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Rachael Parnell

Upon hearing a consumer learned Aldi was launching a new product collection that seemed similar to items from high-end label Augustinus Bader, she was "incredibly excited".

She dashed to her closest outlet to purchase the supermarket face cream for £8.49 for 50ml - a fraction of the £240 cost of the high-end 50ml product.

Its sleek blue tube and gold cap of both items look strikingly comparable. While she has not used the high-end cream, she states she's impressed by the dupe so far.

She has been using lookalike products from mainstream retailers and grocery stores for a long time, and she's part of a trend.

More than a fourth of UK shoppers state they've purchased a beauty or cosmetic alternative. This jumps to nearly half among millennials and Gen Z, as per a recent study.

Lookalikes are skincare products that imitate well-known labels and present affordable substitutes to premium products. They typically have comparable labels and design, but in some cases the components can differ substantially.

Victoria Woollaston

'Expensive Is Not Necessarily Better'

Beauty professionals argue some dupes to high-end brands are reasonable quality and assist make beauty routines less expensive.

"I don't think higher-priced is always more effective," states consultant dermatologist Sharon Belmo. "Not all budget product line is poor - and not every luxury skincare product is the best."

"A number of [dupes] are truly excellent," says a podcast host, who hosts a show with celebrities.

Many of the products inspired by high-end labels "sell out so quickly, it's just unbelievable," he observes.

Scott McGlynn

Skin specialist a doctor believes alternatives are acceptable to use for "basic skincare" like moisturisers and face washes.

"Alternatives will do the job," he comments. "These items will perform the essentials to a reasonable level."

A consultant dermatologist, thinks you can spend less when searching for single-ingredient products like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and a moisturizing ingredient.

"When you're purchasing a simple product then you're likely going to be okay in opting for a lookalike or a product which is fairly affordable because there's very little that can be problematic," she adds.

'Do Not Be Sold by the Packaging'

Yet the experts also advise buyers do their research and note that costlier items are sometimes worth the premium price.

With luxury skincare, you're not only covering the brand and advertising - sometimes the elevated price tag also comes from the formula and their standard, the strength of the effective element, the science used to produce the item, and trials into the item's performance, the expert notes.

Beauty expert another professional argues it's valuable considering how some dupes can be sold so inexpensively.

In some cases, she believes they might contain less effective components that don't have as numerous advantages for the complexion, or the components might not be as well sourced.

"One big uncertainty is 'Why is it so cheap?'" she asks.

Podcast host McGlynn admits sometimes he's bought skincare items that appear comparable to a well-known brand but the actual formula has "no connection to the luxury product".

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

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For more complicated items or those with ingredients that can irritate the skin if they're not made correctly, such as retinols or vitamin C, she recommends selecting research-backed brands.

She says these typically have been through comprehensive trials to assess how effective they are.

Beauty products must be tested before they can be sold in the UK, explains consultant dermatologist Emma Wedgeworth.

If the company makes claims about the performance of the product, it requires data to support it, "however the manufacturer doesn't always have to conduct the testing" and can instead cite evidence done by other firms, she adds.

Read the Back of the Bottle

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

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