Great for Grown Ups Too! (Boots Botanics Gentle & Mild Baby Oil)

Member Name: westbourneplace

Product:	Boots Botanics Gentle & Mild Baby Oil
Date:	19/07/08 (358 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Natural ingredients, subtle scent, relatively cheap, highly effective, multiple uses!

Disadvantages: None!

I want to start this review off by saying that I don't have a baby!

But there's nothing to stop grown women using it, after all...and we all know that baby oil is perfect for moisturising Baby. As a result, this review is written from a rather different, adult perspective. Enjoy!


**Why This Particular Product?**

Creams had begun to irritate me. With summer approaching, I wanted something lighter than my usual body butter - I'm normally a fan of the Body Shop's offerings and the like.

The other thing I find is that 'decent' creams are very overpriced these days. Delectable as the Body Shop flavours are, in the past few years I've seen the price rise from £8 to £12 a tub. I just can't rationalise spending that much on a body moisturiser for daily use.


**The Botanics Range**

I'm sure Boots' Botanics range will be very familiar to many reading this. Mid-range, mid-price products which an emphasis on natural ingredients.

'Plant extracts at levels that really work, combined and formulated for unbeatable product performance. Naturally.' This one is no exception. Rather than the multitude of synthetic ingredients, preservatives, E numbers, flavourings, colourings, emulsifiers or whatever else they feel like throwing in just for good measure, this baby oil mainly comprises a blend of natural oils.

There are other natural-based body oils in the Botanics range. Look in the 'adult' section and you'll find Nourishing Body Oil which is esssentially very similar indeed. Unlike the bargainous Baby Oil, however, which retails for £3.75 for 250ml, the Body Oil will set you back £4.99 for 95ml...


**So What's In It?**

Unlike nearly all other baby oils, this product contains no petrolatum. The result is that this oil feels slightly thicker than your average, and in my opinon, is rather more effective as a result. There's also just something more comforting about rubbing natural oils onto your skin.

Jojoba, wheatgerm, peach and grapeseed oils are the main active ingredients here. The product also contains tocopheryl acetate (forms vitamin E when absorbed by the skin) and Dipropylene Glycol (encourages the oils to blend with eachother). There is also a small amount of perfume.

For those thinking of using it on Baby, the oil is also consultant paediatrician approved, consultant dermatologist tested and hypoallergenic, whilst the natural extracts are also authenticated by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew - phew!


**So What's It Like?**

I was drawn to the color right away. Squeeze the bottle and out from a little dispensing hole drips a vibrant yellow, relatively thick oil. Thankfully when you rub it in it won't make your skin go yellow...!

The oil brings immediate comfort to even the driest skin. It absorbs very quickly. Smooth it in and you're left with a beautifully soft, non-greasy after feel. No stinging, even on slightly broken skin - all good, gentle stuff. and feels lovely to rub on when getting out of the bath. Used even on the roughest skin, regular use will reveal visibly softer and more hydrated skin.

The scent is also delicious. I can't stand the way that a lot of baby oils just smell like 'babies' - not unpleasant, just by association! This oil has a very subtle aroma, dominated, I would say, by jojoba.


**Favourite Applications** :)

Just to encourage you to go out and try this one, here are some of my top ten tips for using baby oil - some are rather weird and wonderful, but tried and tested!

1) Starting with the more predictable ones first - this is great for all over use when your skin feels tight when you get out of the bath or shower. Because it's an oil not a thick cream, it's easier and quicker to spread, besides soaking in quicker and not leaving a 'sticky' after feel - a great advantage when you're in a hurry before work!

2) So you've done your legs, ripped them to shreds, and just want something comforting and soothing. So many creams sting - not with this oil. It soaks in quickly, and, best of all, doesn't clog the pores which is never comfortable or attractive.

3) It's great on the feet. A few applications and you'll be left with beautifully soft skin - no dryness, and great for preventing cracked heels. Best to apply to the feet and then put socks on to avoid wrecking your favourite pair of shoes...Sounds horrible but feels great!

4) Dab a small amount on the fingernails (or toenails) if they're looking dry and brittle/flaking. Not only will it give them a lovely shine, but I find it really helps with the strength. Similarly, if you have very dry hair (I, too, suffer), a small amount of this can restore shine and tame frizz - the effects last even after washing a couple of times. Just don't go overboard...!

5) Taking off eye makeup the natural way. So many (overpriced) eye makeup removers claim, as some sort of wonderful added bonus, to moisturise as well as remove your waterproof eyeliner...Nothing I've tried has ever been as effective as this baby oil. Very small amount on a cotton wool pad is all that's needed.

6) Polishing your leather shoes. Cleans and restores shine on your favourite vintage boots and your favourite heels. Small amount on a bit of kitchen towel rubbed in gently, and then rubbed off with a clean bit for a high shine. Great results every time!

7) Restoring the black bits on your car...By this I mean the black exterior trim and some dashboards. Apply sparingly to a cloth and rub on the bumper of your car. No need for 'Black in a Flash' anymore - faded grey will be restored to blackest black within a few seconds.

8) Polishing the dining table. Obviously not suitable for your prize antique pieces, but perfect on my wooden Ikea dining table! Restores shine and protects within minutes - simply apply on some kitchen towel and then buff off with another bit. Although this should be tested on a small patch before you start on the whole tabletop, I also find that, unlike with some furniture creams, the colour doesn't transfer if your table is stained (mine is black!).

9) On the sofa. No, not if you have a canvas one! But once again perfect for cleaning marks off and for the general maintenance of leather sofas. Don't use if your sofa is deliberately matt...Produces a nice shine without being glaring.

10) Forget WD-40. I've used this stuff on everything from squeaking roller blinds to car doors - and it works a treat! Just squirt a bit on at high speed or dab with a cloth for a precision job.

Feel free to add any other suggestions...! :)


**Conclusions**

Highly effective, natural ingredients, smells delicious and even relatively cheap. What more could you ask for in a beauty product? A multitude of other, money-saving uses!

I don't know how I survived without this for so long. A truly multi-purpose product - and I suppose it could be used on Baby as well...!

Highly Recommended.


**Key Info**

Available from most Boots stores and online.

£3.75 for £250ml.

Ingredients: Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Oil, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil, Prunus Persica Kernel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum, Dipropylene Glycol.


Thanks for reading :)

Summary: Highly Recommended