Botanical Lab describes themselves as being an unconventional, stylish and affordable range for clear skin and they bring together a range of effective skincare that marries the power of nature with a dash of science for a clear, healthy-looking complexion.
Admittedly until this package arrived in my hands, Botanical Lab wasn't a brand I knew very much about, though I had seen it on my social media.
Packed with modern botanicals from around the world and science-led active ingredients, Botanical Lab expertly and gently cares for blemish-prone skin. From the wonders of turmeric and Indian clay (famously known as bentonite) to the world’s hidden gems like neem leaf and clove oil, Botanical Lab harnesses the power of nature and expertly combines it with science-led actives, such as salicylic acid, sulfur and allantoin. The outcome? Formulations that are easy to use and deliver great results.
The four products that I was kindly sent include the Indian Clay Non-Foaming Cleanser, the Turmeric Blemish Control Clay Mask, the Clay and Sulpher Dry Lotion and the Pumpkin and Papaya Enzyme Exfoliator and for the past few months, I have introduced them into my routine to try them out.
The first product to catch my attention was the Botanical Lab Pumpkin and Papaya Enzyme Daily Exfoliator (£5.99) because I cannot stand the smell or taste of Pumpkin (keep your PSL's) but in beauty products, I don't mind it so much. Said to have a pH level which is suitable for blemish-prone skin, this products lightly exfoliates to remove dead and dry skin cells to leave your skin feeling soft and smooth to the touch but most importantly unclogged.
This exfoliator is formulated with pumpkin and papaya enzymes, Aloe Vera leaf juice, radish root alongside a blend of AHA + BHA acids. On the skin, it doesn't tingle or leaves any redness behind after using and the advice is to use it both morning and evening after cleansing but before moisturising. I tend to use this just in an evening with a reusable cotton pad and I have found it to do a really good job at leaving my skin smooth and soft to the touch.
Intrigue came within this collection of products from the Botanical Lab Clay & Sulfur Drying Lotion (£7.99). I have used another brands product in recent years and quite liked it, so I was intrigued as to how this would compare especially at that price point. If you hadn't guessed, this is a blemish treatment which is inspired by Korean skincare. It has a very clever formulation that combines sulfur and salicylic acid alongside clay which works together to help clear away dead skin cells that contribute to clogged pores and breakouts, while you sleep.
Told not to shake the bottle, you will need a cotton bud to use it and then all you do is dip the cotton bud into the drying lotion, right down to the white sediment at the bottom of the bottle and then dab it on to a blemish and leave it to dry. It uses Zinc oxide which is a natural anti-bacterial agent to soothe blemished skin as well as agar, gum and lemon tree oil. I am lucky enough to rarely suffer from a breakout, if I do, it tends to be one spot which pulses under the skin, rarely ever breaking. So products such as these really do help and I have been suitably impressed with this after my Christmas food binge.
I love a good cleanser and I use a few different ones depending on how my skin feels. From Botanical Lab this Indian Clay Non-Foaming Cleanser (£6.99) is said to be a non-foaming product for one reason and that is because it has been purposefully formulated without the lather-producing sulfates. Some people love a foaming cleanser, others complain that it strips their skin leaving it feeling dry and in need of that moisture, I don't hold a strong view either way, from all of the foaming cleansers I have ever used, only one has had that effect on my skin.
Combing Indian Clay, kaolin, willow bark extract and salicylic acid, this cleanser not only works to remove excess oil, dirt and makeup it also works to detoxify and gently exfoliate away those dead skin cells. Also within the formula, you will find oatmeal, sunflower seed oil and allantoin, all of which help to condition skin. I had no problems whilst using this cleanser, the lack of foam didn't bother me and it does a really good job at cleansing the skin and leaving it feeling clean, exactly what you need after a day of being out and about in London.
The final product I have to share is the Botanical Lab Turmeric Blemish Control Clay Mask (RRP £6.99) and this is the one product I was most worried about using because my skin can often react to a clay mask and in the past has blistered. Described as being a purifying and anti-bacterial deep cleansing treatment, this mask unclogs the pores and removes excess oil without drying out the skin.
This mask is formulated with the hero ingredient turmeric, Indian clay (also known as bentonite clay), kaolin, witch hazel and skin moisturising Zinc PCA and glycerin. I do love Turmeric for my skin and my skin loves it, so putting aside my worry of a reaction, I applied this mask, thin layer only, to my skin (after a patch test which was fine) and left it on my skin for around 15 minutes as advised. After that time was up, using warm water, I removed the mask and thankfully had no reaction at all. This mask not only a deep cleansing mask, but it is one which also gently exfoliates, removes impurities and excess sebum which in turn helps to keep blemishes at bay. A tip from Botanical Labs for this product is to use this mask on other areas of your body, those which have a greater concentration of sebaceous glands, such as the neck, back, buttocks, and chest, all of which are prone to body blemishes.
The Botanical Lab range is suitable for all ages as well as being vegan-friendly, free from SLS, phthalates, synthetic colours and artificial fragrances. You can find it in Superdrug, Waitrose and Ocado.
*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.