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Shhhh, These 35 Beauty Products Are Actually Cheap Versions Of More Expensive Ones
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We hope you love our recommendations! While every product is independently chosen by our editors, BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. You can read more about how our affiliate partnerships work in our Editorial Standards & Ethics Guide. Simply begging you to put the $38 Sol de Janeiro Glowmotions down and try this $9 “sunlit” body gel from Vaseline instead. Promising review: "My sisters were constantly raving about this toner, so I decided to try it. Since using it, I’ve realized why they love it so much! My skin went from bumpy and textured to smooth and glowy. My clogged pores have completely disappeared. I’ve already recommended this product to a bunch of my friends, and they love it too! I’ve been using this product for about two months, and it’s still doing wonders. Definitely worth buying!" —Noa May Get it from Amazon for $6.93+ (available in two sizes and in two-packs). You can check out Vaseline's radiant body oils and lotions for more options! Promising review: "I am shocked by how pretty it is and how good it smells. Also, great price and great quality. It’s not too greasy, just really nicely moisturizing :)." —Faith Bremmer Promising review: "The TikTok girlies did not lie. This is great. Smells divine without being too strong." —patricia bentham "I’m obsessed with this lotion! It smells amazing, and the scent lingers beautifully on my skin all night. By the 24-hour mark, it’s faint but still there, and the hydration lasts the entire time. I’ve seen a lot of people compare it to EOS vanilla cashmere, but I personally love this one more because it’s much more moisturizing. Even though the fragrance isn’t as strong, I love the soft hint of vanilla and cocoa butter it leaves behind. It pairs perfectly with my gourmand perfumes and body sprays. Definitely my new go-to!" —Kxyxlli Promising review: "I am a lotion user every single day. I use face moisturizers that I love. I am over the moon how good this is. I mainly use it on my neck, hands and forearms. The difference is amazing. My skin actually feels so good. I wish I could buy larger containers of it." —Kimberly P. Get it from Amazon for $11.97 (also available in a three-pack). I personally will live, breathe, and die by the magic of "universal" Black Honey version — it lasts FOREVER and also functions as the perfect blush — but it sells out so often that I am also deeply relieved to know it has a cheap alternative in case of lip emergency! Promising review: "I absolutely love this product. The dark color is perfectly sheer. It also adds the most beautiful color to your lips. I am a Clinique Black Honey lip fan, and this gives me the same look for a fraction of the cost. I love it and have several that I keep in various spots. Not sticky either, which is my biggest gripe about lip glosses. My hair doesn’t get stuck in this like some glosses, but I get the shine." —Hamps5 "I searched high and low for this color after I saw it on, guess what ... TikTok! And the creator was right, it’s great for everyone. It’s not too dark or too light. Keeps my lips hydrated with a bit of color and shine. Love it." —Erin C. Get it from Amazon for $8 (also available in four other shades). Kuumba Made is a small business that specializes in luxury scents at affordable price points. Promising review: "Where have you been all my life!!!? So this stuff is pure magic. I’ve been desperate to find a signature scent. And now I have. Works with my chemistry like no other, and lasts for hours and hours — gorgeous, clean, woodsy, mysterious, perfect." —Amazon Customer Heads up — reviewers mention that Kuumba Made only sells this for part of the year in a limited edition run, so stock up while you can! Promising review: "I saw someone advertising this on TikTok, so this perfume oil was an impulsive buy, but I’m actually so obsessed with it! It smells amazing, and it’s still on my skin even after I showered. It reminds me of Yum Boujee Marshmallow by Kayali." —j miller "This has you smelling like a strawberry and cream dessert topped with marshmallows. The scent lasts for hours and I’ve gotten so many comments on how good I smell! Will be buying a backup for my car and office!" —Jasmine Petry Get it from Amazon for $5.50 (available in multiple sets, including a combo 3-pack of Choco Musk, Choco Musk Marshmallow, and Choco Musk Pistachio!). Promising review: "The Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask is a total skincare must-have! After using the overnight mask, my skin felt incredibly soft, plump, and hydrated by morning. The collagen infusion really makes a visible difference — my face looks smoother and more refreshed with each use. The mask fits well, stays in place, and gives that spa-like experience right at home. This four-pack is a great value, and I’ll definitely be repurchasing. If you're looking for real overnight hydration and a healthy glow, this is it!" —Gasha Get a pack of four from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in a 16-pack). Promising review: "I really like this shampoo. It’s not overly scented like some clarifying shampoos can be, and it makes my scalp feel so clean without drying my (already dry) hair out. Def recommend