Dupe

Outside this site the word often implies a lower price. This encyclopedia does not compare prices and defines a dupe by colour alone: a shade from a different brand within a ΔE of 5.0 of the original, which the site labels very close or better. A dupes page lists those matches in order, closest first, and is published only when a shade has at least three of them.

A colour match is not a formula match. A dupe can differ in finish, texture, wear time and scent, and those differences change how the colour looks once it is on. A matte dupe for a satin shade, for example, reads flatter and slightly deeper, and a gloss dupe can read lighter and more sheer.

Because each shade’s hex comes from the brand’s published swatch colour, where available, a close match on screen is a strong hint rather than a guarantee. Comparing both shades on the skin settles it.