Last week, BECCA announced they would be closing their doors at the end of September of this year. The news came as a big shock to most of the beauty community. It was sudden, unexpected, and kind of weird, because Becca is one of those cult brands that’s kind of always been around. Instead of urging you to rush out and purchase back ups of your favorite products from the brand, instead I’m offering alternatives to my favorite BECCA products — BECCA dupes, if you will.
Why Is Becca Closing Its Doors?
I have a lot of thoughts about why BECCA may be closing up shop. And I could write another post or do a bathtub chat about this, and maybe I will, but I’m going to keep it concise today.
On their Instagram announcement, they cited prior challenges mixed with the global impact of COVID-19 as the reason their business was forced to go out of business. And I definitely think the impact of this global pandemic played a large role in this particular closing. I also think we’re going to see some other major brands potentially close due to similar circumstances. Consumption just isn’t what it was a year ago. So many people have lost jobs and income, gained medical bills, and are just not wearing as much cosmetics in general.
But we can’t solely blame Covid on this one.
However, I think BECCA faced some challenges that would have possibly led them to this outcome excluding the pandemic entirely. I felt as if their brand just didn’t grow with the market. They had a few standout products and cult favorites, like the highlighters and under eye corrector. But a lot of their launches fell short, in my opinion. They didn’t utilize influencers or collectible products that like other brands did. And I think that hurt them in the long run. That mixed with flopped launches, like the Zero No Pigment Foundation, I think just caused a loss in intrigue. I know I haven’t really paid a ton of attention to BECCA’s recent launches, although I have had my eye on their Light Shifter Dewing Tint.
Ultimately, I think Estee Lauder (BECCA’s parent company) just stopped seeing major value from the brand. I also think it’s interesting that the day prior to the announcement, Estee Lauder announced their full acquisition of The Ordinary. Honestly, I think the company just saw value in other brands and the value of potential new brands.
Refrain From Buying Backups.
I’ve noticed a lot of posts on Youtube urging you to run out and buy backups of your favorite products. And while I really am tempted to buy a few, like another bottle of the First Light Priming Filter, I really don’t think you should. I think that for a few reasons:
- BECCA is closing. They’re going out of business. And while it’s a little upsetting, it’s the reality. There isn’t a way for you to make a ton of purchases in attempt to save the brand. That’s not our jobs as consumers.
- You may think now is the best time to purchase products you’ve wanted to try, because it’s your last chance. But what’s the point in that? What if you fall in love with it and then can’t get it again? I know I don’t need that kind of self-inflicted upset. Like, I really want to try the Light Shifter tint. But what if I love it? I’m not going to be able to get it again come September.
- And you also may be tempted to restock tons of backups of your favorites. But that’s not a good idea either (in my opinion.) No matter how many backups you buy, you’re going to run out eventually. And you’re going to have to find an alternative. Now may be a good time to start.
Alternatives for My Favorite Becca Products – BECCA Dupes
And what a beautiful segway into the meat of this post, some BECCA dupes, or alternatives to some of my favorite BECCA products.
Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector
I don’t use under correctors often, but I do like to have one on hand. My undereye area, particularly on the left side, can get pretty dark and sunken looking. So I like to pop an undereye corrector on to counteract that.
And I enjoyed the BECCA undereye corrector. It was a nice color and brightening. But I’ve also enjoyed the correctors from Bobbi Brown* and Charlotte Tilbury* and think those are a good place to start when looking for an alternative.
Plus, the Bobbi Brown* undereye corrector is a cult classic from their brand. People love it for a reason.
Becca Pressed Highlighter
There’s no doubt BECCA made some bomb highlighters. I think that’s a product that most people either started with from the brand or was their favorite. And I also love their powder highlights. They are a creamy feeling powder, and the shine is smooth and impactful.
They’ll be missed for sure. But there are some really great highlighters on the market with similar finishes and textures, and there will always be another highlight.
Particularly, I have been loving the powders from Fenty*, Jouer*, and Lancome*. And at the drugstore, Wet n Wild makes an amazing highlight* that is really quite similar to that of the BECCA highlights.
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured Creme Highlighter
They discontinued these cream highlights a long time ago, and I was really bummed by it. Because I think they’re great. I still have a few in my collection that I use regularly. The Poured Creme Highlighters came in the same shades as the powder highlighters but, obviously, in a different medium — in the form of a cream. But it was an interesting cream to powder formula that blended out onto the skin so easily. And the finish looks pretty natural, considering it is a highlight.
The two closest formulas I’ve been able to find are from Benefit and Colourpop. The BECCA formula, while a cream, is pretty stiff. I’ve found the Watt’s Up Highlighter* from Benefit is very close in terms of texture and finish. And while the Colourpop Super Shock highlights* are definitely bouncier and creamier, the finish they offer is very similar (and at a fraction of the cost.)
Becca First Light Priming Filter
This primer … this is the product I’m going to miss. And it’s the BECCA dupe or alternative that has been most difficult to pin down. It’s a purple toned primer intended to even the complexion and add a boost of color correcting and radiance. And boy does it. It also smells like Pez candy, which is just a pleasurable bonus.
It feels weightless on the skin and really makes my face look alive. There are 2 purple toned primers I’ve found that I enjoy that give me similar results.
The lavender SOS Corrector* from Clarins is similar. It’s purple in tone, so it evens out the complexion. And it feels most similar on the face. On the other hand, the Elf Tone Adjusting Primer in Lavender* does a really great job at color correcting and evening out the skintone. It’s not the same for adding radiance and glow, but mixed with a dewy moisturizer or another hydrating agent, it gives the same effect to the face.
Becca Mineral Blush in Flower Child
And the last BECCA dupe or alternative I have is in regard to the Flower Child blush, specifically. It was my favorite blush BECCA offered. It was a pretty pinky peach with a little gold reflect. And I’m also about to blow your mind, because I’m not offering up NARS Orgasm* as an alternative. Because I don’t think it is.
Well, ok. It is. It’s a similar type of product in a similar color. But on my skin tone, Orgasm doesn’t perform the same as Flower Child. However, there are a lot of BECCA dupes regarding blush formulas and shades.Instead I really like NARS Deep Throat*. It’s a little more pink. Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blush in Love Glow* is another similar shade and offers similar luminosity. Another alternative comes from MAC. The Mineralize Blush in Love Joy* is similar in shade and radiance. And their Glow Play Blush in Cheer Up*, while a different formula is a nice alternative. My final alternative is one of the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes in Peaceful*.
And those are some BECCA dupes and alternatives to my favorite BECCA products. While it’s a little bittersweet that BECCA is coming to an end, unfortunately I don’t think they’ll be the last brand. I think it’s the beginning of a changing beauty industry. What do you think? And what do you think of these BECCA dupes? Are there any products you’re going to miss?
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