Burt's Bees Nourishing Lip Balm with Mango Butter, $3.00

I tend to gravitate toward Burt's Bees lip balms when I need a new one, either because I lost all of my other ones or somehow managed to finish a tube without losing it! As I was browsing the lip balms looking for the original slightly minty variety I noticed that there are at least 5 different varieties of Burt's Bees lip balms but not the one I was looking for! However this one made with mango butter stood out to me because I love the smell and taste of mangos.


I have tried the Burt's Bees pomegranate lip balm so I knew that their fruity flavor wouldn't be too much. The Burt's Bees Nourishing Lip Balm with Mango Butter is a really good, lightly flavored lip balm. It goes on nice and smooth and doesn't cake up at all. It also feels like it is on my lips for longer than a few seconds. It doesn't leave a greasy feeling, yet it feels like it is working minutes after applying it.

Final verdict:
Cost: $3.00 at drugstores and online (I remember when you could only find Burt's Bees and Whole Foods!).
Does it soften lips?: After using it for one day I already feel like my lips have softened.
Repeat offender?: I definitely will use Burt's Bees lipbalms. I can see myself tiring from the mango flavor eventually but for now it is perfect!

-M

Burt's Bees Radiance Eye Creme, $18

So maybe I'm going through a quarter-life crisis or something, but I feel like I am getting some lines around my eyes. Ok, yeah, they're faint, but those 8x magnifying mirrors will get you overanalyzing everything. Anyway, since all the magazines do their best to indoctrinate us with "Prevention is Key!" messages, I decided to try to do something about it. I bought Burt's Bees Radiance Eye Creme partly because I want my eyes to look fab now and later, but mostly because I'm curious about royal jelly's role in beauty. Yes, royal jelly as in what they feed to bee larvae and queen bees.

Burt's Bees says that royal jelly is used because it is one of the most nutrient-rich substances in the world, containing tons of amino acids and vitamins. It is supposed to help smooth skin and reduce the effects of aging.

The first thing I noticed is its amazing scent. Oh man, it smells like a dream--honey, cream, and flowers. Mmm.

Also, it's super creamy. Its water-based formula is more thin than most eye creams, but this makes it feel like it's soaking right into your skin. It's cooling and soothing. It says to use it in the morning or evening, but I'd wear it at night only. It leaves your skin kind of slippery and I'd be afraid of my makeup sliding right off.

Final verdict
Cost: At first $18 seems kind of a lot for a tiny jar of cream (0.5 oz), but you really only need the tiniest amount. I can't see myself finishing it! Plus, it has royal jelly in it. How many products can claim that?
Texture/smell: Super creamy/heaven.
Anti-aging?: So, has it helped diminish my 24-year-old eye lines? I don't really know. These kinds of things are so subjective. Plus, I have to admit I haven't been using it as consistently as I should. But, I feel like the skin around my eyes has more life when I wake up, like it's brighter.
Repeat offender: I'd buy this again, sure. I really like the way it feels and I feel like it brightens up my skin. Honestly, I can't tell if it's significantly helping in the anti-aging crusade, but I know it can't hurt!

-T

Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Buttermilk Lotion, $7-9

The first time I smelled this lotion I was at my friend’s house on a hot summer day. We were just hanging out getting ready for some thing or another and we “borrowed” her sister’s lotion. My reaction? The smell, oh the smell, the sweet milk and honey smell is what did me in, and the next day I had to have my own bottle.

This lotion is formulated for the sensitive and soft skin of a baby so you can imagine the gentleness. The lotion is not too thick but don’t let the more liquidy-texture fool you, it hydrates just as well as a super thick lotion, but since it is an all-natural product many of those thickening agents are left out. I think it is a perfect light weight moisturizer for the summer when you don’t want to feel a gooey buildup on your skin. I would also highly suggest this for anyone who has an issue with sensitive skin, even on the front of the bottle it says “for sensitive skin of all ages.”


