Boots Skincare Haul & Review

A few weeks ago I posted on my Snapchat (whatshedoesnow) that I’d picked up a few bits in Boots that were on special offer. I can’t resist picking things up in Boots as it is, so when I saw some of their own-brand products on offer I had to pick them up!

Boots and Boots Botanics products are quite affordable to begin with, so they’re a total steal while they’re on offer!

I’ve been testing these out over the past few weeks, and now it’s time to report back…

I’d wanted to try out nose pore strips for ages, so I picked up the Boots Tea Tree Witch Hazel Nose Pore Strips. You get six strips in the pack, which is pretty good as you’d typically only use one a week. I’ve tried nose strips in the past and been very disappointed, so I was excited to try these out. Unfortunately, I’ve quite bad blackheads on my nose, so I was really putting these to the test.

To use, lightly wet your nose, dry your hands and press the sticky side of the strip to your nose. Make sure the strip is properly stuck down and leave for 15 minutes. I was pleasantly surprised at how well this stayed on my nose, as other strips had peeled off. Removing the strip was easy and pain free. Upon inspection of the strip, it had removed a good bit of gunk out of my pores (lovely). My nose was smoother and blackheads were visibly reduced. I’ve used these once a week for the past few weeks and, safe to say, the blackheads on my nose are visibly reduced. Success.

To further treat my skin, which is combination and prone to breakouts, I tried the Boots Tea Tree Witch Hazel Face Mask with Active Charcoal. Charcoal is great for extracting dirt from the skin, while witch hazel treats and calms breakouts, so this is a combination I was eager to try.

Like a regular face mask, I smoothed this all over my face and down my neck and left it to work for 15 minutes. The mask has a lovely witch hazel smell and feels really cool and calm on the skin. Only a thin layer is needed and it dries in quite quickly. The mask removes easily with warm water and a face cloth, without rubbing at the skin. After coming back from holidays my skin was quite broken out and irritated, and using this mask calmed it right down. Any breakouts I had were reduced, and I’m pretty sure the charcoal prevented any other breakouts that were planning on coming up. My skin feels a bit dry after using this, so I always load on moisturiser afterwards, although it’s nothing serious.

Speaking of moisturiser (see what I did there?), I purchased the Boots Botanics All Bright Hydrating Night Cream (out of stock). I’m dreadful at applying moisturiser at night time, so this was well-needed. It has a lovely rose-scent that’s not too heavy or fragranced. I love slathering this all over my face before I go to bed. I keep it on my bed side locker so I don’t forget, and my skin thanks me for it.

It’s a light cream formula that sinks in straight away. It doesn’t leave a film on my skin, feel heavy or leave my face looking greasy. In the morning my skin is brighter, and even my foundation looks better on. My skin has a nice natural glow and highlight that I definitely didn’t have before. The cream has hyaluronic acid and hibiscus in it, which combine to moisturise and brighten the skin. This is one night cream I’d definitely recommend trying out.

What blew me away most was the Boots Botanics Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm. I’ve never tried a hot cloth cleansing balm before and, wait for it, this one is 97% organic! The only cleanser I’ve seen like that before is coconut oil, and that’s not even advertised as a cleanser. This even came with a muslin cloth in the box!

I’m a huge fan of high-end cleansing balms and oils, so I was excited to see how this drugstore version matched up. From the first use, I was seriously impressed. The balm has a slightly gritty feel, but it smooths out when you rub it into the skin. Only a 50cent coin amount is needed, as it melts into the skin straight away, turning from a balm into an oil. This is so relaxing to rub into the skin and breaks down all makeup, including mascara easily. I don’t have the patience to run the tap until hot water comes out, so I soak the cloth in cold water, squeeze it out and gently rub it over my face. Within a few wipes, nearly all of my makeup is gone. The balm contains Shea Butter, Rosehip and Jojoba Oil, which leaves my skin feeling super smooth and clean. I use a little bit of micellar water afterwards to make sure every bit of makeup and oil is gone. Even if you’ve loads of cleansers at home, this one is definitely worth trying out!

Apologies for the lengthy post, but I had a lot to say about these fab products! My skin is quite sensitive and reacts easily, but none of these caused any breakouts at all. I’m a huge high-end skincare fan, but I am seriously impressed with these affordable products and can’t wait to try more from the Boots ranges! Some of these products are still on offer (links above), so definitely check them out!