Best elf dupes: Our favourite Elf buys and the products that inspired them
E.L.F Cosmetics is one of our favourite affordable beauty brands, but it’s the elf dupes of more expensive beauty brands that have impressed us.
e.l.f dupes come in the form of the brand’s concealers, foundations, primers, and blushers, plus much more, and some of those elf dupes resemble popular brands such as Charlotte Tilbury, IT Cosmetics, Rare Beauty, Clarins and plenty more.
e.l.f cosmetics are available to shop from numerous retailers, including directly on the website.
Beauty fans can also shop the collection at Boots, Superdrug, ASOS, Feel Unique, Beauty Bay, Amazon and Sephora.
We have tried a selection of e.l.f. cosmetics, and everything we have tried we have loved.
From the 16-hour Camo Concealer to the Glow Reviver Lip Oil, there are plenty of products to add to your make-up bag, whether you are looking for the essentials or the entire range for full-on glamour.
Several of e.lf’s make-up must-haves have been likened to some big-name beauty brands, with some beauty fans claiming their dupes are better than the original.
So if you are looking for a purse-friendly beauty brand but a luxury look, e.l.f cosmetics is the one for you. These are the best elf dupes.
E.L.F: Camo CC Cream DUPE: By Terry Moisturising CC Cream
CC cream is an alternative to foundation as it is lightweight and breathable, whether you wear it on its own or layered under other make-up cosmetics.
e.l.f’s Camo CC cream is a make-up and skincare hybrid as it is formulated with skin-loving ingredients, such as collagen, peptides, and niacinamide, which work to plump the skin, hydrate, and target any fine lines, and wrinkles, as well as hyperpigmentation, while the SPF 30 provides the necessary sun protection.
It’s been compared to By Terry’s CC cream, a reliable product when perfecting our make-up base, as it provides a smooth and dewy base, that evens the skin tone.
Despite how lightweight, breathable and moisturising the By Terry version is it doesn’t include sun protection, which is why e.l.f’s variation gets our stamp of approval.
- e.l.f. Camo CC Cream, £15 from Boots – buy here
- By Terry Moisturising CC Cream, £47.20 (Was £59) from Lookfantastic – buy here
E.L.F: O FACE Satin Lipstick DUPE: NARS Sensual Satins Lipstick
NARS is a firm favourite of ours, but can come with a hefty price tag is, which is why we are on the lookout for other affordable alternatives.
The NARS Sensual Satins Lipstick are buttery soft on the lips, has a strong pigment to add a pop of colour to our pout, and nourishing ingredients to hydrate our lips, including passion fruit seed oil and moragin extract.
e.l.f cosmetics is equally as rich in colour, and creamy in texture with a luxe satin finish. It comes in 20 shades and is infused with marula oil, squalane, and jojoba oil.
Not only are the ingredients similar, but the packaging is almost identical.
- e.l.f. O FACE Satin Lipstick, £9 from e.l.f – buy here
- NARS Sensual Satins Lipstick, £25.50 from Lookfantastic – buy here
E.L.F: Power Grip Primer DUPE: Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer
A primer can hydrate the skin, but also provide the perfect even base to apply other make-up products on top.
e.l.f cosmetics has created the Power Grip Primer, which is a gel-based formulation to blur any imperfections and pores and hydrate the skin, thanks to the inclusion of hyaluronic acid, which is suitable for all skin types.
It’s similar to Milk Make-up’s Hydro Grip Primer which is packed with hydrating ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, aloe water, cherry blossom, and vitamin B, which nourish the skin, even the skin tone, and provide an even base for makeup to sit on.
While the ingredients list is very similar, the price tags are starkly different, so if a saving of £25 sounds appealing, e.l.f is the purchase to buy.
- e.l.f. Power Grip Primer, £10 from e.l.f – buy here
- Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer, £35 from Cult Beauty – buy here
E.L.F: Skin Suntouchable! Whoa Glow SPF30 DUPE: Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF30
e.l.f cosmetics’ Skin Touchable Whoa Glow SPF30 is a multipurpose essential – it’s a primer, CC cream, moisturiser, tinted moisturiser and provides sun protection.
