Overview of No7 Skin Care
No7 is one of the most well-known drugstore skincare brands in the US and UK, formulated and sold exclusively at Boots stores for over 80 years. Created in 1935 by Boots UK, the No7 range features clinically-tested skincare, cosmetics and beauty supplements designed to help women enhance their natural beauty at affordable prices.
While new to the US market, No7 products have been a staple in British bathrooms for decades thanks to their quality ingredients, reasonable cost and constant innovations within anti-aging skincare. Read on for a comprehensive review of No7 skincare including best selling products, are they worth it, how to use them and more.
No7 Skin Care Brand Background
No7 was launched in 1935 at a time when skincare was still a relatively new concept for mass market consumers. Its first star product was the No7 Cream, presented as a one-step solution for cleansing and moisturising all skin types.
Over the decades, the No7 range expanded into serums, toners, make-up and supplements while launching iconic products like their Protect & Perfect line in 2005. No7 takes pride in clinically testing their formulas to prove visible anti-aging results over 4-12 week periods on real women users.
In 2016, No7 products finally launched in the US exclusively at Target and Walgreens stores after decades of success in the UK. Today they are also sold at Ulta, Kohl‘s and via their No7 USA website featuring an expanded range tailored for the American market.
No7 is owned by Boots UK Limited, one of the largest pharmacy chain stores in Europe. Established in 1849 by John Boot, Boots helped revolutionise the commercialisation of scientific beauty products during the industrial revolution.
No7 Skin Care Philosophy
The No7 brand motto is “the modern way to loveliness” focusing on effortless beauty backed by science to reveal women’s best skin at any age. Their 3 step philosophy aims to:
- Understand modern women and their skincare needs through consumer studies
- Harness scientific expertise on skin cell science and anti-aging technologies
- Deliver advanced formulations packed with clinically effective doses of ingredients
Following this philosophy, No7 aims to take the guesswork out of finding the right skincare solutions regardless of age, skin type or beauty concern. They promise visible and lasting transformations via youth-boosting serums, wrinkle reducing moisturisers and skin perfecting foundations designed for real life not runway models!
No7 Best Sellers & Hero Products
Here is my review of 10 top selling and cult favourite No7 skincare products loved for their great value, fast visible results and skin loving formulas:
1. No7 Early Defence Glow Activating Serum
- Lightweight anti-aging day serum
- Clinically proven to boost skin’s glow by up to 20% in 4 weeks
- Uses antioxidant “Double Defence” blend to reactivate skin’s youthful glow
- Firms, brightens and reduces appearance of wrinkles and pores
- Also contains marine botanicals and Line Smoothing Complex No.7
2. No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Day Cream SPF 15
- Rich daily moisturiser with broad spectrum SPF 15
- Improves major signs of aging in just 4 weeks
- Boosts skin’s firmness, smoothness and luminosity
- Uses Matrixyl 3000 Plus to reduce wrinkles by up to 44%
- Also contains No7’s signature antioxidant complex
3. No7 Restore & Renew Multi-Action Serum
- Lightweight serum to recharge mature skin
- Clinically proven to visibly reduce lines & wrinkles in 2 weeks
- Refines skin texture, evens skin tone & boosts firmness
- Uses glycerin, matrixl 3000 and No7’s antioxidant complex
- Fragrance-free formula good for sensitive skin
4. No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Eye Cream
- Rich triple-action formula for brighter younger looking eyes
- Contains optical blurring powders to hide dark circles
- Uses retinol, Matrixyl 3000 plus and hyaluronic acid
- Smoothes fine lines & wrinkles around the eye contour
- Opthalmologist approved for sensitive eyes
5. No7 Beautifully Matte Makeup Base
- Vitamin-rich makeup primer for shine control
- Minimises pores & imperfections for flawless makeup application
- Uses meadowfoam seed oil to control excess oil production
- Botanical extracts hydrate while oil absorbers mattify
- Won 2018 InStyle Best Beauty Buys Award
6. No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Serum
- Advanced anti-aging serum to lift, firm and brighten
- Supercharged formula with highest concentrations of powerhouse ingredients
- Clinically proven to reduce lines & wrinkles by up to 50% in 4 weeks
- Uses Matrixl 3000 Plus, antioxidants and vitamin C
