Can the new skincare range from Boots really turn back time? (Picture: Supplied)
Just over six months ago, I made a big – no, huge – change to the skincare routine I had so dearly clung to for the past 15 or so years.
I did it on the promise that a new range would deliver even better results than the best-selling Boots No 7 Protect & Perfect goodies I’d been using religiously to stave off the signs of ageing.
At 49, I thought I looked pretty good for my age, so figured if I could continue to do so as I crossed the 50 threshold, then why not give it a go?
To be fair, this new super-range was another offering from Boots No 7, but this time it was its Future Renew brand, something that had been 15 years in the making and was creating a lot of buzz among beauty insiders.
So what made it so special? The world-first formula contained a ‘super peptide’ called pepticology, which is designed to kickstart a healing process that helps reduce the reduce the signs of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, as well as other natural skin conditions that come with ageing, such as lack of luminosity, dryness, and loss of firmness (sob!).
While peptides are great for the skin anyway, this new technology – which No 7 hope to get patented – couldn’t be found in any other product.
Am I still a Future Renew convert?(Picture: Boots)
It was said to take about four weeks for the Future Renew effects to be seen, so after using their serum (£42.95, 50ml), eye cream (£24.95, 15ml), day cream (£34.95, 50ml) and night cream (£34.95, 50ml) for one month, I wrote about it for Metro.co.uk.
I noted that the moisturisers felt heavier than Protect & Perfect, which could have been down to it containing factor 40 rather than 15SPF. Or maybe it simply needed to work a bit harder on older skin – either way, it left my face looking a little shiny.
After 1 month of using the product, it felt like my face had a slight ‘filter’ look (Picture: Supplied)
But even after four weeks, I could tell ‘something’ was changing. When I looked in the mirror it was like having a teeny-tiny filter over my face. My pores appeared smaller, my skin slightly less red and there was a general ‘glow’.
Turns out, I wasn’t the only one who had been keen to give it a go.
According to Boots, there was a 94,000 waiting list for the range and one product from the Future Renew collection sold every two seconds on launch day.
They also saw more than 500,000 transactions for it in the first four weeks, and since then, it has received more than 1,000 five-star reviews online – breaking records to become the brand’s fastest-selling product range.
But now it’s been just over six months on from the initial frenzy, did No 7 really deliver a truly age-defying product?
Before, one month in and six months in…(Picture: Supplied)
Well, I’ve turned 50 and still certainly don’t feel like I appear that age. When I look at my before, one-month and six-month progress pictures, there’s not a jaw-dropping difference, although my jawline does look slightly firmer.
I’m also pleased there doesn’t seem to be any new wrinkles forming around my eyes or on my forehead and my skin still has that filter ‘glow’, which is another bonus.
I’ve also got used to the heaviness of the night and day creams, although there are days when I can still see a sheen on my skin – but it does wear off eventually, so isn’t the end of the world.
Plus, the serums – which are said to be the real magic in this mix – leave your skin feeling silky smooth.
The serum is said to be the key to help turn back the clock a little (Picture: Supplied)
Keen to get the opinion of an independent expert, I asked Sabina Hanoman-Singh, aesthetic doctor at Creo Clinic to look at my before and after pictures (without any mention of a brand name) to see if she could spot any difference.
Her verdict?: ‘In the after pictures, the skin looks more vibrant and glowing, and also looks slightly firmer with a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles. This may be from collagen-stimulating ingredients such as peptides or vitamin A derivatives.
‘Meanwhile, you cansee that hydration has improved, which can be achieved with ingredients such as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid [both contained in the range].’
So as long as it keeps on slowing down any signs of ageing, I’ll keep on using Future Renew.
Unless, of course, the people at No 7 come up with another zinger in 15 years…
MORE : I tried the new age-defying wonder range from Boots… But did it deliver?
MORE : No7 launches world-first anti-ageing ingredient that tricks your skin into healing
You hope it’s going to be a good one when the wait list has 94,000 people on it.