Never in my wildest dreams I thought I’d be reviewing Aldi supermarket branded skincare range. Yet here I am! Furthermore, I took the longest time to review as well because I was in denial with the quality and performance of a supermarket branded skincare range. Moving on from my denial issues, let’s talk about the range itself. The Caviar range is sold out within minutes (in Australia) on its ‘special buy’ days. I witnessed this first hand myself, where the entire shelf was emptied in first six minutes of the store opening. Its crazy how this product is so insanely popular outside, however barely talked or mentioned about in our skincare community. Fear not, because that’s exactly what I’m about to delve in.
Touted to be the dupe for ultra luxe brand La Prairie Caviar collection, except that costs an arm and a leg, perhaps kidney and liver too. Comparatively, Lacura Caviar range retails at an incredibly low price (in UK £6.99, while in Australia I purchased the pack of night cream, day cream and eye gel for $29.99). The prime time ingredient in these creams is Caviar extract, which claims to make the skin lifted, tightened and toned. Caviar extract is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals and it reportedly tackles signs of ageing. Onto each product in the range that I tried:
Aldi Laura Caviar Illumination Night Cream claims to be a deeply intensive moisturiser that will leave you with silky smooth and supple skin following morning. I appreciate the claims are simple and realistic of a night cream and doesn’t sell the world of promises for a night cream. Sure, knock yourself out if a serum sells bigger promises but in all honesty a night cream is essentially the last step in your routine sealing all the actives and goodness of a serum and moisturizing your skin overnight. I would expect it to perform with that level of expectation. Now onto the actual juice, lets review the inci list:
Top: Lacura Caviar, Bottom: La Prairie
Obvious ingredient of Caviar extract (11th ingredient), while other stand outs include Panthenol aka Provitamin of B5, Globe Daisy extract (helps with skin redness enhances natural skin glow), Snow Algae extract, Peptide, Sodium Hyaluronate. If you closely review the inci list you will see, most of the moisturizing ingredients and humectants are listed above in the inci list, followed by the actives, and finally emulsifiers and preservatives. Based on that, you’d expect to see soft, nourished, and plump skin.
Comparatively, the La Prairie Luxe Cream inci list is more comprehensive aside from star ingredient of Caviar extract (24th ingredient). Although first few lines include silicones, emulsifiers and fatty alcohols. But it also includes Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Algae Extract, Shea Butter, Lactobacillus Ferment, Polyglucuronic Acid, Sea Lettuce Extract, Saxifraga Sarmentosa (type of herb) extract, Grape Fruit Extract, Mulberry Root Extract, Chinese Skullcap Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Horsetail Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Sage Leaf Extract, Calendula Flower Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Algae Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Lactic Acid.
With the addition of these other ingredients in a night cream, I’m not sure how the performance or claims are much different to Lacura brand. Also does the addition of these ingredients in their formulation warrant a $$$ price point? Food for thought, I wouldn’t comment as I have not personally used this cream so surely cannot compare its performance and results.
Lacura Caviar packaging is in a gorgeous blue glass jar which looks just every bit luxe (you can compare packaging beauty with much dearer options alongside). It smells like French cream in a luxe pot, nothing offensive, very pleasant.
For fragrance sensitive skin folks you might feel its much, but I absolutely adore it. The texture and consistency is light cream, doesn’t feel heavy at all. Most importantly works incredibly well with other skincare products in a routine and doesn’t cause any piling. Absorbs in the skin like a dream and doesn’t leave a tacky finish at all. It feels like velvet on skin, and settles in without any visible trace. Following morning, my skin is plump and supple. It didn’t diminish lines or wrinkles or whatever, nothing drastic but performed like a stellar night cream. Sealed it all in without creating any drama with other products, sealed and protected my skin overnight and following morning woke up to supple, plump and soft skin. Absolute winner in my books for the price point!! Definite repurchase.
Aldi Laura Caviar Illumination Day Cream with SPF15 (UVA/UVB protection) is quite the opposite of what I expected. I thought with ‘day cream’ in its name, it would be lighter consistency, however this is a denser cream in the jar. Of course the packaging didn’t fault, again a silver glass jar. Any one of these jars on your skincare vanity would look amazing, not for a minute an unaware person could say this is a supermarket branded skincare. Now for this day cream, one may ask if this is chemical or physical sunscreen in the formulation, well it is chemical with addition of Octocrylene, while other standard caviar range ingredients are included (Panthenol aka Provitamin of B5, Globe Daisy extract, Snow Algae extract, Peptide, Sodium Hyaluronate).
While the consistency is slightly denser, it doesn’t feel so on application or doesn’t even impact the absorbency in skin. Given it has sunscreen component to it, I feel if not massaged in skin properly it can leave me a whitish cast; but that’s only if I don’t massage it in skin thoroughly. Makeup sits really well over this cream and no piling experienced. Skin is well moisturized and nothing I could fault in this cream, however I still prefer lighter creams or gels during the day. Perhaps in cooler weather I would have a different take on it.
