Lacura may not have the cult cachet of luxury beauty houses, yet it has quietly built a reputation for punching well above its price tag. In the crowded aisles of ALDI, this in-house brand manages to make savvy shoppers feel like they have uncovered a skincare secret.
The name Q10 Renew Anti Wrinkle Night Cream is a mouthful that sounds a little like a sci-fi gadget, but Lacura claims its £1.50 pot can leave skin looking radiant, healthy and youthful thanks to a cocktail of Q10, natural oils and a “special moisturising complex.” Lofty promises for pocket-change pricing.
I spent two full weeks slathering it on each night, looking for any real softening of fine lines and improvement in morning glow. The aim was simple: find out if this budget buy deserves a spot on the bedside table or if it should stay on the discount shelf.
Disclaimer: this review is not paid or sponsored. All opinions are personal, based on my experience, and individual results may vary.
What Is Q10 Renew Anti Wrinkle Night Cream?
This is Lacura’s budget friendly take on an overnight treatment, the kind of product designed to work while you sleep when skin switches from daytime defence mode to repair mode. Unlike a daytime moisturiser, an overnight treatment can afford to be heavier and packed with active ingredients because it does not need to sit under makeup or shield against UV light. You apply it as the last step in your evening routine, then wash it off in the morning.
At its core, Q10 Renew Anti Wrinkle Night Cream is a basic moisturising formula that costs £1.50 and aims to soften fine lines and boost radiance. Lacura highlights coenzyme Q10, a naturally occurring antioxidant that helps neutralise free radicals, alongside a blend of plant oils, panthenol and vitamin E for barrier support. The texture is conventional cream, suitable for all skin types according to the brand, and the promise is simple: consistent nightly use should leave skin looking healthier and more supple over time.
Did It Work?
I parked my usual overnight treatment on the bathroom shelf for a few days in the name of science, a highly controlled experiment that mostly involved me dramatically waving goodbye to my fancy serum and picking up the £1.50 pot instead. Fourteen nights felt like a fair window to spot any real difference so I used the cream exactly as directed: a pea sized amount on clean skin, no other occlusive products on top.
Night one the texture felt comforting but a touch heavier than I am used to. It spread easily but sat on the surface for a good ten minutes before sinking in. I woke up with skin that felt soothed yet ever so slightly greasy around the T-zone which a quick cleanse fixed. By the third application that residue bothered me less and my cheeks definitely felt plumper in the morning which I chalk up to the generous dose of glycerin and triglycerides holding water in.
Midway through the trial I started looking for the headline promise: a softer appearance of fine lines. The crow’s-feet at the corners of my eyes looked marginally smoother right after cleansing, though by lunchtime they were back to their usual depth. Radiance was easier to track. My complexion looked fresher and less sallow most mornings, almost like I had managed a full eight hours of sleep even when I had not.
Days ten to fourteen showed diminishing returns. Hydration remained solid but no further improvements rolled in. The cream never clogged my pores which is a win but it also never delivered the transformative shift that might tempt me to retire my pricier night treatment. I ended the fortnight with skin that felt comfortable and reasonably bright yet my fine lines and early sun spots were unchanged.
So did it work? Partly. Q10 Renew Anti Wrinkle Night Cream lives up to its claim of leaving skin looking healthy and hydrated and it does so at a price that almost feels like a printing error. Still it stops short of long-term line smoothing for me. While I appreciate the extra cushion of moisture I will be going back to my usual night product and keeping this one as a back-up for travel or tight budget weeks.
Q10 Renew Anti Wrinkle Night Cream’s Main Ingredients Explained
The headline act is ubiquinone, better known as coenzyme Q10, an antioxidant that helps neutralise free radicals produced by UV and pollution. In skin care it is praised for supporting energy production in cells which can translate to a brighter complexion over time. The formula pairs Q10 with a solid mix of classic hydrators: glycerin pulls water into the skin, sodium hyaluronate keeps it there and caprylic/capric triglyceride gives that cushy after-feel that made my cheeks feel plush by morning.
