If I say “Boots Natural Collection” to you, what springs to mind? For me, it was one of my go-to places to buy make up when I was a teenager. I loved it. Then, as I got older, I drifted to other brands, as you do. I haven’t used their make up in around 20 years (gah, that makes me feel so OLD) so when Boots Natural Collection asked me to try out a selection of their products, I was keen to revisit it.
First up, the thing that initially impressed me is that EVERYTHING in their range is £1.99. EVERYTHING. I don’t know about you, but I flinch every time I hand over £25 for a tinted moisturiser or £18 for a concealer. Heck, even spending £15 on my favourite red lippy makes me weep inwardly. I don’t know when I started to think it was acceptable to spend a ridiculous sum on my make up, but somewhere between my Boots Natural Collection teen years and now, I’ve ended up with a make up bag that costs a small fortune.
So the price tag of this range really intrigued me – and I was very interested to see whether it was as good as my pricey make up…
(Clockwise from top) Water guard mascara, Liquid eyeliner (only available in-store), Tinted moisturiser, Blushed Cheeks blusher, Sheer Natural Lipstick, Solo Eyeshadow, Pressed powder, Cover up stick, Highlighter stick, Brow kit – all £1.99 from Boots
I’ve filmed a little video to show me going from my day make up to evening make up, for a night out. Now, my night out make up isn’t hugely different to my daytime make up – I’m definitely a natural look kind of girl. No fancy contouring or dramatic eyes for me! For a start, I don’t have time to spend 45 minutes doing my face (what mum does!) but also, I have no idea how to contour my face, so I’m all about a make up look that’s easy and quick! Watch how I got on…
If you’ve got some nights out planned in the run up to Christmas (and I hope you do – we all need some festive tipples, after all), here are some tips from me on doing a quick day to night make up look:
1. Multi-task. Pop your kiddos in the bath and (presuming they’re old enough to splash around on their own) use that time to apply your make up in the bathroom mirror.
2. Take off the day’s make up first. I know, I know, I’m really bad at bothering to do this too, but I promise, your night time make up will look better if you’re applying it to a clean, make up-free face.
3. Apply your normal day make up and then have a few extras that give you a ‘party look’ – my extras are eye shadow, extra thick liquid eye liner, and the brow kit. There’s something about darker brows that just says glam, to me.
4. Pile on the lippy. You probably know that I love a red lip, but I’ve been meaning to experiment more with colours – I’m dying to find a bright pink lippy that will suit me. This pale shimmery coral colour lipstick is probably more of a daytime colour for me – I’d probably prefer a brighter lip for a night out. Experiment with colours and find a good daytime colour and a good party colour for you. If you can, use a lipliner first as it will make the lip colour last longer (especially if you’re drinking wine/gin all evening).
5. Watch some more beauty how to YouTube videos to get inspiration. Some of my favourites are from Charlotte Taylor, Louise Pentland and In The Frow.
As you can see from my video, I’m genuinely impressed with the Boots Natural Collection make up. Particular favourites are the Tinted Moisturiser, the liquid eyeliner, the brow kit and the eye shadow. Oh and the blusher! (I like a lot of it, can you tell?)
The tinted moisturiser gave me a really good coverage – and it was still there, by the end of the day, which I always think is a really good sign of a good base. The liquid eyeliner went on really easily! If you’re anything like me, you’ll have tried at least 12 liquid eyeliners before finding one that doesn’t go on wobbly. In the video, it’s genuinely the first time I tried it, and it went on like a dream!
The brow kit is going to become part of my daily make up routine, I reckon. I’ve always shied away from them but it made my brows look neater (even if they are covered by my fringe). Doing this has reminded me how much I like eye shadow, and this shimmery shade is so good for adding a bit of sheen to your eyes without going OTT. As I said in the video, I’ve been using a cream blusher for a few years but I loved how this powder blusher looked – it gave me a really warm rosy glow!
So, genuinely, the Boots Natural Collection range gets the thumbs up from me. I’ll be stopping by their display in Boots next time I need some more make up. I mean £1.99! You can’t go wrong, can you?
