And here are my exact thoughts.

As a make up lover, I can appreciate the ability of becoming someone new with full beat. But my personal style, especially for day-to-day business, is a natural, low coverage, dewy look. Clear brow gel, a light coat of mascara and a Summer Friday’s lip oil.

Now, it may be that I’m about to make you feel old here. On a shopping trip with my best friend the other weekend, I stumbled upon the “Boots Natural Collection” stand. A stand I’d never seen before. With the prices ranging from £2.50- £5.

You read that right, the most expensive product in this range is just a fiver.

Ok, basket loaded and I’ve returned home only £22 down, thank you student discount! It’s only right I call my sister to give her a haul.

“OMG! I remember that range! I used to have loads of their makeup back in the day!”

Yep. Never heard of it, but TikTok had, and most beauty enthusiasts over 20 were also familiar with the brand.

Oh well, let’s test it for myself.

Straight off of the bat, I was really impressed to see all products I had purchased were cruelty-free, a big thing I look out for when purchasing my cosmetics. The packaging was also said to be made with 50% PCR plastics and the products were made with 90% natural origin ingredients.

The adjective “natural” also gave me great hope that this was my solution to an easy, everyday, no make up , make up look.

Polite notice: your makeup is only as good as your skincare before hand, make sure to prep your skin to the best of your abilities.

I didn’t buy a primer from the collection, so went with my all time fave, Refy.

Step 1: Skin Tint- £5:

As I distributed the tint over my face, the creamy formula filled me with hope. It seemed we were off to a great start. Seemed being the key word.

As soon as it came to blending, I met my biggest enemy. The formula dried down immediately meaning no matter how much I dabbed with my sponge, there would be a line where the product was originally placed.

I used my hands and a stippling brush, and finally got the product evenly blended out, but as I carried on the look, I came across several unblended lines.

*I used the HNB concealer to brighten my under eyes*.

Step 2: Translucent Setting Powder - £3:

I really liked the setting powder, the formula was lightweight and sank into the skin flawlessly. With no visible cast, it set the products underneath perfectly. One thing I didn’t try, which I wish I did, was the flashback test. Before wearing it out, I must test this, we don’t want to be embracing Flash back Mary.

Step 3: Powder Bronzer- £3.00

My second favourite step of a makeup routine, oh to be sun kissed every day. Personally, I found the bronzer a complementary shade on my skin tone. I purchased it in “Tawny Birch”. My issue was once again, the blendability. Could it be I was possibly applying too much?

The collection literally has “natural” in it’s name, and maybe the idea is a dusting per product. I would recommend building up this product, instead of going in with a heavy hand due to its chalkier nature. For £3, you can’t go wrong, but I would recommend saving up, and investing in one- even at £8- as the formula could be easier to work with.

Step 4: Highlighter … oops - £3.00

I cannot be fake, I was so disappointed when I reached for the ‘Blush’, only for it to be a highlighter. The worst part? I had nobody to blame but myself. Blush is the best part of a full face, and here I was without any…

The highlighter was in the shade “Rosebloom” with what appeared to be a pink pigment. My initial thought was “Maybe I can use this as a blush and highlight in one!”. Wrong. The pink pigment didn’t shine through, and the highlight itself left a cast on my face that showed when I was looking head-on. For me this one is a bye- not a buy.

Step 5: fix step 4

Due to my mistake, and the highlighter NOT doubling up as a blush, I limited the product on my face by dabbing with a beauty blender. I then corrected the ‘no blush’ look, by going in with MAC ‘Peachykeen’ on my cheek bones.

Step 6: Eyeshadow- £2.50

Now this one, I can vouch for. Though I was once a lover of a cut crease, bright eyeshadow look, my go-to now-a-days is a naturally deepened crease. To achieve this, I usually apply my bronzer on the lid, but this could be a new favourite. The eyeshadow, shade Cedarwood, was the perfect warm colour, it blended effortlessly into my crease, and left me with a defined lid. The pigment was light, which meant buildable, and perfect for a natural, every day look. And it’s £2.50… £2.50!

Step 7: Mascara- £3.00

I’ve never tried a brown mascara, and as a blonde (fake of course) it’s been on my agenda for some time. This little, £3.00 tube had me feeling optimistic. I loved the packaging, the wand, and the colour of the product. Now, maybe I've been spoilt with Refy, but the performance didn’t blow me away. There was a coating, that slightly enhanced the lashes, but I couldn’t tell all that much I even had product on. As someone with, not the best eyelashes, I really feel like I know what brands make them pop and appear, and for me, this one did not.

Step 8: Lip gloss: £3.50 Lip liner: £2.50

Isabel Butler, Shade “Sugar Honey Glaze”

I loved these products, and I will be re-purchasing. I got the lip gloss in shade “Sugar Honey Glaze”, it sounded luxurious and almost like it could be on the Rhode website. Remembering this collection is for a natural look, it does what it says on the packaging and is perfect for those days where all you need is a swipe of blush and a drop of clear brow gel.

It paired perfectly with the lip liner in shade “Spice”, that has not left my handbag since. She comes everywhere with me, and goes with pretty much any lippy!

Everyone’s perception of “Natural Makeup” and what they want from it differs. For me, it’s a way to enhance your features using products that are light coverage. I do want it subtle, but I still want to look as though I’ve gotten ready that morning. I don’t aim to look bare faced, but that’s just me.

Personally, I’d re-purchase the eyeshadow and lip set, but everything else I think I’d pass on. The ethics of the collection appeal to me, but the product quality doesn’t. This would however be a great gift for young ones starting to show an interest in beauty, and the collection as a whole is really budget friendly.

I tried the Boots Natural Collection range…