Latest Launches + New Brands at Boots

If you follow Boots or the beauty community in general then you may have seen all of the exciting things happening at Boots recently! Boots have started to stock some amazing and previously difficult to find brands such as EOS (which is very exciting), NYX (even more exciting), Billion Dollar Brows as well as new and cult brands including Mr Blanc, Wet brush and Egyptian Magic. 

I was super excited when this amazing package arrived, I literally squealed as it contains some products I've wanted to try for so long as well as new brands and products I want to try! This is an initial impressions post but I will have full reviews of some of the products throughout December so stay tuned. 

First up, the product I was most excited to try and it has turned out to be one of my October favourites. The *Wet Brush (£11.99, Safari Leopard) is a detangling hair brush that I have wanted to buy for years so I was excited to find one in the box. I have been using it pretty much everyday for almost two weeks now and it is fantastic! I wasn't a fan of the Tangle Teezer but this brush actually detangles my thick, knotty hair really well although for me it works better on dry and damp hair rather than wet hair.

The *EOS Lip Balms (£6.50, Honeysuckle) have been a much coveted products in the beauty world when famous celebrities such as the Kardashians were photographed using them. I have two already (the pomegranate and lemon flavours) and I love them. The EOS balms are so quick and easy to use, especially on the go. I love all three flavours I've tried and I would definitely recommend these unique lip balms. 

Next up is another product I've been using constantly since I received it, the *Billion Dollar Brows Universal Brow Pencil (£17). It is an ashy, cool toned medium brown shade but on my brows/skin tone, it looks more neutral toned. The pencil is fairly creamy which I don't really like in brow pencils but this one stays in place well and blends easily for a more natural look. 

When I first stated blogging, there was a massive hype around the *Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream (£29, 118ml) which is apparently loved by celebrities such as Kate Hudson who uses it as an overnight face mask, Eva Mendes who uses it as a multi-use skincare product and Kate Bosworth who reckons her glowing skin is down to this cream - high praise indeed! I've been using it on my cuticles and hands and it's great so far (it doesn't irritate my eczema which is amazing!); however it looks and feels a little oily on the skin. I also think that describing it as a cream is quite misleading as it is definitely a solid balm that melts when it comes into contact with the skin. 

I also received the *HairBurst Food Supplements (£24.99, 60 capsules) which sadly I won't be able to use as I really struggle with larger capsules/tablets. I also received the WAH London The Lava Set (£18) which I can't wait to try. I will have a full review of the *Mr Blanc Teeth Whitening Strips (£24.99, strips) next month as well as the *Wunderbrow 1 Step Brow Gel (£19.95) which sounds very interesting! 

Overall, I am so happy with the products I received especially the EOS balm (as I love them already), the Wet Brush and the Mr Blanc teeth whitening strips that I can't wait to use, particularly with the festive season around the corner. Stay tuned for more in-depth reviews next month! You can't buy this box of goodies sadly - I think Boots should definitely start a subscription box service or a seasonal beauty box as soon as possible- they'll sell like hot cakes...or any kind of cake, because cake!

Have you tried any of these products? Do you think Boots should start a beauty box subscription service? 

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Boots Beauty Box: Best Selling Skincare

I was first introduced to skincare by my mum who bought me my first skincare products when I was around 13 years old and it was the Boots own cucumber range which is so nostalgic to me and they worked well from what I remember. I have reviewed a few Boots own skincare products on my blog years ago (here). Now at the grand old age of 22 *23 in August, cries* I have moved onto more natural and more expensive skincare which my bank balance doesn't thank me for. However the Boots own skincare range, including the Botanics products, are fantastic and I was kindly sent a range of their best sellers!

