We read the label so you don't overpay for it.
One question drives every page on Snoblist: “Is the cheap one close enough?” Sometimes it is. Sometimes it's a lookalike bottle with a different formula inside. This page explains how we decide which is which.
The short version
- We compare current published ingredient lists, not bottle shapes or marketing names.
- We compare price per ounce and date every price.
- Every verdict is a decision, not a percentage match score.
- We say what a verdict is based on, and what it can't tell you.
How a pair gets compared
Choose the pair
We start with what people search for as a “dupe.” If two products don't share a purpose and a core formula strategy, we say so instead of forcing the comparison, however viral the pairing is.
Read both labels
We compare the current published ingredient lists (INCI): which named ingredients the products share, where they sit on the list, and what only one of them contains. Shared names don't prove equal amounts or equal results, and we don't pretend they do.
Do the price math
We record listed U.S. prices and sizes, convert to price per ounce, and date every check. The cheapest bottle is not always the closest substitute.
Pick a side
Every comparison ends in one of three grades and a direct answer. We state what the verdict is based on, including when it rests on ingredient lists rather than a hands-on wear test.
What our verdicts mean
Three grades. No “it depends.”
We'd buy the dupe over the original with our own money. Any difference is one you'd have to go looking for.
Gets you most of the way at a fraction of the price, with a tradeoff we name specifically. Your call.
Not a real dupe. Save up for the original, or try the alternative we name.
Why we don't do match scores
A “92% match” counts ingredient names. It can't tell you that the 8% difference is the ferment or the peptide, or that shared thickeners and solvents say little about performance. Percentages look objective and hide the judgment. We'd rather show ours.
What we won't do: accept payment for a verdict or placement, or let a commission rate decide which product we recommend.
What we will do: tell you when a verdict is a close call, say what it's based on, and update it publicly when a formula or price changes.
How we make money
When you buy through a retailer link on Snoblist, we may earn a commission. That's the business model.
We link to every product in a comparison, including the original and any product we tell you to skip. A commission never decides a verdict.
Updates & corrections
Every article shows when it was last updated and when its prices were checked. Formulas and listings change; when they do, we re-check and say so.