One of the most frustrating things about a weekly shop is the cost of basic toiletries.
Loo roll, soap, shower gel, toothpaste, mouthwash - these things aren't always cheap, and it's so sad to watch your hard-earned money being spent on boring necessities.
I wanted to see if I could cut some corners on shower gel, so I tried out the cheapest products from Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Marks and Spencer to see if any of them were good enough to become my regular go-to.
They all cost less than £1, with some as cheap as 30p, so switching could save a fair bit of money in the long run. But would any actually be good and reliable enough to become a mainstay in my bathroom?
READ MORE: 'I tried supermarket own brand toilet roll and one was pure luxury'
Marks and Spencer
Marks and Spencer's own brand shower gel was the most expensive of the four at 95p for 250ml.
I chose the pink grapefruit version for a punchy, fruity scent that would wake me up in the morning, but was disappointed to find the fragrance was quite mild and didn't stick around for too long.
The shower gel also didn't produce much of a lather, so you'd need to use a lot to wash your whole body - it kind of defeats the object of choosing a cheaper product if you need to use more product for the same results.
It wasn't bad, but not the best.
Asda
Asda's strawberry and raspberry shower gel was the most fragrant of the four, with a strong, fruity scent that wasn't overpowering but lingered even after I'd dried off.
It had a good lather, so I was confident of a decent clean, and a little went a long way.
It was also the cheapest by volume, at 37p for 300ml, making it a strong contender to become a regular purchase.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's shower cream was very runny, and didn't produce much of a lather, which meant I'd have to use quite a lot of product in the shower.
It had a lovely mild cotton scent which was really fresh and clean-smelling, and the fragrance did stick around after washing which is always a bonus.
Overall, I'd be concerned about having to use a lot of product and the impact this would have on the cost-effectiveness of the shower gel - which was 30p for 250ml - so it's not my favourite.
Tesco
Tesco's blue shower gel was also only 30p for 250ml, which is such a bargain.
Its consistency was more of a jelly than a gel, much thicker than the others I'd tried, and lathered up nicely. It smelled quite cheap, like the basic soap or shower gel you might find in a budget hotel or public bathroom, but the scent was inoffensive and neutral.
A pretty good shower gel all things considered, but the scent wasn't much to write home about which hampers its overall rating.
The verdict
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My favourite of the shower gels - and a strong contender for becoming a regular purchase - was definitely Asda's own brand shower gel.
It smelled great, lathered up well, and was even the cheapest of the bunch.
The other three were, sadly, just okay. I'd buy them if I was in a pinch, but I'd rather spend a few extra pence for my usual brand.
Which supermarket product should we test next? Get in touch at rachael.davis@reachplc.com
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