7 Makeup Products TOO GOOD to Substitute

I love finding good drugstore dupes for high-end makeup products. But occasionally, there’s an item so good, that there just isn’t a substitute for it. I use these staple products regularly and love them so much that I haven’t been able to find adequate dupes or substitutes for them. Do you have products like that? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below the post!

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup 

With its satin-matte natural finish, Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup is a great buildable medium to full coverage foundation for all skin types. Because it can be tricky for some people to achieve a natural application, I dedicated an entire video to it. It’s super easy to get beautiful, natural, all-day wear with ELDW once you get the hang of it! It works well on all areas of my face year-round. Plus it lasts all day (even in extremely hot, humid weather) from morning until bedtime without feeling heavy or looking cakey.

Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer

The Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer is one of my all-time favorites because it looks like skin. I usually apply it with my fingers and it blends out smoothly to camouflage my dark circles without emphasizing my fine lines or texture. It’s buildable from medium to medium-full coverage and is extremely flattering.

Armani Beauty Eye Tint

I’ve pretty much been raving about Armani Eye Tint in Cold Copper since I started my Youtube channel back in 2016 and have gone through numerous tubes. It’s a universally flattering one-and-done shade that’s great for everyday wear or for special occasions. I love that it applies and blends out quickly, is buildable, and wears beautifully all day without emphasizing any lid texture or dryness. I’ve tried to find a less expensive alternative to Cold Copper and have never been successful. There’s something very unique about this formula and shade combination that just can’t be duped.

Chanel Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue

I am usually not a fan of liquid lip colors, but this Ultrawear Liquid Lip Colour from Chanel was a true game changer for me. This lipstick consists of ultra-saturated lipstick on one side and a high shine gloss on the other that locks in the product and stays creamy throughout the day. Instead of feeling dry like traditional liquid lipsticks or oily or sticky like many double-ended stay-all-day lipsticks, these feel more like regular creamy bullet lipsticks. If you start to lose the creamy feel, simply reapply the clear topcoat and you’re set with moisture all over again. And the best part? They truly are bulletproof all day long – even through eating and drinking! I’ve tried all the other double-ended lip products out there in hopes of finding something that comes close and nothing does. Either the color doesn’t last as long, they don’t feel as good, have a weird texture, or they give me that line of demarcation where my lips meet. There’s just something that doesn’t measure up. These are holy grails for me!

BOBBI BROWN SKIN LONG-WEAR FLUID POWDER FOUNDATION

BOBBI BROWN SKIN LONG-WEAR FLUID POWDER FOUNDATION has been a favorite from the moment I tried it. I’m noticing stock is low, so it may be discontinued soon, which scares me a little. I apply it very similarly to how I apply ELDW above. It truly looks like I’m not wearing makeup at all yet it completely smoothes my pores and evens out my skin tone. The best part is that it keeps my t-zone shine-free all day, even in the summer heat and humidity here in New Orleans. It has sheer to medium coverage and is perfect for “no-makeup” makeup days as well as just everyday makeup looks when you want to fool people into thinking your skin looks better than it really does. If you have dry skin this may not be the foundation for you. But if you get to shine in your t-zone like I do or if you have oily skin, grab this while it’s around and apply it like this and marvel at how amazing your skin looks – ALL DAY LONG!

Pat McGrath Sublime Perfection Blurring Under-Eye Setting Powder

This product has been in my everyday makeup routine since it launched! Sublime Perfection Blurring Under-Eye Setting Powder is translucent when applied to the skin but somehow has a brightening effect as well. A little bit of this sheer powder goes a long way and it lasts me all day when I’m busy running errands or have something I want my makeup to be on point for.

Persona SuperBlush in Bubble

I absolutely adore the color and pigment of this Persona Superblush in Bubble. In the pan, it almost looks neon pink. But its gorgeous, buildable formula gives a naturally flushed look to the cheek. This has become one of my favorite everyday blushes to just throw on and go. I love that it also does more than a typical blush because it has beneficial ingredients that minimize pores and give a luminous matte finish that leaves your skin glowing.

I always enjoy a good dupe, so let me know your finds in the comments! If you want to try any of these items out yourself, you can shop them below: