La Prairie Foundation Dupes That Won't Break The Bank

While it can be hard to discern which makeup brands are worth the money, some can be so cost-prohibitive that the average makeup lover might never have the chance to test them out. When we think of makeup's most expensive brands, Swiss skincare and makeup brand La Prairie is one of them. The brand screams luxurious: its collections are named after precious metals like gold and platinum, and their Skin Caviar Complexion Concealer Foundation is infused with Swiss caviar extract, said to be a potent anti-aging and moisturizing product. While the foundation also has an SPF of 15, it also costs $275.

Like us, you might be intrigued by this foundation, but simply cannot afford to drop hundreds of dollars on caviar that is not even edible! All jokes aside, the foundation is highly acclaimed with a "naturally dewy finish," according to Byrdie beauty expert Jenna Igneri. And for those who are curious, the foundation smells like powder, not the sea. 

Should you be looking for a foundation that has all of the beautiful qualities of this one, but without the high price tag, we used the SkinSkool search engine — a tool that allows users to compare duplicates of products based on their ingredients and ingredient lists — to discover several comparable products to La Prairie's foundation. 

The next dupe, with a match of 41 points, is none other than the La Mer soft fluid long wear foundation. La Mer, like La Prairie, is another skincare and makeup brand known for its priciness, and while this foundation is still significantly less expensive than its dupe at $140, we would still consider this a splurge as far as foundation goes. Nonetheless, this La Mer foundation has several notable qualities. Sephora describes it as a "weightless, natural-looking foundation" with medium coverage. 

But what you might not know is that La Mer's formula, like La Prairie's, offers a unique feature: its original Miracle Broth. The broth — which is a special ferment of "sea kelp, vitamins and minerals, citrus oil, eucalyptus, sunflower, wheat germ, and alfalfa," per Byrdie — is the secret to La Mer's products. Should you gravitate toward interesting ingredients, this could be the perfect dupe for you.

Another foundation akin to the La Prairie foundation is the Chanel vitalumière aqua sunscreen and foundation combination product (via Byrdie). Like the original product, the Chanel foundation — which appears to be more of a skin tint –  has an SPF of 15, and features a "water-light texture," according to its product listing. It is oil-free, comes in 14 shades, and with a price tag of $50, comes in at a considerable discount. While it doesn't offer the full coverage of the La Prairie foundation, nor does it feature the same skin-loving benefits, the product does contain hyaluronic acid, which helps skin maintain moisture, as Elle reported.

Another Chanel product similar to the La Prairie Foundation is the sublimage le teint cream foundation. As the name suggests, this foundation is not liquid but a soft, buildable cream. Like the La Prairie Foundation, this Chanel cream comes with tools — a spatula and a brush. The finish is described as "glowing" and "luminous," and glycerin in the product helps to moisturize the skin. One reviewer raved: "Oh my goodness, I was glowing . . . It isn't greasy, not matte." YouTuber Stark Official included both this foundation and the La Prairie foundation in her video "10 Best Luxury Anti-Aging Foundations." For $135, this foundation is still considered a high-end product, but the included tools add extra value. 

Lady Gaga's makeup brand Haus Laboratories, launched in 2018, also carries a foundation full of beneficial ingredients, like La Prairie, but for a fraction of the cost. Its triclone skin tech medium coverage foundation is a product to sing about. It features more than 20 skincare ingredients, and a unique blend of fermented arnica — a potent skin-healing ingredient derived from the flowering arnica plant.

The product also has a host of other fermented ingredients, including fermented green tea and fermented licorice root meant to dispel inflammation, protect from environmental stress, and nourish the skin with antioxidants. The foundation also contains marine algae, which has several skin benefits, including keeping the skin hydrated and vitalized. It costs $45 and comes in a whopping 51 shades (via Sephora). 

And last but not least: the Tom Ford shade and illuminate soft radiance foundation. Per Vogue, this foundation is fantastic for those whose skin tends to be a bit drier, as it contains hyaluronic acid. It also contains several antioxidant ingredients and a powerful SPF of 50. 

One review captures the benefits of the product: "The best foundation ever. I bought this last year and only use it when I want to impress and impress I have. I get more compliments about how great my skin looks when I wear this fabulous treat. I will be 75 in a month and have always taken great care of my skin but this makeup is a game changer . . . well worth the splurge." 

For $150, the foundation is indeed a bit of a splurge. But healthy skin and a self-confident smile might always be worth the price.