19 Best Drugstore Foundation Dupes: Look Beautiful & Save Money
Find the ultimate list of the best drugstore foundation dupes here!
As much as we all love the luxurious packaging and amazing results of a beautiful high-end foundation, their prices are not as well received.
It’s amazing how many identical or similar drugstore foundation dupes there are out there though, that cost less than a quarter of their high-end counterpart.
When you strip the high-end foundation down to its formula and ingredients against a dupe, it’s quite clear that in most cases you’re paying for the packaging and the brand.
And hey, there’s nothing wrong with that!
I’m a sucker for aesthetically pleasing and top-quality packaging, filled with a stellar product from a reputable and luxury brand.
But sometimes, you want a product that works just as well, for wayyy less money – even if you have to sacrifice some of its looks.
Below is a collection of the most popular and well-loved luxury foundations and their best drugstore foundation dupes.
I hope these suggestions will save you money and help you find a financially sustainable alternative to your favourite high-end foundation.
And if you want to keep the beautiful packaging, you can always save the high-end bottle when it’s done, fill it up with the drugstore foundation and no one will be the wiser!
Quick FYI about these best drugstore foundation dupes
Firstly, although these are labeled as “drugstore” foundations, what I really mean is a more affordable option.
Most can be found at your local drugstore, but are also available online on Amazon and elsewhere listed below.
Secondly, these dupes are very very similar in most cases, but a perfect dupe (in every single aspect) is hard to find. Especially when it comes to shade range availability.
Generally, higher-end foundations have a better range, but drugstore foundations are getting better at extending theirs.
The dupes below are not meant to be shade dupes for each other, but rather dupes in the sense of their formula, finish and longevity being the same.
For their bargain prices and near-perfect similarity though, this list of the best drugstore foundation dupes are all amazing alternatives I know you’ll love!
All of these high-end foundations are absolutely incredible too though, so if you’re in the market to splurge then go ahead and treat yourself instead 🙂
Check out the best drugstore foundation dupes below for yourself!
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Best drugstore foundation dupes:
1. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk ($64) vs L’Oreal True Match Lumi ($13)
Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation is the most beautiful glowing foundation and is my high-end foundation go-to!
For a more affordable radiant glow, L’Oreal True Match Lumi is an incredible dupe.
Like the Armani foundation, it’s lightweight, hydrating, has buildable coverage, and gives the perfect not-too-matte and not-too-dewy finish (for $50 less!)
2. Dior Backstage ($40) vs NYX Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil ($13)
Everyone in the beauty world absolutely ADORES the Dior Backstage foundation for it’s beautiful finish and especially for its powerful longevity.
While it is a smidge dewier than the Dior foundation (which if you like dewy foundations then you won’t mind), the NYX Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil is equally long-wearing and gives the same light coverage and natural, “your skin but better” finish.
3. Charlotte Tilbury Magic ($44) vs Flower Beauty Light Illusion ($14)
Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic foundation is adored for its demi-matte finish that diffuses the skin and for its amazing staying power.
Flower Beauty’s Light Illusion gives the same natural, radiant finish that feels light on the skin and is perfect for all skin types – at a fraction of the cost!
4. Fenty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear ($35) vs Maybelline Dream Radiant ($13)
This Fenty foundation is lightweight and gives a stunning lit from within glow!
Its dewy finish, medium coverage, and hydrating ingredients are especially perfect for dry skin.
This Maybelline foundation boasts all of these same qualities and is almost indistinguishable on the skin – for a third of the Fenty price!
5. Too Faced Born This Way ($40) vs Milani Conceal and Perfect ($12)
Too Faced’s Born This Way foundation is EXTREMELY popular for its soft matte finish (a bit more on the natural side) and buildable medium to full coverage.
It looks like skin throughout the day, is great for photos, and lasts for an impressive amount of time.
This makes it a solid foundation choice for everyone and for all occasions.
The similar finish, full coverage, and powerful longevity of this Milani foundation, as well as its near-identical ingredient list, makes this an incredible dupe for SO MUCH LESS!
A few YouTubers I’ve watched said they couldn’t even tell these two apart on the skin.
6. Estee Lauder Double Wear ($43) vs Revlon Colorstay ($14)
The Double Wear foundation from Estee Lauder is loved by many for its impressive staying power, oil absorption and buildable medium to full coverage.
At $30 cheaper, Revlon’s Colorstay foundation looks identical on the skin, is just as buildable, and stays looking great throughout the day.
7. Fenty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear ($35) vs No 7 Beautifully Matte ($18)
This Fenty foundation is long wearing, has a soft matte finish, and buildable medium to full coverage.
It’s great for all skin types and is extremely popular for not only its beautiful finish and performance but also for its incredible range of 50 shades!
For about half the price, this No 7 foundation has the same velvet matte finish, buildable medium to full coverage, and great oil control.
The biggest difference is that the shade range is not nearly as big, but if you’re able to find a good match, then this is a great dupe to try out.
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8. Huda Beauty #FAUXFILTER ($40) vs Maybelline Superstay ($12)
Maybelline Superstay foundation is the best drugstore foundation dupe for Huda Beauty #Fauxfilter (and is $28 cheaper)!
