I’ve found a dupe for Lululemon Aligns and they’re just £18.99

Reader, I am embarrassingly high-maintenance when it comes to finding the best leggings. No, really, I am.

I need them to be undeniably soft and stretchy. So insanely comfortable, I forget I'm wearing anything at all. They need to fit me snugly all over, despite my smaller waist and generous thighs.

I want them to look good at the gym but also equally as good at brunch. I don't fancy scrunch bum leggings, and extreme 'booty contours' just give me the ick. Sorry.

And, for goodness sake, please don't bunch at the knees/fall down at the waist/highlight my cellulite. (Note: there is nothing wrong with cellulite, but I don't want it to be the focal point either!)

Yes, I have a mammoth list for gym leggings requirements and the only pair that have quite cut it for me is the Lululemon Align pants. But at £88 a pop, it's becoming a very expensive habit, Plus, I have overpriced candles and Whispering Angel to buy!

So, lo and behold when I found the next best thing with a price tag of just £18.99. A generous 78% saving on the original - and no I didn't just work that out on a percentage calculator. Ha.

Enter Shein's Glow Mode FeatherFit Crossover Leggings which have a whopping 3000+ reviews from chuffed customers.

Seriously, they are outstanding. They have the same buttery softness as Lululemon, with slightly more compression. In fact, you can tell the Shein pair won't bobble after a few months like Lulus and a lot less fluff sticks to them.

So far, I am preferring the Shein pair to Lulumeon and I never thought I'd see the day.

The only thing I detest about the Shein pair is the little white logo on the knee. But for £18.99, I'm sure I'll get over it.

One customer wrote, "Best leggings I have ever had. They are the perfect length for someone as short as me. They do not cover up my ankles and I love that I like them showing. And the material wowowowow. Feels like a second skin PLUS they are squat proof! I will definitely be buying these again!"

Another added, "Love these! Extraordinarily comfortable, and feel great on the skin. They make my butt look great, and hug every curve. The fabric is definitely as good as Lululemon."

The leggings are available in ten more colours, if you're not vibing with black, and the size range goes from XS to to XXL.

For reference, I bought a size S and they're perfect. I am a size 10, 5'6" and normally get a US size 4 in Lululemon Aligns. The material is so stretchy that I reckon I could have fitted in either XS or M.

Sprint, don't run, huns and thank me later.

Need some more glowing reviews to convince you? Fair enough.

One customer wrote, "I was very skeptical about purchasing workout clothes from here. Boy was I wrong. I will now only purchase workout clothes from here rather than purchasing from Nike or other expensive sites. Loved every product from glowmode!!! The material feels like butter. They are durable, stretchy, and a great material."

Aimee Jakes is the shopping editor across heat and Closer. As well as mainly writing about skincare launches, high-street fashion and gym bag essentials, she also regularly chats to celebs about their wellness routines for heat's Self-Care Sunday.