The affordable skincare and make-up essential fetches under £15, which is an absolute steal in our opinion.
Infused with aloe vera, hyaluronic acid and squalane e.l.f has created a nourishing skincare base for all skin types, while also providing the necessary sun protection for a glowy sunkissed complexion.
Supergoop is a popular product for many, as it is infused with hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide, as well as vitamin B3, sea lavender, cocoa peptides and sun protection, which combine to hydrate, brighten, even skin tone and protect against blue light, as well as UV rays.
Both products have a subtle hint of pigment, and come in a variety of skin tones, can be worn on their own, or layered under other make-up essentials.
- E.L.F. COSMETICS Skin Suntouchable! Whoa Glow SPF30, £14 from Sephora – buy here
- Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF30, £35 from Lookfantastic – buy here
E.L.F: Holy Hydration Day Cream DUPE: LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Gel Moisturiser
We are always on the lookout for a hydrating moisturiser to give our skin some TLC all year round, especially when it is dry, dehydrated, and super lacklustre.
Both e.l.f cosmetics and Laneige have created deeply nourishing skincare favourites.
e.l.f. Holy Hydration Day Cream is packed with skin-loving ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and peptide complex, which is a potent blend for the skin to drink up.
Similarly, Laneige’s Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Gel Moisturiser is a lightweight, yet super hydrating formulation to keep your skin plump and hydrated for up to 48 hours.
Laneige’s formulation also includes mint leaf extract, which is gently soothing for those with breakouts, and inflammation, and minimises excess sebum and oil, which can contribute to clogged pores.
- e.l.f. Holy Hydration Day Cream, £13 – buy here
- LANEIGE Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Gel Moisturiser, £32.50 from Lookfantastic – buy here
E.L.F: Hydrating Camo Concealer DUPE: NARS Cosmetics Radiant Creamy Concealer
NARS’ Cosmetics Radiant Creamy Concealer is a firm favourite of mine as it provides the necessary coverage I need to hide dark purple-ish under-eye bags, as well as breakouts and pigmentation.
NARS’ creation is super lightweight, breathable, and buildable for fuller coverage that lasts longer than other concealers.
The e.l.f Hydrating Camo Concealer was one of the first products from e.l.f I tried and loved for many years.
The Camo Concealer is equally as long-lasting, and has a strong pigment to cover any blemishes, though the doe applicator means a lot of product comes out at once, and doesn’t quite provide precise application like the NARs applicator.
The applicator is the only difference, in our opinion.
- e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer, £7 from e.l.f – buy here
- NARS Cosmetics Radiant Creamy Concealer, £20.80 (Was £26) from Lookfantastic – buy here
E.L.F: Halo Glow Liquid Filter DUPE: Hollywood Flawless Filter
Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter is a popular product many celebrities know and love, with it providing the flawless base A-listers sport on the red carpet.
The Hollywood Flawless Filter is infused with finely milled powders to provide coverage, create an even skin tone, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores, while also brightening the skin for a flawless finish – hence the name.
The E.L.F. COSMETICS Halo Glow Liquid Filter works in a similar way to hydrate, conceal and illuminate the skin.
The hyaluronic ingredient provides the hydration our skin needs, and ensures our skin is not dried out by this foundation but leaves a dewy finish blurring any imperfections.
Some may wear it on their own, add a pop of blusher for a minimalist look, go full-on glam, or even blend with other colour tones to contour and highlight the skin.
e.l.f shoppers have called out the likeness between the £15 make-up base and Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter Foundation.
One customer wrote: “Okay, so, we all got excited when Elf released this product because it’s their take on the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter. Let me tell you, this blows CT out of the water! Halo Glow is a must-have for beautiful, glowing skin. It is advertised as ‘complexion boosting’, but definitely offers some coverage!
“The doe foot applicator is much bigger than the CT wand, and you get more product with the Halo Glow. Lastly, the price is a no-brainer. Halo Glow is a fraction of the price. I have oily, combination skin, and using the Halo Glow while spot concealing gives me the most amazing complexion. Way to go, Elf!!”