this. This is a good brand of shampoo all around. I tried the one for dry hair, and it smells so good and makes my hair really soft." —Abigail Promising review: "This smells heavenly!! I wore it today with the Cheirosa 62, and it smells delicious! I already purchased a second bottle for me and one for my daughter because I know it's going viral, and I don't want to run out! It's already hard to find where I am. To me, this is even better than the Vanilla Cashmere, and that's been my absolute favorite so far." —Heather Mg Get it from Amazon for $9.98 (available in various scents and packs). Promising review: "I've been using the Vitamin C Face Serum for a few weeks now, and I’m absolutely in love with it! My skin feels so much smoother and brighter, and I’ve noticed a significant reduction in the dark spots I’ve been struggling with. The serum absorbs quickly, leaving no greasy residue, and it has a lovely, light scent. My complexion is looking more even, and I can see a visible improvement in my skin tone. I also appreciate how gentle it is on my skin, with no irritation at all. This serum has quickly become a must-have in my skincare routine! Highly recommend for anyone looking to tackle dark spots and brighten their skin." —Patricia D. The color-adaptive formula is designed so that one of four shades will work on any skin tone. Promising review: "Took years off my eyes! This product is so reasonably priced. I came across a TikTok promoting this and decided to take a chance since the price was super reasonable. My eyes looked brighter in a good way, and the concealer worked so well that I felt I looked younger. I got compliments from friends asking what I did differently with my makeup. I recommend it." —Monica T. Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in four shades). Promising review: "Love love love this stuff. This is such a stellar product that is so versatile. Can be worn alone to put some glowy life to skin. Add to foundation or layer it. Beautiful. Use it as a base where you put highlighter on top. Mix some with moisturizer. This, in my opinion, is better than so many high-luxury brands that make similar products. And I am pretty sure it can be used by all skin types. It’s not an oily feeling at all, and it doesn’t dry out the skin either. Just a total package. Can’t beat the price either." —Figgy08 Get it from Amazon for $13.59+ (available in five shades and in multipacks). I bought this after being peer-pressured by all the lovely reviews, and I'm happy to report it lives up to the hype. The scent is lovely — it has depth with a hint of floral, but it's light and not at all overpowering. My favorite thing about it is how easily it pairs with other scents, because I am a body mist gremlin who swaps out her scents every day. The lather is also deeply satisfying, and I feel quite refreshed and squeaky clean without ever feeling dry. Promising review: "Cremo's body wash is nothing short of exceptional. If you’re a fan of luxurious fragrances, this product will quickly become your new favorite. It boasts an incredible scent that perfectly mimics Baccarat Rouge 540 — a fragrance renowned for its sophisticated and captivating aroma. What sets this body wash apart is not just its stunning scent but also its longevity. The fragrance lingers beautifully throughout the day, ensuring you stay enveloped in that luxurious aroma long after your shower." —Ralph D. Thompson II Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in two other scents and in a two-pack). Promising review: "Welp, this stuff is amazing. I tend to avoid anything trendy or anything that 'goes viral' due to my stubborn nature, but when searching Amazon for a red-reducing toner, this one just kept showing up, so I swallowed my pride. Social media did not betray us on this one, friends. I saw immediate results. My skin looked much calmer right after the first use, and it feels so smooth. The price is amazing, the bottle is fun, it has no scent (not necessarily a positive for me, but I know it's important to others), it feels good to put on, and looks good on the skin. I have a feeling that I will be repurchasing this toner, highly recommend." —Amazon Customer Check out a TikTok of the marshmallow lip treatment in action. Promising review: "My new must-have! My number one go-to for healing lips was Carmex. This beat it. I love the consistency (very creamy/smooth), it’s not heavily flavored or goopy, and it obviously smells amazing. It isn’t overbearing and also doesn’t keep coating your mouth like the Eos stick balms (still great, but more wax)." —Breanah Shirazi Get ti from Amazon for $4.49 (also available in Strawberry Acai and Brown Sugar Boba). Peach Slices is a small business that specializes in affordable skincare products. Promising review: "I use these once a week and they really help my huge nose pores look way smaller and cleaner. The first time, I still had some oil and gunk in my pores, but the second time, I had even less. By the third time I used them, the only oil was on the patch, and my nose has never looked better. My pores appear smaller and my nose is smoother." —Sarah Cavasos Get a pack of seven from Amazon for $9.88. This is designed to work on all hair types, with reviewers with 2b to 4c curls mentioning it worked for them! Promising review: "Like many others, I tried this as a replacement for