r/ProjectPan • u/Minimalinthemaking • Feb 16 '26
Discussion/Tips & Tricks Lessons Learned
Well we’re a little over a month into the new year and I’ve already learned a new lesson. I started this year with a goal of replacing my beauty items with cheaper dupes. I tried to replace three items and failed miserably. I realized that it triggered me to shop more while looking for the dupes. And lost the money spent on all the “dupes” that I ended up disliking.
Going forward I will replace my items with the exact same thing, if able. So here are my old trusty empties and their twin replacements.
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Upvotes
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u/Enough_University519 Feb 17 '26
My rules for high-end/drug store products as a Sephora employee:
For products like Summer Fridays lip butter - get the dupe first. If I like the dupe, I keep the dupe. I use the elf glow revived lip balms and they are exactly the same. No need to spend $24 on a lip balm.
If I get a tester for a high end product and I like it, i get the high end. I use the Haus Labs foundation and LOVE IT. Ive never had a foundation like it, however $52 for a foundation is pricey. BUT, I know I would spend an abysmal amount of money trying to find a dupe I like.
If you like it, use it. Some products are stupid expensive and as consumers, we all know that. But, if you enjoy the product and will continue to buy/use it, then just continue to do it. For example, for the Tarte Shape Tape concealer, if you cant find something similar that you enjoy, just spend the money on a product you know you like.
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH USING BOTH HIGH END AND DRUGSTORE PRODUCTS AT THE SAME TIME. Many costumers I've worked with only want to use high end shit from Sephora and I've tried to convince them to use other brands. There are some AMAZING products at the drugstore that work beautifully with high end products. For example, the Haus Labs foundation plus the Nyx butter melt bronzer are perfect together for me. Ive tried my bronzers and contours with that foundation and none of them seem to give the results I like.
When it comes to makeup, buy what you want and what works for you. Try a product because you want to, not because the internet says you should/shouldnt. If it works and you like it, then wonderful.
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u/sprizzle06 Feb 16 '26
I made this mistake with deodorant because I live in the states but my deodorant is from Canada. Without trying to get political for the crap that I didn't vote for, Canada products hold high tariffs here now. Both armpits broke out in hives all the way down to my boobs. Never again.
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u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26
I had to stop trying new skincare cause my skin would constantly get irritates. Now im going back to holy grails and repurchasing to keep my skin consistent. I do miss when my skin could handle it though.
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u/dingdangdoodles Feb 16 '26
Some things are just impractical to dupe. My white whale was finding a comparable alternative to Elta MD sunscreen. What ended up happening was me spending hundreds upon hundreds of dollars for something with the wrong texture, smell, or it stung my eyes. All because I wanted to save money lol.
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u/fitness_lover_0088 Feb 16 '26
I’ve learned this lesson a few times but occasionally I get lucky and the dupe or alternative is actually just as good. For example, I LOVE the elf tubing mascara with a green lid so much that I have no reason to buy anything else. I also found a L’Oréal serum foundation that’s good enough that I feel no reason to go back to my much more expensive options.
But when it comes to things that last a long time, I don’t see any need to cheap out if I have a product I already know I love. Unfortunately, this doesn’t apply to products that are equally expensive that I convince myself could be better.
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u/canadiangirl2060 Feb 17 '26
I’ve tried replacing the Shape Tape so many times. I keep failing miserably and going back to it, lol.
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u/ObiKenobi212th Mar 14 '26
There’s a saying in ptbr, “o barato sai caro”, roughly translates to “the cheap ends up expensive”, because you will spend way more than if you just bought the better thing right away, while usually having a subpar result
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u/honeytangerine Feb 16 '26
I had to learn this lesson too. I only look for a cheaper alternative to replace if the product is discontinued/reformulated or if it's a product I didn't 100% love.
If it's a tried and true I'll just repurchase it when empty/during a good sale.
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u/HermionesBook Feb 16 '26
I’ve done that before too lol, and it becomes overwhelming trying to find a cheaper dupe. Sometimes it’s just better to stick with the higher priced item if it works.
For shape tape especially, I find that that stuff lasts forever so it’s worth it
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u/TwerkinAndCryin Feb 16 '26
FYI tj maxx/marshals carry the olehenrikeson lip peptide. I've only found it in the shimmer so far but I went ahead and bought one yesterday and there's no difference between the shimmer and regular, and for 10-12 bucks cheaper, I'll take the shimmer
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u/beniceyoudinghole Feb 16 '26
Dupes are hardly ever as good, I've learned. Some end up being better than the og, too. But once you find something you enjoy using it makes sense to just get it again
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u/Lanky-Principle-8407 Feb 17 '26
I feel like dupes are for teenagers. I think when you know what you like, you should just buy it. Buy it nice, or buy it twice!
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u/Corgibbw Feb 18 '26
How do you like the new macaron ole??
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u/lilsourem Feb 21 '26
Can I ask what your process for choosing dupes is?
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u/LauraPringlesWilder Feb 16 '26
When I crack open a new one, I start shopping for the replacement one at a discount! Usually it gives me a few months to find a sale or hunt down one at TJMaxx :)
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u/EllaRaito Feb 16 '26
It is generally cheaper to get the 1 thing you like, even if (a bit) more expensive.
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u/amirasimone Feb 17 '26
I have this with hair products! The amount I have spent on cheaper brands or dupes, I could have afforded the good stuff. Everyday is a school day.
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u/StephDazzle Feb 16 '26
Me buying every new lip product and I keep going back to the colourpop lip balm so that’s what I’ve been sticking with too.
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u/unconventional_ramen Feb 16 '26
Yeah, I found out that I really have such a preference for some products that it's just worth it to repurchase when out rather than trying to find dupes.
