Burt‘s Bees: A Comprehensive Review of the Beloved Natural Personal Care Brand
The Humble Origins of Burt‘s Bees
Before diving into the products, let‘s first explore the fascinating history behind the Burt‘s Bees brand. The company traces its origins back to 1984 in Maine, when Burt Shavitz, a local beekeeper, and Roxanne Quimby, an artist, teamed up to make candles from the wax of Burt‘s bee hives.
As the candles gained popularity, Burt and Roxanne expanded into making personal care products using the leftover beeswax. In 1991, Burt‘s Bees officially incorporated and moved their headquarters to North Carolina. The brand continued to grow throughout the 90s and 2000s, becoming a leader in the natural personal care space.
A major turning point came in 2007, when Clorox purchased Burt‘s Bees for $925 million. This move was initially met with skepticism from loyal customers who worried the brand would lose its natural focus. However, Burt‘s Bees has managed to maintain its commitment to making products with natural ingredients and without harmful chemicals. To this day, the brand is certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny.
From its humble beginnings at craft fairs to becoming a global brand, Burt‘s Bees has stayed true to its roots of using simple, natural ingredients to make products that nourish the skin. With this context in mind, let‘s now take a closer look at the products themselves.
Top Burt‘s Bees Products to Try
Burt‘s Bees offers a wide range of natural personal care products spanning lip care, body care, facial care, baby products, and more. Walking through the aisles of your local grocery store or drug store, you‘re bound to spot the brand‘s distinctive yellow packaging.
So which Burt‘s Bees products are worth trying? Here are in-depth reviews of some of the brand‘s bestsellers:
Burt‘s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
When most people think of Burt‘s Bees, they picture the classic yellow tube of Beeswax Lip Balm. This lip balm is the brand‘s original product and remains their most popular item to this day.
The 100% natural lip balm is made with beeswax, vitamin E, and peppermint oil to hydrate and nourish dry lips. The beeswax forms a protective layer on the lips to shield them from the elements, while the vitamin E and peppermint provide a refreshing tingle.
I‘ve used Burt‘s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm for years and always keep a tube in my purse or on my nightstand. It provides long-lasting hydration without feeling waxy or sticky. The peppermint oil gives it a nice cooling sensation and subtle scent. At under $5 per tube, it‘s an affordable lip balm I can feel good about using since it‘s made without parabens, phthalates, petrolatum or SLS.
Over 11,000 reviewers on Amazon agree, giving the Beeswax Lip Balm a 4.7 out of 5 star rating. Customers rave about how well this simple lip balm hydrates even the most chapped lips. Whether you‘re a long-time fan or new to the brand, Burt‘s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm is a must-try.
Burt‘s Bees Tinted Lip Balms
In addition to their original Lip Balm, Burt‘s Bees offers a range of Tinted Lip Balms that provide a sheer wash of color. Available in 9 naturally flattering shades like Rose, Hibiscus, and Red Dahlia, these tinted lip balms are the perfect low-maintenance alternative to lipstick.
Like the original, the Tinted Lip Balms are made with natural ingredients like shea butter and botanical waxes to soften and smooth lips. They provide sheer, buildable color that enhances your natural lip color while hydrating.
I own several shades of the Tinted Lip Balm and love how they add a subtle tint to my lips while keeping them hydrated and healthy. The lighter shades like Honeysuckle and Pink Blossom are great for everyday wear, while the deeper shades like Red Dahlia and Sweet Violet give more of a statement lip.
At under $5 each, the Burt‘s Bees Tinted Lip Balms are an affordable way to experiment with lip color without committing to a full-on lipstick. Over 4,000 customers on burtsbees.com give the tinted lip balms a 4.5-star average rating, praising the flattering colors and nourishing formula.
Burt‘s Bees Ultimate Care Hand Cream
Dry, cracked hands are no match for Burt‘s Bees Ultimate Care Hand Cream. This thick, rich cream is made with a blend of baobab oil, watermelon seed oil, and pumpkin oil to deeply hydrate and nourish even the driest hands.
The 98.9% natural hand cream is dermatologist-tested and hypoallergenic, making it suitable for sensitive skin. It absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue, so you can apply it throughout the day as needed.
I keep a tube of Burt‘s Bees Ultimate Care Hand Cream on my desk and apply it whenever my hands are feeling dry or tight. It instantly soothes and hydrates my skin, leaving my hands feeling soft and smooth. A little goes a long way with this rich cream, so a tube lasts a while.
Burt‘s Bees customers give the Ultimate Care Hand Cream a 4.4-star average rating, with many calling it a "miracle worker" for extremely dry, cracked hands. If you struggle with dry hands or are looking for an intense hand cream for the winter months, give this one a try.