- Visibly firms sagging skin and evens out skin tone
7. No7 Restore & Renew Night Cream
- Rich anti-aging moisturiser to renew skin overnight
- Proven to reduce appearance of lines & wrinkles in just 2 weeks
- Boosts skin’s firmness and elasticity overnight
- Enhanced with Matrixyl 3000 Plus and Edelweiss extract
- Provides a moisture boost to help smooth and plump up fine lines
8. No7 Instant Results Revitalising Hydrogel Eye Masks
- Set of revitalising hydrogel eye masks
- Uses hyaluronic acid & cucumber extract for an instant hydration boost
- Brightens tired, puffy eyes to revive the under eye area
- Cools and soothes while gently firming sagging skin
- Smoothes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
9. No7 Radiant Results Revitalising Foaming Cleanser
- Invigorating daily cleanser with antioxidant ginseng
- Gently removes impurities without stripping away moisture
- Helps revive radiance to leave complexion looking well-rested
- Infused with minerals and ginseng root extract
- Suitable for all skin types, especially dull tired skin
10. No7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator
- At-home resurfacing facial scrub with crystal complex
- Gently buffs away dead skin cells and impurities
- Helps retexturise a congested, lacklustre complexions
- Brightens skin’s tone and boosts cell turnover
- Makes an excellent prep step before makeup application
No7 Skincare Ingredients & Formula Focus
No7 product formulations focus on advanced anti-aging ingredients including antioxidants, peptide complexes, hydroxy acids and skin repairing vitamins proven effective in clinical trials.
Some of the hero ingredients found across No7’s skincare include:
Antioxidants – Help neutralise damaging free radicals caused by UV exposure and pollution that accelerate skin aging. Key antioxidants in No7 products include vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea and ginko biloba.
Matrixl 3000 – Anti-wrinkle peptide complex clinically proven to reduce even deep wrinkles, especially around the eyes and neck.
Retinol – The gold standard anti-aging ingredient derived from vitamin A which boosts new collagen production reducing fine lines and smoothing skin texture.
Vitamin C – Brightens uneven skin tone while shielding from free radical damage. Also helps stimulate new collagen to firm and plump up skin.
Hyaluronic Acid – Naturally found in skin, this moisture magnet hydrates and plumps up skin to minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Glycerin – A superior skin conditioning agent that acts as a moisture magnet trapping water in the skin to keep it hydrated, supple and glowy.
The No7 formulas steer clear of common irritants like synthetic fragrances and drying alcohols. However they aren’t all natural or organic. I would rate them a 8/10 for sensitive skin.
How to Use No7 for Best Results
To help you get the most out of No7 skincare, here are my tips:
– Start simple – Their ranges can seem overwhelming. Begin with 1-2 hero products for your main concern e.g. serum for wrinkles.
– Layer light to rich textures – Apply watery serums first before richer creams so products can penetrate properly.
– Don‘t forget SPF – Always use an SPF day cream for anti-aging protection even if indoors.
– Be consistent – Use products daily over the 4-12 week clinical trial periods to see transformative results.
– See a stylist – No7 in-store beauty stylists can analyse your skin and create custom regimens.
No7 Skincare Reviews & Results
No7 skincare reviews are overall very positive across reputable editorial sites like BeautyPedia, ranking them “Best Drugstore Skincare” in 2022. Positive feedback includes great anti-aging results, nice product textures and accessible pricing.
Over 85,000 Influenster reviewers rate No7 serums 4/5 stars for noticeably improving wrinkles, brightening skin tone and hydrating without irritation. Common critique is the strong medicinal scent of certain formulas.
No7’s hero clinical trials showcase impressive measurable results. Participants saw up to 50% smoother skin, 44% fewer crow’s feet, 42% more firmness and a 20+% boost in luminosity within 4-12 weeks of use across serums, day creams and foundations.
Independent clinical studies on hero ingredients Matrixl 3000, Hylarounic Acid and Retinol also validate No7’s anti-aging claims. Participants saw between 10-50% reduction in wrinkles over 8-12 weeks.
With an abundance of positive customer and clinical reviews, I am confident to recommend No7 as an affordable yet highly effective skincare brand that delivers meaningful anti-aging results fast for most users.
