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Rachael Parnell

After discovering one shopper heard Aldi was selling a new skincare range that seemed akin to offerings from high-end label Augustinus Bader, she was "extremely excited".

She hurried to her local shop to purchase the Lacura face cream for a low price for 50ml - a small portion of the £240 of the high-end 50ml product.

The streamlined blue container and gold top of both products look noticeably similar. Although she has not used the luxury cream, she claims she's impressed by the dupe so far.

Rachael has been buying skincare dupes from mainstream retailers and grocery stores for a long time, and she's not alone.

More than a 25% of UK consumers report they've bought a beauty or cosmetic dupe. This jumps to 44% among 18-34 year olds, based on a February poll.

Dupes are beauty items that copy established brands and provide cost-effective substitutes to high-end items. They typically have comparable names and packaging, but occasionally the formulas can vary considerably.

Victoria Woollaston

'High-Priced Isn't Always Superior'

Beauty specialists contend some dupes to luxury labels are decent quality and help make beauty routines less expensive.

"I don't think more expensive is invariably better," states dermatology expert Sharon Belmo. "Not all affordable skincare brand is inferior - and not every luxury beauty item is the finest."

"Certain [dupes] are truly amazing," notes Scott McGlynn, who presents a program about famous people.

A lot of of the items based on luxury brands "run out so quickly, it's just crazy," he says.

Scott McGlynn

Skin specialist a doctor argues dupes are acceptable to use for "fundamental products" like moisturisers and cleansers.

"Alternatives will do the job," he comments. "These items will handle the basics to a satisfactory standard."

Another skin doctor, advises you can save money when searching for simple-formula items like HA, niacinamide and squalane.

"When you're purchasing a simple product then you're probably going to be okay in using a dupe or something which is fairly low cost because there's minimal that can go wrong," she adds.

'Do Not Be Influenced by the Container'

However the specialists also recommend shoppers check details and note that higher-priced items are occasionally worthy of the extra money.

Regarding luxury beauty products, you're not only covering the label and marketing - at times the higher price tag also is due to the ingredients and their grade, the potency of the active ingredient, the technology employed to develop the product, and trials into the products' performance, the expert says.

Facialist another professional argues it's important considering how some alternatives can be offered so cheaply.

Sometimes, she says they could have bulking agents that lack as significant benefits for the skin, or the components might not be as carefully selected.

"One key doubt is 'Why is it so low-priced?'" she remarks.

Commentator Scott notes on occasion he's bought beauty products that look similar to a big-name label but the item has "no connection to the luxury product".

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

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Regarding advanced products or those with ingredients that can irritate the complexion if they're not formulated correctly, such as retinoids or vitamin C serums, she recommends selecting medical-grade brands.

She states these typically have been subjected to costly studies to evaluate how efficacious they are.

Skincare items need to be tested before they can be marketed in the UK, says consultant dermatologist Emma Wedgeworth.

When the company states about the performance of the product, it needs evidence to back it up, "but the manufacturer does not always have to do the testing" and can alternatively use studies completed by other brands, she says.

Check the Label of the Container

Is there any ingredients that could indicate a product is poor?

Components on the label of the tube are ordered by quantity. "Potential irritants that you need to look out for… is your petroleum-derived oil, your sodium lauryl sulfate, parfum, benzoyl peroxide" being {high up