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Original poster

What has happened to Boots No 7?

98 replies

NinaDefoe · 16/12/2021 08:14

I bulk buy their Stay perfect compact foundation, Flawless pressed powder and Stay perfect concealer and am about to run out.

I have used them for years and it was by far the best budget range foundation for my skin.
Great range of colours, lovely creamy foundation - perfect for my skin.

I went to buy more and No 7 have redesigned everything.

The packaging is so awful, cheap, tacky and screams true ‘budget makeup’.
It used to be all black (like Chanel 😀)

The ‘Medium’ pressed powder I have used forever is now orange and doesn’t come with a pad to apply it, the foundation compact I have relied on for years is ‘not available in store’.
I daren’t order it without seeing it first in case the colour has been changed too.

Has anyone else noticed?

Why do companies mess with products that have been brilliant for so many years?

Can anyone recommend an alternative?

OP posts:
GoldenGumballs · 17/12/2021 13:00

Oh me too I need my medium pressed powder. Was fortunate to get a couple of similar colours in £5 bargain bucket. When I asked they said it was to become more inclusive which is fantastic but why not just add to the present range. Please let me know anyone if you find a good alternative.

LookItsMeAgain · 17/12/2021 13:02

Did No. 7 have a foundation in the late 1980's or early 1990's that came in a stainless steel tin and came out of the tin in a mousse form?

I can't remember which brand it was and so far I've been coming up a blank on internet searches but I know I used a product like this and it was so light to wear and not drying at all on the skin.

k4523 · 17/12/2021 13:05

That ad is hilarious Grin

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Beauty General shopping General style & beauty
Boood · 17/12/2021 13:18

@LookItsMeAgain

Did No. 7 have a foundation in the late 1980's or early 1990's that came in a stainless steel tin and came out of the tin in a mousse form?

I can't remember which brand it was and so far I've been coming up a blank on internet searches but I know I used a product like this and it was so light to wear and not drying at all on the skin.

Yes, I used to use it. It was lovely and light-textured.
SquirrelFan · 17/12/2021 13:21

@k4523

That ad is hilarious Grin
Hilarious, yes, but fantastic! Really empowering, if a bit silly. Plus the models didn't look 13 years old.
MaryHingey · 17/12/2021 13:23

@IAAP

I totally stopped buying make up for this reason as well as the cost -bloody men don't do it or aren't expected to do it.

I remember my feminist mother telling me to put a 'bit of make on to look better' she didn't say that to my brother

Just a guess, but this may not be a thread for you ?
Appleseesaw · 17/12/2021 13:25

They discontinued a perfect (for me) colour blusher. The replacement colour was garish. I went onto the website and all the reviews were complaining about it and wanting the old colour back. Why don’t companies listen? What goes on in their market research?

TheWoollybacksWife · 17/12/2021 13:36

@Appleseesaw

They discontinued a perfect (for me) colour blusher. The replacement colour was garish. I went onto the website and all the reviews were complaining about it and wanting the old colour back. Why don’t companies listen? What goes on in their market research?

Soft Damson? 😢

I've just done the IL Makiage questionnaire after reading this thread. I'm not sure I want to spend £35 on a foundation based on photos from the internet when my Boots one was £15 but from the sounds of things I need to find something to replace my discontinued Superlight.

Sewannoying · 17/12/2021 13:41

I know, it’s such a pain. I didn’t realise until my foundation arrived in it’s new packaging. Fortunately the foundation is fine, but I need more loose powder and the reviews online all mentioned the orange problem. Plus I’m annoyed at them making it smaller and not reducing the price. I tried ordering loose powder from a different brand that had decent reviews, but it’s awful, so I’m now wondering whether to risk buying the No 7 powder.

Rangoon · 17/12/2021 13:44

I am really pale with a pink/blue undertone. I look orange with any foundation with a yellow base. I love Essence foundations and concealer and it is all very cheap. Sure some of the packaging might be a little basic but there is lots there with a pink base. Wet and Wild also have a tendency to a pink base ie not yellow and it is cheap too. I'd pay more happily but these brands are great - at least till somebody improves them.