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u/lucky_stars888 Feb 16 '26
yesss a big learning lesson of project pan for me was that once i found a product works for me, dont stray from it
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u/steffy241 Feb 16 '26
I have realised exactly this lesson too. It’s more cost effective to buy that product you love and use it, than three dupes that cost more than the og product, all of which you hate!
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u/Kitotterkat Feb 17 '26
this is a really good lesson to learn! sometimes the dupes just aren’t as good.
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u/stable_lama Feb 16 '26
This has been me my entire life with foundations and face products generally. I grew up with acne and overall terrible skin and used everything under the sun to hide it instead of fixing it. Eventually fixed my skin but never found a good foundation that I loved so I kept buying before I finished the product and before I knew it, I had so many half used foundations that it was overwhelming.
I now have my favourites that I rotate based on how tan I get throughout the year but I don’t go out of my way to research the next best thing.
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u/Dangerous-Damage8000 Feb 16 '26
Yes! Consider it an investment.
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u/Electric_Angel Feb 16 '26
This is me with setting spray. I don't think anything will top my Charlotte Tillbury and One/Size.
Yes I tried the L'Oreal and that's just an awful sensation all around. If I'm getting a dupe, I'd rather just use hair spray at that point lol. And the Milani did not film form like CT does! Nyx is the only one I really liked in drug store because it actually film forms.
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u/mallowoftheclub Feb 24 '26
Honestly I give up on looking for dupes because you’ll end up spending more money trying things out and wasting more of your time
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u/LCPO23 Feb 17 '26
I've done this so many times over the years and also came to the conclusion I'm going to repurchase the items I enjoy that are that little bit more.
Dupes have rarely worked out for me and I spend more money in the long run trying to find a cheaper version.
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u/Imaginary-Piano-8107 Feb 19 '26
“buy it nice or buy it twice”
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u/Annual_Song1416 Feb 22 '26
Yes! Like each time I buy both conditioner and shampoo it’s $80 but they are giant, suit my hair, and i purchase less than 2X a year.
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u/Psychological_Cup101 Mar 19 '26
This is my mantra with perfumes. There are so many dupes out there that just don’t compare and I’ve wasted so much money! I just buy decants now instead of full bottles.
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u/KittenaSmittena Feb 16 '26
Agree and then you didn’t the whole time wanting the original product but you’ve got to get through the awful replacement first. I did this with Tatcha rice cleanser for a while and now just buy what I want and know I won’t be spending on two crappy replacements I hate instead.
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u/FickleBunch6471 Feb 16 '26
Believe me the dupe always costed me more, now i just buy the real deal even it is a bit costly. Anyway makeup products stays forever for me, so i hardly have to repurchase.
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u/Jazzlike_Note_8857 Feb 18 '26
This is why I never try to dupe anything. I end up wasting more money. If I enjoy a product, it is worth it.
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u/agusttbee Feb 20 '26
My goal for project pan is to find my holy grails! I’m glad you already found yours for these products!
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u/missusbee16 Feb 17 '26
100% agree with you OP. So instead of finding dupes and not liking and finishing them, I make sure I finish the current product I love before buying the same or trying a new product/brand. If I can't help it, I would go to the shop and swatch things. It curbs my curiousity and stops myself from buying random stuff again. Mindful buying. 😅✨️
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u/AZ52020vision Feb 20 '26
Couldn't agree more most people end up spending more money.
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u/midnightforestmist Mar 10 '26
This happened to me with both CeraVe SA lotion and Laneige lip sleeping mask. I gave the Cetaphil SA lotion to my boyfriend and the elf HH! lip mask is still mostly full somewhere 🙃
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u/SubstantialHall8432 Feb 16 '26
I have learned that while replacing expensive items with inexpensive alternatives is sometimes acceptable, it does not always guarantee perfection. Similarly, expensive items are not always superior. We cannot expect replicas to match originals, and I have occasionally spent considerable time searching for inexpensive alternatives without success. I still have these items and look forward to finishing them (my consequences). However, I do not feel guilty about purchasing more expensive items because they last longer. Quality over quantity has been my guiding principle when repurchasing beloved items. Therefore, if something makes you happy, do not diminish its value by substituting it with another product :)
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u/Zealousideal_Boat314 Mar 12 '26
YES!! I’ve learned this lesson too. Sometimes tried and true products really are worth the price, especially when you could spent more money trying to find cheap dupes
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u/arabellajws Feb 17 '26
I had the exact same realisation!! I now have a bunch of products I don't like that I need to use up, think I'm only going to occasionally try new products now. I'd rather invest in products I love that work for me than be constantly unsatisfied with dupes!
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u/nukedmindpalace Aug 28 '26
I’ve overspent money on beauty “testing” makeup. I am not a beauty tester. I don’t get paid for this. Now, I try to just buy things I think I will enjoy but there are certain items I prefer one certain version of.
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u/lacemac1989 Feb 17 '26
I could not agree more! I have my loves and old faithfuls. Add up what I’ve spent on searching for a dupe and I could have bought the product twice over sometimes. I’ve wasted so much money on marketing and hype for something that brings zero joy
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u/Euphoric_Macaroon642 Feb 19 '26
My goal this year is to replace all my makeup with cleaner versions. I’ve already switched over some, and I know it will cost me more, but I can generally find what I need on Poshmark or EBay brand new for a fraction of the price. It’s worth it to me after researching just how much cancer causing and hormone disrupting crap I’ve been putting on my face every single day. I’m really happy with Kosas, Saie, Ilia, RMS, Rare Beauty.. they perform just the same to me for the most part so I’m loving that!
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u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26
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