Budget Skincare Review: Boots Botanics (Organic and Not)

Ever since I first started seeing Boots Botanics kiosks in my Duane Reade, I've been itching to do this review. A UK import, organic ingredients, and inexpensive price points meant I was all over the line. This post has been a couple of months in the making, partially due to how thoroughly I test skincare items, and partially due to how extensive this whole range is. There are lines devoted to brightening, oily skin, sensitive skin, dry skin, redness, and so on. I tried to pick something from each different line and category of skincare product, so hopefully I'll be able to give you a good idea of how this whole range functions. Some are from the Boots Botanics Organics collection for those into that type of thing, and some are just Boots Botanics. As per usual, I bought these items myself, and if you want to check out my other Budget Skincare Review posts, here are earlier ones on Alba Botanica (here and here), and Hada Labo Tokyo (here). I'm listing the prices that I paid here, but they'll vary based on location. Be on the lookout for sale deals as well--a lot of what I bought here was on for buy 1, get 1 50% off!

Let's go in order of a skincare routine!

The Cleansers/Makeup Removers

1. Boots Organic Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm ($9): This one's for you, dry skin types! Thick, rich and way too greasy for oily skin like mine, this must be what dry skin gals dream of. You need a hilariously small amount to break down all your face makeup, and it even works as a great base for a little facial massage. It comes with two muslin cloths, but you need the scrubbiness of a washcloth to remove this stuff. I can use this now and not need to moisturize after, and am particularly pleased that it doesn't contain mineral oil (rare for a product with this kind of price!). 

2. Boots Ultra Calm Gentle Cleansing Cream ($8): This is a case of "it's not you, it's me." Makeup removing creams like these are slathered onto dry skin, massaged in and then wiped off (you really can't rinse something like this away). This one works as well as the rest of them and smells nice and fresh, but I've just never particularly liked this kind of makeup removing agent. It does a thorough job on all face paint, and even though it quickly breaks down waterproof eyeliner and mascara, it stings and isn't meant for eye makeup (basically don't be an idiot like I am). 

3. Boots Shine Away Mattifying Cleansing Mousse ($8): Despite Caroline Hirons's best efforts, I still use foaming cleansers and am quite happy with this one. I actually don't have any other cleansers that are for oily skin but don't treat acne, so this has its own place in my sink/shower. This stuff is less of a mousse and more of a lightweight foam, and despite being pretty sudsy, it never strips my skin. I use it day and night these days and it's been getting a lot of love in this disgustingly humid weather. 

The Toner/Spritz of Fancy Water

4. Boots Botanics Organic Rosewater Toning Spritz ($9): I'm happy to see facial sprays (more of a niche product) in drugstores, and really like how refreshing this is. But alcohol is the second ingredient listed, which makes this a big no for me. If you're looking for a similar product, Mario Badescu's Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater is $7, ultra soothing and refreshing, and doesn't contain alcohol at all. 

The Serum

5. Boots Botanics Ultra Calm Skin Relief Serum ($16): Absolutely the best drugstore serum I've ever tried. I don't have particularly irritated/sensitive skin so I can't speak to that, but this is a dream to apply. Light, silky, and soothing, I've been very happy to reach for this stuff even though my skin doesn't really need it. It's an all-around great product that would be good for anyone, but especially skincare newbies looking to incorporate a serum. It sets smooth and soft to the touch, it sits well beneath any moisturizer I've tried on top, and the smell is fresh and spa-like. I'm already eyeing up their other serums!

The Eye Cream

6. Boots Botanics Organic Hydrating Eye Cream ($16): This is the product that took me the longest to test because it's so strange. Sure, it gets the job done, but the consistency is weirdly thin and liquidish and the texture is stickier than I would like. It doesn't set nicely, and tends to remain tacky-feeling--not a comfortable skincare product overall. I can use it in a pinch, but typically prefer not to deal with the funky texture. 

The Moisturizers (in less-than-ideal tub packaging):

(we're going top to bottom!)

7. Boots Shine Away Mattifying Day Cream SPF 15 ($14): I gave this a shout-out in my May Favorites post, so you already know I love it. It's a bit more hydrating than you might expect, and doesn't have an ultra powdery finish, but that's actually what I like about it. Most day creams for oily skin are so mattifying that I feel like I need a moisturizer on underneath, and this is a terrific compromise. I usually top it with a smidge of shine control primer (Neutrogena is my favorite) these days, but I could go without it for the rest of the year. Definitely one to try if you have normal/oily skin! 

8. Boots Organics Hydrating Day Cream ($13): I'm docking points for a day cream not having SPF, but this is too heavy for me for daytime, so I wound up using it mostly at night anyway. It's another good, middle of the road, fuss-free moisturizer that anyone with normal to normal/dry skin could use (provided you top it with SPF). I actually like it as a night cream, as it's deeply hydrating, but it still feels slightly sticky on skin as oily as mine. 

