The Best K-Beauty Dupes for Expensive Western Products

Give your wallet a little breather, and swap those expensive beauty products for these affordable K-beauty dupes that are just as great, or even better!

If you are planning to shell out a bit of money for a beauty product, just remember this: A bigger price tag does not necessarily guarantee a better product. While we can all appreciate a little Chanel or Dior in our lives, sometimes a great $5 mascara that works just as well is all we need. For those days when you want to save, here is a list of some of the best K-beauty dupes to keep you and your wallet happy:

1. Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder ($14AUD) / NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder ($53AUD)

Instead of spending $53 on a jar of translucent powder, why not go for the well-loved Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder that is only $14, glides on like silk, leaves your skin feeling smooth, even and flawless? Best of all, it works well with all skin tones, and keeps oily skin at bay so you don’t need blotting papers ever again.

The Banila Co Clean It Zero had been around for years, long before the Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm even existed. This OG cleansing balm is not only more cost effective, but it also has a sorbet-like texture which melts into a silky oil to effortlessly dissolve stubborn makeup without stripping your skin. Plus, its formula features papaya extract to naturally exfoliate and smoothen, and vitamin C-rich acerola extract to brighten, so you’re left with fresh, glowy skin.

3. COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid ($25AUD) / Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 ($91AUD)

The Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 has been well-praised by skin care aficionados for its powerful ability to chemically exfoliate the skin. But be warned, it will leave a significant dent in your wallet. If you’re searching for that similar miracle-exfoliation effect, look no further than the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid. Its formula uses 4% natural BHA to dissolve impurities in the pores and remove dead skin cells, leaving your skin clearer and brighter.

We all know that GlamGlow makes the most amazing mud masks, but their products do come with a glamorous price tag. A cheaper alternative you can try is the Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask, which has been formulated differently but do claim very similar effects, such as removing dead skin cells, controlling sebum production, while giving you visibly clearer and smoother skin.

The Dior Hydra Life Jelly Sleeping Mask is a luxurious overnight mask with a gel-like texture that will deeply infuse the skin with hydration while you sleep, so you can wake up to a smoother, more radiant complexion. The Laneige Water Sleeping Mask does the exact same thing, but for less than half the price. Laneige’s sleeping mask also contains hydro-ionized mineral water to infuse long-lasting moisture and antioxidant-rich hunza apricot and evening primrose to detoxify fatigued skin.

Do you know any other great Korean beauty dupes? Comment your favourites below!