Every makeup artist dreams of the perfect, fully stocked kit, but sometimes, things don’t go as planned. A few years ago, I experienced a nightmare scenario—my entire makeup kit was lost in transit, and I had less than 24 hours before a bridal booking. There was no time to panic; I had to make do with what I could find.
This experience taught me an important lesson: knowing your drugstore dupes can save your career. While luxury products are great, there are affordable alternatives that work just as well, and you can find them anywhere in the world.
Luxury vs. Drugstore Dupes
If you’re an MUA, it’s always smart to have budget-friendly options in your back pocket. Here are some luxury makeup staples and their Amazon dupes that deliver similar results:
| Luxury Product | Drugstore Dupe | Amazon Link |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation | L’Oréal Infallible Fresh Wear Foundation | Buy Here |
| Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder | e.l.f. Halo Glow Soft Focus Setting Powder | Buy Here |
| NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer | Revlon ColorStay Flex Wear, Full Cover Non-Creasing Concealer, Infused with Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin E, Flexible Longwear | Buy Here |
| Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz | L’Oréal Paris Makeup Brow Stylist Definer Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil | Buy Here |
| MAC Lipstick in ‘Ruby Woo’ | Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink in ‘Pioneer’ | Buy Here |
| Pat McGrath Mothership Eyeshadow Palette | ColourPop Eyeshadow Palettes | Buy Here |
| Benefit Hoola Bronzer | e.l.f. Primer-Infused Bronzer | Buy Here |
Having a solid list of reliable dupes ensures that you’re always prepared for unexpected situations—whether your kit gets lost, a client requests last-minute touch-ups, or you need backups for your luxury items.
Lesson Learned: Always Be Prepared
In the end, the bride was happy, and that was all that mattered. Having a solid contract ensured that I was covered in case of emergencies, and thankfully, the airline sent my kit back after a few days. This experience reinforced that no matter what challenges arise, being adaptable and resourceful is key to success in the beauty industry.
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