I’m a dupe hunter and save £500 a year without scrimping on style, scent or beauty – Aldi and Primark are my top shops
MEET the dupe fanatic who saved £500 last year filling her home with all the trending bargains from Aldi, Home Bargains and Primark.
Rachel Davey, 29, has always loved finding a good deal but started hunting out more dupes for her favourite perfumes and make-up after finding herself unemployed two years ago.
She scours TikTok most days looking for the newest deals - such as a fake Olaplex from Headshock for £5 and a £4.99 Home Bargains Sol De Janeiro dupe. The original body butter costs £21.
Rachel gets her clothes from Primark and is currently eyeing up a gym set which looks similar to a Lululemon one.
Rachel, from Nottingham, said: "Over the last year I have saved a lot of money.
"It's like a hobby.
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"I go out comparing the actual thing."
Rachel has been dupe hunting for as long as she can remember but it became more of a necessity when she stepped away from her job at the end of 2022.
Now Rachel hunts out designer dupes for her own collection as well as for presents for friends and family.
For her skincare, Rachel uses the Primark Prep and Perfect primer which costs £4.50 - instead of the £52 price tag for the Bobbi Brown moisturiser version.
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She said: "I've tried the originals and I prefer the Primark one."
Rachel started getting her perfume from The Essence Vault after realising she couldn't afford her favourite scent Alien from Mugler - costing £67 for 30ml.
She now gets a similar scent - The Essence Vault 61 "inspired by Alien" - for £15 for 30ml.
Rachel says they also do a Chanel No.5 dupe for the same price - which she has previously snapped up as a gift for someone. The original perfume retails at £75.
She said: "It smells exactly the same and lasts all day.
"It just needs two squirts."
She also loves the Lidl perfume Suddenly Madame Glamour - costing £4 - which she says is a dupe for £98 Chanel Coco Mademoiselle.
Rachel said: "People will pay a lot for the label."
For her make-up, Rachel uses a £3.50 Primark double act mascara - which is a dupe for Mascara Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High - worth £12.99.
She also uses a £6 Estee Lauder foundation dupe from Primark - with the original costing £39.50.
Rachel said: "I go to Primark a lot.
"I have been looking TikTok - it shows you all the dupes."
For her hair, she uses Lidl Cien Luxurious Lengths shampoo and conditioner - which costs less than £2 - and, she says, is similar to Loreal's Elvive range which can cost £7 per bottle.
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Rachel also fills her wardrobe with bargains and second hand clothes. She bought £8 boots from Primark - as a dupe for £165 Uggs.
She said: "With the cost of living it makes sense to get the dupe."
Rachel's bargain dupes
Olaplex dupe - Headshock for £5 - £23 saving
Home Bargains Sol De Janeiro dupe - £4.99 - £16 saving
Primark Prep and Perfect primer - £4.50 - £47.50 saving on Bobbi Brown version
The Essence Vault Alien inspired perfume - £15 - saving of £52
The Essence Vault Chanel No.5 inspired perfume - £15 - saving of £60
Lidl perfume Suddenly Madame Glamour - £4 - saving of £94 compared to Chanel Coco Mademoiselle version
Primark mascara - £3.50 - dupe of Mascara Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High - saving £9.49
Primark Estee Lauder foundation dupe - £6 - £33.50
Lidl Cien Luxurious Lengths shampoo and conditioner £4 for two bottles - £10 saving on similar Loreal Elvive range
Primark Ugg lookalike boots - £8 - saving of £157
Total savings - £502.49