Top 12 Things to Buy from Kruidvat own Brand

 We've been seeing inflation here in the Netherlands since October last year. It's just plain ridiculous to see something that I paid 5 euros for a few months back is now around 7 euros or maybe more. That doesn't sound like a lot but when you buy about 50 things (food, groceries, toiletries, etc.) for your house, it all adds up and overall you are paying 50 to 100 euros more than what you were paying previously. But unfortunately, not a lot of us have seen this increase in our pay and many people have even lost jobs during and after the covid crisis. So it's only natural for us to want to save our money wherever we can. But that said we also do not want to compromise on quality. And that is where the idea for this post comes from.

Kruidvat is a drugstore that is similar to CVS/Walgreens in the US. Products sold here are mostly hygiene products, cleaning supplies, makeup, and over-the-counter medicines. I have been shopping here for hygiene products for years. By now I have tried a lot and after so many years I can say confidently that I know what is good, worth your money, and what is not.

The following products from Kruidvat's own brand are top quality for the price we pay and they are regularly on sale as well. I'm listing these in no particular order:

Toothbrush and tongue cleaner

I remember when I first discovered the extra soft toothbrush, it used to cost me around 50 cents and it's now more than 1.5 euros, so the price has hiked up by 3 times. But I still love it better than name-brand toothbrushes. I have been using this toothbrush and tongue cleaner for years and they are the best for the price you pay. The toothbrush is great for effectively cleaning sensitive teeth/gums without hurting. Its bristles are shaped in such a way that they clean in between your teeth quite well because of which you don't really need to floss after brushing.  The tongue cleaner is a little different from what I am used to in India but it does the job quite well.

Shower gel

I've tried several of their shower gels and they are all equally good. They are available in various scents regularly but sometimes we also see limited editions. Based on your preference I think you'll be good no matter which scent/flavor you choose. Also, do not confuse it with Kruidvat Nature's shower gels. I tried those and they were a bit meh for me. The regular Kruidvat shower gels are my choice.

Shampoo

This anti-dandruff shampoo beats the Head&Shoulders shampoo hands down. While I have to pay close to 6 euros for 250 ml of H&S shampoo, I only pay close to 3 euros for 400 ml of the Kruidvat shampoo. This shampoo works just as good as the H&S shampoos and the main dandruff-fighting ingredient (Piroctone Olamine) is the same in both. I have repurchased this bottle many times and will still keep doing it.

Body lotion

The Kruidvat body lotions have good ingredients from what I can understand unless you are particularly allergic to something like fragrance, linalool, limonene, etc. I am OK with fragrance in my body lotions so I don't mind it. I've tried about 3 different variants of these lotions and they all work well. They moisturize the body well and I don't feel dry or itchy till my next shower. They are pretty easy to use and sink in quite well. And some of them contain good effective ingredients like niacinamide and Q10. They also smell really good even though the fragrance doesn't last long. For a body lotion you use daily, I'd say this is a good choice.

Sunscreen

Body sunscreen lotions from the Kruidvat brand are quite good. I use them during summers before I head out, mostly on my exposed body parts and they perform well. I particularly like the sensitive one (white bottle) because it has better ingredients (no fragrance, essential oils, alcohol, etc.) compared to the regular ones (orange bottle) and I also think the SPF 30 variant is easier to work with/apply compared to the SPF 50 variants which are a bit thicker and greasier. Although we have to note that they are only water resistant and not waterproof which means you cannot use them for water sports or high-intensity workouts where you sweat a lot. They are OK for daily use like when you are out and about runing errands, walking your dog, etc.

Lip balm

I have sensitive lips and even though I'm not sensitive to fragrance I have to be very careful about what I put on my lips. If you are like me then you will love this lip balm. I have repurchased this lip balm so many times that I have lost count. This lip balm is why I started exploring more Kruidvat brand products. I have tried name-brand lip balms like Blistex, Neutrogena, etc. which claim that they are for sensitive lips, don't contain fragrance, blah blah, but they still irritated my lips. This lip balm is not only cheap but works way better for my lips compared to all those expensive/hyped name-brand lip balms.

Hand sanitizer

Ever since covid, I carry a hand sanitizer for when I'm on the go and cannot wash my hands. The Kruidvat hand sanitizers are cheap, don't dry out or irritate my hands, and work well.

Hand cream

Kruidvat brand has come up with so many different variants of hand creams over the years and I've tried many of them. They all work well, smell good, and contain good ingredients too (except for fragrance i.e., if you are allergic to it). My husband's hands get quite dry during winters and with the constant hand washing it is worse especially because he forgets to use hand cream afterward. He applies the Kruidvat hand cream at night before sleep and I notice a difference in how soft and hydrated his hands look after just a couple nights. Out of all the variants I tried, the Q10 one is my favorite.

Hand soap

I have been buying Kruidvat hand soaps for the longest time, even before covid. Ever since covid, I've been using the anti-bacterial variant for when I have to wash my hands after I get home from outside. Before covid, I used to buy (and still do) the sensitive and almond variants. These soaps work perfectly without drying out my hands too much and I love how they all smell. More importantly, none of the fragrances irritate my nose or burn my eyes. This goes for all the products I mentioned in this blog post. None of the fragrances irritate my nose/eyes/throat or give me a headache.

Face wash

If I have to pick the top 5 out of all the products here then this face wash would be one of them. It cleans the face very well and leaves it soft and moisturized. If you have dehydrated, dry, or sensitive skin this face wash is a pretty good choice. My husband who has normal skin loves it too.

Shaving gel

This is my husband's favorite. It's travel-friendly, works well, and doesn't dry out or burn his face after shaving.

Razors

For use and throw razors, these work pretty well. Each razor can be used 2-3 times before it starts going bad. Although disposable razors are not environmentally friendly, they are convenient to have and good for my pockets.

If you have read this post thus far then here's a bonus for you. One other product that I think is quite good from the Kruidvat brand is their toilet paper.

If you are really on a tight budget I would suggest buying the Kruidvat brand products during sales, which happen quite regularly. I hope this post helps. If you live in the Netherlands and have used Kruidvat brand products, let me know which are your favorite. Even though I have tried a lot I have still not tried everything they have and I would love to know if there is something else that is good and has worked for you. Have a nice day!