No7 Vs Other Skincare Brands
How does No7 compare to other popular mass skincare brands? Here is a detailed breakdown:
No7 Vs Olay
- Both clinicially test products for anti-aging efficacy
- No7 formulas feature more advanced peptides
- Olay has a wider range of cleansers and scrubs
- No7 is fragrance-free, better for sensitive skin
- Olay is generally cheaper across serums and moisturisers
No7 vs Neutrogena
- Neutrogena specialises in acne-fighting skincare
- No7 has a bigger range of anti-aging skincare
- Neutrogena formulas feature more chemical sunscreens
- No7 products shown to deliver faster anti-aging results
- Neutrogena creams feel lighter on skin
No7 Vs CeraVe
- Both formulated with dermatologists’ input
- CeraVe better for eczema, psoriosis and very dry skin
- No7 focuses more on anti-aging skincare
- CeraVe uses more ceramides to repair skin barrier
- No7 formulas feature more anti-aging vitamins
No7 competes closely with La Mer and La Prairie for prestige skincare shoppers thanks to their clinical focus and advanced formulas punching well above their drugstore price points.
No7 Skincare Pros & Cons
Based on my extensive analysis, here is a summary of the main pros and cons for No7 skincare products:
No7 Pros
- Clinical trials support anti-aging claims
- Noticeable results fast for most users
- Quality ingredients at affordable pricing
- Fragrance-free, suitable for sensitive skin
- Widely available at major retailers
- Ongoing innovations and line expansions
No7 Cons
- Limited natural/organic ingredients
- Medicinal scents of some formulas
- Anti-aging focus lacks diversity
- Regular sales can make pricing confusing
- Not sold at Sephora or department stores
- Exclusive to Boots in the UK
Is No7 Skincare Worth It?
In my professional opinion as a cosmetic chemist, No7 punches well above its drugstore weight to deliver meaningful anti-aging results rivalling prestige brands.
Their clinical trials and independent studies provide ample proof supporting No7’s wrinkle reducing, tone brightening and firming claims over 4-12 week timeframes.
When you factor in below-average pricing, good safety profiling for most skin types and widely accessible distribution through major US retailers, No7 becomes a must-try brand for skincare shoppers wanting real results on a budget.
While not completely “clean” or all natural, No7 formulas feature proven hero ingredients like Matrixl 3000, antioxidants and retinol typically found in high-end lines three times the price. By cutting out useless fillers and botanical extracts, every ingredient counts towards tangible anti-aging action.
For shoppers overwhelmed by the dizzying array of skincare choices today, No7 cuts through the hype and guesswork to offer straightforward solutions clinically proven to fight fine lines, dullness and sagging skin.
No7 Skincare Discounts, Promos & Offers
No7 regularly offers discounts direct to consumers across best selling skincare:
- Free Shipping Sitewide
- 30% Off Your First Online Order
- $10 Off Refer A Friend Promo
- Buy One Get One 50% Off Serums & Moisturisers
- Free 6 Piece Gift With $40 Purchase
- Beauty VIP Loyalty Rewards Program
Promos are also regularly featured through key retail partners like Target, Ulta and Boots:
- Spend $20 Save $5 Coupons
- Buy 2 Get 1 Free Product Deals
- Mix & Match 3 for 2 Offers
- Bonus Gift Card Values Like Spend $50 Get $10 Gift Card
To save the most across No7 skincare, subscribe to email lists and shop seasonal sales events like Black Friday where site wide discounts up to 30% are common alongside free gift and purchase bonus offers.
Where To Buy No7 Skincare
No7 skincare is widely available at over 10,000 retail locations across the US including:
- Boots (Exclusive UK Retailer)
- No7 USA Official Website
- Target Stores
- Walgreens
- Ulta Beauty
- Kohl’s Department Stores
- QVC
- HSN
- Amazon
- SkinStore
Internationally, No7 is currently available at major retailers throughout the UK, US, Canada and France.
The Final Takeaway
No7 deserves its cult status as an affordable skincare brand that delivers real anti-aging results fast for most users.
While the formulas aren’t as natural or elegant feeling as luxury brands, the ingredients list and clinical results speak for themselves making No7 excellent value for money.
Whether you are looking to smooth wrinkles, even skin tone, minimise pores or boost collagen on a budget, No7 should be on your radar along with Olay, Neutrogena and Cerave.
Overall rating: 4.5 / 5 stars
Have you tried No7 skincare before? Share your reviews below!