'My honest verdict on the $12 foundation that looks like a dupe for a $120 cult product.'

As a beauty editor, I feel a little uncomfortable when it comes to product dupes.

On the one hand, I don't love the demand-driving, over-consumption soup we're all swimming and buying into, myself very much included.

But I'm not going to say it isn't thrilling when you find a more affordable version of a product outside your budget.

The latest one up for discussion?

The $12 OXX Cosmetics Silk Finish Luminous Foundation that appears to be very similar to Giorgio Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation, a $120 cult foundation that's been a makeup artist staple for decades.

The two foundations in question… Image: Supplied.

Now, not to sound 2,000 years old, but back in the day, true beauty dupes weren't something you could identify on sight.

Oftentimes, the best ones didn't look like the more expensive product at all.

Rather than seeing a dupe online or on a shelf, the whole point was uncovering dupes by trialling the formulas and then telling your friends about it.

So, rather than judge this OXX foundation by its cover, I did some due diligence this weekend.

From packaging and shade ranges to coverage and staying power, here's the breakdown.

OXX foundation vs. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (pictured left) is an illuminating, long-wearing foundation that launched in the year 2000, back when most foundations were thick, heavy and matte.

The price has increased steadily over the last five years. It's currently $120 for 30ml of foundation.

OXX Cosmetics Silk Finish Luminous Foundation (pictured right) is a new launch from Kmart's private label beauty brand that promises 'a soft, glowing finish that's easy to apply and ideal for everyday wear'. This affordable foundation costs $12 for a 25ml bottle.

From the packaging and shade ranges to coverage and staying power, here's my breakdown.

Watch: I put these foundations through a wear test in this video, post continues below.

PACKAGING:

• Aside from the Giorgio Armani logo, put them side by side and these foundations look very similar.

• The OXX foundation intentionally has near-identical-looking packaging elements like the frosted bottle, style of pump and nozzle, the shape of the lid and even the specific words they've used in the product name

FORMULA:

• Both products' ingredients lists read fairly similarly, bar a couple of ingredients contain similar ingredients

• Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation's formula contains its patented Micro-Fil technology, which is how it delivers a pigmented foundation that doesn't feel heavy on the skin

SHADE RANGE:

• I wore Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in shade 3.75 and OXX Cosmetics Silk Finish Luminous Foundation in shade 4.

• Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation comes in 40 shades and undertones, meaning almost everyone should be able to find a foundation colour match

• The OXX foundation comes in 12 shades - this tells me the product might be a limited run, or that the brand will look to extend the shades after gauging customer interest (i.e. if it sells well)

TEXTURE & CONSISTENCY:

• Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk has a lightweight, liquid texture with a fluid-like consistency that blends seamlessly into the skin

• OOX has a thicker texture and consistency — it's by no means a 'thick' foundation but it's thicker comparatively

SKIN FEEL:

• As I'd expect given its price, the Giorgio Armani foundation truly feels like nothing on the skin, both while applying it and while wearing it throughout the day

• Again, the OXX foundation feels slightly thicker comparatively, but it isn't heavy or cakey

COVERAGE:

• Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk offers light-medium buildable coverage; you can apply more product to build to more full coverage while maintaining the 'skin-like' finish

• OXX Silk Finish Luminous Foundation offers medium coverage and blends nicely into the skin, however the more you build it, the more the formula looks like foundation

SKIN FINISH:

• Both foundations looked radiant and fresh on my dry skin; Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation delivered the 'my skin, but better' finish

• The OXX foundation was more drying, and I noticed it clung slightly to dry areas like around my nose but the difference was very minimal

STAYING POWER:

• After 5 hours of wear (no concealer, no powder), both foundations creased slightly around the eyes, but the formulas are flexible so you can easily blend the product out again

• Neither foundation oxidised, meaning the foundation shades stayed true and didn't darken or yellow as they were exposed to the environment

• To the naked eye, you couldn't tell I was wearing two different foundations

My verdict.

Here's me wearing both foundations after a day of running errands! Image: Supplied.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk is a premium, performance-driven product.

It's why makeup artists often recommend it to brides for their wedding day; everything from the technology and shade range, to how it wears and photographs is premium, and you'll pay a premium for it.

Depending on where you live, you can get a sample of Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk from large MECCA, Myer or David Jones stores, but…

If you're looking for something like Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk with a long-wearing, natural skin finish, but want to spend less than $15 and don't mind if the shade match isn't exactly perfect, try the OXX foundation.

It's a good foundation, and a fantastic foundation for $12.

Two other radiant, long-wearing foundations I'd recommend: NARS Light Reflecting Foundation ($89, 36 shades) or Revlon Illuminance Skin Caring Foundation ($42.99, or in the chemist half price).

How do you feel about beauty dupes? Tell us in the comments below.

Feature image: Supplied.

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