01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'I tried Aldi's new premium skincare line and one £7 cream blew me away'
As a beauty writer and enthusiast, I have noticed that Japanese and Korean inspired skincare is everywhere right now. Which is why it is no surprise Aldi has gotten on the trend.
Available in its Specialbuys aisle today, Thursday, May 1, is the supermarket giant's brand new premium Lacura Spring Skincare Collection that is said to be similar to the beloved Tatcha brand - but at a staggering 90 per cent cheaper.
The luxurious Japanese beauty brand has become a favourite of many of our favourite celebrities, including Love Island star Molly-May Hague and also Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan. However, with prices of up to £67 for one cream, it's not exactly within my budget.
Fortunately, Aldi's own skincare starts as low as £4.99, making it more budget-friendly. But can it deliver good quality results at a lower price point?
That's exactly what I set out to find out, after getting the chance to try out all four products that included two cleansers and two moisturisers. Read on for my full thoughts on each product just below.
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Lacura Matcha Gel Wash, 150ml, £4.99
Matcha is everywhere right now, isn't it? If we're not putting it in our Instagram-worthy coffees, then we're putting it on our skin
With benefits that include breakout prevention and hydration, it's understandable why so many of us are incorporating the powerhouse ingredient. And at just £4.99, Aldi's own cleanser is 88 per cent cheaper than Tatcha's The Matcha Cleanse that costs £42.
As for the supermarket's cleanser itself, I loved the gel-to-foam texture that was incredibly soft on the skin, not harsh at all. Although, I will say that you need to use quite a bit to get the formula to foam up to fully cleanse the skin.
Since I suffer from dry skin, I found that the nourishing ingredients such as matcha tea, willow bark and mugwort extracts left my skin feeling refreshed without being stripped off its moisture. It was also fragrance-free, so perfect if you have sensitive skin.
Lacura Rice Cleanser, 150ml, £4.99
Infused with hero ingredients hyaluronic acid and rice ferment filtrate, I had high hopes that this cleanser would live up to its promise of delivering "intense hydration" and "gentle cleansing."
Overall, I felt a little more mixed on this cleanser. The positive was the rich cream-to-foam texture that is powered by rice powder and rice starch. Unlike the Matcha Cleanser, I found a little goes a long way with this one, so the massive 150ml tube should last a while.
The area I was more mixed on was the addition of what felt like 'gritty' beads, making it seem more like an exfoliant overall. While I don't mind an exfoliator, I wasn't keen on the texture overall on my skin.
However, considering it is £36 cheaper than the Tatcha Rice Wash that is priced at £41, you can't complain at the saving you are making.
Lacura Hydrating Aqua Face Cream, 50ml, £6.99
This was the first moisturiser that I managed to try from the new Lacura skincare and, honestly, it blew me away.
Designed for dry and oily skin types, I really appreciated the lightweight texture that literally melted into my skin, leaving it instantly glowing and soft to the touch. It also made a great makeup base, which is another plus.
If you suffer from the dreaded extra shine, you're in luck, as this cream uses matcha tea, rose and water lily to mattify the skin, leaving it looking super smooth. I also happened to really love the scent of this one that was very refreshing, so none of that dreaded artificial, chemical scent you can get with some creams.
It's also worth noting that it is £6.99 and 90 per cent cheaper than Tatcha's £67 The Water Cream that Aldi has compared its own moisturiser to.
Lacura Plumping Cream, 50ml, £6.99
Up last was the Lacura Plumping Cream that has been compared to the iconic Tatcha Dewy Cream (£67) that has been loved by Molly-Mae and more.
Since I can't compare the two, as I have never tried the major brand, I can only go off the Lacura cream, which was fine, but nothing overly special. I'll admit, on opening the tub, I was surprised to be greeted with a thick, purple-hued cream.
Designed to hydrate and soften, I found that, while my skin did feel supple and hydrated, it initially had a 'sticky' feeling to it and it was quite difficult to soak into my skin, leaving it with that 'tacky' sort of feeling before it fully sunk in.
Once the initial feeling wore off, I will say that my skin was left feeling very matte smooth and with a little glow. Also, similar to the Aqua Face Cream, I found I enjoyed the pleasant scent that didn't smell like I had opened a drugstore.
That being said, I am not sure if the initial sticky texture is something I would be keen to use time and time again.
Overall verdict
Let's face it, offering high quality, trendy skincare on a budget is incredibly appealing, isn't it?
Personally, I think Aldi's new Lacura Spring Skincare Collection is going to be another win for the supermarket. While I can't compare it to the pricier Tatcha brand, I can say that all four products will be a staple for anyone looking to prioritise hydration and clean skin.
Not to mention that the super cute packaging looks way more expensive than it actually is.
As for myself, the £6.99 Aqua Face Cream (50ml) was the star of the show, as it managed to blow me away with its lightweight texture that felt refreshing, while leaving me with supple, glowing skin.
Aldi's new Lacura Spring Skincare Collection is available in stores from today, Thursday, May 1. As is the case with all Specialbuys, you'll need to act fast.