ASkyPaintedGold · 17/12/2021 13:53

I was concerned too when I saw they'd made such a change to the whole range, but I'm cautiously optimistic so far - I actually think the concealor is a much better consistency and my usual colour/colours of cool ivory & cool vanilla were spot on. They've introduced so many new shades, too. DD has finally found one that's just right for her pale skin, 'shell' is lovely, 'porcelain' was always too pinky.
Shame about the orange powder though! Hoping that translucent is still as, er, translucent 😁

SomethingBeginningWithX · 17/12/2021 15:27

I use hydraluminous Calico as well and am about to run out. I'll do a side by side photo with the new one when I get it!

fussychica · 17/12/2021 16:22

I went to buy a replacement No 7 Lipstick yesterday but was looking for the black packaging only to be informed its now white. Looks cheap and nasty but is apparently recyclable so was about to forgive them when I found the stick blusher I use has been discontinued- aaargh! Nothing to replace it just a tube of some garish liquid on offerAngry.
Happens to me all the time, not just with make up but food as well. Waitrose is an absolute pain, always deleting favourite items in a range with no comparable replacementSad

Original poster
NinaDefoe · 17/12/2021 20:40

@ASkyPaintedGold

I was concerned too when I saw they'd made such a change to the whole range, but I'm cautiously optimistic so far - I actually think the concealor is a much better consistency and my usual colour/colours of cool ivory & cool vanilla were spot on. They've introduced so many new shades, too. DD has finally found one that's just right for her pale skin, 'shell' is lovely, 'porcelain' was always too pinky. Shame about the orange powder though! Hoping that translucent is still as, er, translucent 😁
Have you managed to get the cool Ivory stay perfect compact foundation?

If you say the cool Ivory concealer is still the same I feel a tiny bit more optimistic... if they ever restock that is!

OP posts:
Original poster
NinaDefoe · 17/12/2021 20:41

Yes, I’m going to have a look at the translucent powder and see if it is any good.

OP posts:
Original poster
NinaDefoe · 17/12/2021 20:43

@SomethingBeginningWithX

I use hydraluminous Calico as well and am about to run out. I'll do a side by side photo with the new one when I get it!
That would be interesting! Annoyingly my usual foundation compact is as empty as it can be! I used every last tiny bit!
OP posts:
Original poster
NinaDefoe · 17/12/2021 20:47

@Rangoon

I am really pale with a pink/blue undertone. I look orange with any foundation with a yellow base. I love Essence foundations and concealer and it is all very cheap. Sure some of the packaging might be a little basic but there is lots there with a pink base. Wet and Wild also have a tendency to a pink base ie not yellow and it is cheap too. I'd pay more happily but these brands are great - at least till somebody improves them.
Thanks for this, I’m the same! Interestingly, the woman who redesigned the range (I linked an article earlier) talks about pink undertone not being suitable for her colour of skin. Well it’s suitable for mine! Don’t make everything orange just because it suits you!
OP posts:
Appleseesaw · 17/12/2021 20:55

@TheWoollybacksWife Yes I think it was Soft Damson. It was such a great colour and I’ve never found anything as good.

MrsMcCluskeysCat · 17/12/2021 21:03

@SomethingBeginningWithX @NinaDefoe I did actually take a picture when I put them both on my hand earlier didn't think to post it!

The one on the left is the old bottle and the one on the right is the new bottle. If anything the new one actually looks slightly less orange. Once I blended it in I couldn't see much of a difference but it will be interesting to see what it is like when I use it all over my face tomorrow.

What has happened to Boots No 7?
FriendofDorothy · 17/12/2021 21:08

Oh no! I have used Wheatsheaf eyeshadow for years and now I have just found out it has been discontinued. It;s my favourite!

flowersforbrains · 17/12/2021 21:14

Noooooooo!

Can't believe this. I used to use Bourjois and No 7. Bourjois has gone now and the reviews for No 7 are dreadful.

Will probably ditch No 7. What's a decent brand that won't break the bank?

Original poster
NinaDefoe · 17/12/2021 21:19

MrsMcCluskeysCat
That’s not bad at all!
I need to go to a huge Boots store and see if they have samples.
Still annoyed that they aren’t stocking my compact foundation in store. When I went in last the salesperson said there was a space for it on the display but that they hadn’t been sent any.

OP posts:
Alfixn · 17/12/2021 21:31

I was about to buy the stay perfect ultra mascara recently but noticed the different packaging, and sure enough when i checked the reviews, there was negative comment after negative comment about the new formulation.
I bought clinique's tubing mascara instead and can happily report it is better than the original stay perfect anyway!

thatsallineed · 17/12/2021 22:07

I think it's all about money-saving most of the time

It's all about money-saving all of the time.

LandGirlJudy · 17/12/2021 22:40

@FriendofDorothy

Oh no! I have used Wheatsheaf eyeshadow for years and now I have just found out it has been discontinued. It;s my favourite!
Nooo!!! Wheatsheaf is my staple colour too!!! Has-been for years