3 Drugstore Dupes That Prove Why E.l.f. Is The G.O.A.T

If you’re a regular on TikTok, you’ll know e.l.f delivers the goods from the beauty GAWDS. Seriously, they know what the people want, and most importantly, they give it to us at a price we cannot resist. Whenever we’re on their site, our cart gets loaded up, and when we check out, our heart skips a beat for all the RIGHT reasons. Bargains after bargains. If you’re looking for some hard receipts because you know, who isn’t? These three elf dupes are all you need to be an e.l.f convert.

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e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter, $14 DUPE: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, $49

The internet went WILD over e.l.f’s most recent complexion glow booster, with people touting it as an exact dupe of the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, AKA, the e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter. Famed for its glow-getting finish, the e.l.f formula blends the same, looks the same, and wears just as beautifully as the OG product, but for $35 less. The liquid makeup-skincare hybrid makes your skin look so luminous while blurring imperfections and adding a surge of moisture. Formulated with squalane and hyaluronic acid, it plumps and softens the skin. Wear it alone, under or over makeup, and expect the “OMG, your skin’s so radiant” compliments to flood in.

e.l.f. Monochromatic Multi Stick, $5 Dupe: ILIA Multi-Stick Cream Blush + Highlighter + Lip Tint, $34

Blush is our new bae. Even if we’re running to grab our oat milk latte, you can bet we’ve swiped our cheeks with our fave blush stick, which means we’re always on the lookout for affordable formulas. The versatile stick can be applied to your eyes, lips, and cheeks, and will deliver the most gorgeous sheer wash of color that glides on and blends oh so effortlessly. It’s also non-greasy and super lightweight. Thanks to the low price point, we have at least three stashed in our gym bag, car, and desk. #LOVE

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e.l.f. Cosmetics Brow Lift, $6 Dupe: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze, $23

Makeup lovers and fluffy brow QUEENS unite for their love of the cult fave Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze. It allows you to achieve laminated brows in seconds without the appointment, which explains why it’s constantly sold out.

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Well, let’s just say e.l.f. also understood the assignment and released their version of the brow laying formula. Meet the e.l.f. Cosmetics Brow Lift, an extreme, long-lasting gel that tames, sculpts, and sets even the most unruly brow hairs. Just like the Brow Freeze, it has a clear natural finish that looks ahhhmazing on everyone. Plus, the formula is infused with glycerin and aloe to nourish your brow hairs.

TikTok Makeup Dupes You’ll Love If You’re On A Budget

We know how expensive makeup can be, so we’re always looking for more affordable options. Thankfully, we’re not the only ones! Many beauties have taken it upon themselves to test, swatch, and review different formulas on TikTok to find the ultimate makeup dupes – we thank them for their service! After combing through tons, here are the trending makeup dupes that are guaranteed to save you a LOT of money – if we’re talking numbers, that’s about $110.

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TikTok-Trending Dupe for Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter, $49

The Drugstore Dupe: e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Liquid Filter, $14 Savings: $35

This viral drugstore glow-boosting formula makes your skin look radiant and oh-so-dewy, like the cult-fave #CTFlawlessFilter. It contains finely milled powders that soften the appearance of pores while moisturizing squalane and hyaluronic acid hydrate for a fresh finish. With eight shades that work on all skin types, it’s the easiest (and cheapest) way to attain that #RedCarpetGlow on bare skin or over makeup.

TikTok-Trending Dupe for Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer, $21

The Drugstore Dupe: Maybelline Lifter Gloss with Hyaluronic Acid, $10 Savings: $11

According to TikTok, you can recreate that mega-glossy Fenty effect with Maybelline’s high-shine glosses! Enriched with hydrating hyaluronic acid, the formula smooths fine lines and adds an explosive shimmer that instantly makes your lips appear fuller. They even have twice as many shades as Fenty, so you can choose from peachy pinks, ruby reds, and golden browns to match anything in your wardrobe.

TikTok-Trending Dupe for Glossier Cloud Paint Gel Cream Blush, $20

The Drugstore Dupe: Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush, $8 Savings: $12

To keep your blush under budget, go for Maybelline’s water-based blush. Like Glossier’s blush, it’s a gel-cream tube that applies and blends effortlessly, achieving everything from a rosy flush to a dewy, sunkissed glow in seconds. Pro tip: mix, match, and layer any of the six shades in their collection if you’re feeling playful!

