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Writer's pictureNatalia

Dupes and Routines




Dupes are popular; that is a fact. Ironically, however, few, if any of the dupes that are offered include products that are offered on my website. I did find a cheaper version (dupe) that was suggested for some of the Jan Marini product range but apart from that, dupes are mainly in respect of products that you can buy on the high street. Even on those that were suggested for the Jan Marini range, the product trees of those alternatives left a lot to be desired.


This begs the question as to why?


There is a world of difference between a product that is expensive for many other reasons, such as packaging or relying on their name alone, rather than being expensive for the actual efficacy of the product, through more thought-out ingredients. Further, many of those that use dupes are those that originally bought their skincare at mainstream high street retailers, rather than from websites such as mine or others that offer more professional skin care products (and by that, I mean the sort of skincare products that are used by dermatological professionals and clinics). It is likely that many of those who proclaim using dupes have had little experience of a professional skin clinic and have arrived at products they think suit them best, more by trial and error than through qualified, professional advice.


Admittedly, high-efficacy products are not cheap. Many of the high-efficacy ranges, if not most, have clinical studies behind them, having been properly tested and tried across a wide range of skin care conditions and skin types. Thoroughly researched and thought through, one is not just buying "a Vitamin E Cream" but one is buying a combined product that is best designed to do the job for your particular skin type and condition.


Again, dupes are most popular with those on a tight budget and usually, of the younger generations. It may well be over a long time frame (and when, possibly, it could be too late) that they discover that the saving over that time has been less than positive in terms of results.


For example, let us look at the products in two products:


  1. The "expensive" one:


    Algae Extract, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Microcrystalline Wax\Cera Microcristallina\Cire Microcristalline, Lanolin Alcohol, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Peel Extract, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Leaf Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Powder, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Magnesium Sulfate, Paraffin, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Water, Beta-Carotene, Decyl Oleate, Aluminum Distearate, Octyldodecanol, Citric Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Magnesium Stearate, Panthenol, Zea Mays (Corn) Oil, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Benzoate, Sodium Benzoate, Alcohol Denat., Fragrance (Parfum)


  1. The suggested "dupe":


Water, Paraffinum Liquidum, Cera Microcristallina, Glycerin, Lanolin Alcohol, Paraffin, Panthenol, Magnesium Sulfate, Decyl Oleate, Octyldodecanol, Aluminum Stearates, Citric Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Limonene, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate,


Yes, both contain waxy agents (to make your skin feel smooth) but the dupe is made up mainly of, well ... not a lot, really and certainly misses the combination of natural oils and ingredients. Note also where "Water" appears in the ingredient tree of the dupe and where it appears on the more pricey (and more efficient) original product.


There is, of course, nothing wrong with dupes. They are not made with necessarily harmful ingredients and I am sure that all of the dupes are tested by competent persons; what is of concern that the products replaced start from a much lower baseline of efficacy than one would expect from more advanced skincare products.


The suggestions are still there: If you are serious about your skincare, visit a skincare professional before embarking on a routine and read the ingredient trees.

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