If you’ve been reading my posts here, you know that I’ve really struggled with adult acne, and especially with being comfortable in my own skin. Recently with my dermatologist prescribed medications, I finally felt that I had found a routine that worked for me, but the products often left my skin dry, red and, at times, very itchy. Sometimes, after using these medications, applying different products and makeup on my skin would also cause irritations.
Then I found the Boots No7 Protect and Perfect and Boots No7 Youthful lines, and now I think I’ve finally figured out exactly what my skin’s problem is.
It’s moisture. I actually need more of it.
I was a little wary of all of the moisture in these products. After all, I can be sort of an oil slick, and I’m always afraid of waking up in the morning to discover that the products I applied the night before haven’t sunk into my skin, and now I have a giant grease face.
But these products didn’t just work well; they actually improved my skin over time. On the packaging they promise better looking skin in four weeks, so that’s how much time I gave them.
Let’s start with the Boots No7 Youthful Replenishing Facial Oil. This is the product I start with every night before bed, applying it to a freshly washed and cleansed face.
Ingredients
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Isostearyl Isostearate, Alcohol Denat,. Tocopheryl Acetate, Parfum (Fragrance), Isopropyl Myristate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Tocopherol
This non-greasy blend of jojoba and rosehip seed oils sinks into my skin in but a moment. I usually concentrate it around the areas where I’m driest and red, like the apples of my cheeks; the sides of my nose, where I have some broken capillaries; and the areas on my chin where I have some acne scarring.
There’s also a little warning on the back that literally says, “May make surfaces slippery,” and they aren’t kidding. The bottle is glass, and I almost dropped it on my bathroom floor several times. In spite of that fact, though, it makes a wonderful precursor to…
The Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Night Cream, which is my follow-up to the Replenishing Oil. It blends in seamlessly, and has a clean scent that doesn’t irritate my skin. As far as the Day Cream goes, I wasn’t sure how it would work out, but I was pleasantly surprised. Most of the time when I use moisturizers with SPF, they tend to clump up when I try to put makeup on top of them, but that isn’t the case here. It dries nice and matte.
Night cream ingredients
Aqua (Water, Eau), Glycerin, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Sorbitan Stearate, Demethicone, Butrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter, Beurre De Karite), Ethylhexyl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Acid Glycol Ester, Dimethiconol, Butylene Glycol, Parfum (Fragrance), Sucrose Cocoate, Methlparaben, Carbomer, Laureth-7, Ethylparaben, Dipropylene Glycol, Retinyl Palmitate, Xantham Gum, Ascorbyl Gluoside, Tetrasodium EDTA, Potassium Hydroxide, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Polysorbate 20, Gingko Biloba Leaf Extratc, BHT, Tocopherol, Butylparaben, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Silica, Propylparaben, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Day cream ingredients
Avobenzone (3.0%), Octinoxate (6.0%), Octisalate (2.5%), Aqua (Water),Glycerin,C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate,Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter,Dimethicone,Isononyl Isononanoate,Cetearyl Alcohol,C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester,Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide,Sorbitan Stearate,Mica,Polysorbate 20,Alcohol Denat.,C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dimethiconol, Butylene Glycol,Methylparaben,Potassium Cetyl Phosphate,Ethylparaben,Parfum (Fragrance), Laureth-7, Retinyl Palmitate,Sucrose Cocoate, Dipropylene Glycol,Xanthan Gum,Ascorbyl Glucoside,Tetrasodium EDTA,Citric Acid,Lupinus Albus Seed Extract,Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Carbomer,Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract,Potassium Hydroxide,Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, BHT, Tocopherol, Butylparaben, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben,Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7,Cl 77891 (Titanium Dioxide).
The Eye Serum and Intense Eye Cream, I mostly use at night, but I have taken to using them before my makeup application at times, as well. I tend to get cakey under my makeup, otherwise.
Eye serum ingredients
Aqua (Water), Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, HDI/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Stearoxymethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Octyldodecanol, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Isohexadecane, Boron Nitride, Hydrolyzed Manihot Esculenta Tuber Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylparaben, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 80, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Ethylparaben, Polysorbate 20, Silica, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrapeptide-21, Tocopherol.
Intense eye cream ingredients
Aqua (Water, Eau), Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea, Beurre De Karite) Butter, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyacrylamide, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Stearic Acid, Alcohol Denat., Palmitic Acid, Titanium Dioxide (Nano), C13-14 Isoparaffin, Butylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Laureth-7, Ethylparaben, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Extract, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Lupinus Albus Seed Extract, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Steareth-20, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Extract, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Polysorbate 20, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Manganese Oxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Tocopherol Dipeptide-2, Potassium Sorbate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide.
The only downfall with these two is that I found the serum to have a very chemical-like smell.
I don’t have a physical reaction when I put it on, but the smell is not pleasant. At all.
