Category — Boots UK

Hi ho, Bionic Beauty here with your daily news. Oh, for a minute there I was envisioning myself on TV. Anyhow, I’m here with a review of Boots’ Botanics foundation, variety “Quench Your Face”.

I’ve had mixed results with the Boots line (available in the UK and now in the US at Target stores). My trial of their mascara was not so grand, however I adore the Restore and Renew face serum (must, must, must checkout this out- seriously. It’s so much better than L’Oreal Skin Genesis line and great for sensitive skin).

I received the Quench Your Face foundation from Boots to test, sample and review. I opened the package and immediately loved the chunky glass bottle. Nice and strong, no flimsy packaging here. There’s a screw-top lid which is nice, but when you screw off the lid, there’s this little spatula thingy. Huh? Yeah. I’m not sure what that’s for, since if you used the spatula to put dollops on your face, you’ve then brought your faces bacteria right back into your fresh jar of foundation. So I used the spatula to place a splotch on a cosmetic sponge and applied from there.

The foundation went on very nicely and wore super well through the whole day (even with me sweating like crazy due to the heat here!). It didn’t feel too greasy and was nicely moisturizing, plus it packs SPF 12! Love makeup products with some SPF. The more, the better these days.

The next day…. uh oh. Breakouts and clogged pores everywhere. My sensitive skin clogged right up and I’m still battling to get everything calmed back down. That’s when I hoped online to check the ingredients (I know… I should’ve done this *before* I trashed my face), but this Quench Your Face foundation is no where to be found. Hmmmm… Check the bottle. Oi! The bottle is expired. As of May 2008. Grrrr.

So I’m guessing the culprit in my breakout is probably glycerin, but I can’t be positive. But my skin is reacting the same way to this foundation as it normally does when it comes into contact with a glycerin-containing beauty product. Sensitive skin types be aware. Please check the ingredients on Boots foundations before you purchase. Glycerin is quite common in facial care products and known to clog pores.

And let this be a lesson to you all… pitch the expired makeup. If you’re unsure, or can’t remember when you bought it, better safe than sorry.

Ok, I’m off to cover my pimples in Tea Tree Oil.

Bionic out.

Mother’s Day is coming up on May 11th. Since I’ve been shopping around the web, I thought I’d share some of the bargains that are ongoing in honor of Mom’s across the world.

And yes, that is my mom and me in the photograph. One of the few photographs of her on horseback. The pony was the mother to my first horse.

From Drugstore.com:

• Food, Gift Baskets & Flowers for Mom. Expires 05.11.2008
• Buy $30 of philosophy and get a fresh cream shower gel ($12 value)! Expires 05.09.2008

Pur Minerals:

• FREE Beauty in Numbers eye palette with purchases over $35. This palette has 16 colors! Enter PALETTE at checkout.

e.l.f. Cosmetics:

• FREE Sterling Silver Heart pendant necklace with purchases over $20! Enter code EGMOMDF (expires June 1, 2008).

Loose Lips NY:

• Free shipping has been extended for Mother’s Day shopping. Use code springfs for orders over $10 through May 5th, 2008.

Boots:

• Just launched in Target stores, the famous Boots No7 Restore & Renew Beauty Serum is now available for body: No7 Protect & Perfect Body Serum. Now you can pamper your Mom’s full body! And at $24.99, it’s pretty darn affordable.

philosophy:

• “Mom’s philosophy” (www.yourmomsphilosophy.com), an interactive website launched by philosophy just in time for mother’s day, is a natural extension of the brand and gives customers a meaningful way to celebrate their mothers’ wisdom while also creating a unique gift for Mom that will touch people everywhere.

As an added bonus, anyone who creates a page will have the chance to win the ultimate gift for mom, a $1,200 shopping spree on philosophy.com. each visitor to yourmomsphilosophy.com will be able to rate every page they read, and on mother’s day, philosophy will reveal the top 20 rated pages and everyone who visits the site that day will be able to vote for their favorite page to receive the grand prize. all 20 finalists will receive a philosophy gift basket, valued at $250 each.

Murad:

• Spend $100 or more at Murad.com and get a free Anti-Aging trio of products (includes: Intensive Wrinkle Reducer, AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, and Essential C Daily Renewal Complex). Simply enter mom408 at checkout time.

Well, I have finished up my New Year’s detox program (by Boots) and I must confess, I was impressed. As you know, I raved about the great taste, but the benefits are fantastic. I definitely lost the bloat and my energy level is certainly up (which is a good thing after all the cookies I was eating…).  Fantastic, easy product!

I did not experience any negative side effects (no headaches, icky breath, etc).

Add this to you “to try” list if you are looking for a SAFE way to detoxify your body (I don’t want any Bionic readers doing those darn “starve me for 5 days detox’s” - *so* not good for you!).

Best wishes in the New Year, ladies!

(You can read the previous Detox diary posts here: Day 1 and Day 2). 

Well, things are still going smoothly with my New Year’s detox plan. The Boots product is really gentle and tastes great. I’m not tired of it, and it’s very easy to work into my day.

I did some research about detoxing and found that you should check with a doctor before starting a plan, especially if you have any health conditions. Also, do not forget to take your daily multi-vitamin supplement since your body needs those vitamins to keep up functioning; and plenty of water helps to flush your system giving your even more benefits from the detox.

Until tomorrow…

As a way to kick off 2008, I am using the Boots “Feel the Difference Five Day Detox Plan“. Today is Day One and so far, so good.

The plan includes 5 days worth of supplements that are blended from natural ingredients that help target your body’s detoxifying organs (liver, etc). Ingredients include Schizandra (an herb), Green Tea, Ginger, Grape Vine Leaf, and Marine Plant Bark. Sounds odd, and I was expecting the taste to follow suit. Truthfully though, it’s actually pretty yummy… and easy! You mix a vial of flavored liquid (mine is Strawberry) into 1 quart of water and drink it throughout the day. It takes like a light strawberry tea.

Check back tomorrow for my progress!

If any readers would like to detox along with me, you can find the Boots Detox kit at local Target stores for $19.99.

The review: A few weeks back, I had a hard time locating my favorite mascara, so I picked up a quick replacement at Target. I chose the Boots No. 7 Volumizing Mascara in black.

As with all Boots products, the packaging was sleek and super cute. The applicator was sturdy. The mascara applied clump free, however the brush was prickly on my eyelids (the irritation made my lids a bit puffy the next day). After checking my reflection, I failed to see the volumizing action. It looked more like a lash tint than a mascara. It wore truly well- I was happy with the lack of smudges and flakes.

All in all, a good product for day time wear or in situations where you want low-impact eyes (the gym, beach, etc.). Be a little careful with the brush if you have sensitive eyes. Personally, I will not rebuy since I want my mascara to add drama, darkness, length and volume.

Available at: Target and some CVS stores.

Average price: $7.49-$8.99 a tube

Boots UK/USA is holding a new contest. Enter now through December 31, 2007 for your chance to win a trip for 2 to London, England, including airfare, a spa package and 3 nights at The Montague on The Gardens.

You and a friend will enjoy a day of pampering in the luxurious surroundings in the heart of London, before hitting the town and seeing the sights. The trip also includes 3 night at The Montague on The Gardens, a beautiful hotel located close to Covent Gardens and the British Museum. Your luxurious life London Getaway is awaiting you, enter to win today.

Visit the Boots site to enter the contest. Good luck Bionic readers!