White-Labeling and Contract Manufacturing in Skincare

Whenever available, I buy the drugstore dupes of name brands with the same efficiency to save a few bucks. The formulas are exactly the same, yet you pay far less. Today, let's discuss how Walmart and chain drugstores can afford to sell us these amazing bargains. Along the way, you’ll also learn some industry jargon.

YouTube’s Doctorly channel (hosted by dermatologists Dr. Madiha Shah and Dr. Tom Maxfield) reveals that celebrity, drugstore, and doctor-branded lines often get their products through white-labeling and contract manufacturing. They don’t create unique formulas from scratch; instead, they buy pre-made stock formulas from private 3rd party, contract laboratories and slap their own labels on them. Some of these sellers may make minor tweaks known as ingredient dusting to market the skincare (or makeup) as rare or innovative products.

The 3rd-party beauty labs are independent contract manufacturers and cosmetic chemists who formulate the base recipes. A solo lab might make a core retinol serum or moisturizer or skin treatment or body wash and sell the same stock formula to a ton of brands across various price points.

Celebrities or influencers rarely formulate anything. Beauty companies and marketers work with a famous name or physician to select a pre-existing stock formulation from a lab catalog, pick out custom packaging, and plan a marketing story around it.

Another YouTube dermatologist, Dr. Usama Syed, also explains how white labeling works: Labs own established recipes and sell them to many competing companies. A $10 drugstore serum or moisturizer and a $100 luxury/celebrity one often come from the very same lab.

According to Dr, Syed, ingredient dusting (minor adjustments or adding a tiny pinch of a trending ingredient) lets brands claim a custom formula while using a default stock product. Frequently, contract labs let sellers decide how much active ingredient goes into a stock formula based on whether they want a marketing level trace or an actual clinical concentration level in their skin care.

So now you know that a $10 Walmart or drugstore skincare knockoff and a $100 luxury/celebrity one are usually exactly the same, and you have insight into what you’re paying for ... is it the ingredients (about $10) or is it (a feeling) the packaging and name?

I highly reccomend all the fantastic Walmart dupes featured on today's blog. Walmart’s version for Noxema Original Cleansing Cream is the only dupe, I’ve tried that fails short of the Noxema brand. The eucaluptus oil cream performs exactly the same, yet smells funky. If you can get over the smell, buy it at half price. Sometimes I return to the name brand for the pleasant smell.🙂

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Consider Avia Sneakers

Comfortable supportive sneakers are expensive, often over $100, so you might dismiss Avia’s Athletic Mega Performance Sneakers for women as low quality and their $27.98 price tag too good to be true for a supportive sneaker. Avia Men’s Commend Running Shoe at $28.98 is the companion style for men, and another style for women that looks identical to the Athletic Mega Performance sneaker is the Avia Women’s Comfort Performance Sneaker, also selling for $27.98

Customers say Avia sneakers far exeede their expectations! Designed for all day comfort, the sneaker has a polyester upper, ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA) midsole; and thermoplastic Rubber (TPR) outsole. Its platform is 2.35”. The upper knit is breathable, and it has a memory foam insole for arch support.

Based on a ton of 5-star customer reviews comparing them to Hoka (which sell for $175), I ordered 2 pairs for my mom (in grey and black for $53). Pediatricians recommend we buy new sneakers every 6 months to maintain their support properties — all that pounding on pavement tends to wear them out quickly — and for under $30 a pair, certainly we can afford to do so!

Avia sneakers are Walmart’s viral budget-friendly Hoka dupes. They are stylish and come in 10 colors.

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London Fog's Dupe For Christian Dior's Tote Bag

Three years ago Dior launched its wildly popular tote bag (called a book bag in the UK). Fashionistas bought them. But if you don't want to shell out $3,350 for it, have I got a smart dupe for you. It's London Fog's Beach Canvas Tote, and it sells at Walmart for $15, reduced to an unbelievable $10.50. The price points of both fashionable canvas bags are insane ... but only one is fabulous!

London Fog makes a durable, functional bag with the same vibe. The writing is only on one side, so you can show it or not. London Fog makes first-rate raincoats and umbrellas so I'd trust the quality of its totes also. Stylin' for a lot less.

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Supergoop Dupe: Trader Joe's Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40

Supergoop, featured here on THE SAVVY SHOPPER is the legendary sunscreen known for its ultra-effective sun-shielding ingredients and hailed for its oil-free non-greasy, invisible application. Although it isn't chemical-free, dermatologists universally love and recommend it. Selling for $36 for a 1.7-ounce tube -- cheap it isn't, which matters when you should use sun protection generously every day of the year.

Universally dermatologists are also loving and praising Trader Joe's Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 as an excellent dupe costing much less at $9 for 1.7 ounces. Both sunscreens pass the invisibility test. Both are SPF 40. Both are water-resistant for up to 40 minutes. There is a slight texture difference -- Supergoop is more matt, yet perhaps not significantly so to pay the difference. Trader Joe's dupe is creamier, a tad heavier which some people in side-by-side face comparisons like -- therefore it boils down to personal preferences and what you want to pay.

A few YouTube dermatologists describe Trader Joe's dupe as shockingly similar and the best dupe to the original product they've ever tried. The consensus is to run to Trader Joe's before it sells out.

