ Glossy Lip Balm. The exact comparison will depend on which Boots balm you choose, as some focus on everyday moisture, while others offer more colour.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balms (left) vs Boots Glossy Lip Balms (right).
There’s an amazing price difference here with Summer Fridays’ Lip Balms at £23 and Boots’ Lip Balms at £3, saving you 87%.
5. Huda Beauty Faux Filler Extra Shine Lip Gloss in Sugar Baby vs Revolution Pout Bomb Plumping Gloss in Kiss
If you love a glossy, plump lip but don't fancy spending £19 on a lip gloss, Revolution's Pout Bomb Plumping Gloss in Kiss is worth considering alongside Huda Beauty's Faux Filler Extra Shine Lip Gloss in Sugar Baby.
Huda Beauty's formula is designed to give lips a glass-like shine, with vitamin E and vegan collagen to help keep them feeling moisturised. Revolution's Pout Bomb in Kiss is a very similar shade to Huda Beauty’s Sugar Baby but the main difference is the plumping effect: Revolution’s formula includes Menthoxypropanediol which is great if you want a fuller look, but if you have sensitive lips, be mindful that it can cause irritation.
Huda Beauty's Faux Filler Extra Shine Lip Gloss in Sugar Baby (left ) vs Revolution's Pout Bomb Plumping Gloss in Kiss (right).
With Huda Beauty’s gloss retailing at £19 and Revolution’s at £5.99, opting for the dupe saves you 68%.
6. Fenty Beauty Diamond Bomb vs Collection Illuminating Highlighter in Shine Bright
For anyone who loves a highlighter that catches the light, Fenty Beauty's Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil in How Many Carats? is known for its sparkling, almost diamond-like effect.
The Collection Illuminating Highlight in Shine Bright looks pretty much identical on the skin. Both appeal to those who prefer noticeable sparkle over a subtle, barely-there glow.
Fenty Beauty Diamond Bomb in How Many Carats? (left) vs Collection Illuminating Highlighter in Shine Bright (right).
Fenty’s Diamond Bomb is priced at £32, whereas Collection’s Illuminating Highlighter is £5.99, saving you 81%.
7. 17 Tinted Lip Butter in Deep Honey vs Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey
If you've been tempted by Clinique's iconic Black Honey Almost Lipstick, but can't quite justify spending £25 on a tinted lip product, 17's Tinted Lip Butter in Deep Honey is an affordable alternative worth knowing about.
Both products give the lips a sheer, buildable wash of colour, making them ideal if you prefer an effortless, your-lips-but-better look over a full-coverage lipstick. However, the shades aren't identical: Deep Honey has a slightly warmer, rustier undertone, while Black Honey is known for its distinctive deep berry tint.
With Clinique’s Black Honey priced at £25 and 17’s Tinted Lip Butter at £4, you’d save yourself 84%.
17. Tinted Lip Butter in Deep Honey (left) vs Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey (right).
The truth is you don’t have to spend a fortune to create a makeup collection you love, and sometimes the most affordable finds end up becoming your everyday favourites. While dupes won't always be identical to their high-end counterparts, they can be a great way to discover new formulas, experiment with different looks and save a little money along the way.
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