I’m working with Boots and BritMums in a paid relationship, showcasing the Natural Collection makeup, the simple, affordable and easy-to-use line. Find out more here. As always, all views are my own. For information on how I work with brands, see my Work With Me page.
I confess! I am guilty of putting night make-up on over my day make-up rather than starting from a clean face again. However I enjoyed your tips. The colours looked really pretty on you and isn’t the price just fab?! Guilt free splurging this Christmas!
Author
Haha I think most of us do it Nadine! But I have found on the occasions I take it all off and start again, it looks a lot better!
Alison, you stunner you!
I cannot believe the price of this range and you have really made me inspired to go and pick up a few more bits for my makeup bag. Love the liquid eyeliner so much 🙂
Author
The liquid eyeliner was genuinely brilliant. I heartily recommend it Keri-Anne!
£1.99 EVERYTHING? That’s crazy! Like you I’ve not shopped there in ages but will check it out next time I’m in Boots.
Author
I love that you an buy yourself a little guilt-free make up treat!
love Natural Collection stuff!! It’s great and such good value isn’t it?!
Author
It’s insanely good value!
I still can’t get over how reasonable the range is! I defo need to take a leaf out of your book in 2017 and try and be brave and wear some lipstick! x
Author
I think you would ROCK a lippy, Em! Do it!
I wish we would have had a boots natural collection when I was growing up I would have hung out with all my girl friends at boots googling over the makeup counter. lol Looks like that’s what the english girls were doing. hahahah. I was really impressed with the price and quality of the natural collection having never used anything other than the one brand I have been using for years so it was nice to branch out and try something new. You look stunning and ready for the festive season girl. But the fashionista side of you never had any trouble in that area. hahhaha Love this look on you. Happy Holidays hope to see you soon. 😉 xoxo
Author
Ah Jenny, did you have a range like this when you were growing up? There are a few drugstore brands in the US, aren’t there?
I do love a red lip on you Alison but that pink is equally as gorgeous!! And happy to see i’m not the only one who’s a bit backwards when it comes to make-up application 😉 x
Author
haha! I was all over the shop, wasn’t I? What a wally! I don’t think I have a career in beauty vlogging ahead of me 😉
Natural collection is so nostalgic to me! I think it was the first make up I ever bought! X
Author
Me too! I think they also used to do fragrances – I have memories of having a White Musk perfume, which smelt different to the White Musk everyone else wore, but it was really nice!
It is such a lovely range. That liquid eyeliner looks fantastic, I’ll have to check it out.
Author
Do! You won’t regret it. I mean, obviously everyone looks for different things in an eyeliner, but my main requirements are: going on smoothly and easily, which this one does!
I didn’t realise we got sent different things, the liquid eyeliner looks great I might have to invest. Well not really invest as it is so cheap. It honestly went on as well as some of my more expensive make up. You look lovely and I love the eyeshadow on you. x
Author
I loved the liquid eyeliner too! £1.99! You can’t beat it!
You look great! And such a natural in front of the camera :-). Love that eyeshadow, going to go investigate that…
Author
Ahh thank you! The eyeshadow was a big surprise for me – it went on so well with just my finger and I think it made me look more ‘made up’ for the evening.
Love this post, and you look lush! x
Author
Ahh thank you SarahLou! It’s amazing what a bit of make up can do 😉
These pictures are really brilliant, you look excellent. I do love Boots’ makeup, and their skincare range in general actually. It’s fab that you found so much to suit.
Author
I agree – Boots products are brilliant aren’t they? It’s my first stop for skincare and toiletries too!
I loved your video! I have the same eyebrow problem as you, sparse at the end. Mascara face is THE LAW 😉 You look gorgeous hun. What a fab range x
Amazing beauty products at a very low price. I like your video a lot. Thanks for sharing those wonderful tips. I don’t really go out at night that much but I like the idea that now, I can do better with my makeup routine whenever there’s a night gathering with relatives or friends. I especially like the liquid eyeliner. It can do wonders in our eyes, that’s for sure! Do you know if this beauty brand is available in many local stores?