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Rachael Parnell

After discovering Rachael Parnell heard Aldi was offering a fresh product collection that appeared similar to items from high-end label Augustinus Bader, she was "super excited".

The shopper rushed to her local store to pick up the store-brand face cream for under £9 for 50ml - a small portion of the £240 cost of the Augustinus Bader 50ml product.

Its sleek blue packaging and gold cap of both creams look remarkably similar. And though Rachael has not tested the luxury cream, she claims she's impressed by the product so far.

Rachael has been purchasing skincare dupes from popular shops and grocery stores for some time, and she's in good company.

More than a 25% of UK shoppers say they've purchased a beauty or cosmetic dupe. This increases to 44 percent among 18-34 year olds, as per a February study.

Alternatives are skincare products that mimic established brands and provide affordable options to luxury items. These products typically have similar names and packaging, but in some cases the components can vary significantly.

Victoria Woollaston

'Costly Is Not Always Better'

Beauty specialists argue some dupes to high-end labels are good quality and aid make skincare more affordable.

"It is not true that more expensive is always superior," states skin specialist Sharon Belmo. "Not every affordable beauty label is poor - and not all high-end skincare product is the top."

"Some [dupes] are truly amazing," adds a podcast host, who presents a program featuring celebrities.

Numerous of the items inspired by luxury labels "sell out so quickly, it's just crazy," he observes.

Scott McGlynn

Medical expert another professional argues alternatives are fine to use for "simple routines" like moisturisers and cleansers.

"These products will serve a purpose," he says. "These items will handle the basics to a reasonable standard."

Ketaki Bhate, advises you can save money when seeking simple-formula products like hyaluronic acid, Vitamin B3 and a moisturizing ingredient.

"When you're purchasing a single-ingredient item then you're likely going to be okay in opting for a lookalike or a product which is quite inexpensive because there's very little that can be problematic," she says.

'Do Not Be Swayed by the Container'

But the experts also advise consumers do their research and state that more expensive products are sometimes worth the premium price.

Regarding premium beauty products, you're not only funding the brand and advertising - often the increased cost also comes from the formula and their standard, the strength of the key component, the science employed to produce the product, and trials into the item's effectiveness, Dr Belmo notes.

Beauty expert she says it's valuable considering how some alternatives can be priced so at a low cost.

Occasionally, she states they may include less effective components that lack as many benefits for the complexion, or the components might not be as high-quality.

"One major uncertainty is 'Why is it so low-priced?'" she remarks.

Podcast host Scott says on occasion he's purchased skincare items that look similar to a established label but the item has "no resemblance to the premium version".

"Do not be sold by the outer appearance," he added.

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For advanced items or those with components that can irritate the complexion if they're not made accurately, such as retinols or vitamin C serums, the specialist recommends sticking to research-backed labels.

The expert states these probably have been through costly trials to determine how effective they are.

Beauty products are required to be assessed before they can be available in the UK, explains skin doctor another professional.

If the brand advertises about the efficacy of the product, it requires evidence to back it up, "but the brand doesn't necessarily have to conduct the testing" and can instead use evidence completed by different firms, she clarifies.

Examine the Ingredients List of the Container

Is there any components that could suggest a product is inferior?

Components on the label of the bottle are listed by quantity. "Ingredients to avoid that you want to avoid… is your mineral oil, your sodium lauryl sulfate, fragrance, benzel peroxide" being {high up