Next up are the lipids. Soybean, safflower and wheat germ oils deliver linoleic and linolenic acids, key for a flexible barrier. Avocado oil unsaponifiables add a hit of phytosterols while dimethicone forms a breathable seal that locks everything down until sunrise. None of these oils are heavyweights but wheat germ and avocado can tip into the “moderate” range on the comedogenic scale, meaning they have a slightly higher chance of clogging pores in acne-prone skin. Comedogenic simply means an ingredient can block pores and trigger breakouts, so patch testing is smart if you are sensitive to oils.
The formula also contains a retinoid duo: retinol and retinyl palmitate. Given the £1.50 price tag the concentration is likely low yet any vitamin A derivative is off-limits during pregnancy unless cleared by a doctor. The same caution applies to very reactive skin that does not tolerate retinoids well. Panthenol and vitamin E are included to soothe and offset some potential irritation while phospholipids and lecithin help emulsify the water and oil phases for a stable cream texture.
Good news for plant-based shoppers: the ingredient list appears free from obvious animal derivatives so it should be suitable for vegans and vegetarians, though Lacura does not carry a formal vegan certification. Fragrance sits near the bottom of the list which explains the subtle fresh scent I noticed. It did not irritate me but those with fragrance allergies may want to steer clear. Finally the preservative system relies on phenoxyethanol plus benzoic and dehydroacetic acids, a common trio that keeps the pot safe from bacteria without parabens.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
Here is a quick rundown of the highlights and the points worth pondering before you pop it in your basket.
What Works Well:
- Budget-friendly way to add an antioxidant, lipid and vitamin blend to a night routine
- Reliable overnight hydration that leaves skin feeling cushioned and looking fresher by morning
- Subtle fresh scent and a texture that spreads easily without pilling over serums
What to Consider:
- Rich finish can linger, so oilier skin may wake up with a slight T-zone sheen
- Line smoothing is modest and seems to plateau after the first week
- Wheat germ and avocado oils may not suit acne-prone or highly reactive skin types
My Final Thoughts
After two weeks of diligent use I can confirm that Lacura’s Q10 Renew Anti Wrinkle Night Cream does a respectable job of basic overnight maintenance. It plumps, cushions and leaves the complexion looking like you went to bed on time which, in this price bracket, already feels mildly heroic. Still, the grand anti-ageing claims deserve a small asterisk; the fine lines around my eyes may have enjoyed a short vacation each morning but they were back on the clock by lunch. If you are mainly chasing hydration, minimal ingredient bells and the thrill of spending less than the cost of a bus ticket, you will be happy. If you are hunting for noticeable wrinkle reversal you will probably want to keep browsing the aisle.
I have road-tested more night creams than I care to admit so I feel I gave this little pot a fair audition. Skin types that lean normal to slightly dry will appreciate the soft, occlusive finish. Very oily or acne-prone readers might find the wheat germ and avocado combo a touch too friendly for their pores. My own combination skin tolerated it well though I preferred using it on cooler evenings when the richness felt comforting rather than cloying. Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, with caveats. It is perfect as a starter night cream, a travel backup or an end-of-month treat but it will not dethrone a powerhouse formula. Overall score: 7/10.
Speaking of powerhouse formulas, there are excellent alternatives for different budgets and needs. Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is an all-rounder that delivers balanced hydration, gentle antioxidants and a silky finish suitable for every skin type at a still-sensible price. If your barrier is screaming for a cuddle the Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue by BIOSSANCE layers like a dream and calms redness by morning. Those looking for firmer cheeks might prefer Vichy’s LiftActiv Collagen Specialist Night which, in my experience, gives a visible bounce after a fortnight. Finally, when my skin feels temperamental the LANEIGE Cica Sleeping Mask steps in with soothing madecassoside and a pillowy texture that never clogs pores. I have used each of these repeatedly and they all earn a spot in my rotation for different reasons.
Before you embark on any nocturnal skincare adventure a quick reality check: results rely on consistency and they are not permanent. Always patch test before slathering a new product all over your face, even if that makes me sound like an over-protective parent. Better safe than sorry, right?