We pit Aldi’s £36 copycat Lacura make-up range against £289 premium cosmetics — but is budget or brand better for your night-out?

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.