Product Review: Product Review Boots Laboratories Optiva Radiance Renew Foaming Cleanser, Comforting Day Cream & Radiance Boosting Eye Balm

A few decades ago I lived in the UK. And I very quickly discovered the Boots stores, and I think the majority of my spare money was sent there. The stores were amazing. So many products and brands that I had not previously seen or had access to in the small town in Denmark where I grew up. Oh, how I have missed those stores since leaving the UK. And when I’ve flow from Australia to Denmark on my annual trip to visit family and friends, I’ve been looking so forward to the duty free shopping during the layover in Asia or the UK, and although the shops in the airports are tiny, and only carry a very small range, I always still have to go in there, and get something, for old times sake. One of those ranges that I have fond memories off, is Boots own products, which are of such high quality, yet at so low prices. So when I was told that some Boots Laboratories products were becoming available in Australia, and I was asked to trial some, I immediately and excitedly accepted. Here are my thoughts on the *Boots Laboratories Optiva Radiance Renew Foaming Cleanser, Comforting Day Cream & Radiance Boosting Eye Balm;

What They Say:

Radiance Renew Foaming Cleanser: "A gentle foaming wash that leaves your skin feeling fresh, clean and invigorated with a healthy glow. It gently washes make-up and grime away, leaving skin clean and soft. The oil free formula".

Comforting Day Cream: "A rich formula for normal to dry skin. Easily absorbed, Comforting Day Cream helps fight dehydrated, dull looking skin by strengthening and protecting it leaving skin feeling softer, looking smoother, and more radiant. Contains SPF15 and UVA filters for added protection."

Radiance Boosting Eye Balm: "Soothes and brightens your skin with this delicate eye balm. The delicate area around your eye is especially vulnerable to puffiness and dark circles. It uses the Althaea officinalis extract to restore radiance and the skin around the eye will be left more supple, soft and healthy looking."

RRP:

Radiance Renew Foaming Cleanser: $14 (150ml)

Comforting Day Cream: $22 (40ml)

Radiance Boosting Eye Balm: $22 (15ml

- Available from Guardian and Amcal Pharmacies

What I Say:

The Boots Laboratories Optiva promises to help strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier, hydrating it for up to 24 hours, quenching free radicals and help revitalise skin leaving it velvety smooth and glowing with health!

The Optiva is formulated with Althaea Officinalis (Marshmallow root) extract, which works as an effective active ingredient by helping rejuvenate the deterioration of the skin and strengthening skin structure. A compound present in althaea officinalis helps to reduce the levels of hyaluronidase and this in turn minimizes swelling and acts as an anti-aging compound. In addition, the products also contain Allantoin, which increases water content, helps shed dead skin cells to increase smoothness of the skin. Helps to heal sensitive and irritated skin, Shea Butter to moisturise the skin to leave it looking and feeling softer and smoother, and help build a better lipid barrier.  And finally it also it also contains Glycerin, which with a combination of other moisturising ingredients, glycerine works throughout the day to give prolonged, all day moisturisation.

Having combination skin prone to breakout, yet having ageing skin too, I am always on the lookout for a products which will care for my skin, while not drying it out. And while I do not have sensitive skin, I love the fact that the Optiva range is suitable for sensitive skin, is hypoallergenic and paraben free too.

The Radiance Renew Foaming Cleanser uses the liquid-to-foam formula that has also recently been so popular in hand soaps – basically, it is a liquid in the bottle, but once you pump it out into your hand, you get the softest foam.

And as promised it easily, and gently cleanses the skin, and clears away any makeup too, even long-wearing, although it does struggle a little with my eye makeup, but I don’t mind that, as I prefer to use a specific eye makeup remove around my sensitive eyes anyway- although it is such a gentle formula, that it could easily be used around the eyes too. And after rinsing off the cleanser, my skin is left soft and smooth, and not at all dried out. But while it does look clean and healthy, I am not really seeing any increase in the radiance of my skintone as the name of the product suggests. The cleanser has a very faint floral scent.

The Comforting Day Cream is formulated for normal to dry skin, so with my combination skin I was a little concerned that it would be too rich for my skin. But that was not the case.

The cream is light and absorbs easily and quickly into the skin without leaving behind any greasy residue, and without making my skin feel like it is drowning in moisture either. This means that as I find that it is still suitable for my combination skin, I could imagine that it wouldn’t provide sufficient moisture for those with drier skin types.

The cream leaves my skin feeling soft and thoroughly moisturised, and with a nice sheen too, and it works perfectly under makeup, and I like that it contains. SPF15 and UVA filters so I know my skin is protected from the sun’s harmful rays, although I would have liked to see this increased to SPF30+. Like the cleanser, it has a very faint floral scent.

Of the three products, the Radiance Boosting Eye Balm is by far my favourite one.

The light eye cream is extremely light and feels both soothing and moisturising on the eye area, without irritating my sensitive eye area. And it is sufficiently moisturising without being too heavy and cause bags under the eyes. After just a few uses, I can see that the area around my eyes is more supple and soft, while unfortunately, as claimed, I have not noticed any reduction in puffiness and dark circles – but that would also have been too good to be true, seeing I hardly get any nights’ sleep at the moment, as I am up several times during the night to comfort our teething little boy.

Unlike the cleanser and the moisturiser, the Eye Balm has next to no scent.

 

What I Like:

• These products are very gentle, and perfect for those with sensitive skin types
• Products are hypoallergenic and paraben free
• Has SPF15
• Well priced
• Now readily available through Amcal & Guardian pharmacies

What I Don’t Like:

• Moisturiser claims to be for normal to dry skin types, but I am not sure it would be sufficiently moisturising for dry skin
• Personally, having combination skin, I’d love the moisturiser to be slightly lighter in consistency

Overall, these are lovely products, and of such a great quality, especially considering their low price (and right now Amcal has $5 off all products too!!). Being at the age where anti-ageing is a concern and I would like to see a few more anti-ageing properties added to the cream and the eye balm, but then again, Boots Laboratories does have a range available, Serum7, which covers this, so really this cannot be seen as a negative. So if you are after some gentle, yet effective products to care for your sensitive skin, then I highly recommend that you check out this Optiva range. And me, I’m just hoping that this is the start of Boots products available here in Australia, and that many more will be launched in the near future. Fingers crossed!

*These products were kindly provided for consideration, and have been reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.

 

What do you think of this new skincare range from Boots? Ever tried any Boots products? Been to one of their stores?