And the last product I tried from Aldi Lacura Caviar range is the Eye Mousse. Sheer perfection of consistency and texture, exactly as the name suggests…a Mousse. Light, fluffy, gel like consistency that absorbs instantly in my skin. Didn’t cause any milia which is usually my first concern when trialling any new eye product. Personally I did not notice any visible impact on fine lines around my eyes, but where it helped me was with puffiness under my eyes, and that’s where I draw the line. Although very pleasant to use and perhaps if I was committed to using it more consistently, I may have more to report on its results.
Now there are many other products available in the Caviar range, however I’ve yet to see it an Australian Aldi. I know UK Aldi’s sells the extended range which includes three minute peel mask, eye roll on, and seven day intensive treatment (ampoule format). I would absolutely love to try the intensive treatment however until these are available down under, my top pick is surely the Night Cream. If you want to try one product in this range it would be that cream, and perhaps if you don’t mind denser day creams.
HHW.com
xx
Starting a simple routine with a cleanser called the Pure & Gentle Cleansing Gel. This cleanser claims to be gentle, non drying facial wash. To which I would add, a light citrus scented gel based cleanser, which builds to a light to medium foam. I typically used it in the mornings or as a second cleanse in evening. While I tried removing makeup, it didn’t do so well with a full face/intensive makeup face. So if you’re light basic makeup wearer you might be fine with it. This cleanser doesn’t need a washcloth, however after splashing and cleansing with water it left a soapy feel on my skin. Initially I thought it might be the quantity of cleanser I was using however that wasn’t the case. Despite its foaming action, I noticed it did not strip or dry my skin’s barrier and that can be squarely attributed to its formulation (addition of Aloe juice, Glycerin, Vitamin E, Phospholipids, Macadamia Glycerides, Sodium PCA).
Exfoliant. This is not a peel exfoliant in the typical sense with hyper charged alpha hydroxy acids or enzymes. I see this product more of stimulant and booster for skin. It also claims to revitalize and brighten the complexion which I didn’t notice in my personal experience. Sadly, both the inci list and performance fell short. I’ve tried the regular and pro version of this peel and the results varied in terms of what gave me most tingle and flush. Or you could say oomph of blood circulation. The thick-ish gel consistency spreads nicely but had to be removed with washcloth and not much to report in terms of results. One cautionary warning, sensitive skinned people should be careful using Cinnamon oil in this formulation, as it may irritate the heck out of your skins. All in all, for USD $75 there are better peel alternatives available.
After an acid toner, follows a refreshing generous mist of Restorative Tonic Mist. One of the first products I ever tried from this brand and I instantly liked it. One of the reasons I really like this is because of its use of Witch Hazel, as simple as that. In our fancy skincare world or #beautycommunity no one really appreciates 
Day Cream. Rich it is, but lightweight cream, that works nicely under makeup and no piling either. Wonderful when I may have overdone an acid or retinol night before, or indulged in bottle full/emptied libations. But on regular mornings, too rich for my skin in a humid summer morning. Within couple of hours, my skin is a reflection of a frying pan causing an avalanche of makeup (not a good look). The jury is out on how this performs with my skin as we get into winter. The inci list boasts some nice and notable ingredients with Niacinamide, antioxidants, Hyaluronic acid. The incident list also explains the rich formulation with inclusion of Vitamin E, Borage Oil, Grape seed oil, Shea Butter. This would be particularly nice for dry skinned folks. I wish it was touch lighter, seems like it is trying too hard for a day cream and it would work for larger population.
On the other hand, Retexturizing Night Cream is a treasure in the chest of night creams. Rich but easily absorbing cream, enriched with Lactic Acid…exfoliating in a beautiful rich formula, truly retexturizing, which rings true to its name. This one works stand alone as ‘one stop shop’ or layers perfectly with a host of other steps in night skin routine. Absolutely adore this cream, with 9% Lactic acid, Peptides, Beta Glucan, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic acid is rightfully the work horse. My skin appears so healthy and balanced the following morning. The gentle exfoliation coupled with ingredients that help repair and build the barrier.
Another brand discovered through the Boxwalla subscriptions boxes, 
Marshmallow Face Cleanser didn’t meet any of my pre conceived notions of a green beauty cleanser. In a typical green/natural beauty fashion, it is not an oil or balm cleanser. It is a foaming cleanser which is blended with organic castille soap with a dash of strong-brewed calendula flowers, marshmallow root, and chamomile flowers, along with unrefined cold-pressed pumpkin seed oil, hemp seed oil and jojoba seed oil. The blue tansy, German blue chamomile oils and Lemon Balms oils are known for their anti-inflammatory, calming, soothing, repairing, and antiviral properties. This cleanser has a very soft velvety lather which doesn’t strip the skin of natural oils or leave that squeaky clean feeling. The scent is calming, earthy and green but not overpowering in any way at all. I wouldn’t use this as first cleanse or something to remove my makeup or sunscreen. This is certainly my morning or second cleanse.
whole Rosehip fruit is used, i.e. fruit skin, pulp and seed. Given we as consumers are swimming in a sea of standalone/single oil Rosehip oils, at various price points what you need to look out for is which part of the fruit have they used in their oils. Mainly you’d notice seed oils, not including fruit skin and pulp. Including fruit skin and pulp is where Rosa gets that rich vibrant hue and unmistakable fruity yet earthy scent in the oil. Also the fruit skin and pulp are high in carotenoids (aka excellent anti oxidants). Another very important part in any oil, is method of extraction because it impacts the oil’s performance around its inherent properties. Rosa is Cold pressed (no heat used, altering its natural properties state), Certified Organic, Unrefined (purest form, virgin oil), Undeodorized (you will still smell the true scent of the fruit), Unwinterized (all natural fats are retained in the final product).