- E.L.F. COSMETICS Halo Glow Liquid Filter, £15 from Sephora – buy here
- Hollywood Flawless Filter, £39 from Charlotte Tilbury – buy here
E.L.F: Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand Champagne Campaign DUPE: Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand
e.l.f cosmetics’ Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand looks almost identical to Charlotte Tilbury’s Beauty Light Wand, and like Charlotte Tilbury’s Beauty Light Wands, you can use e.l.f’s creations to highlight, contour and use as blusher for a full 360 look.
e.l.f cosmetics shopper has noted the likeness, as one review read: “A very good alternative to Charlotte Tilbury product, lasts ages and leaves a lovely shine on the skin. It makes a good highlight that isn’t too blinding and is very blendable.”
The e.l.f design is easy to use, whether it is as a bronzer, highlighter or blusher, though you can use all three shades together.
Both designs feature the super soft cushioned applicator end for a smooth and gentle application, while they both boast a pigmented yet dewy formulation for a glowy sunkissed look.
- e.l.f. Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand Champagne Campaign, £9 from Superdrug – buy here
- Beauty Light Wand, £30 from Charlotte Tilbury – buy here
E.L.F: Camo Liquid Blush Dusty Rose DUPE: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
The Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush is super pigmented, and a little goes a long way.
It comes in a compact tube with a doe applicator to make for easy application, though only a few dabs on the cheekbones and apples of the cheeks are needed, if you want a bolder blush or bronzed finish simply apply more, as the formulation is buildable and longlasting.
Some shoppers have likened the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush to e.l.f. Camo Liquid Blush.
One e.l.f shopper commented: “Definitely more affordable than Rare Beauty pretty on the skin and can not tell the difference from the two side by side.”
The e.l.f. Camo Liquid Blush is equally as lightweight, pigmented, and easy to blend whether you apply it on its own, layer on top of foundation or tinted moisturiser.
- e.l.f. Camo Liquid Blush, £7 from Boots – buy here
- Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, £22 from Space NK – buy here
E.L.F: Glow Reviver Lip Oil DUPE: Clarins Lip Comfort Oil
A hydrating lip oil is essential all year round to nourish chapped and cracked lips or to soothe dehydrated lips in the summer.
We have relied on Clarins’ Comfort Oil for years to soothe and rehydrate our lips, without being too tacky like a gloss, thanks to the blend of natural oils.
There are plenty of shades to opt for, and though they are slightly pigmented the colour is not too overpowering and just subtle.
The e.l.f Glow Reviver Lip Oil has been compared to Clarins’ Lip Oil, or Dior’s popular lip product, as one shopper’s review read: “This takes the cake in lip oils and I’ve owned plenty (from Dior to Clarins). It left my lips very moisturised and it’s quite similar to the Dior.”
Similarly, the e.l.f make-up buy provides the hydration our lips need, it nourishes and soothes, while also adding a touch of colour to the lips for a glass-like finish. The branding on the bottle may be the only difference we can spot.
- e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil, £8 from Superdrug – buy here
- Clarins Lip Comfort Oil, £25 from Sephora – buy here
E.L.F: Luminous Putty Blush Bermuda DUPE: RARE BEAUTY Soft Pinch Luminous Powder Blush
e.l.f’ ‘s Luminous Putty Blush Bermuda has been described as a “putty to powder blush”, which is silky smooth on the skin, easy to apply, and adds a pop of colour to our complexion.
It’s compact enough to take on the go, keep in your bag, or have pride of place in your make-up bag.
This blusher is a hybrid between a blusher and highlighter as it has a natural shimmer, as well as a pigmented rosy tone.
Rare Beauty recently launched the Soft Pinch Luminous Powder Blush, which is a blusher and highlighter duo fitted in a compact with a mirror to make it easy to apply on the go.
Like most of Rare Beauty’s make-up collection, this boasts the same super smooth application, and dewy finish and is weightless on the skin.
- e.l.f Luminous Putty Blush Bermuda, £7 from Superdrug – buy here
- RARE BEAUTY Soft Pinch Luminous Powder Blush, £25 from Sephora – buy here
E.L.F: Monochromatic Multi Stick DUPE: Milk Makeup Lip & Cheek
A multipurpose stick is one of our beauty must-haves, and we have tried a lot.