Olaplex. Honestly, Olaplex never had a great effect on my hair and certainly wasn’t worth the price. This did an unreal job on my hair!! I was skeptical (tried a little bit first because I was petrified it would burn off my hair and I would end up bald!) but, lo and behold, it was magic! My hair is so strong, silky, and healthy-looking after just one use. Plus, you can’t beat the price! Have already ordered another box. I should also add that I have curly/wavy hair that’s been colored to a light brown. Buy it!!" —BB Check out BuzzFeed's full review of the Elizavecca hair treatment for more deets! Promising review: "This product actually works! Very affordable, too. There are a lot of expensive teeth whitening products out there, but why spend extra money when you don't have to? Definitely worth trying!" —Mona L Cureton Get a two-pack from Amazon for $14.48 (also available individually and in a four-pack). Check out a TikTok of the E.l.f. tubing mascara in action. I am not a new human to the tubing mascara game, and in fact, readily spent $26 on the famous OG blend from Blinc every time it needed replacing. I didn't even love it for the length half as much as the fact that tubing mascara like this genuinely never smudges, but can I just say — regardless of price, the E.l.f. tubing mascara formula blows all the others I've tried out of the water. It gives me way more length and volume than other brands, slides on so much more easily, stays put ALL day, and never, ever smudges. My favorite part, though, is how gently and easily it comes off with soap and water. In the past, other mascara removals have felt rough on my lashes, but this comes off so fast that I'm like ??? was I even wearing mascara a minute ago?? Anyway, I hesitate even writing this review because I want to gatekeep the hell out of this before it sells out, but the world needed to know. I'm a big fan of the brown shade (which is what I'm wearing above!), but it also comes in black and soft black. Get it from Amazon for $8 (available in three shades). Promising review: "This stuff is AMAZING!!! I saw a demo in a YouTube video and thought I would give it a try — this is such a treasure find!!! It says blur, and blur it does!! Talk about softening a look! I never want to be without this product again!! It made my 60-year-old face look 10 years younger!!" —Christine McGrath Get it from Amazon for $12.79+ (available in four shades). Promising review: "I have not tried the name-brand brush, but grabbed this one to see if the design worked for my hair. Holy defined curls, Batman! I styled pretty much as usual, but used the brush to distribute the product (I use Innersense gel), lifting at the roots and letting the curls bounce after I released. This photo is after breaking the cast with some hair oil. My curls are never this defined and healthy-looking. Don’t think twice about it: your curls need this brush." —Natalie Gonzalez Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in four colors). Promising review: "Great alternative to the expensive patches. Effectively pulls fluid from acne. There is a lot of variety in sizes and shapes. Will buy again, though this pack looks like it will last a while!" —Peyton Get a pack of 142 from Amazon for $6.99 (also available in a larger pack). Promising review: "Diva, stop letting these influencers sway you into spending your hard-earned (and scarce) beans on $20–$30 subpar lip balms — you’re paying for the brand, and the quality is questionable. ELF KNOCKED THEM BOTH OUTTA THE PARK WITH THIS! SO BUTTERY, SO YUMMY, SOOOOOOO MUCH PRODUCT!!!!! i wasn’t expecting the tube to be so generous in size, by far the biggest amount I've seen from the market. The flavors are divine, the color payoff is even better than Summer Fridays … and it’s only $9, you cannot go wrong. I just can’t fathom any balm being priced above $12, E.l.f. always hits and barely misses. 🩷💋" —SONIA Get it from Amazon for $7.50+ (available in 14 flavors, including Strawberry Shortcake, Blackberry Sorbet, Java Chip, Vanilla Toffee, Wild Cherry, and Yummy Gummy). Promising review: "I have tried many different drugstore powders and this one is by far the best. Undetectable on skin. Doesn't settle into lines. Lasts all day with some natural fading toward the end of the night. It mattifies without making you too flat. I have repurchased it for about 5-7 years now. The L'Oréal Infallible comes close, but it does settle into lines. This one doesn't! You can wear it alone or over foundation." —Yuliya Get it from Amazon for $14.47+ (available in two sizes, two-packs, and lots of shades). (It goes without saying that you don't need to lay your edges if you don't want to, but this is a handy option if you do.) Promising review: "Love this. It doesn’t leave a white cast after it dries and keeps my flyaways tamed. I like the longer wand. No clumps when you take it out of the tube. Easy to apply to your hair. Good value, especially for the brand. I like the rounded slim tube instead of the hard plastic that I’ve gotten before. Functions as it should without the mess." —Myan Espino Billion Dollar Brows is a small business that specializes in beauty products. Promising review: "I have found a new eyebrow enhancer powder! I’m blonde, and my eyebrows don’t show up very well. I have tried a lot of colors and products, but the rich, soft color of this one beats them all. Easily