: The industry is frequently embroiled in "copycat" controversies, where budget brands replicate the shades and packaging of high-end releases almost exactly. Smart Budgeting for Beauty
: Countries like South Korea have mastered the "cheap but effective" niche, with brands such as Innisfree and Cosrx moving from niche online finds to staples in major retailers like Ulta and Target. The True Cost of "Cheap"
: Brands like Wet n Wild have built entire identities around being "cheap drugstore cosmetics" that often release products strikingly similar to high-end influencer collaborations at a fraction of the cost.