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TikTok-Trending Dupe for CLINIQUE Almost Lipstick, $23, in shade Black Honey

The Drugstore Dupe: e.l.f. Cosmetics Hydrating Core Lip Shine, $7, in shade Ecstatic Savings: $16

With shade #BlackHoney flying off the freakin’ shelves, TikTokers were scrambling for a drugstore alternative for the trending berry shade. Luckily, e.l.f. accomplished the mission with this purple-tinted lip balm! Infused with vitamin E, it drenches your lips with moisture and a sheer wash of shiny pigment, making it the ultimate daily staple.

TikTok-Trending Dupe for KVD Beauty Vegan Beauty Good Apple Foundation, $43

The Drugstore Dupe: Milani Cosmetics Conceal + Perfect Smooth Finish Cream To Powder, $12 Savings: $31

Milani came thru with this dupe! Like KVD’s foundation, it’s a vegan cream-to-powder formula that blends beautifully and covers blemishes with a full-coverage (but non-cakey) matte finish. It’s infused with green tea, lily, and bamboo extracts that balance oil production while vitamin E nourishes the skin.

TikTok-Trending Dupe for Huda Beauty Power Bullet Cream Glow Hydrating Lipstick, $25

The Drugstore Dupe: Revlon Super Lustrous Glass Shine Lipstick, $12 Savings: $13

If you’ve tried their buttery lipsticks, you know it tints like lipstick and adds a gorgeous glossy finish. That’s what Revlon’s trending lipsticks do too! The trending cutie is packed with high-shine emollients that deliver a pigmented yet glossy effect alongside hydrating hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and rose quartz.

Wanna save more? Check out these TikTok-Viral Blush along with drugstore dupes next!

I Wore a Different TikTok-Viral Blush Every Day for a Week—This Won Hands Down

I have a thing for blush. Maybe it’s the storied history of it or maybe it’s the glamorous associations I have with it, but it’s quickly becoming one of my favorite makeup products to use. That, in itself, is wild, considering I used to avoid it altogether. It wasn’t until I entered my almost mid-20s that I realized the power and potential of blush. When placed correctly, it brightens up my complexion, whisks away dullness, and makes me look, well, alive. 

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I also recently joined Beauty TikTok, which means I’ve been spending a gross amount of time scrolling through videos, many of which happen to be the review and the get-ready-with-me type. What I’ve noticed is that the majority of TikTok-viral makeup products are blush. Whether cream, liquid, or oil (more on that last one in a minute), TikTokers can’t get enough of them. So as any good beauty editor would do, I decided to test them all, pitting the products against one another to find the best of the best. Ahead, see every blush I tested, and which one was the winner. (Hint: Even I was surprised at the result.)

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Monday: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush

I have a theory that it’s impossible to scroll through TikTok without seeing this blush somewhere along the way. It seems like every single beauty influencer swears by it, so needless to say, I had high expectations. From what I’d seen on TikTok, I expected the cream formula to have a bold color payoff, blend easily, and look natural on the skin. 

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My expectations were met. I used the bright-pink shade called Lucky, which would normally be outside of my comfort zone, but hey, go big or go home, right? I loved how the color complemented my skin.

As for the formula itself, it was certainly highly pigmented, so I used a light hand. I think I only applied two to three dots along each cheekbone before blending it out with my trusty Beautyblender ($20). The color stayed put all day long, and the radiant finish didn’t make me look too shiny. All in all, I only have good things to say about it. 

An Affordable Alternative: PIXI BY PETRA On-the-Glow Blush in Ruby $18

Tuesday: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Divine Powder Blush

Pat McGrath’s makeup brand is wildly popular, which only makes sense considering she’s probably the most recognizable makeup artist in the world. I’ve seen this blush all over social media, but IRL, I didn’t expect it to look as pretty as it does online. I was wrong. When I opened my compact, the rose design was perfect. It was almost too pretty to use (almost). 

I used a heavy hand with this one because I wanted to see how the silky powder would hold up on my skin. Not only did the blush look incredibly natural (to me, it kind of looked like I just went for a jog or I’d been outside in the sun), but it also settled into my skin seamlessly. It didn’t look like I had blush on at all; it was more like the color was coming from my skin, which I loved.

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That’s the reason I tend to prefer powder blushes over cream formulas. If they’re lightweight and silky, they apply like a dream and blend well. Plus, they don’t leave me looking too shiny throughout the day. As someone prone to oiliness in some areas, that’s important.

