I have always been a very big fan of Boots own brand called 'Essentials'. I have been using their moisturiser and cleansing lotion since I was 16 and they're my holy grail products. Recently I decided to buy the whole collection excluding the face wash and eye makeup remover pads as I don't think they're worth trying due to having something similar in the past (not saying that those ones aren't good). I went for the cucumber collection as have combination skin which can be sensitive, as I know for a fact that cucumber extract helps calm redness. I love the scent of all the products as it is fresh and makes my skin feel energised and clean. Right, let's get onto reviewing the products!
Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Cleansing Wipes £1.00
I don't really like using wipes, I prefer to cleanse my skin with lotion and makeup remover and then wash it off rather than rubbing my makeup into my skin by using wipes. However, these wipes are different from the ones I've tried before as they don't rub my makeup in, but get rid of it instantly. I would say I only need two wipes to take my whole makeup off which is pretty impressive as with other cheap wipes I will probably use up around 5 to just try and take my mascara off! They are very soft and lightly fragranced but the scent doesn't irritate me at all as it is mild and makes me feel like I've been to the spa after as it leaves my skin feeling very soft! These wipes have since been reformulated and are now biodegradable.
Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Eye Makeup Gel Remover £1.50
I don't use this product too often as I find it too watery and slightly sticky to take my mascara off but I don't mind it for taking my foundation off as it does the same job as micellar water. I must say that I am really disappointed with this product and I don't think it's good at all. It's merely okay, but it won't take any eye makeup off - especially not waterproof or high-end mascara. I much prefer the Nivea Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover, which is a decent dupe for Clinique's Take The Day Off Liquid Remover.
Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Cleansing Lotion £1.50
I love love love this product. It takes all my makeup off within seconds and lasts for ages. It is a good dupe for Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish makeup remover as it melts the makeup off while moisturising and cleansing the face. I do usually tend to wash this off with warm water and I don't use a flannel - I prefer to use cotton pads as I find them more convenient. I do think that a warm flannel might work better with this product as it'll help to slightly exfoliate your skin after a long day of wearing makeup.
Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Facial Toner £1.50
This is a really good toner, especially for the price. I have repurchased this product many times as it is so affordable and always leaves my skin feeling fresh, soft and well cleansed. It's suitable for all skin types and doesn't irritate the skin. I find that it helps to reduce the redness on my skin and keep my blemishes down. This would make a great first toner for anyone with acne-prone skin, and I wish I used it when I was younger.
Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Eye Gel £1.50
I was a bit hesitant when it came to purchasing this product as I've read mixed reviews of it and never really liked any eye gels, but I have actually really enjoyed using this product. I find it refreshing on my skin and it does make my under-eyes feel refreshed as well as reduce any swelling I might get from not getting enough sleep. I tend to use this product mostly in my morning routine, as I find it helps to wake me up.
Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Moisturising Cream £1.50
This is one of the best moisturisers I have ever used. At such an affordable price it not only hydrates and softens the skin but also helps to reduce redness and blemishes (in my case anyway). I really do recommend this product to anyone who's trying to save some money and still expect great results. I always repurchase it and I'm never disappointed with the results! At only £1.50 for 100ml, this should last you at least 6 months!
Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Facial Scrub £1.50
I am really fussy when it comes to facial cleansing products such as scrubs. I usually tend to go for Clearasil or Neutrogena, so when I picked this up I was hoping it would be as good as the other products from the collection! I really want to say that I love this because of the texture and scent, but it doesn't do anything for my skin at all :(
It's good for cleansing but I expect more from a scrub - I want it to exfoliate my whole face leaving it feeling right and fresh but it just makes me want to wash it again with a different product. Update - I have since worked in skincare for 3 years and can say that this product is actually pretty good, especially for those who have dry or acne-prone skin. It isn't a rough scrub, but that doesn't mean that it's not doing its job! (I do not use abrasive scrubs anymore and would happily try this one again).
Boots Essentials Refreshing Cucumber Clay Face Mask £1.50
I love this face mask! It does wonders for my skin, moisturises it while getting rid of all the toxins and dead skin cells. I find that it cleanses my skin well leaving it feeling fresh and soft. Using this mask twice a week will give you the best results, but don't overuse it or keep it on your skin for longer than the required 3 minutes as it might dry you out.
For 50ml per tube, this is a very affordable product that lasts around 3 months with regular use, so I'd definitely recommend this product!
Boots Essentials Facial Exfoliating Sponge £1.75
I needed an exfoliating sponge and because Boots had an offer on all the essential products 3 for 2 then I decided to get one to try it out. I am really happy with this as it really gets rid of all excess oils and dirt from my face leaving it feeling baby smooth. The only thing which you might not like about this is that both sides are quite rough and it does hurt a bit if you have sensitive skin, but in that case, you could use it as a body exfoliator instead.
On top of the products already mentioned in this post, I would also recommend the face wash from this range but you should avoid the micellar water as it is absolutely rubbish.
Have you tried any of these products? If so, what did you think of them?
*This post contains some affiliate links.
Lots of love,
Maya xo