Your Wallet Will Thank You For Buying These 27 Budget-Friendly Swaps For More Expensive Products
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You will NOT catch me wearing $500 sunglasses when there are perfectly good $19 alternatives.
Posted on Oct 25, 2026 UTC
by Karly Jacklin BuzzFeed BuzzFeed Staff
I'm a resident writer, cat mom, and obsessive online shopper who is passionate about quirky pet products, home decor, size-inclusive fashion, and, above all, perfumes.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
iJoy is a small business that specializes in headphones and tech accessories.
Promising review: "They’re comfortable, hold a charge really well, and actually work really well in terms of noise cancellation. My daughter can be sitting next to me talking and I can barely even hear her. I almost prefer these in terms of sound quality to my Gen 1 AirPods as well. Easy to charge, easy to pair, very lightweight, and fit is adjustable. I’m very impressed with these headphones!" —Samantha H.
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in five colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "So comfortable and so, so cute! From a pajama lover — I think these might just be my new favorites. I’ve tried all brands (designer and otherwise) and these top my list without a doubt. The ruffles are such a cute touch! Highly recommend!" —Melissa
Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in women's sizes S–XXL and 16 colors).
Amazon, Karly Jacklin / BuzzFeed
Hi, that's me on the right — your resident desert-dwelling party girl (aka I'm sweating...basically 24/7). And that's my makeup when I got home from a night out. You can tell I'm being real with you because, as you can see, my lashes and lipstick are clinging on for dear life.
HOWEVER, you wouldn't be able to tell that my base makeup or eyeshadow had been worn for about ~10 hours at this point because my skin looks...dare I say...perfect? As I mentioned, I sweat a lot, which usually leads to under-eye creasing and my faux freckles disappearing...but not with this spray. I've used the Milk Makeup setting spray and Urban Decay's All-Nighter, which are both considered high-end...and I'm still reaching for this drugstore find every time.
Promising review: "Definitely had the glowy appearance while feeling weightless! Since it was a girls' night, I came home and went right to bed without removing my makeup. The blush, highlighter, some eye makeup, and brow filler stayed the whole time! Still have the dewy look! This stuff works SO well — will definitely be buying this instead of the Urban Decay Extra Glow, which is triple the price. You won’t be disappointed! Plus, it fits in my purse!" —Sadie
Get it from Amazon for $11.
Promising review: "Like so many, I found this scent on TikTok. I was a bit skeptical at first but finally got around to trying it. First off, this scent smells amazing! Almost every time I've worn it, I receive compliments. It has a sweet smell, almost like warm cake or sugar cookies with a hint of lemon. With such an affordable price, I would definitely recommend this to anyone curious about trying it." —Chrissy
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
Promising review: "I wanted this clock for the sunrise lighting effect and didn’t want to pay for the really expensive clocks. I think it’s aesthetically pleasing and has tons of options. It really does help you wake up softer with the sunrise light. It’s easy to use and a good value for your money!" —Brianna Hughes
Get it from Amazon for$29.97 (available in two styles).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising reviews: "Clearly time I got a new eyeshadow palette. Sargent Freddie Mercury (my not-even 4-pound bunny) made it his mission to destroy my James Charles overpriced palette. This palette is the same quality, maybe even nicer. This eyeshadow was put on at around 3 p.m., and it's almost 1 a.m., the 'highlight' stayed on my nose even with my mask on through a whole day of work. That blew my mind." —Daniel T Adams
Get it from Amazon for $9.89.
Promising review: "This is by far my favorite lip gloss on Amazon. The lip gloss keeps your lips moisturized and plump throughout the day. Highly recommend if you haven’t tried already!" —Brianna Clark
Get it from Amazon for $4.99+ (available in five shades, including two-packs).
Karly Jacklin / BuzzFeed, Amazon
That's my Skims scoop bra on the right — and it's the exact same cut as the cheaper version.
Promising review: "I have the Skims version and this is a phenomenal [swap]! I actually grab this one more often!" —Kaila Garay
Get it from Amazon for $26.99 (available in sizes 32A–42E and in 13 colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "What can I say, I saw a TikTok about this lipstick, and for $10 had to try it! The reviews are right, for some reason, this lipstick is better than even $20 name-brand ones bought from Ulta. Not only does it smell great, but dries in under a minute and survived eating a cupcake, a Starbucks drink, and an entire evening out, no smudging, and had to be removed with a makeup wipe. Fantastic product!!" —Claire
Get a six-piece set from Amazon for $7.19 (available in six sets).
Emma Lord / BuzzFeed, Amazon
BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord says, "I love love love this lip balm. I compare it to the $24 version from Summer Fridays, which I've been splurging on — I love that brand because it lasts so long and is so high quality, but this $4 E.l.f. version feels comparable and, more excitingly, comes in smaller versions so I can stock my totes and bathroom with them whether I'm at home or on the go. It's hydrating, lightweight, doesn't get sticky, and adds a perfect ~subtle~ gloss whether I'm using it alone or on top of lip color. I love the vanilla flavor so much, it's got a similar vibe to the birthday cake flavor that Glossier sometimes carries."
