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Rachael Parnell

After discovering Rachael Parnell learned a supermarket was offering a new product collection that appeared akin to products from high-end label Augustinus Bader, she was "extremely excited".

She hurried to her local shop to pick up the store-brand face cream for a low price for 50ml - a small portion of the £240 cost of the luxury brand 50ml product.

Its streamlined blue container and gold cap of the two products look remarkably alike. Although Rachael has not tested the luxury cream, she says she's satisfied by the dupe so far.

Rachael has been purchasing lookalike products from mainstream retailers and grocery stores for a long time, and she's in good company.

More than a fourth of UK consumers say they've bought a skincare or makeup dupe. This increases to 44% among 18-34 year olds, based on a February survey.

Lookalikes are beauty items that copy bigger name brands and present budget-friendly options to premium products. These products often have similar labels and design, but sometimes the ingredients can vary substantially.

Victoria Woollaston

'High-Priced Is Not Always Better'

Skincare professionals argue certain substitutes to luxury brands are decent quality and help make beauty routines more affordable.

"I don't think more expensive is invariably superior," comments dermatology expert one expert. "Not all low-budget beauty label is bad - and not all premium skincare product is the finest."

"A number of [dupes] are really impressive," adds a podcast host, who hosts a program featuring celebrities.

A lot of of the products based on high-end labels "run out so quickly, it's just unbelievable," he remarks.

Scott McGlynn

Skin specialist another professional thinks alternatives are acceptable to use for "simple routines" like moisturisers and cleansers.

"Alternatives will serve a purpose," he comments. "These items will perform the basics to a reasonable standard."

Ketaki Bhate, suggests you can save money when seeking single-ingredient items like HA, niacinamide and a moisturizing ingredient.

"If you're purchasing a simple item then you're probably going to be alright in using a budget alternative or a product which is very low cost because there's very little that can go wrong," she says.

'Do Not Be Swayed by the Container'

But the professionals also advise shoppers check details and state that more expensive items are occasionally worthy of the additional cost.

With luxury beauty products, you're not only paying for the name and advertising - sometimes the increased price tag also is due to the ingredients and their standard, the strength of the effective element, the science employed to develop the product, and tests into the products' effectiveness, Dr Belmo explains.

Facialist another professional says it's worth considering how some alternatives can be offered so at a low cost.

Occasionally, she says they may have filler ingredients that don't have as significant advantages for the skin, or the materials might not be as carefully selected.

"The big uncertainty is 'How is it so inexpensive?'" she asks.

Expert Scott says sometimes he's bought beauty products that look comparable to a established label but the product itself has "no connection to the luxury product".

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

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For potent items or those with ingredients that can aggravate the skin if they're not created properly, such as retinols or vitamin C, she suggests selecting medical-grade brands.

The expert explains these typically have been through costly tests to determine how efficacious they are.

Skincare items need to be evaluated before they can be sold in the UK, explains consultant dermatologist Emma Wedgeworth.

When the brand states about the effectiveness of the product, it requires data to verify it, "but the manufacturer doesn't always have to do the trials" and can instead use studies conducted by other companies, she says.

Read the Back of the Pack

Are there any components that could signal a product is inferior?

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