A legitimate question to ask is why do skin doctors approve of the chemical ingredient sunscreens? Because chemical sunscreens tend to be lighter, silkier, and disappear into the skin better than mineral-based sunscreens. They reason the best sunscreen is the one people will use daily because they like its lightness. 

Conclusion: Save, don't splurge. Buy Trader Joe's dupe for this everyday sunscreen essential.

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Dior Rose Des Vents Double Sided Coat

Dior's Rose Des Vents Double-Sided Coat is super cute. Hooded and belted, it's 99% wool and 1% silk. Although I'm reluctant to pay $4,500 for the Dior designer name, I love Dior's style and this coat. Luckily I have 2 fashionable alpaca wool coats also made in Italy I bought years ago for a whole lot less and don't need another coat. But a gal can always get into fashion!

If you pine for the Dior wrap coat look, fortunately, there are a few budget-friendly options from other well-known brands that seem to be copying the Dior coat, or perhaps Dior copied them? So you don't have to pay the piper to get the vibe.

Sam Edelman (left) and Karl Lagerfeld Paris (right)

Know that the rose des vents pattern is unique and a signature of Dior. The inspired belted coats lack the pattern and hood and aren't reversible. They are also a wool blend, but still super stylish and a fair tradeoff for a much lower price tag. As Mick Jagger famously sang, "You can't always get what you want." But if you apply yourself, you can sometimes come close enough!😛

Ted Baker

How do you feel about belted coats? I lean towards a cleaner look. I prefer buttons and snaps to a knotted belt closure. When people must fiddle with a belt, often they leave it untied. It's better to tie it in the back for neatness instead of letting it hang loose to possibly get lost.

Dior is always a fun browse for inspiration and quality!

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Vivienne Westwood Three Row Pearl Bas Relief Choker

The Vivienne Westword Three Row Pearl Bas Relief Choker which first appeared in 1990 has made a HUGE comeback. Inspired by royalty and selling for $610 on the designer's website, it's what every fashionista wanted for Christmas this year ... unless she already had one!

For sure, it's a beautiful piece of costume jewelry with silver-tone or gold-tone plating over brass with 3 rows of hand-knotted Swarovski synthetic pearls that come together at a beaded clasp in the back.

As longtime readers know well, I don't think costume jewelry is where you want to spend $610, but if you apply yourself, you'll find the coveted necklace for much less by searching the internet. Due to buyer regret, I see the real thing listed for $66, $129, and $143 on various resale websites ... and a quality Esty dupe for $45 here. I'm not linking the pre-loved offerings since by the time you read this blog the necklaces will likely be gone. Just do a Google search to see what's currently available

This is a lovely chocker selling for too much money. You can get fine jewelry with real 14k gold and freshwater pearls for the price of this costume piece. But a 2nd-hand, dupe, or inspired chocker is easy to find for much less! IMHO $45 + tax isn't cheap either for costume jewelry -- but it is less money. Yep, sometimes designer costume jewelry makes no logical sense, and many of us have been there fancying a look.

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Dupes for Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder

Everybody loves Charolette Tilbury makeup: her powder, blush, lipstick, lip pencils. Everything ... the whole luxury line is fabulous! 

Charlotte Tibury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder is a compressed powder that applies like super fine loose powder to achieve a look of perfection.

But some of us won't buy it. Mauh, for one, because we don't want to go broke. At $45 the face powder is not cheap. 

Never fear, dupes are here! If you desire to save your moola for big-ticket items that last longer, here are two winning dupes for Charlotte Tilbury's luxe finishing powder:

No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Translucent Finishing Powder - A lot less expensive, plus you get more power for the money. You are guaranteed to love it as much as the CT powder. If you're not rich and won't compromise, this powder is made for you!

Flower Light Illusion Perfecting Power - Drew Berrymore has an excellent line of makeup - Everything: foundation, powder, blush, lipstick, pencils, highlighters. Luxe formulas for less.

There's nothing wrong with a splurge once in a while. Yet, finding top-notch budget-friendly dupes lets you keep some of your money in your wallet to splurge when the time and merchandise is right!

When temptation calls your name, Savvy Shoppers, what hot button item/Catagory makes you open your wallet to splurge?

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Dupes For Charlotte Tilbury In Pillow Talk

Dupes For Charlotte Tilbury In Pillow Talk

Unlike reds or bight pinks, nude lipstick is so wearable for daytime because it's also low maintenance. I can't bring myself to spend $34 for one designer lipstick, the price of one of my favorite brands, Charlotte Tilbury. Pillow Talk, a brownish (hint of peach, hint of pink) nude is a huge seller as you can wear it every day. A matte formula, it feels creamy on your lips and has staying power.

'Tis time to find its dupes. Costing $5.82 - $9 depending on the retailer, the following have a matt finish, the creaminess and staying power of Charlotte Tilbury in Pillow Talk the original:

1) Flower Beauty Pouty Lipstick: Spiced Petal - the #1 doppelgänger

2) Flower Beauty Pouty Lipstick: Naked Blush

3) L'Orèal Color Riche Matte: #633 Moka Chic

Even the 3rd choice, L'Orèal's Moka Chic, if not an exact match, is a near-perfect match and beautiful shade for less! So alike on your lips, you won't notice the difference.

Perhaps 6 times more for the luxe brand is never worth the price. Think of all the money saved in a year's time by buying a dupe.

You're welcome!


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