Which LED mask, beauty device or skincare dupe to buy

Beauty devices

• Best red light therapy mask

  74 LED masks checked against FDA records. Our pick: Shark CryoGlow.

• Which LED face masks are FDA cleared?

  The FDA record for each big-name mask, and the Amazon masks that claim a clearance we could not find.

• Is the Shark CryoGlow worth it?

  Its FDA record, the Plus model, and cheaper masks cleared for the same uses.

• Is the Omnilux mask worth it?

  Omnilux vs Shark CryoGlow, and every Omnilux FDA record.

• Is Solawave worth it?

  The mask vs the wand, its FDA record, and cheaper cleared masks.

• Is the CurrentBody LED mask worth it?

  Series 2 vs Series 3, where to buy it, and cheaper cleared masks.

• Best microcurrent facial device

  Microcurrent devices checked against FDA records.

• Is NuFACE worth it?

  The MINI+ vs the TRINITY+, its FDA record, and cheaper cleared devices.

• Dyson Airwrap dupe

  Our pick: Shark FlexStyle. Maker specs side by side.

• Best water flosser

  Our pick: COSLUS C20, from a maker on the ADA Seal list.

• Best eyelash growth serum

  The best sellers' labels checked for prostaglandin drugs.

• Color Wow Dream Coat dupe

  The spray that lists the same core ingredients for less, and the closest one on Amazon.

• Milk Hydro Grip primer dupe

  Which cheap primer lists the same grip ingredient, and which is just popular.

• Tarte Shape Tape dupe

  The drugstore concealer built most like Shape Tape, and the best one for the money.

• Olaplex No.3 dupe

  The same pre-shampoo step for less, and why no dupe has Olaplex's bond ingredient.

• Rare Beauty liquid blush dupe

  The cheaper blush built like Rare Beauty, the shade that matches Encourage, and price per mL.

• Lume vs Native deodorant

  Which to buy for strong odor, and which for scent and price. Current labels side by side.

Cheaper versions of popular skincare

We compare the full ingredient lists and the strengths each brand prints, then name the closest cheaper match.

• Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 dupe

  Closest cheaper match: The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion.

• EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 dupe

  Closest cheaper match: DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 45.

• Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Moisturizer dupe

  Closest cheaper match: Revolution Pro Miracle Cream.

• SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic dupe

  Closest cheaper match: Geek & Gorgeous C-Glow.

• Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex dupe

  Closest cheaper match: MIZON Skin Power Original First Essence.

• SK-II Facial Treatment Essence dupe

  Closest cheaper match: MIZON Skin Power Original First Essence.

• Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster dupe

  Closest cheaper match: The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% Cream for Redness and Blemish-Prone Skin.

• All dupe reports

How we check

• FDA records. For each device we look up its FDA filing and device listing. When a listing says "FDA cleared" and we find no record, we say so. In our check of LED masks on Amazon, only 9 of the 24 that say "FDA cleared" had an FDA filing tied to that exact mask.
• Labels. For skincare we read the full ingredient list and the strength the brand prints, and we say when a brand does not print it.
• Prices. Every price shows the day we read it on Amazon. Prices change, so check the price on Amazon before you buy.

Our method · Corrections

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• All dupe reports
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