As the cost of living continues to rise, many consumers are looking for ways to save money on the latest beauty products. Beauty dupes, or duplicates, are becoming increasingly popular as a way to get the same look for a fraction of the price. Beauty dupes are products that are inspired by popular, high-end, luxury must-haves, and offer them at a much lower cost.

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One of the most talked about beauty dupes of the year is the MCoBeauty Flawless Glow Luminous Skin Filter, a $35 foundation that promises a dewy complexion. This product was inspired by Charlotte Tilbury’s iconic Hollywood Flawless Filter, which retails for $65 for 30ml. The two products are incredibly similar, from the ingredients, product name, and packaging.

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The public was immediately in dispute when the MCoBeauty product launched, with some arguing that the company had gone too far, while others argued that it was a win for making beauty more accessible to the masses. The media coverage that this generated worked to promote both brands equally, with searches for the two foundations increasing concurrently.

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The Instagram beauty collective Estée Laundry collated the public response in a post questioning the ethics of the dupe. Most who replied argued against MCoBeauty, with one comment stating, “Dupes are one thing. Blatant copies are just gross.”

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MCoBeauty responded to the controversy in an Instagram post, stating that they value customer feedback and do not infringe on the rights of other cosmetic companies. They also stated that their products are clearly branded and sold in distinct packaging, so that consumers are aware that they are buying a product made and sold by MCoBeauty.

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The dupe continues to gain recognition as a must-have budget foundation, with before-and-after comparisons flooding YouTube, blogs, and social media.

Sources: https://insideretail.com.au/sectors/the-ethics-of-beauty-dupe-culture-202308