9. Boots All Bright Night Cream ($14): This tub is an excellent pick for normal skin types as it sits pretty much between the two creams above where hydration is concerned. Thoroughly moisturizing like the hydrating cream, but sets to a comfortable finish like the mattifying option, this cream has my preferred consistency down pat. As for the brightening claims, I feel like I do see a bit of that effect, but it goes away when I wash my face, so this definitely isn't a long-term solution. 

The Lip Balm

10. Boots Botanics Organic Lip Balm ($6): You already know I'm fussy abouteverything lip balm, and sadly this is another one that makes your lips feel drier. It's incredibly thin, absorbs too quickly and leaves your lips feeling waxy and shriveled within half an hour of applying. Give this a miss and pick up the stellar Jack Black Lip Therapy lip balm for just $1.50 more.

Bottom line: Boots Botanics offers a lot more specialty and niche skincare items than what we usually see on drugstore shelves, and I really appreciate the efforts of their organic range. Most of their offerings are good, middle-of-the-road skincare products, with a few terrific exceptions (the serum, the mattifying day moisturizer) and a few duds (the lip balm, and alcohol rosewater spritz). Still, this line is a step in the right direction for drugstore skincare, and the collection is definitely worth checking out!

Hope you're well!

Most Valuable Products: July 2014 will be up Thursday!

Most Valuable Products: July 2014

This month's round-up of favorite products is all over the place. I was in San Francisco for over half this month, where I was living out of a minuscule toiletry/makeup bag and experiencing unusually dry skin. Then I came home, dove into my embarrassing stash of products, played "pile it on" with my makeup everyday (I had to show my babies I missed them, obviously!) and the humid weather returned my skin to its oily state.

So we're a bit of a hot mess today. What else is new? Let's start with my favorites from a few weeks in SF!

1. Laneige BB Cushion Compact: I know, I know, people have been raving about this stuff. But it's so worth the hype, as it's been my go-to base for the past two months (I'm on the last dregs of the stuff!). Great coverage, sets to a comfortable smooth finish, SPF 50, and is so ultra-easy and travel-friendly. As someone with a serious phobia when it comes to touching my face, I love the sponge applicator, but am a bit worried about how hygienic that is. I probably only have another week's worth of uses left, and am debating between repurchasing or picking up Dr. Jart's new BB Bounce compact. Either way, I'll pick one up soon since I refuse to be without this stuff. 

2. Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Radiance Lotion: A potentially stupid purchase that I originally didn't think would fit into my skincare routine, this was a godsend in windy, dry SF. A layer underneath whatever sample of moisturizer I was using guaranteed no dry patches, and was a terrific base for the Laneige compact. The BB cushion wasn't quite enough moisture for me (and occasionally still isn't) if I put it straight onto cleansed skin, but a few squirts of this lotion first help the product glide right on. The finished makeup look comes out nearly seamless, and the lotion works as a lightweight alternative on summer nights if my skin's feeling something lighter. 

3. Pacifica Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes: I have a hard time washing my face in the morning under the best of circumstances, so if I'm away and sharing a bathroom, you know it's not going to happen. I refuse to use wipes to remove my makeup no matter what, but these were perfect for my "morning cleanse." A little bit tingly to let me know they're doing something and with a gorgeous coconut scent, these were an invaluable part of my toiletry kit. 

4. Alterna Bamboo Beach Dry Shampoo: I warned you in my Beauty Cravings post that I was going to buy this--obviously I did, and used it almost religiously this month. I don't think it's as good as Batiste (my favorite), but as a non-aerosol, it's far better value for money. The "shake on oily roots" method is incredibly messy, but still gets the job done. More to the point, this whole bottle's lasted well over a whole month, which a can of aerosol never would have been able to do. 

5. Jurlique Rose Hand Cream: Hate it, obviously(!). No, this stuff is the hand cream of the gods as far as I'm concerned--and that means something as a total hand cream junkie. Ultra-rich, dense, but not at all sticky or overwhelming, this is by far the best hand cream I've ever tried. None of that weird powdery finish L'Occitane has, not greasy like Weleda Skin Food and a helluva lot more moisturizing than Soap and Glory Skin Food--this baby deserves its own blog post. Stay tuned!

6. Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub: I love a deep exfoliation after a trip, and that was the first thing I did when I got back to New York. I don't see the point in buying expensive body scrubs, especially as this $8 number is as good as they come. Super gritty, but still moisturizing, this is the scrub that got full-body exfoliation back into my shower routine. The scent (Pomegranate Acai) is what my dad would call "vulgar", and it's definitely reminiscent of a Victoria's Secret body spray, but the fragrance doesn't linger for long. 

7. Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation: I didn't bring this with me because the powder doesn't have a plastic blocker/stopper and I was worried about spillage, but this is the perfect topping to the Laneige BB Cushion. It provides the extra coverage I typically need, sets the BB cream, and mattifies a touch but without eliminating the pretty glow from the cushion compact. I wear it on its own sometimes as well, but I definitely prefer it as a final dusting to the Laneige BB. 

