The UK’s skincare wishlist has a new obsession: a £4.99 Aldi moisturiser that shoppers say delivers the same plush, “just-had-a-facial” glow as a £79 icon. Stock vanishes in days. Group chats hum. And the question lingers — can a supermarket jar really stand in for a pro-grade cream?
I first spotted it under the hard lights of an Aldi aisle on a rainy Tuesday, wedged between multipacks of cotton pads and bargain sheet masks. A neat glass jar, soft pink label, the kind of clean design that hints at something fancier. A woman in a navy parka lifted two into her basket like she’d found truffles.
Back home, the texture surprised me. Cushiony, not greasy, with that immediate slip your skin drinks in. The glow wasn’t disco-ball. More… rested. The sort of finish that pulls foundation closer to the face and smooths out the morning’s chaos.
I kept glancing at the price on the receipt. It felt unreasonably hopeful.
Why this £5 jar is causing such a commotion
Here’s the heart of it: people want the look. That plush, springy skin that sits well under makeup without pilling or sliding off by noon. The Aldi Lacura jar — the one that keeps selling out for £4.99 — hits that sweet spot.
Shoppers describe a quick, bouncy lift and a soft-focus sheen that flatters pores. Makeup grips better. Fine lines appear a touch less sharp. It’s not magic, but it’s close enough to trigger a rush on the shelves and a flurry of TikTok “dupe test” videos that rake in views by the million.
We’re talking familiar building blocks: glycerin for water-binding, a hit of shea-like richness for cushion, plus skin-quenching humectants that mimic the plush effect of prestige formulas. No, it’s not a carbon copy. Yet the sensory profile — that dense-then-vanish melt — lands in the same neighbourhood as the spendy jar everyone knows by name.
How to get Magic-Cream vibes from a £4.99 dupe
Warm a pea-sized scoop between fingertips until it loosens, then press — don’t rub — across cheeks, forehead, and chin. Massage from centre out with slow, upward strokes. Give it 60–90 seconds to settle before makeup. For extra slip on dry patches, tap a rice-grain amount onto the high points after foundation.
Two common mistakes: using way too much, and layering over a sticky toner so everything pills. Go lighter around the nose and hairline. Pair with a hydrating mist if skin runs tight, not another heavy cream. Let’s be honest: nobody waits the full two minutes every single morning. Even a 45-second pause helps.
On days when glow is the brief, mix a tiny dab into your base for a soft-lit finish. A south London makeup artist told me her bridal kit now carries both jars — the spendy classic and the Aldi stand-in — because clients “want the look, not the bill.”
“The dupe gives me 80–90% of the finish I want under foundation. If I’m shooting, I’ll reach for the luxe jar. For daily faces, the Aldi one is beautifully serviceable.”
- Press, don’t drag — friction can lift makeup.
- Wait a beat before SPF, then another beat before base.
- Combo skin? Use it as a targeted glow primer, not all over.
- Night trick: layer over a hydrating serum for a morning bounce.
What this craze really says about beauty right now
We’ve all lived that moment when a miracle cream goes viral and your budget shrinks on sight. The Aldi rush is less about a jar and more about agency. Shoppers want that editorial finish on commuter wages. They want the fun back — the glow, the play — without anxiety at the till.
As formulas converge, texture, payoff, and smart layering matter as much as any mystique. A £4.99 cream can’t replicate years of R&D or a luxury sensorial journey. It can get you startlingly close for a weekday face, which is where most of us live. The rest is hands, patience, and a little technique.
*Skin thrives on consistency.* The quiet routine you actually keep beats the perfect routine you abandon. And yes, the prestige jar still has a place — big meetings, big moments, or when you want the soft-focus turned up to eleven. The Aldi dupe? That’s your reliable everyday glow, the one you don’t mind using generously. **It’s the glow you can afford to love.**
| Point clé | Détail | Intérêt pour le lecteur |
|---|---|---|
| £4.99 Lacura moisturiser | Plush texture, fast-absorbing, glow-friendly | Affordable way to get a Magic Cream-style finish |
| Application method | Warm, press, wait 60–90 seconds, then base | Maximises grip and minimises pilling |
| When to use | Weekday glow under makeup, targeted priming on T-zone/cheeks | Custom results without overspending |
FAQ :
- Is the Aldi cream an exact dupe for Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream?Not exact. It aims for a similar cushioned feel and glow under makeup, at a fraction of the price.
- Will it work for oily or combination skin?Yes, with tweaks. Use a pea-sized amount and keep it to the high points, then mattify the T-zone.
- Can I use it as a primer?Many do. It gives slip and light radiance so foundation sits smoothly and grips better.
- Does it replace SPF?No. If your jar lists SPF, think of it as a bonus. You still need a dedicated sunscreen every morning.
- Where can I find it?Aldi stores and occasional online drops. It sells out fast, so look for restock dates or limit two per customer signs.