They both have a very similar texture, finish, smooth application, and great coverage.
9. Nars Sheer Glow ($47) vs Neutrogena Healthy Skin ($11)
NARS Sheer Glow is infamous in the beauty world and the Neutrogena Healthy Skin foundation is the best drugstore foundation dupe for $36 less.
You could buy 4 of them for the same price as one NARS foundation and for how similar they are, you should really give it a try!
Neutrogena Healthy Skin foundation has SPF 20, but otherwise, both foundations have a similar sheer to medium coverage that is buildable and a satin, glowing skin finish.
10. Chanel Vitalumière Aqua ($60) vs Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum ($15)
The same company owns both Chanel and Bourjois, which makes me think their similarities weren’t accidental.
If you want the same light, natural coverage as Chanel then give Bourjois a try at one fourth of the price!
11. MAC Studio Fix ($33) vs Maybelline Fit Me ($8)
Both the MAC Studio Fix Fluid and Maybelline Fit Me have a silky fluid viscosity, are medium coverage, have a natural matte finish, and come in a large variety of shades.
Their strong staying power and ability to keep away shine make both amazing for combination or oily skin.
But the Maybelline foundation is only a quarter of the MAC price!
12. Makeup Forever Ultra HD ($43) vs L.A. Girl Pro Coverage ($9)
Having near identical packaging is a great indicator that LA Girl was duping this MUFE foundation.
Packaging aside, both also give a natural, blurred skin finish and have buildable medium to full coverage.
At only $9 (!!!) this is a freaking awesome dupe!
13. NARS All Day Luminous ($49) vs L’oreal Infallible Pro Matte ($13)
NARS’ All Day Luminous Weightless is the perfect natural-looking and feeling foundation.
It’s highly pigmented (so you don’t have to use a lot of foundation) and gives medium to full coverage, while still feeling as though you’re not wearing any foundation at all.
The Infallible Pro-Matte foundation from L’Oreal is consistently rated as one of the most popular and best drugstore foundations.
It’s fantastic pigmentation, equally impressive medium to full coverage, long-lasting formula, and amazing price (a quarter of NARS’) makes this the best drugstore foundation dupe for it’s high-end alternative.
14. Rare Beauty Liquid Touch ($29) vs Wet N Wild Photo Focus ($6)
Although Rare Beauty isn’t as expensive as its other high-end friends, this Wet and Wild dupe comes in at less than a quarter of the price!
Both of these foundations are light, hydrating, and have lasting medium coverage that’s perfect for everyday use.
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15. IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream ($40) vs Physicians Formula Super CC Cream ($15)
IT Cosmetic’s CC cream is wildly popular, provides full coverage (while still feeling weightless on the skin), has colour correction, anti-ageing ingredients and contains SPF 50.
Physicians Formula CC Cream gets less excitement, but is the best drugstore foundation dupe with the same natural finish, medium to full coverage, colour correcting properties and SPF 30.
And it’s less than half the price!
16. NARS Natural Radiant Longwear ($49) vs Physicians Formula Healthy ($16)
This NARS foundation has the most beautiful, natural finish!
It’s radiant (without being overly glowy), has buildable medium to full coverage, and is extremely long-wearing.
The Physicians Formula dupe has a similar consistency, thickness, and comparable medium to full coverage, but has slightly less longevity.
While the NARS foundation is stunning, for a third of the price, you can’t go wrong with this foundation dupe!
17. Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous ($38) vs NYX Born To Glow ($10)
This Anastasia foundation makes your skin look beautiful, glowy, and healthy (but can transfer a bit if you’re not careful).
This NYX foundation looks just as beautiful, but feels even more lightweight, while also being more pigmented and giving better coverage.
So for only $10, NYX wins this battle!
18. Hourglass Cosmetics Immaculate Liquid Powder ($56) vs Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Mousse ($5)
The Hourglass Liquid Powder foundation is a super popular, lightweight cream-to-powder foundation that blends beautifully into a matte, shine-free finish.
Rimmel’s Stay Matte Liquid Mousse foundation is almost exactly the same from its formula, finish, longevity and oil control ability.
The biggest differences are it doesn’t have a fragrance and its $50 less!
19. Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick ($49) vs Maybelline Fit Me Foundation Stick ($9)
Bobbi Brown’s foundation stick has a creamy formula, medium coverage, minerals that keep oil at bay, and is easily portable.
A close dupe, with a cream/gel formula, similar coverage, and the same finish and oil control, is the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation Stick.
And it’s $40 cheaper!!
I hope you enjoyed this list of best drugstore foundation dupes!
If you love any of the high-end or best drugstore foundation dupes above let me know!
Or if you tried any out for the first time because of this post, I’d love for you to share your experience with others in the comment section below.
Lastly, if you have any high-end foundations you’re looking to get a dupe for or if you know of any dupes that should be added to this list of the best drugstore foundation dupes, then let me know as well 🙂
Please also don’t forget to pin this post if you enjoyed this list and want to reference it later!