ALDI Lacura Face Care Multi-Intensive Serum

ALDI Lacura Face Care Multi-Intensive Serum has been all over the news recently, being lauded by beauty editors as the next big ‘miracle’ cream on a budget: here’s my review of it…

UPDATE: ALDI have changed the name and packaging of this product, which is now known as Lacura Q10 Multi-Intensive Serum.

Scroll to the bottom of the post to find 10 alternatives you might want to try.

As some of you may remember, this product was the subject of intense press interest when it first came out, because it costs just £3.49, but is said to have an almost identical effect to the much more expensive Protect & Perfect by Boots, which sold out instantly upon its release, and has continued to sell well ever since.

Now, I’m a big fan of Protect & Perfect, which is one of the very few products which actually makes an difference to my skin, and I’m also a big cynic when it comes to skincare claims (although a hopeful one: I never really expect skincare products to do what they say they will, but I buy them anyway, because hope dies hard when you’re ageing as fast as I am.), so I paid very little attention to the media frenzy surrounding the ALDI face serum product, and proceeded on my merry way.

In fact, when it dropped through my door one day last year, I simply stuffed it into my “to be reviewed” drawer and continued to work my way through the various different lotions and potions that had already made it from the drawer to the bathroom cabinet.

All I can say to that is: sorry, Aldi Lacura serum. I was wrong, and I’m sorry. I should have listened. Because this? This cream has been a complete revelation to me. Quick science bit first:

“Lacura Multi-intensive serum is a light cream gel which has been developed in accordance with the latest scientific research. The special combination of ingredients includes Vitamins E and C, Shea Butter and Macadamia Nut Oil. Its moisture complex has a 24 hour effect to help improve the skin’s elasticity. When used regularly the skin feels noticeably smoother and tighter.”

I started using it about… a month ago? Six weeks ago? As I said, I wasn’t really expecting much, so I’m not really sure. For about two weeks, I didn’t notice any difference at all, although I didn’t have anything bad to say about it either. As you can see from the image, it comes in a glass bottle, very much like the original Protect & Perfect, with a pump action dispenser, and the product itself is a light, white coloured liquid, which is neither runny nor thick.

It goes on smoothly, absorbs easily, and has a strong, sweet scent which isn’t unpleasant, but which gets a bit wearing after a while, I find. Honestly, though, if I didn’t know what it was, I wouldn’t have been able to guess it was a £3.49 cream and not a much higher-end product.

But does it work, though?

After two weeks use, morning and night, I was sitting at my desk one morning, and I found myself absent mindedly stroking my cheek. “So soft!” I thought. “So smooth!” And it was. A quick bit of background here: my skin has always been fairly clear, but it’s never been without its issues – I don’t ever really find myself thinking positive thoughts about it, let’s put it that way. After a couple of weeks of this, though, I could really see – and feel – a difference.

My skin felt much, much softer, and was also much smoother and tighter, which meant that makeup went on better and looked better once it was on. Basically, it makes exactly the same difference to my skin that Protect & Perfect makes, and which I’ve never really found in other product. (In the interests of fairness, I should probably point out that it’s been a few months now since I last used P&P, and I don’t have a bottle of it in front of me to make a direct comparison, so I’m working purely from memory.)

ALDI Lacura Q10 Multi-Intensive Serum Review

As for fine lines… they’re still there. I’d have been utterly amazed if they weren’t. Honestly, I don’t really believe there are mere skin creams out there that can totally get rid of wrinkles. (If there are, I’ll buy them, though.) For me, though, it’s not really the fine lines that bother me. I find skin quality, sagging, and loss of volume to be much more ageing than the odd fine line, and while this product won’t do a whole lot on the last two on that list, it does make a big difference to the quality of my skin: I’ve even been using it around the eye area, where I have skin like dragon hide, and have noticed an improvement.

Top 10 Alternatives to ALDI Lacura Q10 Serum

If you don’t want to buy Aldi Lacura face serum, though — or are having difficulty finding it — here are some alternatives that could be worth a try instead:

1. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum: This serum helps to balance oil production, reduce the appearance of pores, and improve overall skin texture.
2. Paula’s Choice Resist Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Serum: This serum contains a blend of antioxidants that help to protect skin from environmental damage, reduce signs of aging, and improve skin texture.
3. Olay Regenerist Regenerating Serum: This serum contains a blend of peptides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid to improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and provide hydration.
4. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum: This serum contains hyaluronic acid to provide intense hydration and improve skin texture.
5. CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum: This serum contains vitamin C to brighten and even out skin tone, as well as hyaluronic acid to provide hydration and improve skin texture.
6. La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum: This serum contains two types of hyaluronic acid to provide intense hydration and improve skin texture, as well as vitamin B5 to soothe and repair the skin.
7. Vichy LiftActiv Serum 10 Supreme: This serum contains a blend of peptides, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C to improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and provide hydration.
8. L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum: This serum contains a high concentration of vitamin C to brighten and even out skin tone, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and provide hydration.
9. Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum: This serum contains a blend of antioxidants, including vitamin C, to protect skin from environmental damage, brighten and even out skin tone, and improve skin texture.
10. Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment: This serum contains lactic acid to exfoliate and improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.