A Gentler Way to Cleanse: Boots Botanics Organic Face Nourishing Cleanser

The other day I stated my intention to add more organics into my beauty routine, and Boots Botanics is the line that started me on that path. A chance, impulse purchase at Target has led me to start reevaluating my entire skin care program, and the product that started it all is the new Boots Botanics Organic Face Nourishing Cleanser.

I happened upon this cleanser quite accidentally. I had stopped in the cosmetics department on my way out of Target and noted for the first time that they actually reserve a section for "natural" beauty products. Now, I'm not normally one for natural products. I've tried a few, and with the exception of products by Reviva Labs (see here, here and here for some reviews of their wonderful products), I've often found that "natural" equates to "not quite as effective as synthetic. Perhaps I've been unfair, though. Or maybe plant-based skin care has become much more cutting-edge in the last couple of years. Regardless, I have to tell you how pleased I am with the Boots Organic Face Nourishing Cleanser.

Organic Face Nourishing Cleanser is a lightweight lotion that spreads evenly and easily across the face and emulsifies makeup right off the skin with little to no effort. Since I'm also typically wary of lotion cleansers (I just always feel as if they aren't quite effective enough to really get my makeup off), I tend to massage the lotion into my skin for at least a minute. I am also using a new removal technique, in accordance with the directions on the bottle; I remove the cleanser with a soft cotton pad until virtually nothing remains. I then go over my skin twice with a gentle, alcohol-free toner from Clarins. My skin, which normally feels tight after washing, is left soft and dewy, ready for moisturizer.

When I first began this program a couple of weeks ago, I was convinced that I would be breaking out any day. After all, it was a lotion cleanser, and there was no splashing involved, right? How could it possibly do an adequate job at cleansing my skin? Well, luckily it apparently has, because there have been no breakouts...not even a single bump. The dry patch on my chin has disappeared. My cheeks have far less ruddiness in them, and I don't feel tight and dry at the end of the day. All from a cleanser!

The Organic Nourishing Face Cleanser boasts a base of olive oil and glycerin, to gently remove impurities without stripping the skin. Essential oils are added to help calm things down. There is a natural, organic, fresh and slightly floral scent to the lotion thanks to judicious use of orange and rose geranium essential oils. Yum!!

This cleanser has literally changed my skin in less than 2 weeks. Makeup looks better now, and I need less than I used to since my skin tone is calmer and more even, and since I'm not suffering from breakouts or dry skin. I never knew "natural" could be so amazing! The ingredients are also 80% organic, leaving little room for harsh chemicals. The non-organic ingredients include cetyl alcohol (hopefully from a veggie source), which is a thickening agent, xanthan gum, which helps emulsify the oils and water in the product, sodium benzoate (a preservative and the only really questionable ingredient, as it can become a carcinogen when combined with ascorbic acid, although this formula seems to have no Vitamin C, so hopefully that's not a problem., and potassium sorbate, a preservative that inhibits mold.

Full ingredients list: Water, Olive fruit oil*, Glycerine*, Cetearyl olivate, Cetyl alcohol, Xanthan gum, Sorbitan olivate, Alcohol denat.*, Citric acid, Sodium benzoate, Potassium sorbate, Limonene, Fragrance*, Pelagorniu graveolens flower oil*, Citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) oil*

Bottom Line: This is a truly life-changing cleanser for me. Be aware that I have sensitive and slightly dry skin, so depending on your skin type your mileage may vary. I also recommend using a separate eye makeup remover with this one, as it does leave traces of mascara behind when used alone. However, if you're up for trying an inexpensive ($7.99), mostly organic cleanser, this is a good place to start!