Are You Ready Boots?

Day 6: Boots
By MUA's Cavewoman

Ever since I was a little girl, I have hated getting my face wet. I dreaded going to swimming classes. I don't like walking in the rain. I shower with my back to the stream of water. A trip to the beach is not my ideal vacation (just ask Mister Cavey!) and I don't even like those facial mists that are supposed to refresh the skin and set the foundation. I used to beg my Mom to just allow me to wipe my face with a cotton pad soaked in witch hazel or *gasp* the Bonne Bell Ten-O-Six lotion or Sea Breeze that she used to keep on the bathroom counter for my sister and me. She insisted that I wash with soap (Sweetheart soap!) and water first, and then she'd allow me to use them.

Well, I'm a grownup now, and I can do or not do what I want, but I do wash my face with cleanser and water, of course. I do it as quickly as possible. Thank goodness I am blessed with pretty decent skin, albeit very dry, and I don't get breakouts. I'm on my last tube of The Healing Garden reEnergize cleansing gel, and when it is gone, I'll probably go back to ordering Payot cleanser on the internet.

Enter the amazing invention, the facial wipe! Not quite the answer to my wet-face phobia, but a practical beauty tool to have onhand for in-between cleansing, a refresher after exercise class (Zumba!) or to remove and re-apply makeup. The first wipes I ever tried were from MAC, and although I used up the package, I didn't care for the scent of them. I tried a few different drugstore brands, too, but somehow the texture of the wipe (some were so scratchy that they felt like sandpaper!) or its effectiveness in cleansing, or the scent would not quite be what I wanted. I went on a search to find something I would like, that would work well, and would smell pretty.

Ms. Blogdorf and I just love to browse the makeup and skincare aisles at Target. That is where we found the Boots line of products from the United Kingdom. The girls across the pond have raved about Boots for years, and we wanted to try it all! I bought the wipes and have been hooked on them ever since. I've gone through a dozen of these pretty aqua packets and I will always have a little stash of them in my skincare drawer.

Boots No. 7 Quick Thinking 4-In-1 Wipes are by far the softest, cushiest wipes I've found. The scent is fresh and dissipates quickly. They feel so luxurious on the face that you might mistake them for some fancy high-end product from Saks. Not only do they remove foundation and lipstick very well, they remove eyemakeup too, even stubborn mascara. They leave the face feeling refreshed and glowing. There is no residue left on the skin. The packet keeps them nicely damp up to the very last wipe. There is no dry tight feeling on the skin after using these wipes, my skin does not feel stripped, raw, or scratched. They are totally soothing. I'm constantly amazed at how well they remove mascara without sacrificing any lashes, and I surely can't afford to lose one single puny lash. It leaves the eye area perfectly ready for a fresh application. And after exercise class, a swipe of the wipe makes my skin feel cleansed and sweat-free, and I don't have to wash with cleanser and water until bedtime.

You might wonder why they are called 4-In-1 -- these wipes cleanse, tone, moisturize, and remove eye makeup. You can buy them at your local Target, or add a package or two to your next drugstore.com order. The package contains 30 wipes and retails for $6.99.

Don't tell my Mom that I use facial wipes. Oh, and the Sweetheart soap is now gone from her bathroom counter, it's been replaced with a Dove bar!

Disclosure: This product was purchased by the reviewer.

Photo Credit: Cavewoman for Blogdorf Goodman

Graphic: Melanie Parker/Veronica Lake via I Married a Witch

Beauty Trend for Fall: Winged Eyeliner

Estee Lauder's Double Wear Zero-Smudge Liquid Liner in After Hours and Midnight. Retails for $19.50

These are my newest love. They have great deep rich pigment.

Boots No.7 Liquid Eye Liner. Retails for $9.99

So easy to use and a "shu worthy" black color. Like ink!

Lancome Artliners, a favorite from fellow blogger Beauty Addict. These retail for $35 and come in stunning colors like Smoke, Blueberry and Noir.

What are your favorite liquid liners? Let us know in the comments.

Credits: style.com
Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Estee Lauder.

Boots No 7 Intensive Moisture Face Mask

An intensively quenching treat for softer, smoother skin. With caring vitamins A, C and E, plus invigorating apple extract to brighten your skin. This deliciously soft, lightly whipped gel-cream will leave your skin feeling softer, plumper and looking more youthful.

This looks like a thick shaving cream but it applies light as a feather. It cools and refreshes the skin. This feels like HEAVEN on earth on a hot summer day. It is satisfying like a mint julep or a frozen margarita.
It is a skin quencher.

It leaves the skin feeling ultra-soft and smooth. I used it on my face and elbows.
Personally... I would like to slather my whole body in it.
It is that good.
I have discovered many amazing products on this blog but no other line has impressed me as much as Boots.
Available at Target and Ulta.

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Boots.

Boots Eye and Lip Correction Serum

I am in love with this product. Smitten like I have never been smitten before.

This does not feel like a lotion or cream but a balm that is as rich and comforting as a cashmere blanket....from Hermes.

I actually oohed and ahhed when I put this serum on my face.

It has a whipped silicon texture. It feels so damn good that you are at risk at over applying it. You just never want the feeling to end.

It's actual performance rivals any high end skincare product from La Mer to Kanebo. It makes the skin around my eye area appear smooth and hydrated.

It contains HorseChest Nut(or in Ohio we call the nuts Buckeyes) and Japanese Pagoda(according to wikipedia this is a specific tree) extracts to help with dark circles and puffiness around the eye. Glycerin and Shea Butter help to hydrate the skin, prevent moisture loss and aid moisture penetration.