Promising review: "I have one in my car, one in my purse, and one at home. These just feel so good on your lips! The flavors are very true to their name. They are pretty small though, so if you use it often it won’t last long (which is another reason I have three of them), but for $4 each it is worth it. I sometimes like using this before putting on theE.l.f. Lip Reviver Oil. Such a great base to an awesome lip oil!" —Jax
Get it from Amazon for$5 (available in six shades).
Karly Jacklin / BuzzFeed
If what you love most about the Bum Bum Cream is its fragrance, this is worth the swap. The formula is thinner and "wetter" (which, TBH, is a plus for me — that's how I like my skincare products), but the scent is dang near identical. It should be illegal to smell this good!
Get it on Amazon for $9.19 (also available in seven other scents).
Promising review: "I wear this lip gloss literally every day. For the price and the quality, I will continue buying this and gifting it to girl friends. The shine lasts several hours, and I don’t get the gross white line on my lips like some other glosses leave. Big fan of this product!" —Amy
Get it from Amazon for $8.98 (also available in three other shades).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Reviewers with all hair types, including 2b–4c textures, have *loved* this product.
Promising review: "Like many others, I tried this as a replacement for Olaplex. Honestly, Olaplex never had a great effect on my hair and certainly wasn’t worth the price. This did an unreal job on my hair!! I was skeptical (tried a little bit first because I was petrified it would burn off my hair and I would end up bald!) but lo and behold, it was magic! My hair is so strong, silky, and healthy looking after just one use. Plus, you can’t beat the price! Have already ordered another box. I should also add I have curly/wavy hair that’s been colored to a light brown. Buy it!!" —BB
Check out BuzzFeed's Elizavecca hair treatment review for more deets!
Get a bottle from Amazon for $7.60.
It's color-adapting, so one of five shades will work well for any skin tone! To use, apply this in thin layers to avoid creasing, then follow with your favorite concealer and setting powder if you like. If you don't like applying products with your fingers, they also make a triangle-shaped puff that's perfect for using with this.
Promising review: "Took years off my eyes! This product is so reasonably priced. I came across a TikTok promoting this and decided to take a chance since the price was super reasonable. My eyes looked brighter in a good way, and the concealer worked so well that I felt I looked younger. I got compliments from friends asking what I did differently with my makeup. I recommend it." —Placeholder
Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in five shades).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "This is a great enameled cast-iron pot — the green I ordered is a bit darker than the photo portrayed, but it is a heavy-duty Dutch oven, every bit as great as my daughter’s Le Creuset." —LisaShoe
Get it from Amazon for $44.99+ (available in three sizes and nine colors).
Karly Jacklin / BuzzFeed, www.amazon.com
This skin tint is so good that I had to make it official 💍🥹 — I took the next step and bought two shades so it could be my *year-round* foundation. My complexion is similar to the ghost of a Victorian child, and neither shade I use (Whipped Butta/Vanilla Bean Butta) oxidizes to make me look orange.
Also, humble brag, but my friends always ask about my skincare routine when I wear this. It's super glowy and makes your skin look and feel hydrated (it has niacinamide and shea butter along with the aforementioned mango butter). It also doesn't pill for me when layered with other products.
Promising review: "This is one of my favorites now. I typically use expensive foundation brands, but this is a much cheaper alternative that works surprisingly well. I am in my late 50s, so foundation is tricky. This one, however, is not too light and not too heavy, still very natural looking but with just the right amount of coverage. It never looks fake or cakey. The sunscreen is a huge plus because that is one less step in my routine!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $8.49+ (available in 10 shades).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I had these leggings in my cart, and I contemplated as I typically buy Lululemon leggings, BUT your girl is on a BUDGET right now, so I decided to buy these. The day came, I received them, and Y'ALL, my butt... scrumptious. These leggings are very breathable, they are not see-through at all, and they hug my hips and make my lower body look amazing." —Andrea
Get them from Amazon for $29.99 (available in women's sizes XS–XXL, four inseams, a fleece-lined style, and 36 colors).
Personally, I'd consider the trending $515 Miu Regard glasses to be a liiiiiittle out of my price range. But if Bella Hadid is wearing them, I am, too — so thank goodness for this stylish swap.
Oh, and FYI: Reviewers are saying that these work very well for small heads and faces. If you struggle to find sunglasses narrow enough to stay put, these are for you!
Promising review: "I originally purchased because they looked so designer-inspired. When I received them, I was so pleasantly surprised at how good they are! Great quality, fit nicely, and have a great weight to them! I love that you get two pairs for such an affordable price. Perfect for spring break, vacation, and everyday [wear]. Makes a great gift as well." —D'Arcy Vandenberg
Get a pack of three pairs from Amazon for $18.99 (also available in packs of one or two).
Promising review: "Sojos have been my number one choice of sunnies for years now. Even if Ray-Bans were this price, I’d still choose Sojos. They are high-end quality without the price tag, lightweight yet durable, truly polarized, fashionable, comfortable, the list goes on! They are the best of the best, don’t hesitate, just buy them!" —maggiee.shea
Get it from Amazon for$15.99 (available in 20 styles).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Joy Jolt is a small business that specializes in modern and pop culture-themed drinkware and kitchen accessories.