The e.l.f Monochromatic Multi Stick comes in four shades so you can achieve a bronzed sunkissed glow or rosy pink blusher.
It is easy to apply, simply sweep it onto your cheeks, and blend with your fingers, a beauty blender, or a brush.
Plus, it is buildable so you can intensify the colour should you wish.
The Milk Makeup Lip & Cheek stick is one of our favourites, it’s buildable and long-lasting, some have a matte finish, while others achieve a more dewy finish, though every stick we have tried looks super natural.
- e.l.f. Monochromatic Multi Stick, £5 from Sephora – buy here
- Milk Makeup Lip & Cheek, £22 from Sephora – buy here
E.L.F: Lash ‘N Roll Mascara DUPE: Benefit Roller Lash Lifting & Curling Mascara
The e.l.f. Lash ‘N Roll Mascara has been likened to Benefit’s popular Roller Lash Lifting and Curling Mascara by shoppers.
One e.l.f shopper commented: “I loved this mascara more than I thought I would. For me, the results are better than the Benefit Roller lash, I found this gave length and a decent amount of volume too! The brush and formula consistency are the same but at a fraction of the cost!! I’m sold!”
The e.l.f design boasts a curved wand to sweep through every lash easily as it maps the curve of the eye, while the dual brushes, which include short and longer-length brushes, ensure all lashes are covered by the mascara, which for £7 is a gamechanger.
Similarly, Benefit’s Hook n’ Roll brush works to separate, volumise and curl the lashes, with lasting power for up to 12 hours.
- e.l.f. Lash ‘N Roll Mascara, £7 from ASOS – buy here
- Benefit Roller Lash Lifting & Curling Mascara, £27 from Sephora – buy here
E.L.F: Clear Brow & Lash Mascara DUPE: Pixi Brow Tamer
We have been experimenting with both products for some time, and can’t find fault with either, aside from the price tag.
The e.l.f. Clear Brow & Lash Mascara in clear sweeps through our lashes and brows seamlessly, it has a strong, and long-lasting, holding power.
The Pixie Brow Tamer also glides through our brows, with a long-lasting hold.
One thing we prefer about the e.l.f. Clear Brow & Lash Mascara is a dual function, which is perfect to take on the go.
E.L.F: Lip Plumping Gloss DUPE: Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath
A plumping lip gloss has numerous benefits, it’s hydrating, nourishing and plumping, plus, some even add a hint of colour too.
e.l.f’s Lip Plumping Gloss is infused with vitamin E and coconut oil, which are deeply nourishing and soothing ingredients, while the sheet tint and shimmer reflect the light to enhance the plump look.
Charlotte Tilbury’s Collagen Lip Bath is also nourishing, and plumping, but without the uncomfortable tingling sensation.
The latter is infused with Marine Collagen, which is an anti-ageing hero ingredient to plump the lips and reduce any fine lines, while also hydrating.
The peppermint extract is cooling on the lips, which is why the collagen lip bath is so soothing.
- e.l.f. Lip Plumping Gloss, £7 from ASOS – buy here
- Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath, £27 from John Lewis – buy here
E.L.F: Matte Magic Mist & Setting Spray DUPE: Illamasqua Hydra Setting Spray
When you have applied a face of make-up, whether it’s e.l.f cosmetics, or not, a spritz of setting spray is the final step in any beauty regime to hold your make-up in place for hours on end.
The Matte Magic Mist Setting Spray is another dose of hydration, so your make-up is in a hydrating skincare sandwich, as this formulation is infused with vitamins B, and E, as well as arctium majus root.
This cruelty-free and vegan formulation is nourishing, does not leave a tacky residue, but provides a flawless airbrush matte finish.
Illamasqua Hydra Setting Spray provides a more dewy finish and sets our make-up in place for hours on end.
It is a lightweight mist and does not squirt out, while the pea peptides provide the skin with added moisture.
While the e.l.f cosmetics setting spray has a matte finish, Illamasqua provides a dewy finish, so it depends on your desire for the final finish.
- e.l.f. Matte Magic Mist & Setting Spray, £6 from Superdrug – buy here
- Illamasqua Hydra Setting Spray, £20 from Lookfantastic – buy here
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