An Affordable Alternative: WET N’ WILD Color Icon Blush in Pink Me Pink $3

Wednesday: Youthforia BYO Blush Color Changing Blush Oil

This is the one I was most interested in using at the start of this weeklong experiment. It’s a color-changing oil formula that looks green in the tube, but when it’s applied to the skin, it changes to a flattering pink shade according to your specific pH.

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 It was certainly fun to use, and I liked the pink flush I got from it and it gave me that natural glow. If you are someone who tends to get oily throughout the day, adding an oil-based blush to the cheeks can not be the best choice. With that being said, if you have skin that’s on the drier side or you prefer a super-dewy finish, this is the blush for you. 

An Affordable Alternative: MAKEUP REVOLUTION Superdewy Liquid Blush $7

Thursday: Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Bush

Another iconic blush, this is one I’ve been itching to use ever since it first went viral for being one of Kylie Jenner’s favorite products. The bubblegum-pink color might look a little shocking, but I think it looks kind of chic, too. Also, now that bright-pink blushes are trending on TikTok, I felt like there was no better time to try them out for myself. 

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I’ll cut right to the chase. I love this blush. I expected it to be brighter and even a little costumey, but I was wrong. It looks quite subtle if you use a light hand. My cheekbones looked bright and pronounced but not in an obvious way. 

The powder is fine and silky and applies like a dream. It reminded me of the Pat McGrath blush because of how well it blended. As I said, I love this blush. 

An Affordable Alternative: SEPHORA COLLECTION Sephora Colorful Face Powder $14

Friday: Saie Dew Blush

Since this is a highly pigmented cream blush, I expected it to be a lot like the Rare Beauty one. However, it was slightly different. The pigment wasn’t as in-your-face as the Rare Beauty one, and I felt like it blended out easier. 

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The day I wore this, I ended up meeting my friend Kathryn for coffee. She took one look at me and said, “Wait, why do you look so good?” The only different thing was this blush. I told her about it, and she instantly asked if she could try it. She went on to tell me that my skin looked bright, and my eyes looked more intense. 

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I loved this blush just as much as my friend did. It was just the perfect pop of color with the perfect finish. It’s creamy, the colors are on point, it blends well, and it provides a natural-looking, lit-from-within flush to my face

An Affordable Alternative: E.L.F Putty Blush in Caribbean $7

Saturday: Charlotte Tilbury Pinkgasm Beauty Highlighter Wand 

Yes, this is technically a highlighter, but scroll through TikTok, and you’ll see and hear almost everyone use it and call it a blush. That’s because it’s a highly pigmented formula that leaves a soft petal-pink color on the skin. So in the spirit of testing out all TikTok-viral blushes, I felt compelled to include this one too.

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Once I applied it, I could see how it’s a highlighter first and foremost. It has a soft, shimmer finish that looks flattering in the light. It also added a nice flush of petal pink to my cheekbones. However, I noticed it did make my skin look a little shiny by the afternoon. Still, it wasn’t anything a little translucent powder couldn’t fix. 

An Affordable Alternative: MAKEUP REVOLUTION Bright Light Highlighter in Divine Dark Pink $10

The Winner

The winner, and my new favorite blush, is the YOUTHFORIA BLUSH OIL. I honestly don’t have a single bad thing to say about it. Its formulation reacts to the skin’s natural pH to give your cheeks a unique pop of color. While it is a blush, it’s technically formulated as both a makeup and skincare product, which is a double win. Ever since my weeklong experiment, I’ve worn it almost every day, and the compliments keep rolling in. 

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Overall, Youthforia’s BYO Blush is worth the hype and is my new go-to blush. The consistency and formula have impressed me far more than any other powder and liquid blush has before — and that’s coming from a girl who loves to coat her cheeks in a liquid blush or two.

I tried the Rare Beauty mascara, and my lashes are *very* grateful

REASONS TO BUY

  • +First of all, the packaging is gorg
  • +It elongates and fans out the lashes without being clumpy
  • +Lasts all day, no flaking to be found

REASONS TO AVOID

  • -Wish it came in a brown shade
  • -On the pricier side for a mascara…
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I tried the Rare Beauty mascara as a lover of natural-looking, perfectly fanned-out lashes—and I think it deserves a bit more love and attention…

@heybriajones

Can only keep an eye out for Selener if the lashes are on fleek @rarebeauty #mascara #blackgirl #makeup #rarebeauty

♬ PRETTY BOY FLOW – STURDYYOUNGINN🥷🏽™️

It’s safe to say that finding your go-to, daily mascara is just as important as selecting your best non-comedogenic foundation or ride-or-die sunscreen for your face. It’s a very personal journey and one none of us beauty enthusiasts take lightly—especially when there’s so much choice.

