Burt's Bees, What's the Buzz?

As winter approaches so does some unwanted side effects....the dreaded dry, winter skin. I can't even begin to tell you the amount of money I spent in the past on all kinds of creams and liquids that are suppose to do everything from replacing the moisture in my skin to making fine lines and wrinkles disappear. Did it work? No. Either it didn't work or it didn't feel right on my skin (to greasy or heavy) or it made my skin peel. Point is, I never found a product I liked that I can use and it does what it claims it does.

The best I did in my years of searching was that I found a lip balm that I liked, this one don't feel waxy, and it works. What is it? It is Lip Balm called Ultra Conditioning by Burt's Bees. I love the stuff! Now Burt's Bees has tons of different lip balms, some even are tinted but I can't tell you anything about them because I only use this one.

Recently the opportunity came up for me to try some of Burt's Bees facial products since I am a BuzzAgent and I jumped on the chance.What is better than being able to try a product from a company I already love (for their lip balm)....for free? I can't think of any and to be perfectly honest with you, I wouldn't have tried it otherwise. I wasn't going to spend another dollar on products that I can't use and end up throwing away in this tight economy when I have to watch every cent. If you are familiar with Burt's Bees then you know it isn't exactly cheap. Now don't get me wrong, if the products worked then it is worth every cent and I don't mind paying the price but I certainly wouldn't want to spend that amount of money to try something that I may not be able to use it on my sensitive skin so this was just perfect for me.

I was sent the Intense Hydration Cream Cleanser, Night Cream, Treatment Mask, and trail sizes of Day Lotion and Night Cream along with some coupons for $3.00 off to share with family and friends. So now it is only a matter of "me" time to begin my skin journey.

Did you know that Bert's Bees is 99.0% Natural? Did you know they don't test on animals? Did you know that the new Intense Hydration line is made with Clary Sage which was chosen because of its ability to retain moisture? (plus it smells good!) Learn more about this eco-freindly company and their products, Burt's Bees.

Nov. 11th

Finally I am taking time for me and started with the Intense Hydration Cream Cleanser. 

Direction are much like any facial cleaner, wet face and apply the cleanser with your fingertips or washcloth, massaging gently, don't get it into your eyes and rinse thoroughly. No surprises there. 

My observation is that this is indeed a cream, not one of those cleansers (maybe they call them scrubs?) that feel like there is sand mixed in it and when you are done with your face it is scratched and irritated so bad it feels like you just went through several plates of a glass window face first. This is a very light creamy lotion and I can't be sure if the soft soothing feel or the pleasant smell is what I first noticed. It felt good and creamy going on and rinsed off clean without a residue or leaving my skin with a unclean feeling. 

I followed with the Intense Hydration Treatment Mask. 

Again, easy directions; apply a thick coating on face and neck avoiding eyes, leave on for 5-10 mins., wipe off with a tissue and massage remaining product into skin. 

My observation is that the mask has the same great smell as the cleaner but it feels different. Although it is a cream it seems to have a waxy substance in it. (Maybe this is where Burt's bees come in to play...beeswax?) It feels heavier than the cleanser and leaves a residue. Of course I am wiping it off with a tissue not washing it off with water so it stands to reason that there would still be some product on my skin which would account for this feeling of a residue. Even though I massaged into my skin I still  feel what I only can describe as a thin sheet of 'something' on my skin. It feels waxy...but not exactly, oily....but not exactly, silky....but not exactly. I can't really describe it as I know nothing that really feels like it to compare it to where I can say, it feels like this or it feels like that, all I know is I can't see it but I can feel  something on my skin. 

Bedtime so I used the Intense Hydration Night Cream.

Directions can't be any easier, use nightly after the Intense Hydration Cream  Cleanser. Smooth over face and neck. 

My observation is that the night cream also has that same great smell and it is indeed a cream. It is like the mask in that it is with some sort of waxy substance in it although not as much as the mask. It also seems to leave that residue feeling on my skin but again, not as much as the mask. 

Nov. 12th

Starting my day so no time for fussing, washed up and put on Intense Hydration Day Lotion. 

Directions are same as the night cream. 

My observation was the day lotion was lighter than the night cream with that same pleasant smell. I swear my skin looked more alive. It is like a dull hue was washed off my skin but maybe it is wishful thinking on my part or the fact that the temp. is almost 70 degrees and the sun is out. 

Nighttime routine, wash with the cleanser and put on night cream. 

Nov. 13th

It is a dull rainy day yet I continue my routine morning and night.

I am not crazy, my skin does look better....more alive! Your remember that residue feeling I kept talking about? Well, it is still there but it is a fresh feeling  almost like the way your mouth feels when you suck on a peppermint. 

Nov. 14th

Continued my routine of washing with the cleanser and using either the day or night cream. Could it be my imagination but the cream don't seem to feel like there is any kind of residue? Maybe my skin was just so bad it took time to work? I know I like the way my skin looks and feels now.

Have you ever had a little itch and lightly scratch it just to find you now have these white flaky trails right where you scratched? That is how my face was but not so much any more. I am loving the way it looks now.

Nov.15th

I continued my routine but also used the Treatment Mask. It says to use it 1-2 times a week and since I am just starting my routine I figured I would use it twice this week.

Remember when I said my skin feel like the way your mouth does after eating a peppermint? That is the way my face feels when the mask is on. It is hard to explain but it tingles and feels cool but hot at the same time. I know, that don't make sense. You really need to try it and experience it. Any ways, it isn't a bad feeling, it feels good actually and it doesn't bother my eyes either.

In the past I have tried different creams and lotions and even though I put it on my face, my eyes would burn and tear. I didn't get any in my eyes, it is just from the vapor or whatever the cream was giving off that was getting into my eyes. This does not do that. Although I have it close to my eyes, there is no eye discomfort at all.

I still feel the residue when I wipe it off. (Remember, you put a thick coat on and 5 - 19 mins. later you wipe it off with a tissue so you are not washing this off your face.) It isn't like it is uncomfortable nor does it feel like my face will crack if I open my mouth but if I touch my face I can feel 'something'. I want to say it is a wax-like feeling and not a thick one, just a light coating of it.

Nov. 16th

Continued with the routine of cleanser and creams.

Nov. 17th

Continue with the routine.

Nov.18th

A week has gone by from when I first started using the product so now for some of my conclusions.

The cleanser does work and I love the way it smells and makes my skin feel.

I do not know if that mask is really doing anything but it may be moisturizing too. I still feel that 'wax' film but it is not something that is uncomfortable and if I wasn't purposely concentrating on how my skin feels I may not even notice it.

Both the day lotion and night cream moisturize. They both smell good and do not bother my eyes. I also think the night cream is heavier than the day lotion with a slight wax feel to it. Again, this is not something that is bothersome and some might not even notice it.

My skin does look better. I notice the difference myself but as far as ridding any kind of 'fine lines and wrinkles', that I didn't notice. I still think I have all I started with but that is ok. I earned every single one of them and wear them as a badge of my life's work along with every grey hair I have.

So short and sweet, if you're looking for a good cream for moisturizing and caring for your face then I would definitely give Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Line a try, even if you have sensitive skin. I know I will be continuing to use these. I am also going to try some more of them that I see on their website but never seen in Walmart such as their hair care products, body wash and lotion, feet care. I want it all!