Alright, alright, let’s gab a bit about this… uh… “beauty dupes” thing the young’uns are all riled up about. Seems like these Gen-Z kids, they got a real hankering for fancy makeup, the kind them rich folks use. But, you know, money don’t grow on trees, not even for them youngsters.
So, what’s a gal or a fella to do when they wanna look all dolled up but their pockets ain’t exactly bursting at the seams? Well, that’s where these “dupes” come in, I reckon. Dupes, dupes, sounds like something you’d find in a chicken coop! But no, it ain’t nothin’ like that. It’s like… like a copycat, yeah, a copycat makeup! Same fancy look, but it don’t cost you an arm and a leg. That’s what I heard them city gals gossiping about when I was visiting my niece last month.
Now, from what I gather, this whole dupe craze started a few years back, maybe around 2019 or so. Folks started noticing that them drugstore brands, the ones you can find at the corner store, were making stuff that looked mighty similar to them high-end brands. You know, the ones they sell in them fancy stores with the bright lights and the snooty sales ladies. Same colors, same fancy shimmers. I tell you, it’s hard to tell the difference sometimes.
And let me tell ya, these Gen-Z kids, they’re smart cookies. They figured out that these cheaper versions work just as good, maybe even better sometimes! Why spend a whole paycheck on a lipstick when you can get one that looks and feels the same for a few dollars? That’s what I always say, “a penny saved is a penny earned”. These kids must have heard me from way out here in the sticks!
- Lipstick Dupes: They got lipsticks that look just like them expensive ones. Same creamy feel, same fancy colors, but way cheaper.
- Highlighter Dupes: You know, that stuff they put on their cheeks to make ’em shine? They got dupes for that too. Makes ’em glow like a firefly, just like the expensive stuff.
- Foundation Dupes: That’s the stuff they put all over their face, to make it look smooth and even. You can find dupes for that too, and they work just as good, I hear.
I reckon it’s all this “tough economic climate” they talk about on the TV. Things are expensive, and these young folks, they gotta be smart with their money. But they still wanna look good, you know? Can’t blame ‘em for that. We all wanna look our best, even if we ain’t got a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of.
And it ain’t just about the money, neither. These Gen-Z kids, they like to show off their style, their “lifestyle values,” as them fancy folks say. They use makeup to tell the world who they are, what they’re about. And if they can do that without emptying their wallets, well, that’s just smart thinking, ain’t it? It seems they like to paint their faces like them actors on the TV, with all the brushes and sponges and whatnot. My niece even showed me one of those “anti-drip wristbands” – imagine that! They’ve got gadgets for everything these days.

So, if you’re looking to get your hands on some of these beauty dupes, just head on down to the drugstore, I guess. Ask around, see what them young sales ladies are recommending. You might be surprised at what you find. You can get that fancy look without having to sell the farm, as they say. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to look like a movie star without spending like one?
Now, I ain’t no expert on makeup, mind you. I’m just an old gal who likes to keep up with what’s going on in the world. But from what I can see, these beauty dupes are a good thing. They make it so everyone can feel pretty, no matter how much money they got. And that’s a beautiful thing, ain’t it? Beauty should be for everyone, not just for them rich folks in their fancy houses.
And remember, kids, beauty ain’t just about what you put on your face. It’s about what’s inside, too. Be kind, be honest, be true to yourself. That’s the real beauty secret, right there. But a little bit of lipstick never hurt nobody, I reckon!
Tags: beauty dupes, gen-z, makeup, affordable beauty, drugstore makeup, budget beauty, beauty trends, gen z beauty, makeup dupes, beauty on a budget