So, I’m sure you’re wondering what my skin looks like now after four weeks using these products every day. Well, let me give you a look see…
The last time we visited my boyfriend’s parents, his mom said that my skin looked “rosy and matte,” and coming from a woman who works in the fashion industry, I take that as high praise. Now, my skin didn’t look awful four weeks ago, because my prescription medication was doing its job, but now it feels better. It feels soft, refreshed and, well, probably how it’s meant to feel?
These Boots No7 products are all available now at most drugstores, including Walgreens and Duane Reade. And they’re also available at Target and Ulta.
Have you tried any of these products from Boots No7? Or any of the brand’s other skin care?
Jax says
Your skin looks amazing!
I’m very tempted to go and buy a full set, I’ve been having problems with my moisturisers (my long time fav was discontinued) so I’ve been on the hunt.
Jaclyn levy says
Wow, your skin looks like a baby’s ass! So soft and smooth. I’m sold!
Marcella Yakalis says
That might be the best compliment I’ve ever gotten! 😀
Shannon says
Nice! I have combo oily skin (was mostly oily until about 22 or so) and found that when I started giving my face MORE moisture, it did a lot better. I’ve been using only oil as cleanser/moisturizer for… 6 years or so?
I love the look of Boots products, especially since the brand reminds me of my time in England, but for some reason haven’t tried any of them out!
Kiss & Make-up says
Your skin looks REALLY good! I have the same issue as you: skin that is oily but at the same time also lacks moisture.
Marcella Yakalis says
Yeah, it’s definitely been trial and error. I typically always bought stuff for oily skin but I find that dries me out a lot! So I think actually alternating with products for normal to dry skin help a lot.
Agata says
Your skin looks amazing! I might have to check this line out.
jessica says
I see the No.7 line all the time, it is now a Walgreens brand…and i am in Duane reade pretty much every day so…. lol
Bex D says
I love Boots No7. I’m in the UK so Boots stores are everywhere. Try the Protect & Perfect Serum – it’s great. I use the Stay Perfect Foundation and it lasts all day. Also the eyebrow crayon pencil stick is good – it takes a little getting used to at first though. Basically any No7 product I’d recommend! Your skin (which is amazing looking) goes to show how good the products are
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Katie says
Your skin looks amazing!
I had a similar issue, I have normal-to-dry, very sensitive yet acne prone skin, and the dermatologist kept telling me to use salicylic acid, benzol peroxide, etc., but they’d only make me dry and itchy and red, and guess what? Still covered in acne! I finally quit all that and switched to cleansing oils, moisturizing oils, pretty rich moisturizers. I’m pretty sure that my skin being irritated and dried out by the acne medication was making my acne WORSE, if that’s even possible. I haven’t had a real breakout in months now.
LindaLibraLoca says
Sadly we don’t get No. 7 in Germany, your skin looks awesome! Those prescription acne meds can be quite harsh on the skin.
Rachel R. says
Your skin looks amazing!
denise S says
You’re skin looks great! I use Boots anti aging serum during the day before my spf moisturizer. And I’ve been using the night cream for over a year and really love it! The rest of my skin care products with the exception of my Aveda cleanser is high end and expensive!Boots makes good skin products at an affordable price!
Erin says
Your skin looks amazing. Straight jojoba oil and shea tend to be breakout triggers for me so I’ll have to pass. I did learn that once I got my health in order and stopped using harsh acne products including prescriptions I had much less acne!
Kwmechelle says
Umm, your skin looks amazing! I’ve heard of this line before but never tried anything from it. I’ve been in need of a good moisturizer. Gonna look into one from this brand 🙂
Brandee says
Your skin looks milky smooth!!!! Happy you found what works for you. Can you share what glasses you have on- I need them in my life ?
Marcella Yakalis says
Hey Brandee, thanks! I got them from a chain called Vision Works, they are Max Studio, here is a link to a better photo.
http://www.eyeglasses.com/eyeglasses/maxstudiocom-max-studio-116z.html
Chelsea says
Your skin looks so good! Perfection!
I’m broken out now due to venturing from my tried-and-true routine and skin picking, but it’s getting better now!
Carly says
Your skin looks freaking amazing!
Chris25 says
Wow! Your skin looked good before, but now it’s even fresher and clearer. You look wonderful!
Kim says
Marcella, your skin looks fabulous! Congrats on finding something that makes your skin look AND feel great. 🙂 Even better that you can find it easily and it’s not crazy expensive.
brooke says
It’s been so hard to find a skincare routine that can properly balance my skin. I’m acne prone, oily and have sensitive skin (yay). One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that less is more. Sometimes we don’t need to put 8 products on our face to achieve nice skin. I’ve had pretty good luck with some Paula’s choice products.Glad you found something that’s working for you. I know it feels like angels are singing when that finally happens 🙂
Christy Peeples DuBois says
Your skin does look so good. I am glad you found what works for you. It can be so frustrating not knowing what to do or what to use and not use. But I will keep at it. Thanks for sharing your experience.
SiouxF says
You look fantastic! I have found that layering an oil with a cream that has dimethicone causes the second product to pill and roll off. Have you experienced any of that with this line? If so, how to you mitigate it? It drives me nuts.