If you have been around for some time now, you know that I focus on ingredients when reviewing skincare more than I do on how something feels on my skin. That isn’t because I don’t care about the experience of applying stuff, I love a silky smooth texture as much as anyone else.
It is because I believe that if you have to rely on the claims a brand makes, you are just as likely to get great skin as you are to win the lottery. It may happen, but the odds are against you.
On top of that, if you know what ingredients you need, you will be able to discover gems where you usually stock up on groceries. For a bargain.
Like the Lacura face Hydro Mulit-Intensiv serum. Found at Aldi.
What Lacura claims:
Actually not much.
It says on the bottle that this serum is hydrating, anti-aging and soothing.
Facts:
Prize and size
The serum is housed in a frosted glass bottle, comes with a pump and contains 50 ml. While the packaging isn’t the prettiest around, it sure is functional. And for only 4,99 € you get a whole lot of product.
Sadly I cant provide you with an online link, you will have to check in store. Or you can search eBay and see that many people seem to be paying up to four times of the regular price just to get their hands on it…
Texture and smell
The serum is lightweight, easy to distribute and smells faintly floral. While it sinks in quick enough to be worn beneath makeup, it has a slightly tacky feeling when applied.
Application and effects
After applying it to my face in the mornings, the tacky feeling vanished quickly and left me with hydrated and plumped feeling skin. Fine lines due to hydration were less visible and my makeup applied on top wasn’t disrupted.
As my skin isn’t very dehydrated at the moment, I did prefer to use it in the evenings though, where it worked especially well after my chemical exfoliants or cleansing face masks.
Favorable ingredients:
- Aloe barbadensis: Anti-inflammatory, soothing
- Glycerin: Moisturizing
- Panthenol: Anti-inflammatory, locks in moisture
- Sodium Lactate /Lactic Acid: Resurfacing, hydrating
- Ubichinon: Coenzyme Q10, antioxydant
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Hydrating
- Allantoin: Soothing
- Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract: improves collagen production, hydrating
The company website lists several other, fancy named entities like “Aquarich”, “AquaComplex” or “Revital”, but once you dive in deep into what they are supposed to be and do, you will discover that they are names for a combination f the above mentioned ingredients.
Unfavorable Ingredients:
- Fragrance (way down on the ingredient list)
- Parabene (I personally don’t mind them)
- Alcohol (again, way at the bottom of the list)
Does it live up to its claims?
Yes.
It is soothing, hydrating and has anti-aging properties due to the antioxidants and the hydration it offers.
Will I rebuy?
Probably not.
Just because it is not aimed at my skin type at the moment and I use other products more often. But I introduced my mother and sister to it and both are very happy with the purchase.
Who do I recommend it to?
Anyone with dehydrated skin.
Anyone with aging skin.
Anyone on a budget looking for great skincare or trying to save up for winning the lottery.
Only the sensitive skins out there should probably test it first, due to the added fragrance.
Have you ever shopped your local discounter for skincare?
Or do you rely on the company claims to pick your anti-aging weapon of choice?