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Rachael Parnell

After discovering one shopper found out a supermarket was launching a new beauty line that looked comparable to items from high-end label Augustinus Bader, she was "super excited".

The shopper dashed to her closest shop to buy the supermarket face cream for a low price for 50ml - a tiny percentage of the £240 price tag of the high-end 50ml cream.

Its streamlined blue container and gold lid of each items look noticeably similar. And though she has not tested the high-end cream, she claims she's satisfied by the dupe so far.

She has been buying lookalike products from mainstream retailers and supermarkets for years, and she's not alone.

More than a quarter of UK shoppers report they've tried a beauty or cosmetic dupe. This increases to 44% among younger adults, as per a recently published survey.

Dupes are beauty items that mimic established brands and provide affordable options to luxury items. These products typically have alike labels and design, but sometimes the formulas can change substantially.

Victoria Woollaston

'Costly Isn't Always Better'

Beauty specialists contend many alternatives to premium brands are good standard and aid make beauty routines less expensive.

"It is not true that higher-priced is invariably superior," states dermatology expert Sharon Belmo. "Not all budget skincare brand is poor - and not every luxury skincare product is the finest."

"Some [dupes] are absolutely excellent," adds a skincare commentator, who hosts a show with famous people.

Many of the items inspired by high-end brands "run out so fast, it's just crazy," he says.

Scott McGlynn

Medical expert a doctor thinks alternatives are fine to use for "fundamental products" like hydrators and face washes.

"These products will be effective," he says. "They will do the essentials to a acceptable level."

A consultant dermatologist, suggests you can save money when seeking simple-formula products like HA, niacinamide and a moisturizing ingredient.

"When you're purchasing a single-ingredient product then you're probably going to be fine in using a dupe or a product which is very low cost because there's not much that can cause issues," she says.

'Do Not Be Influenced by the Box'

Yet the specialists also suggest buyers check details and state that costlier items are at times worth the additional cost.

With high-end beauty products, you're not only paying for the name and advertising - often the elevated cost also is due to the ingredients and their grade, the concentration of the effective element, the research used to create the product, and trials into the products' performance, the expert explains.

Facialist Rhian Truman argues it's valuable questioning how some dupes can be priced so at a low cost.

Sometimes, she states they could contain bulking agents that do not provide as many positive effects for the complexion, or the materials might not be as well sourced.

"One key uncertainty is 'How is it so cheap?'" she asks.

Commentator Scott admits in some cases he's purchased skincare items that appear similar to a well-known label but the item has "no resemblance to the original".

"Don't be sold by the packaging," he cautioned.

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For advanced products or those with ingredients that can inflame the complexion if they're not formulated properly, such as retinols or vitamin C serums, the specialist recommends sticking to research-backed companies.

She explains these typically have been subjected to costly trials to evaluate how successful they are.

Beauty items must be evaluated before they can be marketed in the UK, says expert Emma Wedgeworth.

If the company states about the efficacy of the item, it requires research to back it up, "but the seller doesn't necessarily have to do the testing" and can alternatively use evidence conducted by other companies, she clarifies.

Read the Label of the Bottle

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

Components on the label of the bottle are listed by quantity. "Potential irritants that you need to avoid… is your mineral oil, your SLS, parfum, benzoyl peroxide" being {high up