To Dupe or Not to Dupe…

Dupe culture has exploded over the past few years with consumers actively seeking cheaper alternatives for high end fashion and beauty products. The trend has amassed millions of hits on various social media platforms and makeup enthusiasts are showcasing their dupe finds with honour. Nevertheless, there are skeptics that claim dupe culture is damaging to the industry as it undermines the creative effort of the originating brand. Well I hate to burst their bubble, but it is a rarity to find truly innovative products that can’t and won’t be replicated by a competitor.

Many brands use the same manufacturers and suppliers that make products with identical ingredients and formulations. These products are then introduced to market in varying packaging styles and price points through creative marketing campaigns. For example, almost every single popular makeup brand is offering a lip oil at the moment. A glass tube with a doe foot applicator for applying a sheer tint of reflective gloss. With similar shade ranges and varying price points, they all seem to offer the same product and lack any sort of ingenuity. If a product was truly extraordinary and innovative, it would likely be patent protected or trademarked in some way that it would be more difficult to duplicate. I will never create a dupe for a product that offers patented formulations nor will I promote a dupe unless it’s ingredients/application are comparable to the originating product.

Our dupe products are created with the intention of making high end makeup affordable and accessible. We want to bridge the gap between value and price as we maintain that high quality makeup products do not have to break the bank. We encourage our customers to explore their options with an open mind and the ability to look beyond distractive packaging and labels. Dupe products level out the playing field by creating an inclusive beauty community and exposing astronomical profit margins in a saturated market.