Firstly, lets start with the nostalgia, I have the *Boots Cucumber 3 Minute Clay Mask (£1.50, 50ml) which takes me back to my teen years! The mask claims to cleanse and draw out impurities and excess oils. Myself and my sister have used this mask, I just apply it with a foundation brush to my t-zone and leave it on for 3 minutes. I found this mask to be mattifying and cleansing on my t-zone which can become really oily and congested at this time of the year. The results aren't as good as my Caudalie Detox mask but this product is only £1.50 and the Caudalie mask is around £20! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

Sticking with the detox, cleansing theme, I also have the *Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Deep Cleansing Facial Scrub (£3.21, 150ml) which again myself and my sister have tried out and we both really like - we have very different skin types and it works well on her combination, blemish prone skin and my more sensitive, dry skin. The scrub is dark grey which may look scary but it feels quite spa like to me and it smells medicinal/clean. The scrub is quite exfoliating and it does a great job but it isn't too abrasive. I would personally only use it on my t-zone as that is the only area I have where my skin can be oily and in need of a full deep cleanse. Overall rating: Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5. 

The final product targeted towards more blemish prone skin is the *Boots Skin Clear Ultra Rapid Action Spot Gel (£3.99, 25ml). I personally don't get that many spots, they only occur every few months but when they do, they take ages to reduce and they usually leave some form of pigmentation behind. I have tried a few spot gels/treatments in the past but none of them really help. The only product I've tried that has a noticeable rapid effect is Sudocrem. I tried this product on one faded blemish and the next day it was definitely smaller, less red and less noticeable! However my sister tried it on more recent blemishes and it didn't work as effectively. In my opinion, it is well worth a try especially for the low price point! Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5. 

Next up, a couple of Boots Botanics products which is the Boots skincare range I have tried the most from. I wrote a rave review of the Botanics Skin Relief Serum and the Hot Cloth Cleanser both of which I would re-purchase (here). I recently tried the *Botanics Micellar All Bright 3 in 1 Cleansing Solution (£1.49, 250ml) which I've been using on and off for the past couple of weeks. I find that it is fantastic at removing my makeup, apart from waterproof mascara although most other micellar waters struggle with waterproof mascara, in my experience. It doesn't irritate my skin or dry my skin out. This product contains AHA's (alpha hydroxyl acids which are found in fruit, for example) which exfoliate the skin and have anti-ageing benefits. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5.

The second Boots Botanics product is the *Botanics Radiant Youth Hydrating Eye Cream (£4.49, 15ml). One skincare product I always forget to use is eye cream however in my 20's I think it's a great time to start using them; also I do have very fine lines under my eyes already! This eye cream definitely helps hydrate and reduce dehydration lines under my eyes which I have most of the time. It leaves the skin looking and feeling moisturised, radiant and it provides a great base for concealer. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5. 

Now onto the last couple of products, I have been using the *Boots Simply Sensitive Protecting Day Moisturiser (£1.74, 125ml) on and off for a couple of weeks and from the first use I was so impressed by it, as was my sister. The moisturiser doesn't irritate my skin, it is moisturising enough and it leaves my skin feeling SO smooth/soft. It isn't too heavy for my sisters combination skin and it has the some smoothing effect. I'm so impressed by this moisturiser and considering the price it is an absolute bargain! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

Last but not least the *Boots Cleansing Wipes For Dry Skin (£1.50, 25 wipes). Facial wipes are viewed by the blogging and online beauty community as a skincare no-no and on the whole I have to agree. I only use makeup wipes for swatches, changing my lip colour and for my full on halloween looks. Although I used to use the Boots cucumber wipes all of the time as a teen and my skin was always pretty good (apart from occasional eczema). I have tried the wipes and for once they don't feel like they strip my skin but I did experience a small amount of irritation; however my sister really liked them! Overall rating: ★★★☆☆, 3/5. 

Phew, there are my opinions on the Boots own skincare best sellers and I have to say there is only one product that I am slightly disappointed by which are the wipes but as I said, I don't use wipes anyway. I think the Boots own skincare ranges are absolutely fantastic especially considering the low price and the range is massive so you are bound to find products suitable for your skin type that are in your budget. 

Boots currently have a few offers on skincare. Their Essentials range is currently 3 for £3, the Botanics products are on a 3 for 2 offer and most of their products are currently discounted as I'm writing this on 26/07/2015. You can also receive a free Botanics Instant Moisture Mist when you spend £25 on selected skincare. 

Have you tried any Boots own skincare? If so which products did you try? Have you bought any of the products I've featured?

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