3 Ways To Actually Spot A Dupe Product, From A Cosmetic Chemist 

Every beauty professional has their non-negotiable steps. In our series, Like A Pro, we tap experts for the top three techniques they absolutely swear by. Here, you'll hear from a variety of industry insiders on the fail-safe tricks they always keep in their back pockets. We're all about simplifying your beauty regimen wherever you can, and sometimes the best routines are as easy as 1, 2, 3.

If you aren't familiar with the term dupe, here's a basic explanation: A dupe refers to a more affordable version of an alternative pricier or less accessible product. For example, let's say you found a drugstore nail polish that mimics the same sunset pink hue as another, more expensive shade—you could say you found a dupe. 

When it comes to finding a dupe of a chemical exfoliant product, the first step is to make sure you're using the same concentration. If your ride-or-die but pricey salicylic acid serum has 2% SA, you'll want your dupe product to have the same. This is often clearly stated on the front of the product, but it will definitely be on the ingredient label as well. 

If you put two ingredient lists side-by-side and realize one of the last ingredients listed is different, that doesn't necessarily mean it won't be a valid dupe. "The first four ingredients in the order matter more," Ford explains. After that, the ingredients are likely in such small amounts that you won't notice too much of a difference. 

Furthermore, the order of those first four will significantly influence the texture of the product—a common factor that makes a dupe, well, a dupe. For example, a moisturizer with water, glycerin, and almond oil in that order would likely feel a bit different if the order was swapped around. 

One concern many people have when swapping out a pricey product for something more affordable is the risk of breakouts. The only real way to figure out whether or not this will happen is to patch test, Ford says. 

Some people may look to the classic comedogenic scale for this step, but Ford explains that it's "not a good assessment of human skin," as it doesn't take into account important factors, such as the percentage of a certain ingredient in the formula. 

Plus, everyone's skin is different, so what may cause one person to break out may be a holy grail item for someone else. For this reason, this scale is deemed by countless skin care experts, Ford included, an iffy way to double-check your products.