Written by Clémence Rubiella | Published on 03 August 2023 | Makeup
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Dear readers,
The K-Beauty world is known for its amazing quality products, cute packaging and last but not least, affordable prices. To be honest, being raised in Europe, I was familiar with Loreal products and their drugstore prices and assumed that was the cheapest that could be found on the market. Well, that was before I moved to South Korea. The affordability of the beauty products, may it be makeup or skincare, really struck me as I never thought such high-quality products could be bought at very affordable prices. So if you are in love with some of Sephora's best-sellers but are bugged by the price tag, give a chance to those K-beauty dupes.
My Dupes recommendations:
Concealer: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer ($32) vs The Saem Mineralizing Creamy Concealer ($7)
Compact Powder: Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Pressed Powder ($39) vs Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Pack ($17)
Blush: Dior Rosy Glow Blush in Pink ($40) vs Lilybyred Luv Beam Cheek Balm in Innocent Pink ($12) Nars Blush in Orgasm ($32) vs Amuse Soft Cream Cheek in Sprinkles ($17)
Eyeliner: KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner Vegan Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner ($25) vs Clio Superproof Brush Liner ($10)
Lip Gloss: Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Cream ($32) vs Peripera Ink Blasting Lip Gloss ($11)
Lip Plumper: MAC Cosmetics Squirt Plumping Gloss Stick ($24) vs 3CE Plumping Lips ($10)
1. Concealer
Let's start off with the "base", concealer. Versatile product that can be used instead of a foundation if you like very light coverage or simply to cover your under-eyes. Like a lot of people, I assume, I tried the one and only Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, a best-seller since its release in 2013. It has a luminous finish, blends effortlessly and is long-lasting (up to 16 hours and more). Its smooth creamy texture makes it unique in its own way however, once you've tried The Saem Mineralizing Creamy Concealer, you quickly realise that the formulation and the finish are incredibly similar, and so is the coverage (buildable mid-coverage). The Saem concealer is sweat and sebum-resistant and contains SPF30.
2. Compact Powder
After applying a concealer, a setting powder is more than welcome to lock everything in place. The Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Pressed Powder does not need any introduction as it is one of the most famous translucent powders on the market. It instantly blurs fine lines, pores and imperfections for a beautifully smooth complexion. Non-drying and lightweight, you cannot go wrong with this setting powder. But for half its price, you can find its K-beauty dupe. Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Pack is the perfect translucent powder that contains natural minerals from Jeju, the volcanic island located in the south of Korea. It is the most natural, long-lasting soft skin-perfecting powder I have tried so far. Extremely popular in Korea, I highly recommend trying it. It also comes in a loose powder format.
3. Blush
When we talk about blush, there is no denying that the Dior Rosy Glow Blush in Pink has been seen over and over again on social media lately. And that is for a reason; great colour pay-off that adjusts to the skin's PH, long wear, lightweight and clean formula. However, the price tag is spicy, to say the least. But not to worry, Lilybyred came up with their Luv Beam Cheek Balm in Innocent Pink which is a close color match. The texture is different, on one hand, a pressed powder blush for Dior and on the other hand a buildable cream-type blush for Lilybyred. The blending of the latter is so smooth and it leaves a glossier, more natural finish to the skin compared to the Dior blush. Also, we got to give some credit to the Lilybyred packaging which is the cutest thing ever!
Nars blushes are the best aren't they? Especially the Orgasm shade that has been a best-seller year after year, excelling at being perfect. The problem is, for $32, it hurts every time we repurchase it or just buy it for the first time. Makes you wonder if the price is truly justified despite the product being amazing. And then comes along Amuse Soft Cream Cheek, the perfect Korean dupe in a cream/liquid format for half the price of the original. Check it out, it's really worth it!
4. Eyeliner
Eyeliner or the time to realise your eyes do not have the same eyelid. The KVD Beauty Tattoo Liner Vegan Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner (very long name) is self-explanatory; a brush liner that has a clean formula, long-lasting and "breakup" proof. This award-winner eyeliner possesses intense pigmentation and an ultra-precise brush tip that makes it easy to get sharp lines every time. But when I tried the Clio Superproof Brush Liner, I could not believe it was possible to find an eyeliner that had even more intense pigments in its formula. And if there is one thing you need to know about Korean mascaras or eyeliners, is that when they say it's waterproof, they mean it. With this ultra-thin Clio eyeliner, you will perfect the ultimate sharp and feline eye flick.
5. Lip Gloss
What about a gloss to finish off your glam? Fenty Beauty has been dominating the gloss industry for some time now and we all know why. Their Gloss Bomb are giving you goddess-like lips and their color range is to die for. But, unfortunately, we are not a fan of the price tag. Once again, the Korean beauty world has a dupe for it. Peripera Ink Blasting Lip Gloss has a non-sticky vegan formula infused with naturally derived ingredients including mango seed oil, olive oil and jojoba oil to nourish and moisturize chapped lips. It will leave your lips juicy with a high shine. It comes in six different colours that are highly pigmented.
6. Lip Plumper
What about a gloss to finish off your glam? Fenty Beauty has been dominating the gloss industry for some time now and we all know why. Their Gloss Bomb are giving you goddess-like lips and their color range is to die for. But, unGlossy lips are great but plumped lips may be better for some and the MAC Cosmetics Squirt Plumping Gloss Stick definitively made some splash recently, mainly because the stick breaks if you apply with too much pressure. But nonetheless, this nourishing lip gloss stick swipes smoothly on the lips for an instantaneous plumping effect and voluptuous glow. However, for half its price, you can get a very similar product from 3CE. Their Plumping Lips balm is enriched with organic oils from baobab seed, avocado, calendula and coconut to provide lips with nourishment, hydration, juicy pigments and a glossy finish. The softly melting jelly-like texture also helps plump up your lips for a fuller lip.
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