September 2017 FavoritesDetails on my September 2017 Favorites after the jump.
Ages ago and with much skepticism, I tried argan oil for the first time. I ultimately decided that I liked it. I tried a less expensive oil and it wasn’t even close. A few months ago, I decided to try some other oils. I tried a pure grapeseed that turned out to do alright as an OCM oil, but wasn’t so great for moisturizing.
On a trip to Target, I purchased a bottle of Boots Botanics Organic Facial Oil ($8.99) to use as a moisturizer in place of the Josie Maran I’ve been using. At under $10 for 0.84 fl oz, it is a far more economical option than anything Sephora has for sale. Having enjoyed their Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm, I approached it with optimism and curiosity.
Rather than a single solitary oil, Boots Botanics Organic Facial Oil is a blend of several. The first ingredient in the list is Sweet Almond (prunus amygdalus) oil, which explains some of my experiences (below). Thankfully, though this product does have a unique scent, there is no added fragrance. It claims to be rich in Omega-3s
Full ingredients are as follows:
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Limonene, Citronellol, Pelargonium Graveolens Leaf Oil, Geraniol, Citrus Aurantium Sinensis Peel Extract, Linalool, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Citral, Citrus Lemon Peel Oil
Although I have an affinity for citrus, I’m not loving a handful of those ingredients that originate from citrus fruit. Compounds Limonene, Citronellol, Citral, and Linalool all occur naturally in the essential oils of plants and each has been shown to cause irritation in some individuals. In spite of my reservations and knowing that my skin is not sensitive, I did use the product for several months.
Dear heavens how the hell is it 2016? WHAT IS TIME DOING. That said, it’s now the first Wednesday of January…so that means its time for my December 2015 Favorites. Meanwhile I’ll be working on my incredibly premature midlife crisis.
I was into skincare before I was into makeup, so over the years I’ve tried a veritable ton of cleansers. Brands, formats, whatever. What I hadn’t tried, though, was a cleansing balm. After hearing Lisa Eldridge (I think) mention the Boots Botanics Organic Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm being a cost-effective alternative to a more prestigious offering (the Eve Lom one), I decided to find it. As it turns out, my local Target carries it – but it can also be found at Ulta, on drugstore.com and on Amazon (if you’re willing [or don’t have a choice but to] to pay double for it, that is).
Boots Botanics Organic Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm, $7Famous is my love (read: disdain) of long product names, but I found that I’m willing to endure it for this little jar. Cleansing balms generally aren’t the type of product one uses to dominate their cleansing routine so much as supplement it; to give it a little boost or pleasant change to the routine. For me, it will not supplant my routine of Cetaphil Gentle + my Clarisonic, but will instead be a welcome once- or twice-per-week addition to it.