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Rachael Parnell

Upon hearing a consumer heard Aldi was offering a recent product collection that seemed similar to items from high-end label Augustinus Bader, she was "extremely excited".

She hurried to her local shop to pick up the store-brand face cream for under £9 for 50ml - a tiny percentage of the £240 cost of the luxury brand 50ml item.

The sleek blue container and gold top of both creams look noticeably comparable. Although Rachael has never tried the high-end cream, she says she's satisfied by the alternative so far.

She has been purchasing skincare dupes from high street stores and grocery stores for some time, and she's not alone.

More than a quarter of UK shoppers report they've bought a beauty or cosmetic alternative. This rises to nearly half among millennials and Gen Z, according to a recently published poll.

Dupes are skincare products that mimic bigger name brands and provide budget-friendly options to premium products. These products frequently have alike labels and design, but sometimes the components can vary significantly.

Victoria Woollaston

'Costly Isn't Always Superior'

Beauty professionals argue some alternatives to premium brands are decent quality and aid make beauty routines more affordable.

"I don't think more expensive is invariably superior," comments skin specialist Sharon Belmo. "Not every affordable beauty label is poor - and not every premium beauty item is the best."

"Certain [dupes] are really impressive," notes a skincare commentator, who presents a program about famous people.

A lot of of the products inspired by high-end brands "run out so quickly, it's just crazy," he says.

Scott McGlynn

Aesthetic and dermatology doctor a doctor thinks alternatives are acceptable to use for "simple routines" like hydrators and cleansers.

"Dupes will do the job," he comments. "They will handle the basics to a acceptable level."

A consultant dermatologist, advises you can spend less when searching for single-ingredient products like hyaluronic acid, Vitamin B3 and squalane.

"If you're purchasing a simple product then you're likely going to be fine in using a dupe or something which is quite inexpensive because there's very little that can cause issues," she adds.

'Don't Be Influenced by the Box'

Yet the experts also advise consumers check details and say that higher-priced items are at times worthy of the premium price.

Regarding high-end skincare, you're not just paying for the name and promotion - often the higher cost also stems from the formula and their standard, the strength of the key component, the technology used to create the product, and trials into the products' efficacy, Dr Belmo says.

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

Sometimes, she says they may include bulking agents that lack as numerous advantages for the skin, or the components might not be as high-quality.

"The major uncertainty is 'How is it so low-priced?'" she remarks.

Expert McGlynn says on occasion he's purchased skincare items that appear similar to a big-name brand but the product itself has "little similarity to the original".

"Don't be convinced by the container," he added.

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Regarding more complicated products or ones with components that can irritate the complexion if they're not made correctly, such as retinols or vitamin C, Dr Bhate recommends using research-backed brands.

The expert explains these typically have been through comprehensive studies to evaluate how successful they are.

Skincare items are required to be tested before they can be sold in the UK, says expert Emma Wedgeworth.

When the label advertises about the performance of the item, it needs data to back it up, "but the manufacturer doesn't necessarily have to perform the testing" and can alternatively cite evidence conducted by different firms, she adds.

Read the Label of the Container

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

Ingredients on the list of the container are arranged by quantity. "The baddies that you need to avoid… is your mineral oil, your SLS, fragrance, benzoyl peroxide" being {high up