Review: Boots Botanics Hydrating Eye Cream

When it comes to eye creams I'm always excited when I can find a decent budget cream that isn't a rollerball. I don't know what it is with me and roll-on eye creams, but we just don't seem to get on. My last one was fine for two or three weeks and then just one day decided to basically turn into what felt like chilli juice on my eye balls.

I picked up this one from Boots' own Botanics range as it came recommended by Fleur de Force and I haven't been disappointed. I like that it's 80% organic, which might not be as good as 100% organic, but it's still not bad at all. The thin nozzle makes dispensing the right amount a breeze and is also a lot more hygienic than a pot. The only thing that annoys me a little about the packaging is that the long, slim tube kept getting knocked over on my shelf, but I suppose that's just me being a little OCD here...

Texture wise, this sits firmly in the cream end of the spectrum. While it doesn't give that nice cooling, tightening sensation that you get from more gel like products, it does sink in quickly and doesn't leave the undereye area feeling greasy at all. In fact, you could apply make-up pretty much straight over the top without it sliding about too much at all.

I always find it extremely difficult to rate eye creams on efficiency. Did my eyes seem less puffy? Did my dark circles become less, erm... dark? Did it delay the onset of wrinkles around my eye area? Who knows. What I know, however, is that this was a pleasure to use and it's one that I'd certainly consider repurchasing.

Boots Botanics Hydrating Eye Cream retails at £8.99 for 15ml.

Review: Boots Botanics Cleansing Toner

Toners seem to be one of those products that split the beauty world. There are those who swear by them and others who reckon they're just a huge waste of money, as they're not a product you can immediately "see" working. For me, they've been a firm part of my skincare routine ever since I started getting into beauty and I think this little gem I've found might even make the naysayers reconsider.

The hint here is in the name. This ain't just a toner, it's a "cleansing" toner, baby! What this means is that when I swipe this over my face even just after cleansing, it's simply amazing how much crap I'll suddenly find on that cotton pad. Sorry if that's not an overly pleasant image I've painted there, but I'd rather have all that gunk on a cotton pad than on my face!

I've used some toners in the past that have left a sort of sticky feeling on my skin, but I don't get any of that with this one. I also didn't find it leaving my face dry and tight at all, even though it does contain alcohol. The only feeling I'm left with is a nice clean sensation and my skin is certainly ready for all that moisturising that's about to follow.

The toner isn't overly scented, so while you can detect a slight floral smell, it's delicate and shouldn't offend any sensitive noses.

If, like me, you're not overly keen on double cleansing, but still want to make sure your skin is perfectly prepped for moisturiser, then you can't really do any better than include this in your skincare routine.

At £3.99 for 250ml it's an absolute snip!

Boots Botanics Purifying Face Scrub Review

A few months back the Boots Botanics range had a major design overhaul from frumpy pharmaceutical looking packaging to new clean and more colourful packaging. I was on the hunt for a new facial scrub shortly after the revamp and while before I barely glanced at the range, it caught my eye straight away this time. Looks like the redesign was a bit of a success!

Pretty packaging aside, this one really caught my eye mainly due to the thick grains it contains. I like to use face scrubs while I'm in the shower, so if they're very gentle and mild they'd just get washed away without being able to do anything to the skin.

On that front, the Purifying Face Scrub certainly doesn't disappoint. It's chunky, rough and grainy, just how I like it. Sensitive skins might find it a little too harsh, but if you apply it on wet skin like I do, it gives a very pleasant deep clean.

It smells of pretty much nothing, so is kind on sensitive noses. Its aim is to brighten and smooth and though I didn't see any dramatic changes in skin tone, it did a very good job of making my skin clean and fresh. The scrubbing motions also made for a lovely, rosy glow, which made this a great pleasure to use.

I haven't even told you the best bit yet. The 75ml tube which you can see in the pictures lasted me about three and a half months with two weekly applications... and cost £2.49! You'd be very hard pressed to find a scrub this good at this price. If you're into rough, grainy exfoliators like I am and you're watching your wallet, then this couldn't be better for you.