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Rachael Parnell

After discovering a consumer found out a discounter was selling a recent beauty line that seemed similar to items from high-end label Augustinus Bader, she was "super excited".

The shopper dashed to her closest store to purchase the Lacura face cream for under £9 for 50ml - a tiny percentage of the £240 price tag of the Augustinus Bader 50ml cream.

The smooth blue packaging and gold top of the two creams look strikingly comparable. And though she has never tried the high-end cream, she says she's pleased by the product so far.

She has been buying skincare dupes from popular shops and supermarkets for years, and she's not alone.

More than a quarter of UK shoppers state they've tried a skincare or makeup lookalike. This increases to 44 percent among younger adults, as per a recent poll.

Alternatives are skincare products that mimic bigger name companies and provide cost-effective options to high-end items. These products typically have similar names and packaging, but occasionally the components can vary substantially.

Victoria Woollaston

'High-Priced Is Not Always Superior'

Beauty experts argue many alternatives to high-end labels are good standard and aid make beauty routines less expensive.

"In my opinion higher-priced is necessarily superior," comments dermatology expert one expert. "Not all budget product line is poor - and not all luxury skincare product is the finest."

"A number of [dupes] are really impressive," notes a podcast host, who hosts a podcast featuring public figures.

Numerous of the items modeled on high-end labels "sell out so rapidly, it's just crazy," he says.

Scott McGlynn

Medical expert another professional thinks alternatives are acceptable to use for "simple routines" like hydrators and face washes.

"Dupes will be effective," he comments. "They will do the basics to a reasonable level."

Ketaki Bhate, thinks you can cut costs when seeking simple-formula items like hyaluronic acid, Vitamin B3 and a moisturizing ingredient.

"When you're purchasing a simple item then you're probably going to be alright in using a budget alternative or a product which is quite low cost because there's not much that can cause issues," she adds.

'Don't Be Sold by the Packaging'

But the specialists also suggest buyers investigate and note that more expensive items are at times worthy of the extra money.

Regarding premium skincare, you're not just paying for the name and marketing - sometimes the elevated price tag also stems from the components and their standard, the potency of the effective element, the science used to create the product, and tests into the item's efficacy, Dr Belmo explains.

Beauty expert another professional suggests it's worth considering how some alternatives can be sold so cheaply.

Occasionally, she believes they may have less effective components that do not provide as numerous benefits for the complexion, or the components might not be as carefully selected.

"The big doubt is 'How is it so cheap?'" she says.

Commentator Scott notes sometimes he's purchased skincare items that look similar to a well-known brand but the product itself has "little similarity to the luxury product".

"Do not be convinced by the packaging," he added.

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For more complicated products or those with ingredients that can aggravate the complexion if they're not made properly, such as retinols or vitamin C serums, Dr Bhate recommends sticking to medical-grade labels.

She explains these will likely have been through comprehensive studies to evaluate how efficacious they are.

Beauty products are required to be assessed before they can be sold in the UK, says consultant dermatologist Emma Wedgeworth.

When the brand states about the effectiveness of the item, it needs data to support it, "however the seller does not necessarily have to do the trials" and can alternatively cite evidence conducted by other companies, she says.

Check the Ingredients List of the Bottle

Is there any components that could signal a item is poor?

Components on the label of the container are listed by amount. "Ingredients to avoid that you need to look out for… is your petroleum-derived oil, your SLS, parfum, benzoyl peroxide" being {high up