34 Things Reviewers Say Are Just As Good As The More Expensive Version
A Cosrx snail mucin serum to help get rid of dark spots, improve skin vitality, and soothe damaged skin. Yep, snail mucin is a Korean skincare product made from snail slime. Sounds ick but your skin will totally fall in love the second you use it. Hmm, wonder if this is why SpongeBob had Gary the pet snail — skincare benefits.
An Elizavecca hair treatment which contains ceramides and collagen that can help give your hair shine and make it smooth in just five minutes! Keeping you flawless even if you don't have much time or don't feel like doing your hair.
A simple long-sleeve bodysuit because you *need* your basics to build 'fits. IDK about you, but ~I~ need one in every color. Spectacular, give me 14 of 'em right now.
A 40-ounce Simple Modern tumbler with a handle that'll have you all like ~Stanley, who?~. This little insulated baby has your name written all over it. Plus, it comes with two straws! Say hello to your new emotional support water bottle.
A set of three — yes, three — lip sleeping masks that'll help heal and treat dry, cracked lips by delivering much-needed moisture overnight. Three of these are still $14 cheaper than just one of the beloved Laneige sleeping masks. Now let's jump around in circles saying *yay* in celebration.
A full-zip track jacket reviewers are comparing to the viral Lululemon one. It's got thumb holes, is lightweight and stretchy, and it's just plain cute. Wear it to yoga, the gym, hiking, while running errands, whatever! You'll look like an icon wherever you go in it.
A L'Oreal repairing hair treatment that'll give you shiny, silky, healthier-looking hair in just eight seconds. Eight seconds...EIGHT SECONDS?! What kinda witchcraft... Apply it after shampoo but before conditioner and let the amino acids target the parts of your hair that are damaged without weighing it down.
A mini belt bag or a fanny pack, if you will, with an adjustable strap that's super stylish and will hold your things while you go hiking, to concerts, travel, ya know, everywhere. Also, a reviewer-beloved Lululemon belt bag swap!
A painless, mint-flavored teeth-whitening pen that could give you results after the first use since this is obvi sorcery. You'll be able to wow people with your smile with the help of this little magic pen that can remove years worth of stains on your teeth. Someone cue Chip Skylark, cuz after seeing your smile, you'll be singing 🎶 my shiny teeth and meeee 🎶.
A "flossing toothbrush" so you can impress your dentist. It's got two layers of bristles — regular firm bristles and longer ones that are 10 times thinner to reach those places your normal toothbrush doesn't.
A popular pair of wireless Bluetooth earbuds reviewers are saying are affordable AirPod alternatives, *aaaand* they have over 245,000 5-star ratings. Cord-free, waterproof, and top-notch quality for a suuuuper reasonable price.
Maybelline's Cheek Heat gel-cream blush for a stunning, natural flush that rivals Glossier's Cloud Paint at a fraction of the cost. A 👏 FRACTION 👏 OF 👏 THE 👏 COST 👏 . *Sigh* one of the best phrases to hear. I wanna add all six shades to my cart, how about you?
A cult-fave supportive seamless compressive bodysuit because the Skims one seems great and all, but that price does not. If you want the vibe but don't wanna drop the $70, grab this and just say, "Yeah, it's the name-brand one." Cue the *how would they know?* TikTok sound.
Maybelline's Total Temptation Eyebrow Definer Pencil which has Benefit's Goof Proof trembling with fear cuz this is just as good for less. The devil on your shoulder is def chanting *add to cart* right now and for once, you might just listen cuz your expensive brow pencil is eating up your pockets.
Peach Slices Acne Spot Dots because a pimple is NOT ruining our day babe! These patches absorb all the gunk and speed up the pimple-healing process without picking or popping. Plus! They're less expensive than other popular brands like Mighty Patch and still get the job done. Psh, what pimple?
An illuminating moisturizer to help enhance your skin's natural ✨glow✨. A perfect, lightweight alternative to heavy foundations — this is definitely calling your name.
A plush blanket reviewers are comparing to the super popular (and super expensive) Barefoot Dreams one. If your vibe is new year, new you and the new you has vowed to budget, this'll fit the vibes. Yay to saving money!
A simple tennis bracelet, which will have everyone thinking you spent some serious coin on a Swarovski one. It's jaw-droppingly gorgeous and the price?! Wooo! Luxury for the low is always a win.
A loungewear set with a cardigan, cropped tank, and wide-leg pants. Wine night in? Throw this on. Is it just me, or is this definitely giving Skims?
A jar of E.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer so you can kiss your pores buh-bye! This primer will help you get a super smooth canvas to put your foundation on and will have you looking like your makeup was professionally airbrushed while helping to keep it in place. Say sayonara to your oily makeup looks and say heyyyy to a matte one.
A reviewer-beloved veggie chopper for my friends who can't dice a vegetable without a potential trip to the hospital (🙋🏽♀️). If chopping those veggies seems too time-consuming, this will save you sooo much time. Spiral, slice, and dice with this super convenient, dishwasher-safe kitchen gadget.
A slightly cropped half-zip pullover you'll wanna wear, like, every single day. It looks suuuuper similar to the Lululemon one but at a way lower price, and reviewers are totally LOVIN' it.
A firming eye cream with vitamin C, vitamin E, rose hip seed oil, and hibiscus flower extract to help firm and brighten the *sensitive* skin around your eyes and neck for a day-to-day ANNNNND long-term effect. Botox? Filler? No babe, just a fiiiire eye cream that'll snatch you up.
A jewelry-cleaning pen so you can dazzle people with your jewelry, real or fake. Thanos probably used this stick to keep the infinity stones shiny.
