AN INCREASING number of high-street stores and supermarkets are flogging pricey skincare dupes for a fraction of the price – and Aldi is no different.
But, how do you know which Aldi dupes are really worth the money?
Cecilia Ross reviewed a selection of beauty dupes to determine the best budget replicasCredit: Cecilia Ross
![Testing the Longevity of Aldi Dupes: A Skincare Expert's Money-Saving Experience 1 Lacura's Original hot cloth cleanser retails at the bargain price of just £2.99](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/83e64474-f1c9-4a26-bd9a-4400e51e9a54.jpg)
Lacura’s Original hot cloth cleanser retails at the bargain price of just £2.99Credit: Aldi
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, facialist and skincare expert Cecilia Ross has reviewed a selection of the best beauty budget replicas so you don’t have to – including how long each one will last you.
And with impressive dupes of brands including Liz Earle and Pixi lasting up to 90 appliances, you could just save yourself a small fortune…
Lacura Original hot cloth cleanser (£2.99) vs Liz Earle (£30)
![Testing the Longevity of Aldi Dupes: A Skincare Expert's Money-Saving Experience 2 Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish is much pricier, costing £30](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/aed8b2e7-103b-4eeb-b521-b2dac8039e6e.jpg)
Liz Earle’s Cleanse and Polish is much pricier, costing £30Credit: Liz Earle
Ladies, let’s face it…there’s no better feeling than removing our makeup and cleaning our face with a hot cloth cleanser after a long day at work.
But at a whopping £30, is the popular Liz Earle option really worth the hefty price tag? Especially when Aldi are flogging a Lacura replica for just £2.99, meaning it’s a whopping £27.01 cheaper.
![Testing the Longevity of Aldi Dupes: A Skincare Expert's Money-Saving Experience 3 Aldi shoppers rush to buy ‘amazing’ £6 perfume dupe of iconic scent](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/shopper-walks-inside-aldi-supermarket-843142744-2.jpg?strip=all&w=360&h=240&crop=1)
![Testing the Longevity of Aldi Dupes: A Skincare Expert's Money-Saving Experience 4 I put an Aldi hair dupe to the test & it's much better than the posh one](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/newspress-collage-23990355-1694948141315.jpg?1694951756&strip=all&w=360&h=240&crop=1)
After reviewing the budget version, Cecilia, who is the founder of Cecilia London, says: “I was very impressed with this product.
“It did a decent job at removing makeup and dirt from the skin.
“It made my skin feel clean and would be great for anyone with sensitive skin.”
The skincare whizz goes on to say how the cloth was included and had a “good texture” to it.
She adds: “The ingredients are very similar to its more expensive counterpart too – and you could really smell the eucalyptus which was a bonus!”
And what’s more is that both products are 200ml, so according to Cecilia, if you use a 50p size application, you’ll get around 90 uses out of it – making it a total steal!
Lacura Healthy glow glycolic toner (£2.99) vs Pixi’s Glow tonic (£18)
![Testing the Longevity of Aldi Dupes: A Skincare Expert's Money-Saving Experience 5 Lacura's Healthy glow glycolic toner is a bargain at just £2.99](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/62acecdf-147c-458f-b365-be15e789b0a6.jpg)
Lacura’s Healthy glow glycolic toner is a bargain at just £2.99Credit: Aldi
![Testing the Longevity of Aldi Dupes: A Skincare Expert's Money-Saving Experience 6 Pixi's Glow tonic will set you back £18](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2bc65a70-dfe7-463c-af7c-6521f0e8e03b.jpg)
Pixi’s Glow tonic will set you back £18Credit: Pixi
The Pixi Glow Tonic, which retails at £18, is a highly concentrated, invigorating facial toner that claims to “deeply clean pores by sweeping away excess oil and impurities.”
So, just how does Aldi’s £2.99 replica version compare?
“I couldn’t feel any tingling sensation with this like I’d expect with a glycolic acid,” Cecilia admits.
“However, it removed dirt embedded in my pores so I knew it did something!”
She points out: “It’d be a good fit for anyone with sensitive skin.”
Cecilia notes that around three drops are needed per application and as both products are based on 250ml, you’ll get an impressive 90 applications out of it.
Lacura Healthy glow retinol toner (£2.99) vs Pixi’s retinol tonic (£18)
![Testing the Longevity of Aldi Dupes: A Skincare Expert's Money-Saving Experience 7 Lacura's Healthy glow retinol toner is priced at just £2.99](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/f04afff0-c44a-4f96-a07d-083cc70229ef.jpg)
Lacura’s Healthy glow retinol toner is priced at just £2.99Credit: Aldi
![Testing the Longevity of Aldi Dupes: A Skincare Expert's Money-Saving Experience 8 Pixi's retinol tonic retails at £18](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1bba4978-76a8-49de-b510-1fcbeadd973e.jpg)
Pixi’s retinol tonic retails at £18Credit: Pixi
Next up, Cecilia compares the £18 Pixi retinol tonic with Lacura’s budget replica, which retails at just £2.99.
