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At the time of writing, there are three Trader Joe’s in Austin, Texas. The closest one is about 20 minutes from my apartment. (40+ minutes if there’s traffic, which — let’s face it — there will be.) I live spitting distance from a perfectly good grocery store — cleaner, bigger, arguably more convenient — and yet, at least once a month, I find myself braving rush hour traffic and schlepping down Mopac to shop at TJ’s.
If you’ve been to a Trader Joe’s, you get it. There’s a reason the beloved grocery store has a cult following, with shoppers traveling from the other side of the world to get their hands on peanut butter–filled pretzels and frozen dumplings. Trader Joe’s is quirky, affordable and full of weirdly wonderful stuff you didn’t know you needed until it’s in your cart. (Remember Bollywood Popcorn? Or Apple Pie Cheddar Cheese? I still crave Matcha Joe-Joe’s to this day!)
But what you might not know is that Trader Joe’s is quietly home to some of the best beauty dupes on the market. I’m talking facial oils that belong in a spa, sunscreens that rival prestige favorites and body butters so deliciously scented, they’ve developed a TikTok fanbase.
The secret? Nearly everything Trader Joe’s sells is private label, which means they work directly with suppliers to create products that are often strikingly similar to your favorite high-end buys at a fraction of the cost. Unlike some copycat brands, TJ’s dupes never feel like a downgrade.
Below, I’ve shared 8 of our editors’ favorite Trader Joe’s beauty products that deliver the same glow, hydration and fragrance as some of the industry’s most beloved brands, minus the markup. For the lowest prices, shop directly at Trader Joe’s.
Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 Oil-Free Invisible Gel
Dupe for: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen
TJ’s clear gel sunscreen has become legendary as a dead-ringer for Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen (which costs around $38). It glides on like a silky primer — totally transparent and non-greasy — just like the high-end OG. As a major Supergoop! fan who has tested both products, I don’t say this lightly: I prefer the Trader Joe’s version.
Price: $17.49 on Amazon or shop at your local Trader Joe’s – $8.99 1.7 fl oz
Trader Joe’s Salon-Quality Hair Oil
Dupe for: OUAI Hair Oil
Packed with argan, moringa, chia, and vitamin E oils, this iconic Trader Joe’s hair oil smells like vanilla and tames flyaways. The frizz-fighter has been dubbed a near-dupe for the OUAI Hair Oil (another favorite product of mine, before I made the switch). The TJ version delivers a similar level of shine and heat protection at around half the price.
Price: $22.99 on Amazon or shop at your local Trader Joe’s – $5.99 for 1 fl oz
Trader Joe’s Cleansing + Conditioning Hair Wash
Dupe for: Hairstory New Wash
This one-step shampoo-conditioner hybrid skips harsh detergents in favor of essential oils and mild cleansers to refresh hair without stripping it. Beloved in Reddit and TikTok circles, the TJ’s hair wash lathers gently and leaves hair super-soft. If you’re a fan of the luxe-but-pricy Hairstory New Wash, you may find the Trader Joe’s version surprisingly similar in feel, results and soft, hydrated finish.
Price: $9.98 on Amazon or shop at your local Trader Joe’s – $4.99 8 fl oz
Trader Joe’s Hydrating Marula Facial Oil
Dupe for: Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Oil
TJ’s 100% marula seed oil is widely praised as a spot-on dupe for Drunk Elephant’s Virgin Marula Oil. The Trader Joe’s version has the same fatty-acid–rich feel and delivers a similar dewy boost. The lightweight oil sinks in without greasiness and leaves a smooth, glowing finish — just like its high-end counterpart.
Price: $15.69 on Amazon or shop at your local Trader Joe’s – $6.99 0.85 fl oz
Trader Joe’s Chocolate Berry Lip Mask Duo
Dupe for: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Trader Joe’s lip-sleep dream team (which comes in a two-pack of chocolate and berry) is the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask dupe you’ve been looking for. The duo even comes in similar squishy jars. The shea butter and coconut oil base make lips baby-soft by morning, and the berry aroma is nearly identical to the Laneige cult favorite.
Price: $14 on Amazon or shop at your local Trader Joe’s – $7.99 0.7 oz
Trader Joe’s Brazil Nut Body Butter
Dupe for: Sol de Janeiro’s Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
Packed with acai, guarana and brazil nut oils, this whipped body butter smells like a tropical dessert. It’s hailed as a dupe for Sol de Janeiro’s Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, delivering a similar whipped texture and intoxicating vanilla-caramel scent at a tiny fraction of the original price.
Price: $15.99 on Amazon or shop at your local Trader Joe’s – $5.99 for 8 oz.
Trader Joe’s Brazil Nut Exfoliating Body Scrub
Dupe for: Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Scrub
Want the Bum Bum scrub effect without the high price tag? Enter Trader Joe’s Brazil Nut Exfoliating Body Scrub, infused with Brazil nut and aloe, which is practically identical to Sol de Janeiro’s famous exfoliant. The TJ dupe buffs away dead skin with a gritty, coffee-like texture and leaves behind that same signature tropical vanilla scent.
Price: $14.50 on Amazon or shop at your local Trader Joe’s – $5.99 8 oz
Trader Joe’s Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream
Dupe for: L’Occitane Shea Hand Cream
TJ’s hand cream is celebrated as a dupe for the luxury L’Occitane Shea Hand Cream. It contains 20% shea butter and coconut oil (just like L’Occitane’s), and the scent and buttery soft results are virtually the same.
Price: $11.00 on Amazon or shop at your local Trader Joe’s – $4.99 3 oz
The post Trader Joe’s Beauty Dupes We Love Just as Much as the Originals appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
