Primark's budget beauty dupes have been going viral on TikTok, but do they live up to the hype? One make-up enthusiast put them to the test against high-end staples, with surprising results. The shopper, who admits to being a make-up snob, spent just £31.50 on eight Primark products that would have cost £260 for the originals.
The first dupe tested was a Vitamin Enriched Moisturising Primer for £4.50, compared to Bobbi Brown's Face Base at £52. The creams were almost identical in texture and richness, though the Bobbi Brown had a stronger smell. The Primark version applied seamlessly to the skin.
Next, the Double Coverage Matte Foundation, a dupe of Estée Lauder's Double Wear (£37), was an exact match in colour and texture. It provided thick, full coverage, and the tester could not tell which side of her face had which foundation. However, she noted she would be interested to see if it lasts as long as the Estée Lauder version throughout the day.
The Cream Contour and Cream Blush, dupes of Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk Blush Wand and Contour Wand (£30 each), were less successful. The contour colour was greyer than the original, requiring extra layers, while the blush lacked pigment and was more like a highlighter. The Charlotte Tilbury blush had a much pinker tone.
Finally, the tester praised the Primark translucent loose powder, a dupe of Laura Mercier's (£37), for smoothing her skin well. Overall, she found the Primark dupes impressive, with the primer and foundation being near-identical to their high-end counterparts.