8. Sonia Kashuk Fluffy Powder Brush: Sonia's killing it again with her new Target brush sets, and this ridiculously fluffy ball-brush (my own nickname) is my favorite of the "Make a Face" kit (though the flat-top buffing brush is stellar as well). This is the only brush I use to apply the Tarte powder foundation since the dense bristles make it so easy to blend and work the product in. That's absolutely clutch as Tarte's packaging makes it extremely easy to pick up too much powder. Even on days when I don't reach for a powder foundation, I'll still grab this brush to go over my finished makeup and make sure everything's blended. 

9. CoverGirl Outlast Shadow Pencil in 350: Ah, my favorite drugstore eyeshadow pencil, in the shade that creeps out of my drawer every summer. I first raved about it in last May's Favorites post here, and the glowy, pearlescent pinky shade still looks as goddess-y as ever. It's my favorite eye look for summer and couldn't be easier--draw the shadow on, blend with your fingers, and top with some eyeliner and illegal amounts of mascara. Did I mention the slightly metallic sheen works double to keep you from looking tired? Easily one of my favorite drugstore buys. 

10. Sperry Top-Siders for J. Crew ANCHOR SPERRYS, GUYS!: A fashion favorite--I'm branching out! These Sperrys were on sale for all of $25, and I've worn them non-stop since I purchased. Ultra comfortable, they make my canoe-feet look incredibly slim, and (bonus!) hide un-pedicured feet. I might be taking the nautical theme too far (I also have an anchor-patterned sweater and lifesaver-patterned shorts), but these adorable shoes always get noticed on the sidewalk. Potentially because people can't believe how basic I am, but let's just say they're staring in shoe envy.

Hope you've all had a terrific July!

A Cheapie but Goodie post on a kickass $3 eyeliner will be up next!

Cheapie but Goodie: Essence Gel Eye Pencil Waterproof

Meet the mother of all Cheapie but Goodie products: an outstanding eyeliner that's just $3.

There's just one problem: it's really only outstanding if you use it one particular way. Gel pencils like Essence's latest offering seem to be all the rage right now (looking at you, Benefit!). I've been using them for a few years (my love affair started with Shu Uemura's option, reviewed here) and no matter what gel pencil variation I try, it's never a good pick for lining my lids. They're always hard, too waxy, tug on my eyelids, don't go on evenly or smoothly, and generally aren't worth the effort.

But their redemption, and the reason why I have so many gel pencil liners in my collection, is that they are terrific for tight-lining, which is a cornerstone of my daily makeup. (If you don't know what tight-lining, or "invisible eyeliner" is, The Beauty Department shows and explains it here). It's as though everything that makes the formula nightmarish on the lids makes it terrific in the waterline--the waxiness really allows the pigment to cling and last, and the pencil magically glides on where it would have been practically yanking on my eyelids. 

I have a few favorites for tight-lining, and this Essence number beats them all. Normally, my go-tos are Avon Super Shock (another Cheapie but Goodie product), and the Shu Uemura Gel Pencil, and it seems Essence manufacturers heard my complaints about both. Super Shock is incredibly richly pigmented and smooth, but also drifts and transfers something tragic, and Shu occasionally turns my lower waterline gray. Essence's option isn't quite as dark and intense as Super Shock or the Shu (it's more of a dark charcoal than a full black), though it's definitely got enough punch to define my eyes. But its star quality is that barring the tiniest bit of gray in one particular section of my lower waterline, I don't see any transferring or smudging throughout the day--this is a big deal if you also have oily skin and your makeup loves to move around. I'm actually weirdly sentimental about this eyeliner (in case you couldn't tell), because my issues with smudging and transferring put me off tight-lining for a while before this pencil reaffirmed my love for it. 

Of course, I've still got my quibbles. The first being that at first use, the pencil seems poorly pigmented and too hard. Don't give up, spend another few seconds playing with it and it'll warm up and deliver--it's a first-time use issue only. Part of me also does wish for it to have stronger pigmentation more along the lines of Super Shock, but I suppose that's a compromise made for an actually budge-proof eyeliner. But the strangest and arguably most frustrating issue I have is actually that the cap of the pencil doesn't fit onto the back of it. It seems a poor design miscalculation, and leaves me in constant fear of losing the cap. 

I won't lie, I intentionally have three of these pencils (all in black, though I'm eyeing up the navy one) stashed in various bags and pouches so that no matter what the situation, I don't have to be without it. Give it a try, and I think you'll be a) amazed at the difference tight-lining makes, and b) as happy with this pencil as I am. 

If you do try it out, please bear in mind that the pencil is retractable. You wouldn't want to try and sharpen the thing, would you?

That would just be embarrassing.