I spent a day trekking across three different Lidl stores in Liverpool to track down a list of viral TikTok beauty items As a woman who is easily swayed, I often find myself making decisions based on what my phone suggests I need. However, recently I felt I may have taken my obedience to the algorithm a step too far when I found myself in the third Lidl store of the day, asking a shop assistant to help me locate a list of products I'd spotted on TikTok. It wasn't my finest hour - at 30 years of age I shouldn't be so vulnerable to the influence of social media.
But the items I was seeking resonated with me on a level that screamed "we need these deals and we need them immediately". My TikTok For You Page has been inundated lately with a selection of Lidl goods that are reportedly dead ringers for high street brands. For those unfamiliar, they are budget-friendly products that shoppers deem comparable to pricier versions sold by more well-known brands.
In this case, the products were allegedly very similar to products sold by high street cosmetics brand Lush. I'm a sucker for a Lush store - the overpowering scent never fails to draw me in and results in me spending money I don't have on a variety of ethically produced soaps, cleansers and shampoos. So, I fell for the TikTok videos instructing me to 'run don't walk' to purchase a Lidl version of Lush's popular body washes, hook, line and sinker.
Lidl's beauty aisle is currently offering four products: 'Dizzy Rose', 'Relax', 'Min.