A yoga set reviewers are praising for being an affordable swap for the Skims version, ~and~ (*whispering 🤫*) they're saying they like this set better. Grab it in a few colors so that you can justify wearing it just about every day.
Promising review: "If you're on the hunt for a Skims alternative that won't break the bank, look no further! This loungewear set is a gem. The fabric feels buttery-soft against the skin, resembling the luxurious touch of higher-end brands. The fit is incredible, akin to the Skims collections, with a high-waisted bottom that smoothes and contours, while the crop top adds a chic, modern edge. The loungewear's versatility is a standout; it transitions seamlessly from a relaxing day at home to a quick errand run with no compromise on style or comfort. Durability is another plus—it has withstood several washes with no pilling or loss of elasticity. For those seeking the Skims experience without the hefty price tag, this set is a must-have!" —Alaina YvonneGet it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in women's sizes XS–L and seven colors).
A foundation brush with some seriously firm, but still seriously soft bristles that'll help you achieve a beat so flawless, people may ask if it was professionally done. It's perfect for both powder and liquid concealers, blushes, and foundations, and if you're a blending newbie this'll make it easy peasy.
A pair of round sunglasses reviewers are actually comparing to Prada and Ray-Ban. Be prepared to obsess over these cute little sunnies — you'll never wanna take 'em off.
A bottle of Fanola purple shampoo to save you from constantly throwing $$$ to hairdressers just to keep the brass out your mane. Say goodbye to yellow brassy tones and helloooo to cool, neutral, gorg blonde hair. This is what dreams are made of, Lizzie McGuire.
A pair of drawstring lounge pants you'll find yourself throwing on, like, ALL the time. Whether you're heading to the airport, running errands, or just chillin' and vibin', you'll wanna have these on your booty.
A Renpho percussion massager because your back has been killing you, but a weekly professional massage is outta the question at the moment. I don't blame you, and this bb is here to help release knots, aches, and muscle tension just as good as the pros do it.
A pair of lightweight legging-style joggers reviewers are love love LOVING because, hellooooo! Lululemon Align jogger look but for a waaay cheaper price. If you haven't been able to bring yourself to spend the whopping $80 on the Lulu ones, snag these, and we'll keep it our little secret that they *aren't* name-brand.
First Aid Beauty's KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub Exfoliant that'll ever so gently help to eliminate rough or bumpy skin. People with keratosis pilaris are raving about this product and its smoothing powers.
A pair of high-waisted quick-dry running shorts with an underwear liner and a side pocket that are bound to become your new fave shorts to wear on your afternoon jog. They're so lightweight you'll forget you even have pants on.
You, throwing out your expensive mascara and grabbing the $5 one:
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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The broth at the version served at Fusion Kitchen in Mid-Wilshire is light, for starters. Chunks of stewed tomato and grated beets and carrot gently vary the textures. Every third or fourth spoonful catches a few strands of beef. Taste first, and then stir in a couple splotches of sour cream. On the side are toasted triangles of rye bread and several slices of melt-on-the-tongue salo — salt pork, similar to Italian lardo, that is ubiquitous to Ukrainian culture. I've been hungering for more tastes of Eastern European food since writing about Noroc, a restaurant in Sacramento that serves Moldovan dishes, for the 101 Best Restaurants in California guide. With a name as unfortunately generic as Fusion Kitchen, you need to know what you're looking for. This was previously known as the second location of Mom, Please, the Ukrainian draw in Playa Vista opened by Oleksii Kochetkov, his wife, Inna Kochetkova, and his mother, Olena Kochetkova. The same owners run Fusion Kitchen; only the name changed. After blitzing through the menu, I have a few strong recommendations beyond borscht. Cabbage rolls show off the same gravity-defying sleight of hand, improbably delicate wrappers bundling minced beef and vegetables scented with basil. Among varenyky and pelmeni, the half-moon dumplings filled with mashed potato and dressed in mushroom sauce turned out to be the most compelling. And among many options for desserts, zero in on the medovic, or honey cake. It doesn't have the zillion layers of, say, Michelle Polzine's fame-making version at her now-closed 20th Century Cafe in San Francisco. Its sour cream frosting zings, though, with the crucial sweet-smokiness of burnt honey. I'm ordering too much as usual, calling out chef Natalia Moran's modern takes on Filipino standards: lumpia, sisig, lechon, adobo, kare kare, garlic rice … . When I'm done, the server studies me. 'You forgot to order the signature dish,' she says. 'There's a reason our name is Manila Inasal.' Oops. Thanks goodness she steered me right. Chicken may be the traditional choice for this class of thoroughly marinated and grilled dishes, but the bungus inasal, made with silvery milkfish, is particularly wonderful here. Achiote stains the fish, which has also absorbed the aromatics of lemongrass, ginger and sharply citrusy calamansi juice. Swipe forkfuls through two sauces, one based on green chile and the other on coconut vinegar. With a bit of cucumber salad spooned on the plate, it's a refreshing warm weather meal. To dive deeper: start with always-easy-to-crunch lumpia or, even better, laing, taro leaves creamed in coconut milk with seasonings like garlic, ginger and shrimp paste. Moran's take is restrained, but pleasantly so, and she presents it as an appetizer dip surrounded by focaccia baked with taro leaves. The vegetable pancit satisfyingly mingles egg and glassy vermicelli noodles in a soy-based sauce with thrumming umami. Meatier dishes I tried like the kare kare with ultra-tender cuts of beef (including oxtail) and lechon could have been punchier in their flavors; it's hard not to compare them with the masterful versions Maynard Llera prepares at Kuya Lord. As my colleague Stephanie Breijo reported in June, the restaurant opened two months in Silver Lake Plaza, in the same complex on Virgil Avenue that houses Daybird. So it's still settling in and calibrating. The namesake inasal? I'm already all in.
