In Depth Review: Aldi’s Best Lacura Budget Buys

Disclaimers: I paid for these products myself. I have in no way been influenced or paid to endorse these products. All recommendations and opinions are my own.

I’ve always loved to treat myself with beauty products. My (perceived) need to have the latest and greatest on the market has left me with a bathroom exploding with products that I swear I can no longer live without. But recently I’ve found myself with a significantly reduced income and the need to keep a much tighter rein on my finances. So I set myself up with a budget spreadsheet and started crunching numbers. That’s when I discovered that I was spending in excess of $1000 each year on beauty products. Now I know that many of you will be shaking your head in disgust, but I also know that if you took the time to add up all the money you’ve spent on cosmetics, body washes, creams, lotions, hair products etc… in the last year, you’ll realize that it’s easily done. Anyway, back to my budget… sorting through all those products in my bathroom, I realized that I needed to get back to basics and finally try all those bargain products that people have been raving about for so long. So off I went to Aldi to find me some excellent bargain buys, which I’m going to share with you.

For those interested in Lacura’s ‘luxury’ Caviar Illumination skin care range, then check out my review.

Lacura

Aldi’s Lacura skincare range is developed in Germany and are dermatologically tested. They are not tested on animals.

Lacura Face Care Serum 50ml

(*The packaging of this product recently changed, however, the product and ingredients are still the same. I have updated the image to that of the new bottle.)

There are three types of Lacura serum available:

• Aqua Complete H20 Multi Intensive Serum – Normal: Suitable for normal skin age 20 to 35. “Skin appears more radiant and youthful.”
• Renew Q10 Multi Intensive Serum– Anti-Wrinkle: Suitable for age 30 to 45. “Helps smooth skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines.”
• Restorative Soy Multi Intensive Serum – Mature: Suitable for mature skin age 45+. “Smooths skin and helps improve suppleness.”

In 2010 Aldi’s Lacura serum beat it’s more expensive rivals by winning best intensive anti-ageing serum in a series of blind tests carried out in the UK. Since then it has been a popular product for those in need of a quality, cheap serum. I’m currently on my second bottle of the Renew Anti-Wrinkle Q10 serum. Its active ingredients are Coenzyme 10, “Mimox” a bio peptide that is said to relax and reduce fine lines and “Aquarich”, which consists of moisturizing ingredients such as black oats, Provitamin B5 and Macadamia nut oil.

As my skin is ‘maturing’ (is there a nicer way to term this?!) I’ve found that it’s begun drying out. Just using a moisturizer on its own no longer meets my skins needs. By mid morning, my skin has absorbed all of the moisturizer, leaving it dry, flaky and dull. Adding this serum to my routine has greatly improved my skins moisture levels. It also makes it much easier to apply my foundation. Now it seems to glide on and sits nicely on top of the skin, not settling into fine lines and exaggerating them.

What is Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)?

CoQ10 is likened to a vitamin and is present in human cells. Research has found it to improve the appearance of wrinkles and UV damage by stimulating collagen. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

The texture is a light, moisturizing cream-gel that seems to melt into my skin. It absorbs really quickly, so I don’t have to wait very long before putting on my usual daily moisturizer. In fact, by the time I’ve moisturized my body, my face is ready for my normal skin cream. It’s also suitable to use on its own and because it doesn’t leave an oily residue, it would be an excellent daily moisturizer for those of you with oily skin.

I think this is a good quality serum at a great price. I’ve even managed to get my husband to start using it, and that’s quite an endorsement as he hates any cream or lotion being put on his face.

Packaging

Aldi’s Lacura serum is packaged in a frosted glass bottle with a hygienic pump dispenser. It’s also travel friendly as the pump can be turned to lock in an ‘off’ position.

Skin Types

Suitable for all skin types. Because of its light hydration, those with oily skin could use it as a stand alone moisturiser.

Fragrance

A light, fresh, slightly sweet fragrance. I find the smell very mild and inoffensive.

Lacura Face Care Q10 Renew Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream and Night Cream 50ml

The Lacura Q10 Renew Day Cream SPF 20 contains the key ingredients provitamin B5, coenzyme 10 and Hyaluronic Acid that protects against premature ageing. I also like that it contains suncreen.

It has a creamy texture that seems to rub in well. For a product that contains suncreen, I don’t find it as greasy as other suncreen products. I really wanted to like this product, however, after using it everyday until the jar was empty, I have not found any improvements to my skin texture. I also didn’t particularly like the feel of it on my skin. There are other day creams that I prefer, so for that reason I won’t be buying it again. But if you are on a really tight budget, then it’s probably the best moisturiser available in this price range.

This Lacura Face Care Q10 anti-wrinkle night cream contains the key ingredients retinol and coenzyme 10 and the moisturizing antioxidants safflower seed oil, avocado oil, wheat oil and soy. These are ingredients commonly found in much more expensive luxury brands. Be aware that some people experience skin sensitivities when using retinol, so you may want to ease your skin into it by initially using it a few nights a week then increasing the frequency as your skin gets used to it.

I am nearly to the bottom of my first jar and am happy with the results. The texture is a cream-gel that absorbs quickly and easily. I find it moisturizing without being too heavy, greasy or oily and I like that I don’t need to use a lot of it to get good coverage. I use this night cream every night and, although I can’t make any miraculous claims about looking 20 years younger (because I don’t think there are any creams that can actually do this), I do feel that my skins texture has improved.