The online product description for Pixi’s pricier version reads: “This potent youth-preserving tonic features a unique time-release Retinol to help rejuvenate the skin for a natural glow.”
But according to the skincare whizz, Aldi’s budget buy has a notable difference.
“I couldn’t feel any tingling sensation with this like I’d expect with a retinol, however it removed dirt embedded in my pores so I knew it did something,” she says.
“It’d be a good fit for skins that can’t handle too much exfoliation/aggressive exfoliation.”
The product instructions online recommend applying with a cotton pad to face, next and décolleté after cleaning and to use no more than once daily.
Cecilia explains that based on three drops being needed for application and the products being 250ml each, you should get an estimated 90 uses out of the products.
Lacura Q10 night cream (£1.49) vs Nivea’s Q10 Anti-wrinkle power night cream (£12.98)
![Testing the Longevity of Aldi Dupes: A Skincare Expert's Money-Saving Experience 9 Lacura's Q10 night cream is a total bargain at just £1.49](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/im-beauty-pro-bought-best-846199592.jpg)
Lacura’s Q10 night cream is a total bargain at just £1.49Credit: Aldi
![Testing the Longevity of Aldi Dupes: A Skincare Expert's Money-Saving Experience 10 Nivea's Q10 Anti-wrinkle power night cream will cost you £12.98](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/im-beauty-pro-bought-best-846199744.jpg)
Nivea’s Q10 Anti-wrinkle power night cream will cost you £12.98Credit: Nivea
According to Cecilia, Aldi’s £1.49 Lacura Q10 night cream is the perfect dupe for Nivea’s £12.98 Q10 Anti-wrinkle power night cream.
But there’s one major difference – the price tag.
Saving yourself £11.49 by opting for the cheaper version, Cecila notes: “It’s a rich cream with no scent which is quite nice for a night cream because you don’t want any parabens or fragrances damaging your skin.
“It went on as smoothly as the Nivea and didn’t cause any sensitivity or breakouts the next morning.”
She advises: “This is a good choice for sensitive skin however too heavy for an oily skin.”
And according to the skincare whizz, both products are based on 50ml, so with a 50p size application needed, you should get around 40 uses out of it.
Lacura Q10 eye cream (£2.99) vs Nivea’s Q10 anti-wrinkle power eye cream (£12.98)
![Testing the Longevity of Aldi Dupes: A Skincare Expert's Money-Saving Experience 11 Lacura's Q10 eye cream is priced at a very reasonable £2.99](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/5a54b849-2057-4a4c-aff3-23d7a52f1f90.jpg)
Lacura’s Q10 eye cream is priced at a very reasonable £2.99Credit: Aldi
![Testing the Longevity of Aldi Dupes: A Skincare Expert's Money-Saving Experience 12 Nivea's Q10 anti-wrinkle power eye cream will cost you £12.98](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/b0601850-7cf3-4418-aeb8-1dbc76942447.jpg)
Nivea’s Q10 anti-wrinkle power eye cream will cost you £12.98Credit: Nivea
Lacura’s Q10 eye cream, a £2.99 version of Nivea’s £12.98 Q10 anti-wrinkle power eye cream, is one dupe you may want to snap up – and quick.
Suitable for all skin types, it includes hyaluronic acid with coenzyme Q10, provitamin b5 and nicacinamide.
According to the instructions online, a small amount should be gently applied around the eyes every morning and evening.
Drawing comparisons between the two products, Cecilia notes: “It has a really lovely and light-weight feel.
“I definitely could see a brightening in my under eyes the next morning – it’s very similar to the Nivea.”
The skincare guru adds that only a pea size amount is needed per application.
With the products based on 20ml, she estimates you’ll get an impressive 40 applications out of it.
Concluding her findings, Cecilia explains: “I found all the dupes to be very similar in feel, smell and result as their more expensive counterparts,” she explains.
“The Aldi dupes have been dermalogically tested and contain good ingredients.
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“However, if you’re looking for a product that’s going to change your skin and give you great results, you’re unlikely to find that in Aldi as they’re diluted down to the point where the active ingredients aren’t able to work efficiently.
“But, I was pleasantly surprised by how good they were – my skin looked good the next day, no breakouts and still super glowy!”