We pit Aldi’s £36 copycat Lacura make-up range against £289 premium cosmetics — but is budget or brand better for your night-out?
The packaging alone shows Aldi has used ideas from other brands, but how do the products fare?
ALDI has a new make-up range – hot on the heels of its skincare one that won rave reviews earlier this year.
Launched on Thursday, the Lacura collection consists of six products – and shoppers were quick to point out the similarities between the Aldi make-up and cult crowd-pleasers from the likes of Benefit and Charlotte Tilbury.
The packaging alone shows Aldi has used ideas from other brands, but how do the products fare?
Here, ISABEL DEIBE tries Aldi’s make-up products, costing a total £36.94, and equivalent rivals for £289.50, and gives her verdicts on how they compare.
Primer
Lacura Snapshot ready primer (£5.99) v Photo Finish Foundation Primer, (£26, Smashbox)
These products are virtually identical – even down to the iconic tubes.
Having used the more expensive original for a long time, someone could easily swap the contents of my must-have primer for Aldi’s version and I would never even realise.
Both feel light and silky on the skin, and neither has a particularly strong smell.
But with Aldi’s version £20 cheaper, this is definitely a way to spend less on your make-up without losing any of the effect.
- Lacura Snapshot ready primer, £5.99 from Aldi —
- Photo Finish Foundation Primer, £26 from Boots —
Foundation
Lacura Illusion Touch 2 In 1 Foundation (£5.99) v Skin Caviar Concealer Foundation SPF 15 (£144.50, La Prairie at John Lewis)
I couldn’t justify more than £100 on 30ml of product so was glad to see Aldi’s version.
Both foundations have a built-in concealer – great for those on the go and to declutter your make-up bag.
I expected the foundation to be thin and watery – but no.
And as it comes with a pump rather than screw top, it felt and looked almost as good as the pricier one.
I loved the foundation as a standalone but the concealer doesn’t match the creaminess of La Prairie’s for hiding under-eye bags.
- Lacura Illusion Touch 2 In 1 Foundation, £5.99 from Aldi —
- Skin Caviar Concealer Foundation SPF 15, £144.50 from La Prairie at John Lewis —
Highlighter
Lacura Broadway Shape And Glow (£6.99) v Filmstar Bronze And Glow (£49, Charlotte Tilbury)
The packaging is almost identical and looks expensive.
I tried Charlotte Tilbury’s first and loved it so much that I had pretty much ruled out Aldi’s cheaper copy.
But I was shocked to discover the less costly kit blended out nicely to give me the cheek bones of my dreams. What I loved most was the subtle but glamorous “glow” shade in both kits.
For just a fraction of the original price but a more dramatic effect, Aldi’s version is definitely a steal.
- Lacura Broadway Shape And Glow, £6.99 from Aldi —
- Filmstar Bronze And Glow, £49 from Charlotte Tilbury —
Bronzer
Lacura Aloha Bronzer (£5.99) v Hoola Bronzer (£25.50, Benefit)
Lots of people swear by Benefit’s bronzer, so Aldi are on to a winner if their own copy matches up.
Coming in quirky packaging including a small kabuki brush, Aldi’s bronzer takes a little more work to blend in and gives a less intense bronze glow than the Benefit equivalent.
The products do a pretty similar job and are perfect for the winter months when you are missing that summer tan.
But for those who like a bit more depth, best stick to Benefit.
- Lacura Aloha Bronzer, £5.99 from Aldi —
- Hoola Bronzer, £25.50 from Benefit —
Blusher
Lacura blush (£5.99) v Nars Blush in Orgasm (£24, at Feelunique.com)
Nars blush is one of the most famous of all time. This peachy-pink colour with flecks of gold is hard to beat and I wasn’t sure I could be converted to Aldi’s.
There is no missing the similarities between the packaging and the shade itself.
Even though it isn’t quite as pigmented as Nars’ , Aldi’s blusher blends into the apples of my cheeks with ease.
It’s a good duplicate but Nars’ blusher isn’t the industry’s most iconic for nothing. I can’t be torn away from the original.
- Lacura blush, £5.99 from Aldi —
- Nars Blush in Orgasm, £24 from Feelunique.com —
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Mascara
Lacura Too Legit mascara (£5.99) v They’re Real mascara (£21.50, Benefit)
Mascara is a girl’s best friend, and Benefit’s take is highly praised as one of the best on the market.
At first glance, the two look like different versions of the same product.
They also have similar names and almost indistinguishable application wands.
Aldi’s mascara does exactly the same job, by separating and enhancing the lashes.
I was so impressed that I am now seriously considering just binning my false lashes and then buying Aldi’s mascara to replace my Benefit version.
- Lacura Too Legit mascara, £5.99 from Aldi —
- They’re Real mascara, £21.50 from Benefit —
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