Index / Dupe Reports
Formula matchmaking, verified.
36 reports and growing. Each page ranks every dupe ingredient-by-ingredient against the original — with patent analysis, active percentages, and an honest verdict. No affiliate incentives.
In a hurry? See just the winners — every report's verified cheapest pick, organized by category, in one table.
- N°001 published
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
7 formulas ranked ingredient-by-ingredient against the $185 original. Patent expired; the winner costs $9.99.
Read the report → - N°002 published
SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF
Phloretin barely exists in affordable skincare. 7 formulas ranked against the $185 oily-skin original.
Read the report → - N°003 published
Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos
Cheap commodity acids in a $90 bottle. The brand collapsed. 7 formulas ranked against the original — the winner costs $24.
Read the report → - N°004 published
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni
1% retinol in a squalane base — the $76 price was the brand. 6 formulas ranked; No7 replicates the same active and signal peptides for $39.
Read the report → - N°005 published
EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46
SPF filters are commodity. The 5% niacinamide is the moat. 6 formulas ranked — DRMTLGY keeps both zinc + niacinamide for $32 vs $41.
Read the report → - N°006 published
Crème de la Mer
The Miracle Broth ferment cannot be sourced — no one can dupe it. But the occlusive base is commodity: Nivea Crème seals the same barrier for $5 (a 50x price cut per mL). 5 formulas ranked against the $210 original.
Read the report → - N°007 published
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
TFC8 is patented — no brand can source or replicate it. The base emollients are commodity: Vanicream matches them for $15. 5 formulas ranked against the $290 original. Honest verdict: there is no dupe.
Read the report → - N°008 published
SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Eye Complex
L'Oréal owns SkinCeuticals and the proxylane patent — and uses the same molecule (Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol) in a $25 drugstore eye cream. 4 formulas ranked against the $113 original. Real dupe: L'Oréal Revitalift Triple Power Eye.
Read the report → - N°009 published
Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum
The 22-botanical Phyto Radiance Infusion (21-day cold-process) cannot be replicated — the moat is breadth plus process, not one active. 5 formulas ranked against the $195 original. Honest verdict: there is no dupe. Closest pick: Herbivore Phoenix (9 of 22 botanicals, $58).
Read the report → - N°010 published
Sunday Riley Good Genes
A $60 cult lactic-acid treatment whose acid sits 8th on the INCI — below 7 botanicals — at an undisclosed percentage. The Ordinary states 10% lactic acid on the label for $9. 2 disclosed-strength dupes ranked against the original; the glow is emollients, the value is honesty.
Read the report → - N°011 published
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
Pitera is galactomyces ferment filtrate — a yeast filtrate SK-II markets at an undisclosed % for $100+. MIZON discloses 94.5% of the same active for $23. 2 ferment essences ranked against the original. Honest verdict: the active is the same class; the premium is the ritual.
Read the report → - N°012 published
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair
ANR's hero is Bifida Ferment Lysate — a probiotic ferment at an undisclosed % marketed as "ChronoluxCB." Missha Time Revolution First Essence RX contains the same active class for $29.90 vs $115. 1 ferment-family candidate ranked against the original. Honest verdict: format (essence vs. serum) and ferment priority both differ — read the caveats.
Read the report → - N°013 published
SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
The 2:4:2 ratio (2% ceramides, 4% cholesterol, 2% fatty acids) is real barrier-repair science — cholesterol-dominant, targeting aging skin. CeraVe delivers the same three lipid classes for $17 vs $148. 1 ceramide+cholesterol+fatty-acid candidate ranked. Honest verdict: the ratio is evidence-grounded; no head-to-head trial proves it beats a well-formulated generic.
Read the report → - N°014 published
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream
The signal peptides are real but undisclosed-% near the bottom of a 47-ingredient INCI. Revolution Pro Miracle Cream was explicitly designed as the dupe — copper peptide, hyaluronic acid, shea butter — for $14 vs $100. 3 peptide moisturizer candidates ranked. Honest verdict: you are paying for brand, scent, and texture.
Read the report → - N°015 published
Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream
Nine peptides, fragrance-free, silicone-free — the formula was never the problem. The brand collapsed 65% in Q1 2025. Naturium shares the Matrixyl 3000 pair (Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tetrapeptide-7) for $19 vs $68. 3 alternatives tested. Honest verdict: the stack is real, the brand is in freefall, the dupe is incomplete.
Read the report → - N°016 published
Biologique Recherche Lotion P50
The P50 1970 is built around phenol — a keratolytic restricted in US/EU cosmetics. No mass-market formula can replicate it. 4 acid toner alternatives ranked against the $56 original. Honest verdict: there is no P50 dupe. What exists is effective daily acid exfoliation for $10.
Read the report → - N°017 published
Medik8 Crystal Retinal
Crystal Retinal 10 is 0.1% encapsulated retinaldehyde — the most potent OTC retinoid. 3 retinal serums ranked against the $109 original. Winner: Geek & Gorgeous A-Game discloses the same 0.1% for $20.
