Kate Demolder: These are the Lidl and Aldi beauty dupes worth buying on your next grocery shop
Dupe culture is alive and well. For some of us, this news is joyous – what’s the harm in spending (sometimes far) less money to achieve the same result? But for others, especially those with sensitive, reactive skin or allergies, caution remains.
Dupes, quite simply, refer to a lower-priced version of a popular, typically high-end product, but at a more affordable cost. As you can imagine during a cost-of-living crisis, they’ve grown to become more popular than ever.
Two companies that have jumped on dupe culture with aplomb are Lidl and Aldi. The German superstores have released beauty lines in recent years that have commanded the zeitgeist, to the point where almost everybody has had at least one iteration in their basket.
While this is great for the consumer and, indeed, the beauty lover, linking higher-end products with lower-end prices is something that should be erred with caution as, quite often, ingredients differ and reactions too.
That said, both of these brands have produced some quite remarkable products in recent years – including some that many claim are dupes of products at the higher end of department store luxury.
This Glycerin-filled formula – a common, safe and cheap molecule that protects against irritation – is great. I wear waterproof mascara and this, when held to the eye with a cloth for about 10 seconds, removes everything. It also doesn’t sting. The only thing I can mark it down for is that it does contain parfum – a term which denotes an additional added scent and one that can mean a collection of anywhere between 30 and 200 chemicals. As a general rule of thumb, people with sensitive skin should stay away from scented products. But on my sensitive skin, this worked brilliantly and caused no irritation.
The whole Ár Ocean range contains active botanicals and sea minerals to calm and is made in Ireland. A lot of its products are brilliant, but I particularly loved this eye cream: nutrient-rich, high in squalane and gorgeous on the skin. It also doesn’t make my eyes water. An immediate re-purchase.
This travel-size product does double duty in style. Oily enough to remove mascara, yet light enough to use on the rest of the skin without breaking out. Top marks.
Many rave reviews of Lidl’s tan range – which comes in Medium, Dark and Extra Dark – exist and for good reason: they are incredibly decent. Made in Mayo, these false tanning products are as good as any mid-range mousse out there. I wouldn’t hesitate to add these to my routine.
An excellent dupe for the lip oil from a famous beauty brand, fronted by a redhead, which charges nine times the price for a similar product. This feels luxurious and leaves lips looking juicy. Put some on before bed to wake up with extra-soft lips.
I was extremely excited to try these but, unfortunately, they’re a little on the glittery side for day-to-day foundation use. That said, they would make excellent highlighters. In three different hues, there should be one for everyone. Lighten the inner corners of the eyes, brow bone, cupid’s bow and cheekbones with this product and you’ll really get the benefit.
Another immediate winner. Light, suitable for sensitive skin (mine, which is quite reactive, didn’t flush fuchsia in the least) and super-fresh feeling. This would be excellent for everyday use and special beauty looks.
I would re-buy this tomorrow. A beautifully thick cream that sinks into the skin quickly. With a scent not dissimilar to Nivea, it reminds me of Pond’s Cold Cream – which is something thousands of women over 70 with great skin swear by.