Do you opt for waterproof, brown, lengthening, or super volumizing? And how can you tell which of the best mascaras will deliver lusciously long lashes, without that pesky mascara flaking all over your cheeks before you drop your hard-earned cash on them? All very important questions.

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This is why I’ve done the leg work for you when it comes to the Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes mascara, wearing it on the daily, seven days a week. And much like with the Rare Beauty products, I have some thoughts…

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MY MAKEUP PREFERENCES

I keep my makeup pretty natural. For my base, I wear a glow filter (usually Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Positive Light Liquid Luminizer Highlight), followed by Armani’s Luminous Silk foundation, eyebrow gel, blush, and highlighter.

Eye-wise, I keep it pretty minimal, just opting for mascara on a normal day—sometimes I pair it with an all-over eyeshadow, but I’m not an eyeliner gal, despite there being some great eyeliners for beginners out there. So, I rely on my mascara to make me look awake and somewhat put together, while still keeping it natural—so preferably, no clumps in sight

@realstephaniegreene

Taking the @rarebeauty perfect strokes mascara out for a spin tonight ✨ use code LASH23! today and get a free travel size mascara with a purchase of $40+ at rarebeauty.com to celebrate national lash day 😌 #rarebeauty #rarebeautygiftedme #beautytok #beautyreview #rarebeautymascara #rarebeautyreview #blackgirltiktok #blackbeauty #blackbeautyblogger #nomakeupmakeup

♬ just like magic – Ariana Grande

IS THE RARE BEAUTY MASCARA WATERPROOF?

Now, onto the key info, is the Rare Mascara waterproof? 

It’s described as having a ‘water-resistant formula,’ so theoretically it should be able to withstand getting caught in a surprise rain shower or a gentle cry sesh. Technically though, it’s not fully waterproof—but I prefer that as it’s easier to remove with a makeup remover or micellar water, without needing to be too vigorous.

HOW TO APPLY THE RARE BEAUTY MASCARA

To apply this mascara, I’d recommend curling your lashes first with your preferred eyelash curler, before then gently wiggling the mascara wand from side to side as you stroke up along your lashes, from root to tip. This side-to-side motion will feather out your lashes and will help to get an even coating on your lashes and avoid clumps.

WHAT’S IN THE RARE BEAUTY MASCARA?

This mascara is formulated with castor oil, which helps to condition and nourish your lashes—plus it’s vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, ophthalmologist-tested, dermatologist-tested, and suitable for anyone with sensitive eyes or contact lens wearers.

BEAUTYLEEBAR VERDICT ON THE RARE BEAUTY MASCARA

So, is this Rare Beauty mascara good? My answer is yes. It does everything it promises to do—it’s buildable, comfortable, volumizing, and lasts all day without smudging.

I’ve worn it every day, seven days a week, for over a month, and haven’t experienced any transferring or flaking. I’m also a big fan of its chunky tube, with its soft, matte pink finish. It feels expensive and looks soo cute in my makeup bag.

It’s also easy to apply, even with a slightly large wand, which I wouldn’t necessarily have gone for, but didn’t find it in any way messy or hard to handle. In fact, with every use, it leaves my lashes looking lengthened, voluminous, and curled up—and it lasts all day long, so everything you can ask of a mascara. The formula itself feels great on the lashes as well, not super stiff or brittle.

@nikkissecretxx

In honour of seeing @Selena Gomez last night @Rare Beauty event I HAD to try out this little hack😍 #selenagomez #selenagomezmakeup #rarebeauty

♬ original sound – 444.songss
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This Rare Beauty mascara fends off moisture well (from tears and even sweat from a gym sesh) but comes off like a dream with a bit of micellar water.

My main gripe with this product though is that it’s only available in black—if this came in a soft brown shade, it would be a real game-changer. There’s also the question of the price…

This mascara will set you back $20 which is pretty pricey for a mascara. That being said—like with all of Rare’s line-up—the amount of product you get for the money is generous since the tube is pretty chunky.

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So, my final verdict: it’s great and if you’ve been hunting far and wide for a mascara that is both gentle on your eyes but still delivers length and volume, this could be one to try. I will say this though, other mascaras out there are comparable and more inexpensive on the market, but if you’re a Selena stan looking to make another (or your first) Rare Beauty purchase, I’d recommend it for the cute tube alone!