Botanical Bliss (Boots Botanics in general)

Member Name: jennystevenson

Product:	Boots Botanics in general
Date:	06/08/01 (1948 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good Value, Huge Range, Kind on Skin

Disadvantages: Ingredients

I went to Boots one day on a mission. Fed up with dry blotchy patches, my mission was to get rid of that pizza look I’m often left with after cleansers, moisturisers and God knows what else that magically turns into paint stripper on my skin. So many products labelled as suitable for sensitive skin, yet the endless lists of ingredients are endless. Where do I start? I wondered.

Then I stumbled across the Botanics range and thought, this has got to be the best option right? To my disappointment I still came across lists of unpronounceable ingredients, but with the addition of natural extracts. So I compromised and loaded up my basket. A moisturiser, hair gel, face mask, deodorant and cleanser totalled just over £10 making prices very reasonable. This was during one of their money off promotions, but Boots often have offers such as 3 for the price of 2.

Hang on, I haven’t said what’s in the Botanics range! It seems to expand all the time, ranging from skincare (for both men and women), natural oils, bath treats, hair products etc. The products claim to use “the pure power of plants” for a more natural approach to beauty. Which is fair enough, as long as you don’t mind a few chemicals thrown in here and there. On particular products, the claims are less convincing. Take their “Conditioning Clay Mask” for example. It states on the label “contains a negative electrical charge which acts like a magnet helping to draw deep rooted impurities...” Excuse me?!?

Putting that aside, I have been impressed with the results (electrical charge or not). The clay mask does a good job at cleansing away built up dirt and grime. Even with my skin I can use it once a fortnight without any problems of dryness. Their “Instant Glow Tinted Moisturiser” is my favourite, it’s fantastic. Containing apple and ginkgo biloba, it adds a hint of colour leaves a nice healthy glow and is perfect
instead of a tan, or even to make a fading tan last longer. I can even get away with not wearing foundation, which takes some doing!

If you have dry, frizzy hair, or just need a bit of extra shine, you must try the “High Gloss Sculpting Gel”. I tend to use it after I’ve washed my hair, it gives it a smooth sheen to tame my mop. At around £2 it’s cheap and cheerful, yet just as good as some of the more expensive brands I’ve tried in the past.

From the bath products, I’ve tried the “Nourishing Milk Bath” which doesn’t smell great, but it does leave your skin soft and is perfect for dryness. Perfect for winding down at the end of a hectic day, it contains avocado for moisture and ginger to soothe muscles. I could tell you about the range for men here, but I’m not a bloke! I haven’t bought any of the natural oils as they do seem overpriced, many being over £5. Considering you can go to a herbal specialist such as Culpepers in London and pay less for pure essential oils, Botanics oils aren’t so impressive.

In an ideal world, I’d buy all my cosmetics from Lush. Alas, the nearest one is miles away and the cost does add up. So this range from Boots comes as a second best and with most prices ranging roughly from £2 to £6, my wallet doesn’t suffer as much. Oh and my skin is glad of it too!

Summary: