Trader Joe's is famous for its inexpensive groceries - and beauty fans have long gone wild for its cheap beauty dupes which mirror popular pricey products.
But how do you know which ones are the best buys that actually do the trick?
Medicinal chemist Sarah Babula, based in San Diego, California, broke down her favorite products for her 54,000 followers on TikTok - and many commenters weighed in with their go-to purchases that are dupes for skincare products from brands like Drunk Elephant, Crème de la Mer, Supergoop and more.
The viral video quickly received more than 240,000 views, as Sarah declared, 'We love affordable skincare' in the caption and her followers agreed.
'I'm a chemist and these are some of the super affordable Trader Joe's skincare products that I would recommend to people,' the scientist explained.
![Medicinal chemist Sarah Babula, based in San Diego, California, broke down her favorite products for her 54,000 followers on TikTok](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/16/20/87415895-13628427-image-a-74_1721158820029.jpg)
Medicinal chemist Sarah Babula, based in San Diego, California, broke down her favorite products for her 54,000 followers on TikTok
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/12/20/87269273-13628427-image-a-30_1720813987781.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/12/20/87269267-13628427-image-a-31_1720813990776.jpg)
![Commenters were quick to share their favorite Trader Joe's dupes for pricey Sephora products](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/12/20/87269277-13628427-image-a-28_1720813924373.jpg)
Commenters were quick to share their favorite Trader Joe's dupes for pricey Sephora products
Sarah said that the grocery store chain's antioxidant facial serum is her favorite facial serum and costs only $10.
The serum includes retinol as well as green tea and vitamin K1, which is essential for bone building, vitamin D3, which protects against UV light, vitamin E, which keeps the skin soft, and vitamin B5, which reduces signs of aging.
The oil-free moisturizer has similar ingredients and is a lightweight option.
Sarah is also a proponent of the 'super lightweight but still very hydrating' ultra hydrating gel moisturizer, for $9, which has humectants and contains aloe and green tea extract.
'Drunk Elephant will charge you so much for this oil but you can get it here for like $7, it does not cost that much,' she said about the Marula oil, which is $69 at Sephora.
'If you want an oil that absorbs really easily but isn't too thick,' the chemist recommends Argan oil.
Sarah also suggests the hydrating biocellulose face mask for $3, made with green tea, turmeric, pomegranate, and aloe, and says while face masks are fun, you don't need to spend a lot of money on them.
The vanilla lip mask for $6 is another favorite product, as 'you should never have to spend a lot of money on a lip mask,' because 'Aquaphor works fine' and this one contains oils and antioxidants.
![Sarah suggests the hydrating gel moisturizer with aloe and green tea extract](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/12/19/87262813-13628427-image-a-19_1720810278496.jpg)
![Commenters compared Trader Joe's moisturizer to the $390 La Mer cream](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/12/19/87262803-13628427-image-m-18_1720810258023.jpg)
Commenters offered up their own dupes, with one person saying, 'That gel moisturizer has the same ingredients as La Mer,' which can retail for up to $390
![Maruca Facial Oil costs just about $7 at the grocery store chain](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/16/20/87269311-13628427-Maruca_Facial_Oil_costs_just_about_7_at_the_grocery_store_chain-m-70_1721158497451.jpg)
![Drunk Elephant's Marula Luxury Facial Oil is wildly popular and retails for $69](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/16/20/87262799-13628427-Drunk_Elephant_s_Marula_Luxury_Facial_Oil_is_wildly_popular_and_-a-71_1721158505173.jpg)
'Drunk Elephant will charge you so much for this oil but you can get it here for like $7, it does not cost that much,' she said about the Marula oil, which is $69 at Sephora
![The vanilla lip mask for $6 is another favorite product](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/12/19/87262807-13628427-image-m-22_1720810326369.jpg)
![Laniege makes a similar vanilla lip sleeping mask](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/12/19/87262805-13628427-image-a-23_1720810333390.jpg)
The vanilla lip mask for $6 is another favorite product - it looks similar to the super buzzy $24 Laneige sleep mask, which celebrities like Alix Earle and Sydney Sweeney love, but with a lower price tag
![The daily facial sunscreen for $8.99 is another suggestion, which is an invisible gel with no white cast](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/16/20/87262809-13628427-The_daily_facial_sunscreen_for_8_99_is_another_suggestion_which_-m-72_1721158717358.jpg)
![A commenter compared the Daily Facial Sunscreen to the $40 Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/16/20/87263815-13628427-A_commenter_compared_the_Daily_Facial_Sunscreen_to_the_40_Superg-a-73_1721158722505.jpg)
The daily facial sunscreen is another suggestion, which a commenter compared to $40 Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen
The vanilla lip mask looks similar to the super buzzy $24 Laneige sleep mask, which celebrities like Alix Earle and Sydney Sweeney love, but with a lower price tag.
The daily facial sunscreen is another suggestion from the chemist, which a commenter compared to $40 Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen.
Sarah isn't the only one who thinks the Marula oil works wonders.
'I used to work at a Sephora next to a Trader Joe's and would always tell people to get the Marula oil from TJs when they asked me about Drunk Elephant,' one commenter proclaimed, citing the $69 product that teens are obsessed with.
And the gel moisturizer proved a hit with followers.
Others offered up their own dupes, with one person saying, 'That gel moisturizer has the same ingredients as La Mer,' which can retail for up to $390 and is one of the world's most expensive beauty products.