glides on, covers my gray brow hairs, and helps my eyebrows frame my face. And this one stays on all day until I wash it off! Well worth the price and the quality surprised me!!" —Pammer Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in four shades and multipacks). Juno & Co. is a small business specializing in personal care and skincare products. Promising review: "I’ve loved the Farmacy Green Clean for many years, but at $30+ for a jar that lasts 1-2 months max, it was a pricey product to buy on a regular basis. I wanted something just as good at a lower price, and I FOUND IT! This cleanser absolutely melts away makeup and deep cleans the skin without any drying or eye irritation! It smells great and a little goes a loooonng way — I’m in love!" —Amazon Customer Promising review: "All my life, I've used a rag for cleaning my face. I started having breakouts. I saw this on TikTok, so I decided to purchase. Since I've been using these, I no longer have breakouts. The towel is soft to the skin and works very well since I have sensitive skin. I will most definitely purchase again." —India Freeman Get a set of 50 from Amazon for $12.99 (available in other pack sizes). Promising review: "I know you have seen this on TikTok and are wondering if they are worth the hype. They are so just order them. I have so many colors from this brand; they are so easy to apply. Get them." —Milly Get it from Amazon for $9.90 (available in a variety of shades). Jerome Alexander is a small business that specializes in airbrush cosmetic products. HELLO — I found this through a recommendation on a Reddit beauty forum for people in their thirties, and I am OBSESSED. I am not very skilled with makeup and was intimidated by the brush factor, but it's nearly foolproof. This foundation straight-up glosses over my pores and redness and makes my skin look so even-toned and natural that it doesn't look like I used much foundation at all. It's a bit price-y compared to brands I used in the past, but I'm still on my first bottle of it, and it's been three full months. I hope this never stops getting made. It is so lightweight and lovely and has made my makeup routine feel like a TREAT. Promising review: "Bought this because I saw it on TikTok, and it did not disappoint. I love the lightweight feel of it and how easy it is to build." —Smickens Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in 12 shades). Promising review: "I’d yet to find anything (even foundation) that could cover up my red areas. Cheeks, chin, nose, and forehead. It comes out green, but has a gorgeous, lightweight finish with a tint that indeed covers my redness beautifully. There’s no greasiness to it at all. It dries down to a beautiful matte finish. It’s super easy to use. I use my fingers. The texture is like silk. It leaves my face baby-soft, not sticky at all. It doesn’t settle into my fine lines or wrinkles, and I don’t need powder to 'bake' it under my eyes. It also covers the black circles under my eyes." —Julie F. Get it from Amazon for $10.97 (available in four other styles and in two-packs). Promising review: "By far the BEST hair straightener I’ve bought in the 25+ years I have been straightening my hair. It leaves my hair so shiny and soft. I’ve bought the Chi and other expensive ones, and they don't even compare!" —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $33.79+ (available in two sizes and in two-packs). Promising review: "I bought this and my daughter immediately tried to steal it because she thought it was the real thing. Ha! This is so easy to use and a little goes a long way. This will last for a while. And was a fraction of the price of the brand name." —Amazon Customer Promising review: "Literally, the best hair product you can possibly get that is affordable and doesn’t leave your hair greasy — it makes it shiny and super soft. After I get out of the shower, when my hair is still damp, I put some on my ends and work the rest up into the top of my head. Sometimes I blow my hair dry after I get out of the shower and put it on and then after I blow dry I put it on some more, and it looks absolutely beautiful — no greasy hair here. My hair type is fine and gets oily really fast and yet somehow this product tames it a bit and keeps it looking healthy for days! Will purchase again and again!!!" —Tara Klein Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in two sizes, a leave-in cream style, and five other formulas). * *Psst* — These 37 Beauty Products Are All The Rage Right Now, In Case You Weren’t Aware * Helpful Products For People Who Think They Suck At Makeup * Beauty Products So Good, Reviewers Say They “Can’t Live Without” Them * Sensitive Skin–Friendly Beauty Products You’ll Be So Glad You Own * Korean Beauty Products You Probably Haven’t Heard Of Yet But Should Totally Try This Spring * Problem-Solving Beauty Products For Those Issues You Didn’t Even Know Had Legit Solutions * Beauty Products That'll Help With Upkeep Without Costing A Fortune * Beauty Products That Work So Well, Reviewers Called Them “Wizardry,” “Sorcery” Or Just Plain “Magic” Plus, cosmetic bags, concealers, waterproof mascaras, and finds from Amazon, Sephora, Soko Glam, Ulta, and Walmart. Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity. BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.
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