Boots No 7 LIFT & luminate Day cream review

For me there’s a fine line between looking young and dewy, and looking fat and sweaty. This is the problem of having a round chubby face, and I’ve always gone as matte as possible with my make-up to avoid the second scenario as much as possible. However, as Boots no7 changed the formula of their Protect and Perfect Day cream, and I wasn’t as impressed as I was with their older version, I thought I would try out this one, which is part of their new Lift & Luminate range…..

My first impression and concern was that the cream is much thicker than I’m used to. This makes me nervous as I often get spots with thicker formulas. (I can’t wear the Protect and Perfect Night Cream without getting spots), so I’m going to have to wait and see if this becomes the case too.  Second of all, it is incredibly shiny. Sometimes I wear the Protect and Perfect Day Cream with no other make-up and not need to worry too much, but I would never wear this one on its own. It is a very nice shiny though! It didn’t feel at all greasy and sank well into my skin and made it feel soft and hydrated. But like I said; VERY shiny.

I thought I’d make quite an expensive skincare mistake, but then I applied my usual mineral powder foundation over the top and I was a bit happier. I tried to convince myself that my skin was left looking glowy and healthy instead of reflective, (and it kind-of did from a distance) but the photos disagreed. Not only that, but at the end of the day my face looked very glittery, like someone had literally sprayed glitter at my face. I thought this was weird as I didn’t notice that when I applied the cream. However, I’ve tested it a few times now and yes, there’s no sign of glitter when I put the No7 day cream on, but by the evening, my face is covered in fine glitter. Before I wrote this review, I double checked this with absolutely no other products on my skin, but it always happens. I cleanse, and some of the glitter comes off on my cotton wool, but most of it stays put! By the next morning it is gone again, but I find it strange. A glittery face might be fine for Glastonbury festival, but not really for a daily look.

I also don’t think it makes me look younger – in fact I think the lines around my eyes and the furrow between my brows were more obvious than usual, but with my fringe hiding that most of the time anyway, that doesn’t

matter too much.

Conclusion: It’s too expensive just to throw away, so I will definitely keep it and use it till the end, but only on days I’m not going to see anyone or be filming anything for my You Tube Channel. This isn’t very often, so I’m very disappointed. Maybe I’ll use it on my arms and chest in the summer, like a body shimmer, just so I don’t feel like I’ve wasted my money! I won’t be buying it again. If you don’t have any issues about the size of your face, and don’t mind the idea of the glitter, then I might recommend the Boots No7  Lift & Luminate Day Cream as my skin looked radiant and healthier after using it. For me personally though, I think I’ll continue to stick to matte products to avoid light bouncing off my cheeks and blinding people.

PS. While I’m here, as I haven’t got enough to say about it for a whole post, I may as well quickly review the Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Intense Advanced Day cream: It’s lovely and light and my skin certainly feels moisturised and smooth. I love the good spf factor, which has definitely prevented me from burning when I’ve forgotten sun cream. Also, I have sensitive skin and this hasn’t caused me any problems. (I briefly mentioned earlier how the night cream gives me spots.) The latest formula is quite different to the previous one (which didn’t have the ‘Advanced’ in its title) which I have to say makes me wonder if it still has the same proven anti-ageing properties as the old one. That’s the only reason I spend so much on a moisturiser. This one doesn’t sink into the skin as quickly, which may make it last a bit longer and if you use a heavy foundation, this may help it blend better.

Unless I only did half my face for twenty years, I don’t know if I can vouch for the anti-ageing stuff! But people do often say they don’t think I’m as old as I am (They say that about my Mum, so most likely it’s down to kind genes) but you never know!

Have you tried the Boots no7 Lift & Luminate skincare range? If so, let me know how you’re getting on, and whether your face looks glittery at the end of the day as well!