Boscia Pore Purifying Black Strips – Green Monday review
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The all natural way to get the thrill of the peel!
photos: we heart this
What is it about picking, peeling and other detail oriented finger work that is so appealing? I love picking sweater pills, beer labels, my nail polish, etc. Most of all, I love a good skin strip, so when I received the new Pore Purifying Black Strips from Boscia Natural Skincare for some Green Monday testing I knew I was in for a good time!
The Boscia Pore Purifying Black Strips ($15) boast charcoal to purify the skin, silica to control oils, witch hazel to tighten pores, and other botanical ingredients to provide a soothing sensation upon application. Plus ALL Boscia products contain willowherb (an anti-irritant) and jojoba leaf (a strong, effective antioxidant) while containing absolutely no preservatives.
The Boscia strips are a fun, wavy shape that helps fit the contours of your face and are a unique matte black. To apply the strips the skin must be completely wet. Smooth the strip over the area and press firmly. Then the waiting begins!
Here’s our own Stef passing the time as she waits to peel…
It takes 15 minutes for the strip to dry, so it gave me some thinking time. Charcoal is often used with the claim of detoxification, but it’s not really true. Sure, whatever the charcoal can touch it can affect, but it’s impossible to “draw out” impurities or toxins. That’s what your liver is for!
So while the strips are unlikely to get at impurities stuck under the skin there is some hope for what is exposed, like nasty blackheads. Silica is the same- oil on the skin may be controlled, but it’s impossible to get under the skin into the sebaceous glands, where sebum is made, by simply applying a strip.
Ding! When my fifteen minutes were up I eagerly began peeling off the strip. As soon as it was removed I began my inspection of the strip. (Don’t even lie, I know you do the same thing!) It certainly appeared that the strip got way more gunk out of my nose than the typical strip (but that may be because the strip is black so the gunk stands out more).
Either way I was quite pleased! The strip was sufficiently nasty while my nose looked clearer and my pores clean, so therefore smaller. And repeated use has keep those pores tight and my oily t-zone area calm.
Pros:
• Natural yet effective ingredients
• Strips appear to draw a lot of dirt from pores
• Fun shape, color and product
Greens:
• Preservative free – that means no parabens!
• Free of ethanol alcohol, mineral oil and synthetic fragrances & colorants
• Free of animal ingredients and testing
Cons:
• Strips can only draw dirt and impurity from the upper surface of the skins ~ but that’s enough to keep you happy!
Boscia has introduced a great new strip to the market. With plenty of good for you botanicals, these are a welcome addition to my facial care obsession. So maybe it can’t do all that it claims, that doesn’t stop the thrill of the peel!
So fess up ladies, don’t you just love the post-peel inspection? Does Boscia live up to your expectations?
Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. It also contains an affiliate link, a link that gives us a small commission if you purchase the item. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.
GREAT review, @Stef! I love your critique of the product’s claims.
I really like pore strips. I know they don’t actually change my skin, but it’s nice to get out all the gunk. I exfoliate regularly but still end up with tons of blackheads. Honestly, I don’t think the Boscia strips were any better than the regular drugstore varieties. I do like that you can SEE the little ickies better, but it’s not worth the price difference. I give this product three stars.
I’m with you- They’re fun and a handy addition to my beauty routine but while the black is very chic they’re not much better than drugstore strips.
Sorry, I meant, great review @mandaleem! @Stef, I appreciate that you’re willing to model the product!
@mandaleem , I laughed at your confession about loving to peel stuff. Why is that so satisfying? When I was in school, I loved to spread glue on my desk, let it dry, then peel it off! So of course, I love pore strips, and Boscia’s sound like a very nice option the next time I’m in need of a good peeling fix. Great post!
Hahah, I used to do that, too! But I never liked the whole “dried glue on the fingers, it’s like I’m pulling off my skin!” thing, I’m too squicky for that. I think it must be that link back to our primate ancestors or something.
Great review @mandaleem I love strips like this and used to buy the Biore strips all the time. The best part is seeing the gunk that comes off afterward. With summer hear and my face sweatier than usual, I might have to pick up some of these strips to clean up my nose.
Thanks lady! I’m glad I’m not the only one that loves seeing (and inspecting) the gunk on the strips. Even the feeling of pulling the strip off is satisfying because I can just imagine it yanking out all the gook. So weird!
Awesome review @mandaleem I’ve been thinking of picking some strips up the last couple of times I was at the store, maybe I can wait till I get to the mall to pick these up instead.
They’re definitely one to try. If you do indulge you’ll have to let me know how you liked it!
These strips are fun, way cooler looking than white strips (IMHO), and they work well without irritating my skin. Since writing this post I’ve been spending a fair amount of time on the beach/outside. Sunscreen+pores=gross. To top it off? The sunscreen didn’t prevent me from getting a rather sore, red nose. Boscia’s strips are mighty (and not *easy* to pull off) but gentle enough that I was able to use one even with a slight sunburn. Blackheads begone!
I do have to take one star off for the price, because while they work very well I’m not sure just how much better they are than a typical drugstore strip. The price difference isn’t that much, and knowing that I’m supporting a company with environmentally sensitive practices makes it worth it.
Now is it sick that I kinda want to see @Stef ‘strip “after” photo? (Hahah, don’t answer that, I know- it’s totally gross!)
I love pore strips!! There is something so deeply satisfying about using them. And my skin can use all the help it can get. I would love to try these. But I am unsure if I would at this price point. Hmmmm…..
Great review! I haven’t used these in awhile but they sound great and I think I’m ready to give them a whirl again….my nose is in desperate need of some deep pore help!
Great review Amanda. I really want to try these. Haven’t used pore strips in forever, but they always seemed to do wonders. My nose pores could use some help right now.
I’m so glad I am NOT the only one who has to inspect the strip after I rip it off. My mom thinks it’s so gross and just throws it away. I don’t know how she does it! It’s illogical! Even with a mask I have to see if any of the gunk surfaced into the mask! It’s just fascinatingly gross to me!
I’ve been really curious about these. I haven’t used strips in awhile since my skin has been a bit more sensitive, but I’ll definitely have to buy these!
Do these adhere and conform to the nose better than the Biore ones?
I actually had some trouble with getting these to stick, and then when the did – they almost stuck TOO much. I like Boscia a lot, and have used many good products – but to be honest, these didn’t really move me. A bit expensive, sticking issues and I think I see my gunk a bit better with plain ol’ drugstore white ones (which is really most of the fun of using pore strips, as we have all declared!) Sorry Boscia, I’m only going 2 stars for these.
Ooo! I love a good pore strip! I tried the Boscia black mask, and that was cool, so sign me up for a box of black pore strips!
And yes, I too, have to inspect the trappings! ewww
I wanted so much to like this product because Bosica has a great skincare reputation. But, honestly it did not do much for me. Just like Stef, I had a hard time to get it to stick at first and then it was not easy to get off. I was really looking forward to seeing what came off on the strip. But, there was not much at all on the strip. (I will be honest. I felt a bit cheated.)
This could be because I am a skin care fanatic. I do double cleansing every day. I LOVE exfloation. I use my Clarisonic and other scrubbies like a religion.
two stars for me.
This is really embarrassing but I bought a box of these from Boscia when they first came out and i LOST the box. It’s somewhere in my apartment. My nose needs these desperately now that the ultra heat has made my skin kind of pissed off. I sometimes don’t expect the best from Boscia with the exception of a few products. I think the black strip would make this more fun to examine (my fav part, obviously). Still intrigued though!