Promising review: "Crate & Barrel look for less. These look and feel very high-end — almost like a thin crystal." —Lauren
Get a set of two from Amazon for $16.23 (available in two styles).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "It helps me and my husband to be able to enjoy our shows while the other is sleeping or just being loud. They are very comfortable and adjustable to fit each head. The volume is clear and adjustable to any preferred level. And they do connect to Bluetooth! I love it!" —Giselle
Get them from Amazon for $59.99.
Oh, and FYI: Bluetooth headphone use is a feature of the Amazon Fire TV Stick, and you can useany headphones you already own and love with it. If you have a Fire TV Stick or have been wanting one, this feature is definitely worth checking out.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "It’s much more spacious than it looks. It’s very sleek and stylish. I use it as my work bag, and I find that it looks professional and has enough space for all of my stuff. I carry a laptop, pencil case, two books, makeup bag, water bottle, wallet, lotion, phone, and laptop charger, and other small miscellaneous objects. Still plenty of space. And when you carry it, it doesn’t feel bulky or cumbersome. The bag does sag a bit after use. But has held up to wear and tear. I would recommend." —Su
Get it from Amazon for $34.86+ (available in six styles).
www.amazon.com, Jenae Sitzes / BuzzFeed
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Jenae Sitzes says, "I finally decided to hop on board the hype train for these big tumblers and am obsessed with my Simple Modern one! The fact that this has both a straw and a handle means I end up carrying it around with me and drinking WAY more water than I did before."
Promising review: "Please do not run out to Targé and waste your money on a Stanley IF you’re only using a cup for ice/cold drinks. This cup is just as good and far more affordable. I put ice in my cup over 24 hours ago during my shift at the hospital, and there is still ice in the cup! This product is BEYOND worth it at this price point. You won’t be disappointed. If the cup isn’t in your cart at this point, I don’t know what’s wrong with you: GET IT! 😂" —Marie
Get a 40-ounce tumbler from Amazon for $24.99 (available in dozens of colors and two sizes). Also available in a style without the handle!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I feel so stupid...I'm 65 years old and have always been annoyed by the fact that by mid-afternoon, my upper lids would be oily, shiny, and sporting a stripe from my eyeliner. I didn't think there was a cure. Then stumbled upon the idea of using a primer/foundation designed for the eyelids. What? How BRILLIANT!! Who would have thought? I dipped my toe into the water and purchased one tube of the Thank Me Later Eyeshadow Primer. I don't use eye shadow on my lids, but I do use it as a liner on my lower lashes. (I add water to compressed eye shadow and put it on my skin with a sponge-end pencil thing). This stuff ROCKS!! At the end of a hot Texas day, my lids are still as fresh and dry as they were at 6 a.m. And it only takes a pinhead-sized drop to cover one entire lid from lashes to eyebrow, with enough left to cover the lower lid area as well. It's creamy but dries very quickly. Awesome! The only thing that keeps this product from being 100% perfect is that it has a chemical smell when you first put it on...BUT...after a few minutes, the smell is gone, and my eye makeup looks impeccable for 12+ hours. Obviously, I highly recommend this product. They've found a lifetime customer with me." —TX Shortie
Get it from Amazon for $14.79.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising reviews: "I absolutely love this product. The dark color is perfectly sheer. It also adds the most beautiful color to your lips. I am a Clinique Black Honey lip fan, and this gives me the same look for a fraction of the cost. I love it and have several that I keep in various spots. Not sticky either, which is my biggest gripe about lip glosses. My hair doesn’t get stuck in this like some glosses, but I get the shine." —Hamps5
"I searched high and low for this color after I saw it on, guess what ... TikTok! And the creator was right, it’s great for everyone. It’s not too dark or too light. Keeps my lips hydrated with a bit of color and shine. Love it." —Erin C.
Get it from Amazon for $8 (also available in five other shades).
Karly Jacklin, www.amazon.com
The image on the left is baby me in college, doing a quick makeup check before heading to The Opéra Bastille — I'm only wearing "Bliss You Berry" on my lips and cheeks. It was the only makeup product I packed for my study abroad trip in order to save room in my bag...and boy, I really got some mileage out of it.
Promising reviews: "I love this color. I'm a huge fan of the Clinique black honey, but I think Bliss Berry is even better. It's more of a purple-y, cool-toned berry color, which complements my complexion better. Recommend highly!" —CSC
"Bliss You Berry is an absolutely perfect imitation of Black Honey! Unbelievable color, duration, and quality for this very low price. Beautiful!" —Reader8
Get it on Amazon for $5.88 (available in seven other shades).
Amazon
Promising review: "These are so cute and look like an Anthropologie [version] for a fraction of the price!" —corriescott
Get the set of two from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in five colors and a set with lids).
BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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TT571203 26/10/2026
Quite useful and you can order via apps and deliver to your place. Very convenient.
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