This serum is available at your local Target store for $14.99.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Horse-chestnut

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styphnolobium

http://bootsus.bri-global.com/

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Boots.

Boots Botanics Night Moisture Cream

This intensively moisturising cream works in harmony with your cycle to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by replenishing lost moisture. With grape and ginseng extracts to help protect and visibly improve the condition of your skin. You will be able to see a difference in just two weeks

I have been testing it for several weeks and it leaves my skin feeling very soft and hydrated. I do not look or feel any younger, but silky soft and moisturized skin is always a good thing to accomplish.

This skin care product boasts grape extract as their star ingredient. Grapes tend to smell boozy in potions and lotions. If you have no problem with slathering your face with a cream that smells like fermenting wine....then you will love this product. It feels rich like a cake batter and leaves no sticky film on the skin.
Boots is available at Target.

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Boots.

Boots Lash and Brow

I have used a Marc Jacob's clear mascara for my brow taming needs for at least two years. It was free. That is all that I require, when it comes to brow products. It is strange that I am willing to sell my soul to get my hands on Lancome's Erika F eyeshadow but I will not open my wallet for clear mascara.

After testing Boot's Lash and Brow, I will have to open my wallet in the future. It made mince meat of my Marc Jacobs mascara. It tamed my brows in one swipe and left no mess. There was no spare globs or white flakes. My brows stayed in place all day and looked natural. It did not look like they were hairsprayed in place.

This product is available at your local Target.

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Boots.

Boots No 7 Quick Thinking Wipes

In the past I have not been a fan of makeup remover wipes. I have tried everything from Stila to MAC. I have found that they are harsh and can dry out quickly.

I tested the Boots version this past week. The wipes are hypo-allergenic with added benefits of B5 extracts, witch hazel and fennel. It took off my La Mer foundation in just a few swipes and did not burn or aggravate my skin.

It felt refreshing and cool. I know that is a description that is thrown around a lot on blogs but it really felt wonderful. There was some tightening action but my skin did not turn into a mask. It did not dry out my skin either. It felt soft and slightly moisturized.

Another plus in favor of this product is the scent. There is none. It does not smell like medicine nor does it smell like a field of flowers.

There are 30 wipes in a pack and it is available at your local Target for $6.99

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Boots.

http://bootsus.bri-global.com/default.asp

Boots Hand Therapy
From Boots : Care for your hands and nails with this light, intensive hand cream that instantly soothes and relieves dry skin. Bilberry extract improves skin microcirculation for brighter skin while equisetum extract and SPF10 help protect against visible skin ageing. Your hands will look and feel softer and more youthful.

It is a feathery light formula that leaves no greasy film on your hands. It manages to moisturize in the most non-intrusive way. It is an ideal lotion to keep in your work desk.
It keeps your hands soft without any hassle. I did not slip or slide on my computer keyboard. Greasy keyboards are common when using standard lotions at work. You almost have to wait for it to dry before you touch any surfaces or type.
Boots Daily Therapy lotion is ready to go after application.

This lotion also has a subtle scent that does not interfere with your perfumes. It smells like bran or oats with a green note thrown in. It is oddly comforting.

This is available at Target
http://www.target.com/gp/homepage.html


Read about bilberries at:

http://www.stevenfoster.com/education/monograph/bilberry.html
and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilberry
Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Boots.

Liquid Eyeliner from Boots

I have not worn liquid eyeliner since high school. I was a little worried that my hand would not cooperate and that I would have a huge fiasco on my eye lid.

It was like riding a bike.

My hand was steady and I managed to get a razor straight line with no fuss or mess. This liner has an ultra thin brush for accurate application. It dries fast and is smudge free. The black color is an inky blue black that seems straight out of a Shu Uemura lab.

Boots Liquid Liner is available at Target for $9.99.
http://www.target.com/gp/homepage.html
http://bootsus.bri-global.com/

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Boots.

Boots Primer

Say goodbye to rosy cheeks with this sea green coloured cream which counteracts redness in the skin. It won't clog your pores and contains horse chestnut extract to care for your skin.

I have been using this primer for an entire week. I am fairly loyal to Smashbox Primer due to it's consistent results with my face. I would consider it "Holy Grail" material. Boots Colour Calming Primer has made me rethink my position. I think there might be room for two "Holy Grails." Colour Calming eliminates redness and helps keep my makeup fresh and intact.

I was nervous with the first application since it literally turned my face into a ghostly green color. It was subtle but I saw the green tinge. The tint went away once I applied my foundation. This primer actually enabled me to use less of the La Mer foundation since I did not have to pay extra attention to problem areas.

It delivers on neutralizing the redness along with providing no skin flare-ups. It did not break me out or irritate my skin in any way. It contains "cones" so this worked well with keeping my makeup intact throughout the day.

I am hooked.

Boots Primer is available at your local Target store.

http://bootsus.bri-global.com/default.asp

Disclosure: A press sample of this product was provided by Boots.

Boots Restore and Renew Beauty Serum

Waiting Lists

Boot's No7 Protect & Perfect Beauty Serum flew off the shelves following a programme screened on the BBC called ‘Horizon’. Today there are waiting lists for this miracle serum. Waiting lists are the wave of the future. They are both annoying and enticing.

Boots describes the cream as a 'skin-firming and complexion-brightening serum'. The ingredients include peptides, which have been shown to increase the levels of supporting collagen in the skin, and white lupin extract. This is claimed to reduce the breakdown of collagen by enzymes known as matrix metalloproteinases. I love Peptides! Estee Lauder's CP Perfectionist is chock full of Peptides and works wonders.

Boots No7 Renew & Restore is sold at Target nationwide for $19.99.

Anyone try this yet?

Credits: Boots