Beauty School Dropout: Designer Dupes, The Haircare, Bath and Body Edition

Beauty School Dropout: Designer Dupes, The Haircare, Bath and Body Edition

As part of our Designer Dupes series, we’re reaching for the affordable body oils, haircare products and fake tans that feature the same hero ingredients as their big-ticket counterparts. Your self-care routine is about to get an upgrade.



As
part of our
Designer Dupes
series, we’re reaching for the affordable body
oils, haircare products and fake tans that feature the same hero
ingredients as their big-ticket counterparts. Your self-care
routine is about to get an upgrade.

There’s only one thing better than a cult beauty buy and that’s
a cult beauty buy that’s half the price. As our financial futures
look (even more) uncertain, we’re looking for ways we can save a
few pennies and get our wages to last until payday. Designer
products are out and dead-ringers are à la mode.

We’re putting down the scissors poised for a home-haircut,
resisting the urge to give ourselves TikTok bangs and turning to
miracle-working at-home hair products that’ll give our neglected
locks a boost. That means more than just a weekly wash, FYI. Throw
in some purse-friendly bath salts and invigorating, skin-buffing
detox soaps and your Sunday routines have been given an
upgrade.

Save on self-care with these standout products for hair, bath
and body


1. Dry Shampoo


COLAB dry shampoo
> Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo

Confession time. Whose hair-washing routine has been downgraded
from three-times-a-week to once? Extend your messy bun for another
few days with the best dry shampoo on the market. It smells divine
and, unlike other products, there’s no tell-tale white residue left
on your scalp.


2. Root cover-up

Josh
Wood Root Smudger
> Rita Hazan Root Concealer Touch Up
Spray

Forget trying to snag a supermarket delivery slot, we’re
hankering for a serious sit-down with our hairdresser – our root
regrowth is out of control. Fake a fresh cut-and-colour with
professional hairdresser Josh Wood’s miracle root smudger. Think of
it as a beauty blender for your roots.


3. Deep conditioning mask


BLEACH London Reincarnation Mask
> OUAI Treatment
Masque

Rest, recuperation and reincarnation. Whether you’re the victim
of a bad at-home dye job or your ends are brittle from too much
bleach, slather this mask on for 20 minutes to ease your
stressed-out tresses.


4. Heat protector


Cantu Shea Butter Thermal Shield Heat Protect
> Living Proof
Restore Perfecting Spray

For the rare days (read: Friday Zoom quiz dates) that you turn
to your straighteners or curling tongs, run a pea-sized amount of
Cantu’s heat protector through the ends of your hair. It’s packed
with natural moisturisers that’ll safeguard the ends of your hair
and boost shine.


5. Surf spray


Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturising Sea Salt Spray
>
Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray

After locks that looked like you’ve just surfed the shores from
Bondi to Coogee despite not leaving your sofa? A quick spritz,
scrunch and upside down hair-shake are all you need to nail this
low-maintenance look. All that’s missing is your wetsuit.


6. For curls and coils


Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curling Gel Souffle
>
Kinky-Curly Original Curling Custard

A complete match to Kinky Curly’s cult product. If you’re
blessed with a thick head of curls, use this gel-based souffle to
hold, add body and keep shine – it’s enough to elevate all
Monica-in-Barbados hair days.


7. Soap


The Seaweed Bath Co. Exfoliating Detox Body Shop
> Aesop
Body Cleansing Slab

It might not be as aesthetically pleasing as the Aesop
packaging, but it performs way better. Stuffed with hand-harvested
seaweed (to boost skin elasticity), coffee (to exfoliate), cinnamon
(which activates skin cells) and Hawaiian kukui oil (to hydrate).
Essentially, it’s like a vitamin-shot for your skin.


8. Body wash


Aldi No.3 Pomegranate Luxury Hand & Body Wash
> Jo
Malone Pomegranate Noir Body & Hand Wash

The savvy beauty guru knows to turn to this German supermarket
for more than just fruit, camembert and bars of Milka chocolate.
Pretty much the same scent, ingredients and packaging as the staple
Jo Malone version, this body wash is a great addition to the guest
room or downstairs loo.


9. Body Moisturiser

Aldi Lacura Booty Balm > Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum
Cream

We’re under no illusion that this booty balm produces the same
result as 1,000 squats and a five-times-a-week (virtual) PT
session, but it does make our skin feel more supple and it smells
insane.


10. Bath bombs

RoseVale Natural
Vegan Bath Bombs
> Lush Bath Bombs

Self-care has never been more important. Sink in for a
fragrance-filled soak with RoseVale’s all-natural, vegan-friendly
bath bombs. They’re as relaxing (and Insta-ready) as the OG Lush
versions, for a fraction of the price.


11. Bubble bath


Herbivore Coconut Milk Bath Soak
> Laura Mercier Crème
Brûlée Honey Bath

Sure, bathing in Laura Mercier’s crème brûlée-inspired bubble
bath feels like bathing in, well, a Michelin-starred crème brûlée,
but its price tag is just too steep. Switch it out for the
paraben-free Herbivore version. It smells just as good, lasts
longer and you won’t mind as much when your housemate “borrows” it
by mistake.


13. CBD Bubble bath

OUAI
Chill Pills
> Alice + Olivia x Kush Queen CBD Bubble
Bath

If there ever was a time we needed to chill out, it’s now. Pop
one of OUAI’s Chill Pills in the bath and sink in for an
easy-going, anxiety-free soak.


14. Body oil


Body Shop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil
> Tom Ford Soleil
Blanc

A carry-on essential as soon as we’re allowed to travel again.
Smooth over shoulders, collarbones and legs or use as a liquid
highlight for your cheekbones and brow arch, it’ll accentuate any
tan – real or fake.


15. Face roller


Herbivore Rose Quartz Rolle
r > Angela Caglia Vibrating Rose
Quartz Sculpting Roller

This roller claims to aid detoxification through the lymphatic
system while metaphysical vibrations from the crystal correspond to
the heart chakra, the energy centre of love. Need we say more?


16. Fake tan


St Moriz Advanced Pro Formula Dry Oil Mist
> Sisley Sun Glow
Gel

St Moriz has bottled that feel-good sensation of being freshly
tanned – except unlike other high-street fake-tanning products,
there’s no streaking, no residue left on your sheets and no gross
biscuit smell.

Discover More
Beauty School Dropout: Designer Dupes, the Skincare Edition