Boots has urgently halted sales of an own-brand product that customers said burnt like acid and left children in floods of tears. The Nottinghamshire-based health and beauty retailer has stopped selling its Soltan Soothe & Cool Crackling Aftersun Mousse after users repeatedly complained about being left in agonising pain by the skin cream. The Thane Road-headquartered firm describes its product as "instantly cooling and refreshing", but buyers had said it had caused a painful burning sensation as opposed to the desired crackling effect.
Over the past three years more than 60 one-star ratings have been submitted by annoyed customers on Boots' website, with disgruntled reviewers warning others to stay away. "I put some on my six-year-old and she screamed in pain. I then put some on some very slight sunburn of mine and I thought my skin was on fire.
It's like liquid acid," one customer told other prospective purchasers, before adding: "It needs to be removed from sale immediately. Appalling product." Get the latest news straight to your phone by joining us on WhatsApp Other reviewers who had got the product in the 'Love Island beauty box', as the Nottingham firm had been a sponsor of the ITV dating show, said it was like putting "TCP in an open wound" or having "sprayed chilli on my cheeks".
While the product's description said it was a "light, ice-cold mousse", another buyer commented: "It’s like your skin is on fire. [I] thought my boyfriend was exaggerating, until I applied.