'I found a $15 version of this iconic lip gloss that's better than the original.'

I love a good dupe, but I'm the first to admit that sometimes you get what you pay for when you cut costs. It's great getting incredible fragrances or makeup palettes for a fraction of the designer price, but they often come with less longevity or more artificial ingredients.

However, I'm excited to say that I've found a dupe which is just as good as the original — and in some ways, even better.

The transition from matte liquid lipsticks to tinted glosses was a tough one for me and took literal years (I am far too attached to the 2016 makeup era).

After a while, I finally managed to make the change with lip oils because they are hydrating and glossy without being too tacky — a sensory nightmare, especially if it's a windy day and everything is sticking to your face.

Watch: Mamamia's Erin Docherty tries a lip stain. Post continues below.

One of my favourite lip glosses is the Fenty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminiser. The colour range is diverse (for a brown gal like me, this is a must), the lustre is sparkly without being too reminiscent of the 2000s, and it just feels great.

However, it's also $38 a pop, so when I finished mine (which I did super quickly), I couldn't really justify another one.

So, when Designer Brands (DB) Cosmetics (an Aussie and vegan brand you've probably seen at your local pharmacy) asked if I wanted to try their new drop of lip glosses inspired by Fenty, I was game.

The Bombshell Luminising Lip Gloss is pretty much the same as Fenty Luminiser. It comes in six shades (compared to Fenty's 11 shades):

I tried Honey Glow (dupe of Fenty Glow, AKA the original Fenty lipgloss), Original Badgal (dupe of Riri) and Choco Late (dupe of Hot Chocolit). I was a little concerned about the first one because it seemed it may be a bit too light for me, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it applies as a gorgeous shimmery, peachy nude, almost like a "your lips but better" moment. Original Badgal, on my skin tone, was a lovely mauve and Choco Late was a rich and delicious brown.

DB Cosmetic's Choco Late shade is absolutely gorgeous, very similar to Fenty's Hot Chocolit.

The glosses glide on smoothly and — I cannot emphasise this enough — are NOT sticky at all!

By far the biggest advantage these $15 lippies have — aside from their price — is how hydrating they are. The moisturising capability of these glosses is impressive, to the point where I no longer need a chapstick. I don't even wear them daily — it's more like twice a week — and yet I have noticed a significant improvement to the texture and softness of my lips despite the fact that we are in mid-autumn and the wind has been harsh on them.

The DB Cosmetics version and the Fenty version,

To really put the hydrating power of these lipglosses to the test, my husband even used them while we were driving back and forth during our move from Sydney to Melbourne in early April. He lost his emotional support chapstick in the chaos and was absolutely desperate to ease the tightness, to the point where he was willing to rock a purple lip for some relief. Guess what? His bleeding, cracked lips were healed. These bad boys are anxious husband-approved, folks!

While I enjoyed the Fenty glosses, I never really used them for moisturising purposes, it was always for cosmetic and aesthetic reasons. They were beautiful and a flex, but not any different to other lip glosses in that particular area.

So, if you, like me, want a lip gloss that's vegan, cruelty-free, hydrating and affordable (a tough ask), mayvbe give the DB Cosmetics ones a go.

And you can nab them at the pharmacy. Winner.

Feature image: Supplied.