On a Swing Among Trees, a one of a kind product in green beauty world where many have experimented with pressed serum, oil serum, gel serum…this is a Serum in a Mist.
Passion Eye Serum comes as a complete surprise for me. I would never opt to use an oil based serum for my eye region given I’m very prone to milia. However, pairing this with retinol based gel serum and this oil serum on top has been incredibly helpful for my eyes. The oil instantly absorbs and doesn’t feel greasy feel. Most importantly it is not so heavy on the thin skinned eye region that caused milia. Personally I still prefer to use retinol (Dr Dennis Gross eye serum or La Roche Posay Redermic R) and go over with this oil. I would be lying if I said this oil was limited to use around my eyes, I used around my lips and all over my face too! This composition certainly outperforms its simple inci list.
Looking at the pic above, naming it Nap in the Meadow (NiM) was the most appropriate name. It claims to deliver a broad range of benefits in a single product: deep hydration, strong anti-inflammatory action, anti-oxidants, anti-aging benefits, refreshing effects, and even some acne reducing, tissue repairing, and sunburn and sun damage repair.
Ingredients: Cold-press aloe barbadensis leaf juice*, Sambucus nigra (elderberry) fruit extract††, Curcuma longa (turmeric) root Supercritical CO2 Select* extract*, caprylyl capryl glucoside (naturally derived), Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil (* and †), Achillea millefolium (yarrow) oil*, Helichrysum italicum (Italian everlasting) oil†, Marticaria recutita (German blue chamomile) oil*, potassium sorbate (natural food-grade preservative), organic Pelargonium graveolens (geranium bourbon) oil, Pelargonium roseum (geranium rose) oil*, Copaifera officinalis (copaiba balsam) resin†, Ferula galbaniflua (galbanum) essential oil*, xanthan gum, ascorbic acid (vit. C), wildflower essences†. *Certified organic. †Responsibly wildcrafted. ††ECOCERT/COSMOS approved and Australian Certified Organic. Aloe certified by the International Aloe Science Council (IASC) for purity and content.
Ingredients: Cold-press aloe barbadensis leaf*, Daucus carota (carrot) seed essential oil*, natural non-GMO tocopherol (vit. E from sunflowers), Helichrysum italicum (Italian everlasting) oil*, natural ECOCERT preservative {glycerin, Leuconostoc (radish root) ferment filtrate, Lonicera japonica (honeysuckle) flower extract, Lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle) extract, Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen) bark extract, gluconolactone}, Marticaria recutita (German blue chamomile) oil*, carbomer, ascorbic acid (vit. C), Mentha spicata (spearmint) oil*. *Certified organic. Aloe certified by the International Aloe Science Council (IASC) for purity and content.
Ingredients: Organic cold-press unrefined Psidium guajava (guava) seed oil (India), organic cold-press unrefined Silybum marianum (milk thistle) seed oil, cold-press unrefined Vacinnium macrocarpon (cranberry) seed oil*, cold-press unrefined organic whole-fruit Rosa canina (rosehip) oil, cold-press unrefined Plukenetia volubilis (sacha inchi) seed oil*, cold-press unrefined Rubus ideaus (raspberry) seed oil (organic whenever available), organic cold-press unrefined Caryocar braziliensis (pequi) fruit oil, wildcrafted cold-press unrefined Moringa oleifera seed oil, cold-press unrefined Calophyllum inophyllum (tamanu) nut kernel oil* (India), organic cold-press unrefined Mauritia flexuosa (buriti) fruit oil, Curcuma longa (turmeric) root Supercritical CO2 Select* extract*, vit. E (from certified non-GMO sunflowers), organic Oenothera biennis (evening primrose) seed CO2 Total extract, organic Apium graveolens L. (celery) CO2 Total extract, wildcrafted Acacia dealbata (mimosa) flower absolute (artisanally extracted in Grasse, France). *Certified organic.
Ingredients : Cold-press aloe barbadensis whole-leaf juice*, sustainably wildcrafted cold-press unrefined Caryocar braziliensis (pequi) fruit oil, sustainably wildcrafted cold-press unrefined Mauritia flexuosa (buriti) fruit oil, sustainably wildcrafted cold-press unrefined Moringa oleifera seed oil, polysorbate 20 (naturally derived), potassium sorbate (natural food-grade preservative), natural non-GMO tocopherol (vit. E from sunflowers), xanthan gum, ascorbic acid (vit. C), citric acid. *Certified organic. Aloe certified by the International Aloe Science Council (IASC) for purity and content.
Hidden Harmony World 