Packaging

This Aldi Lacura Renew creams are packaged in a frosted glass jar which can be reused (the label easily peels off). It also comes with a foil hygiene seal which is a good way to ensure that it has not been tampered with in store. But for me, the jar is the one thing I really dislike about this product because every time you open the lid you expose it to the air which breaks down the active ingredients. Also, you have to put your fingers in it which can introduce bacteria. So if your listening Aldi and Lacura, please change the packaging! In the meantime, just make sure that your hands are super clean before dipping them in and that the lid is kept tightly shut between uses.

Skin Types

Suitable for all skin types, but I think that those with very oily skin may find them a little too heavy.

Fragrance

Aldi Lacura Renew creams have a slightly unpleasant smell, but I don’t find it offensive and it dissipates after a short time.

Lacura Hand Care ProRevive Hand Cream 125ml

Lacura hand cream comes in three varieties:

• ProRevive hand cream with UV filters, beeswax and vitamin E
• Nourishing hand cream with beeswax and glycerin
• Hand + nail cream with beeswax and allantoin

For the last two months I have been using Aldi’s Lacura ProRevive hand cream which contains beeswax and vitamin E. It also claims to have UV filters, but it doesn’t have an SPF rating so I wouldn’t trust it to actually provide any UV protection. This doesn’t concern me because during the summer I use a high level SPF on my face and hands before heading out.

I keep this Lacura hand cream by my bed and use it morning and night. It has a thick creamy consistency that is easily massaged into the skin. However, it does leave a slighty oily residue which remains for a short time after application. This might be because my hands tend to be very dry, especially throughout the winter, so I like to use a lot! Nevertheless, I like this feeling, but many of you may not.

If you like Nivea’s hand cream, then you will like Aldi’s Lacura ProRevive hand cream as it is very similar. I would definitely recommend it for people with dry skin as it keeps hands soft and moisturized for a long time. At this low price it’s a real bargain.

Packaging

The Lacura ProRevive hand cream comes in a non transparent tube.

Skin Types

Suitable for dry skin, but those with oily skin may find it too greasy. However, I think that this problem can be resolved by only using a small amount.

Fragrance

A mild perfume.

Lacura 100% Cotton Wool Pads 2 x 100

What a bargain for 200 cotton wool pads! These pads are excellent to use for toner, cleanser, make up remover and in your first aid kit for applying antibacterial lotion. I haven’t had a single problem with them either ‘fleecing’ or breaking up which is something I have frequently experienced with much more expensive cotton pads. Both the quality and the price of these cotton pads make them a must buy.

Lacura 3 in 1 Facial Cleansing Wipes 30 Pack

“Soft, soothing facial wipes to cleanse, tone and moisturize.”

There are three varieties available:

• Normal skin
• Sensitive skin
• Mature skin

I have been using the wipes labeled for sensitive skin and find them really gentle as they don’t contain any alcohol or fragrance, which I love. These face wipes contain sweet almond oil, Panthenol and fatty acids which make my skin feel soft and moisturized. They also contain Bisabolol which is derived from Chamomile and is anti-inflammatory and helps soothe and calm skin.

The wipes measure 200 x 200mm and the cloth is a waffle knit. I would personally prefer a thicker cloth, but it does the job. I use these to remove my foundation and they perform really well. I even use them to give the bathroom basin a quick clean afterwards. They are also really good for travelling and can be used for cleaning dirty hands and faces.

Packaging

These Aldi Lacura facial cleansing wipes are packaged like any other face wipe – in plastic packaging with a self adhesive flap.

Skin Types

With three types to choose from, there is a face wipe to suit all skin types.

Fragrance

The packages states that these Lacura wipes don’t contain any added fragrance but they do have a mild, pleasant, almost soapy smell.

Well, I know that these products might not seem as ‘glamorous’ as the expensive luxury brand ones, but I’ve got to say that I’ve really enjoyed having the extra money in my pocket instead. I was initially a bit embarrassed about having them on the shelf in my bathroom (yes, call me shallow) but surprisingly, when my friends spotted them they were very enthusiastic about sharing their equally good experiences with them. Those that hadn’t tried them were super keen to try them too, so I hope that I’ve inspired you to do the same.

Now, that I have shared with you my top 5 Aldi Lacura beauty products, I feel that I cannot finish this article without mentioning this absolute bargain buy…

Lunex 20 Applicator Tampons

(Edit: The brand was changed from Florette to Lunex, but they look identical)

There are three types of absorbency available:

• Regular: For light to medium flow 6-9g
• Super: For medium to heavy flow 9-12g
• Super Plus: For heavy flow 12-15g

I used Tampax for over twenty years and these Lunex tampons are so similar I can’t tell the difference between the two. Their performance and quality are exactly the same. It’s even difficult to distinguish between their product packaging colors and design.

The label states that the Linux tampons are made from cotton or rayon or a cotton/rayon mix and the applicators also feature a rounded tip as well as an anti-slip grip. I can honestly say that after using these Aldi Lunex tampons I would never go back to paying more than double for mainstream branded tampons. Why pay more when the product is exactly the same?

Packaging

Linux tampons are packaged in a cardboard box and each tampon is individually paper wrapped. The cardboard applicator has a rounded tip and anti-slip grip.

Have You Tried the Lacura Range of Products?

Let me know in the comments below if you have tried any of the products in the Lacura range and whether you liked them or not.

If you enjoyed this post, then check out my other in-depth Aldi Lacura product reviews.