Read the report → - N°018 published
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid
2% salicylic acid is the OTC maximum and a commodity active. 3 formulas ranked against the $36.50 cult exfoliant — The Ordinary discloses the same 2% for $6.70.
Read the report → - N°019 published
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Peel
A five-acid pad at ~$3 a use. No exact dupe of the blend, but The Ordinary Glycolic 7% does the daily-resurfacing job for $13.50 vs the $94 original.
Read the report → - N°020 published
Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster
It's 10% azelaic acid — a disclosed, commodity active. The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% discloses the exact same number for $12.20 vs the $27.30 original. Identical active; you pay the premium for a richer, more soothing base.
Read the report → - N°021 published
Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster
It's 10% niacinamide — a disclosed, commodity active. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% discloses the exact same number for $6 (bigger bottle) vs the $34.30 original — about an eighth the price per gram. The premium buys a real brightening/antioxidant supporting cast, not a stronger dose.
Read the report → - N°022 published
COSRX The Alpha-Arbutin 2% Discoloration Serum
It's 2% alpha arbutin — a disclosed, commodity brightening active. The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA discloses the exact same number for $11.50 vs the $25 original. Identical hero active at the lowest sticker; COSRX's premium buys a bigger bottle and a fuller brightening stack (niacinamide, tranexamic acid, glutathione), not a stronger dose.
Read the report → - N°023 published
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel
Adapalene 0.1% is an FDA-fixed drug concentration — every brand's tube is the same drug. Differin costs the least per gram once you account for tube size; the cheapest sticker (Acne Free) isn't the cheapest per gram.
Read the report → - N°024 published
Biossance 100% Sugarcane Squalane
A 100% squalane oil is one molecule. Good Molecules sells the identical thing, same 30 mL size, for about a quarter of Biossance's price per mL.
Read the report → - N°025 published
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk SPF 60
The same stabilized 3% avobenzone chemistry as Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch, for about a third of the price per mL. The premium buys the "melt-in milk" texture, not different UVA protection.
Read the report → - N°026 published
Pixi Glow Tonic 5% Glycolic Acid
The Ordinary discloses a HIGHER 7% glycolic acid for under half the price — not a gentler match. Honest verdict: stay with Pixi's buffered 5% if you're new to glycolic acid.
Read the report → - N°027 published
TiZO2 Facial Mineral Sunscreen SPF 40
Blue Lizard discloses the identical 8% titanium dioxide plus MORE zinc oxide, for less than a third of the price. TiZO2's premium buys its primer-like matte finish, arguably not stronger protection.
Read the report → - N°028 published
NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum
NIOD's 4-peptide network is undisclosed in concentration. The Ordinary discloses 1% for the shared molecule (Copper Tripeptide-1 / GHK-Cu) in its own different peptide stack, for about a quarter of the price.
Read the report → - N°029 published
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
The Ordinary discloses 2% of a broader three-form hyaluronic acid complex, fragrance- and dye-free, for under half the price — but it's a serum, not a stand-alone moisturizer. Check the format before you swap.
Read the report → - N°030 published
Herbivore Bakuchiol Dual-Retinol Alternative Serum
Honest verdict: NEOGEN is the rare bakuchiol serum that discloses a number — 100ppm (0.01%), one to two orders of magnitude below studied retinol-alternative doses. Transparent and cheap; not confirmed equivalent.
Read the report → - N°031 published
EltaMD UV Clear Tinted SPF 46
Blue Lizard discloses a HIGHER 10% zinc oxide than EltaMD's own 9% — not a diluted copy — for well under a third of the price. The tint and niacinamide are what the premium buys.
Read the report → - N°032 published
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment
Paula's Choice discloses 1% retinol; CeraVe confirms retinol at a comparable INCI position but never discloses a number. Honest verdict: real active, unverified strength.
Read the report → - N°033 published
Paula's Choice 7% Ectoin + Hyaluronic Acid Serum
The highest disclosed ectoin dose in the catalog. The INKEY List (2%) and Abib (1%) both disclose real ectoin — at meaningfully lower concentrations. Honest verdict: no strength match, just cheaper alternatives.
Read the report → - N°034 published
CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser
PanOxyl discloses a HIGHER 10% benzoyl peroxide than CeraVe's 4% — in the same foaming-wash format, for less. CeraVe's ceramide + niacinamide base is the real reason to pay more.
Read the report → - N°035 published
Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment
No product here discloses a centella percentage. SKIN1004's 3-ingredient Ampoule shares the identical extract token at position 1 of 3 — versus Dr. Jart+'s own 35th of 36. Honest verdict: read the ingredient positions, not an invented number.
Read the report → - N°036 published
MIZON Snail Repair Intensive Essence
COSRX lists snail secretion filtrate as ingredient #1; MIZON lists it 3rd of 26. Neither brand discloses a lab-verified percentage, but COSRX's placement is not a diluted copy — for well under MIZON's price.
Read the report →