Finding a $10 dupe version of a $40 beauty product makes me feel like I’ve cracked the code to adulthood. Suddenly, I’m a financial genius, and the $70 I spent at Target was actually a responsible decision because I saved money. Girl math, right?
Between tuition, groceries, coffee runs, and the occasional shopping trip that gets a little out of hand, being a college student is expensive enough. Unfortunately, TikTok doesn’t seem to care about our bank accounts. Every other scroll introduces a new lip product, blush, or skincare product that apparently everyone needs.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good shopping trip as much as anyone. However, I’ve started realizing that just because something is trending doesn’t mean I need to spend half my paycheck on it.
Some affordable alternatives work just as well, while others simply offer a similar look for less. From products I’ve personally tried to viral finds worth considering, here are five beauty swaps that either deserve a spot in your shopping cart or should be left on the shelf.
Rhode Lip Treatment Dupes
At this point, owning a Rhode lip treatment feels like an unofficial requirement for having a cute makeup bag. Hailey Bieber has practically convinced us that glossy lips are a personality trait. The problem? Spending around $20 on Rhode’s Peptide Lip Treatment, which will probably disappear into the bottom of my backpack, isn’t exactly ideal.
Enter MCoBeauty’s Peptide Lip Treatment. At around $9, it offers a similar glossy look for less than half the price. While the formulas aren’t necessarily identical, MCoBeauty is worth considering if you’re mainly looking for that glossy finish without paying the Rhode price. What is my verdict?
DUPE! If you’re after the look rather than the label, this is one worth checking out.
Eye Patch Controversy
Apparently, regular eye patches aren’t exciting enough anymore. Now, they need their own little dispenser. In September 2026, Fenty Skin, Glow Recipe, Wonder Bath, and Huda Beauty revealed eye patches with similar twist-to-dispense packaging. Naturally, the internet had questions and turned it into what became known as Eye-Patch Gate.
According to ELLE, the controversy involved packaging exclusivity, although the brands’ formulas differed. The packaging also sparked complaints about practicality, with one Instagram Reel showing patches crumbling during dispensing. The video jokingly compares this to simply applying regular eye cream.
I’ll admit it, the dispensers look pretty cool. However, if I’m paying extra for fancy packaging, I’d at least like the patches to make it onto my face in one piece. For college students surviving late-night study sessions and early morning classes, Good Molecules’ Caffeine Energizing Hydrogel Eye Patches are an affordable alternative worth considering.
At around $18 for 30 pairs, that’s only around $0.60 per use. They’re designed to hydrate the under-eye area and temporarily reduce the appearance of puffiness without requiring a trendy dispenser.
I wish an eye patch would undo an entire semester of questionable sleep habits. Unfortunately, they don’t. Although there are more affordable options, the verdict is to go with the dupe. Save your money. The packaging might be cute, but I’d rather spend my money on the skincare itself.
Setting Spray Dupes
Between work, classes, and getting ready to go out, I need my makeup to last longer than my motivation to sit through another lecture.
ONE/SIZE’s On ‘Til Dawn Setting Spray has become a favorite for keeping makeup in place, but spending around $34 on a setting spray isn’t ideal for a college budget. Luckily, L’Oréal’s Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist offers a similar experience for around $14, saving you approximately $20.
I’ve personally tried both products, and I genuinely could not tell the difference between them. Saving that much money without noticing a difference in performance is a pretty good deal. My verdict?
Dupe! Based on my experience, this is one luxury beauty product I’d happily swap for the drugstore version.
Affordable Hair Styling
Let’s be real, the slick-back bun has gotten college students through more questionable hair days than we’d probably like to admit. Whether you’re running late to class or avoiding wash day, it’s the easiest way to look put together.
Dae’s Cactus Fruit Styling Cream has become a popular choice for achieving that polished look, but spending around $30 on hair cream isn’t always necessary.
Enter e.l.f.’s 3-in-Wonder Magic Styling Cream. I’ve used it, and I love how nicely it creates a slicked-back hairstyle. At around $9, it’s an affordable addition to your routine. e.l.f. also sells a separate flyaway-taming wand for around $6. Its little spoolie-style applicator is designed to smooth down baby hairs without getting product all over your hands.
Together, both e.l.f. products cost around $15, half the price of Dae’s product. My verdict?
Dupe takes it! While I haven’t personally compared it to Dae’s formula, I love how well the e.l.f. styling cream works.
Liquid Blush Dupes
Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Liquid Blush has practically become a staple in everyone’s makeup routine. The pigmented formula and flushed-cheek look make it easy to understand why people love it.
However, spending $25 on blush isn’t always necessary, especially when there are more affordable options.
e.l.f.’s Camo Liquid Blush offers a similar liquid-blush concept for around $8, saving you approximately $17. Both products are designed to deliver noticeable color, although the formulas and shades aren’t identical.
For rosy cheeks without Sephora prices, e.l.f. is worth considering. My verdict?
Dupe, again! If you’re looking for a budget-friendly liquid blush, this is an alternative worth trying.
The Problem With overconsumption
Here’s where dupe culture gets a little complicated. Finding a $9 lip treatment instead of spending $20 is great, especially if it’s something you were already planning to buy. However, purchasing three different lip treatments because they’re all supposedly amazing dupes doesn’t exactly scream financial responsibility.
Another thing worth remembering is that dupes can encourage overconsumption. Just because something is cheaper doesn’t mean we need to buy every version of it. Before you know it, your makeup drawer is overflowing with products you barely use, and you’ve spent more money trying to find dupes than you would’ve spent on the original. At that point, are we really saving money, or are we just buying more stuff?
There’s also nothing wrong with occasionally splurging on the original. If you genuinely love a particular product, buying what you want might make more sense than settling for several alternatives. The goal shouldn’t be to have the most products, but to find ones you actually love and use.
At the end of the day, beauty should be fun, and finding affordable alternatives is a great way to enjoy it without breaking the bank. Just remember that a good deal is only a good deal if it’s something you actually need.
Looking expensive doesn’t have to mean spending more, and saving money shouldn’t mean buying more.
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