SUPERDRUG SWAP SHOP*

We all like to treat ourselves to higher end beauty products now and then. Maybe more now, than then. I am guilty of wanting a product purely because it's a label I love, or having simply not explored the market for a cheaper alternative. Thankfully, the amazing people over at Superdrug have opened my eyes. I was challenged to try Superdrugs own brand products in place of my other popular brand products. I sent a list of my summer essentials and before I knew it a lovely box arrived filled with goodies. 

I have been using these products over the past two months in order to test out whether I would truly purchase them again. I will be talking about the effectiveness of the product, the look of the product and other comparisons that are essential to me when buying new items. 

LETS TALK BODY OIL

I love body oil, especially on holiday, it's an absolute must. When you live in a country where the weather is going to be rain 99% of the time, shimmer oils are perfect. I received the NUXE Huile Prodigieuse (Dry Oil Golden Shimmer) for christmas. I love it due to the gorgeous finish it leaves on the skin. It is a product that feels very luxurious and has a beautiful packaging that feels expensive. While the NUXE Huile Prodigieuse (Dry Oil Golden Shimmer) retails at £21 for 50ml and £42 for 100ml, Not exactly cheap, the Superdrug Solait Shimmer Oil retails at only £7.99 for 100ml! Now to me, this is a product well worth considering. The Superdrug alternative smells absolutely beautiful, I would purchase it as a perfume if I could! I love the finish of the product as it leaves the same radiant glow without looking too artificial. Both the NUXE and Superdrug products contain various beneficial oils which to me is a nice plus to an already gorgeous product. I feel the Solait Shimmer Oil has a beautiful packaging, although not as luxurious as NUXE, but still nice to look at!

VERDICT: I would definitely swap my NUXE Huile Prodigieuse for the Solait Shimmer Oil. I actually prefer the Superdrug alternative as it gave me a much more impressive result!

LETS TALK SHOWER GEL

Waking up for a shower is never fun, however, when you have a nice shower gel it seems a little less of a chore. I love Champneys, they always have lovely products that genuinely feel spa like. I really enjoy using the Champneys Spa Treatments Citrus Blush Shower Gel, it feels lovely on the skin and it is packaged very beautifully. There is something about citrus washes that wake you up and leave you feeling fresh. The Champneys Shower Gel retails at £6 whereas Superdrug Orange & Satsuma Fruity Shower Gel retails at only 79p! The smell of the two products  differ hugely, however, they both have a very fresh scent. I do enjoy using the Superdrug alternative, however it doesn't have the same luxurious feeling. Don't get me wrong, it smells great and it does it's job, but i just didn't get the same impressed feeling as I did with the Champneys Shower Gel.

VERDICT: I would not swap my Champneys Spa Treatments Citrus Blush Shower Gel for the Superdrug Orange & Satsuma Fruity Shower Gel. However, I did enjoy using it and would definitely use it again.

LETS TALK SUN PROTECTION

If you follow my blog, you will know I have been having Laser Scar Treatments on my face. Whilst undergoing the treatment, it's extremely important to protect your skin from any burning. I usually wear the Garnier Ambre Solaire Face & Body Lotion SPF 50 under my makeup, it gives a nice base and it does it's job. It retails at £4 whereas the Solait Fluid SPF 50 retails at £3.49. I feel that both products are pretty equal in terms of doing their job. Both sit nicely under makeup and keep me protected throughout the day. I like the smell of both products and in terms of packaging, both are very similar! The only difference really is the price, saving 51p when you purchase the Superdrug alternative. 

VERDICT: I would happily use either product. Both the Garnier Ambre Solaire Face & Body Lotion SPF 50 and Solait Fluid SPF 50 are extremely similar!

LETS TALK FACE SCRUBS

I love using a face scrub, it makes me feel like my skin is fresh and happy. I have been using the St Ives Invigorating Apricot Facial Scrub 150ml for a few months now. It smells great and leaves my skin refreshed and moisturised. One of the main reasons I like this scrub is due to the smell, the product has a gorgeous scent. It isn't very harsh either, I hate scrubs that feel like your skin is going to come off!! It retails at £4.19 whereas the Superdrug Simply Pure Smoothing Face Scrub 75ml retails at £2.69. This is the only Superdrug product that I didn't like. I felt it was drying and didn't scrub much at all! It felt more like a cleanser. I didn't feel impressed by it and it felt very cheap. You get a lot more for your money with the St Ives scrub, both quality and quantity wise. 

VERDICT: I would not swap the St Ives Invigorating Apricot Facial Scrub 150ml for the Superdrug Simply Pure Smoothing Face Scrub 75ml.

LETS TALK SHAMPOO

My hair is very thick and frizzes very easily as I have naturally curly hair. I tend to go for a silky shampoo that tames my hair and makes it easier for me to style. I use a number of different shampoos so I am going to do a general comparison. The Superdrug Shampoo Extra Shine Pro-V 400ml Superdrug retails at £1.12, to me that is cheap compared to some brands retailing at over £3. I really liked this shampoo, it left my hair manageable and silky smooth, just as it describes. It hasn't got a special smell, however, it is still pleasant! You get a lot of product so you wouldn't have to worry about it running out. It lathered really quickly which is what I like, I hate products that take half a bottle to get a decent hair wash!

VERDICT: I would definitely purchase this shampoo over any of the others that I use. I feel it did it's job well and it left my hair frizz free! I also love the Superdrug coconut shampoo so give that a try too if you are looking for something new to try!

LETS TALK BODY CREAM

Body cream is something I see as a luxury product, no matter the price! I love applying it after a lovely relax in the bath, it puts me in such a nice mood! I love the Ted Baker Body Soufflé products, they smell and feel amazing. You get loads of product and they look so gorgeous in your bathroom. They usually retail at around £10 whereas the Superdrug Vitamin E All Over Body Cream retails at £2.99. This is a huge price difference! I really liked the Superdrug alternative, it felt lovely on my skin and left it feeling silky smooth. The product has a really nice smell, I absolutely love it! I couldn't believe how cheap it was and how happy I was with the results! You get a lot more product in the Superdrug Body Cream, a lot more than your usual popular brand products. 

VERDICT: I would definitely purchase the Superdrug Vitamin E All Over Body Cream retails and swap it into my routine!

Over all I am so i so impressed with the Superdrug own brand products! They have a lovely range of items and cater to so many different needs! let me know if you have tried any of these products and whether you would swap them for any of your staple beauty products!

*This product was gifted to me, all opinions remain my own