Final verdict:
Cost: Priced between 7 and 9 dollars, one 7 oz bottle will last you a while. You can also find this bottle of lotion with a pump sometimes, to make it easier to apply.
How does it smell?: The smell is pretty mild but definitely noticeable. It has that soft and fresh scent that many baby products contain but it also has a hint of milk and honey in my opinion. There is actual buttermilk in this product (it is in powdered form so don’t worry you don’t have to refrigerate or anything lol) so there is a creamy and sweet element added.
Repeat offender?: Yes, I love Burt’s Bees products in general and once I am out of the Baby Bee Buttermilk Lotion I will definitely pick up another bottle.
-M

PS—There is a Clinique sale on Gilt.com today starting at noon! If you don’t have an account leave a comment with your email or email me at sweetglowbeauty [at] gmail.com and I’ll send you an invite!

Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser, $8

Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser is an all-natural cleanser made with natural oils, including orange oil and olive oil, intended to cleanse your face without stripping it of moisture. I received it from a coworker who wasn't entirely thrilled with it. She described her experience this way: "You know how ancient civilizations would use oil to cleanse? It kind of felt like that." She explained that it didn't lather and didn't leave her feeling clean. Even though I have the same type of combination skin as she does (dry in some places, oily in others), I decided to try it.


The orange oil means it smells amazing, like fresh oranges. As I was washing with it, I understood what my coworker meant--it definitely does not lather at all, which I'm okay with. I know a lot of all-natural products don't lather very much because they haven't added the unnatural ingredients that lather just for show; regarding face wash, this isn't a problem for me.

When I rinsed my face, I had to use a warm washcloth to really get the cleanser off. Otherwise, it just felt like it was still there. After drying, I noticed that it did clean off my makeup and did not strip my face of oils. It felt soft and moisturized. The problem is that I already have oily skin. I actually enjoy that "stripped," tight feeling--it makes me feel clean. I replace my face's moisture with moisturizer (with SPF) so I can keep it under control. While it did not leave my skin feeling oily, I felt anxious that my oil would come back later in full-force. The ingredients did say to follow with a toner.

Final verdict
Cost: $9 is a reasonable price for a facial cleanser, especially an all-natural one.
Experience: It smells amazing, doesn't lather, and doesn't leave that tight feeling that some people hate (not me, though, I love it).
Skin type: This would work best for sensitive and dry skin.
Repeat offender: I wouldn't buy this again--I don't think it's made for my kind of skin. I like Burt's Bees though, so I might try their other facial cleansers.

-T

PS--UrbanDecay.com is having a 30% off sale! Use promo code 1SFNF at checkout. Good until April 19!

Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme, $9

Burt's Bees is an awesome brand. They have hundreds of products that range from shampoo to makeup to baby soap. They use recycled materials and natural ingredients that have been proven safe.

Burt's Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme is one of their popular hand moisturizers. This immensely thick cream is loaded with almond oil (1st ingredient on the label) which is amazing for dry skin, but does leave a slightly oily (but not slimy) feel. In the winter the oil is a nice protective layer, but might be too much for some people. It has that familiar cherry-almond scent, though I must warn you: if you don't love that smell you will not want to buy this. The smell is very strong, but I happen to enjoy it--it fades a little after you apply it, but leaves a good amount of fragrance.

In the end, it's a good moisturizer for seriously dry hands and feet if you enjoy the smell and don't mind the (all-natural!) oil.

Final verdict:
Cost: Burt's Bees products get a rep for being really expensive, but they're not too bad--especially because they make great stuff. $9 is a reasonable price.
Skin type: Definitely for use on severely dry skin. Because of their natural ingredients, it won't irritate sensitive skin.
Scent: I enjoy the strong cherry-almond scent but if you don't, it will be overwhelming.
Repeat offender: I can't see myself using this entire tub because you only need a very small amount. I will, however, continue to buy Burt's Bees products--I've loved nearly every one I've tried!

-T