Burt‘s Bees Cleansing Oil with Coconut & Argan Oils
Cleansing oils have become a popular first step in many people‘s skincare routines, and Burt‘s Bees Cleansing Oil with Coconut & Argan Oils is a standout in the category. This 100% natural facial cleanser effortlessly removes makeup, dirt, and oil without stripping the skin.
The star ingredients in this cleansing oil are coconut and argan oils, which are rich in vitamins and fatty acids that hydrate and nourish the skin. The formula also contains sunflower seed oil and evening primrose oil to further moisturize and calm the skin.
To use, I apply 2-3 pumps of the oil onto dry skin and gently massage it in circular motions. The oil breaks down even stubborn waterproof mascara without stinging my eyes. I then wet my hands and continue massaging, which emulsifies the oil into a light milk. Rinsing it off leaves my skin clean, soft, and hydrated without any tightness or irritation.
I especially love using this cleansing oil during the colder months when my skin is prone to dryness and flaking. It gently removes dirt and makeup while replenishing moisture, resulting in a clean, supple complexion.
The Burt‘s Bees Cleansing Oil has an impressive 4.5-star average rating from nearly 3,000 reviewers on burtsbees.com, with 91% saying they would recommend it to a friend. Customers report that it effectively removes makeup, leaves skin soft and glowing, and doesn‘t cause breakouts. If you‘re looking for a natural makeup remover or nourishing facial cleanser, definitely check out this Cleansing Oil.
Burt‘s Bees Baby Products
In addition to their personal care line for adults, Burt‘s Bees also offers a range of gentle products specifically formulated for babies. The Burt‘s Bees Baby line includes everything from lotion to bubble bath made with natural ingredients that are safe for delicate baby skin. Some standouts from the collection:
Burt‘s Bees Baby Shampoo & Wash
This tear-free shampoo and body wash is made with soy proteins and coconut oil to gently cleanse baby‘s delicate skin and hair. The 99.9% natural formula is pediatrician-tested and hypoallergenic to be extra gentle for little ones.
Parents give Burt‘s Bees Baby Shampoo & Wash a 4.8-star average rating, noting that it cleans well without drying out their baby‘s skin. Many also love that it‘s unscented, making it suitable for even the most sensitive skin.
Burt‘s Bees Baby Nourishing Lotion
After bath time, moisturize your baby‘s skin with Burt‘s Bees Baby Nourishing Lotion. Made with shea butter and Vitamin E, this lotion soothes and hydrates delicate skin without being greasy.
The hypoallergenic formula earned the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, so it‘s extra gentle on eczema-prone skin. Parents appreciate that the lotion keeps their baby‘s skin soft and hydrated without irritation.
Burt‘s Bees Baby Diaper Rash Ointment
Protect your little one‘s bum with Burt‘s Bees Baby Diaper Rash Ointment. This 40% zinc oxide ointment forms a protective barrier on baby‘s skin to provide relief and prevent diaper rash.
The 100% natural ointment also contains shea butter, lavender oil, and Jojoba seed oil to soothe and nourish irritated skin. Parents praise this diaper cream for quickly clearing up diaper rash and preventing future flare-ups.
Burt‘s Bees Lip Shimmer
For a bolder lip look, try Burt‘s Bees Lip Shimmers. These moisturizing lipsticks come in 12 shades ranging from soft pinks to deep berries and deliver sheer to medium coverage with a glossy finish.
Like other Burt‘s Bees lip products, the Lip Shimmers are made with nourishing ingredients like beeswax, shea butter, and fruit oils to hydrate and smooth lips. They have a refreshing peppermint flavor and are free from parabens, phthalates, petrolatum and SLS.
I own a few shades of the Lip Shimmer and love how they provide glossy, buildable color while keeping my lips moisturized. The Watermelon shade is a particular standout – it‘s the perfect warm pink that brightens up my complexion.
At $6 each, the Lip Shimmers are pricier than Burt‘s Bees Lip Balms but still very affordable for a tinted lip product. Reviewers on Ulta give them a 4.2-star average rating, with many calling them the perfect everyday lip color that‘s easy to apply on the go. If you love the hydrating feel of Burt‘s Bees Lip Balms but want more color payoff, definitely check out the Lip Shimmers.
Sustainability and Certifications
In addition to creating natural products, Burt‘s Bees is committed to sustainable and ethical business practices. All Burt‘s Bees products are certified Cruelty-Free by Leaping Bunny, with many also Certified Organic and Non-GMO.
The brand has also made strides in sustainable packaging. They‘ve committed to making 100% of their packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. Currently, over half of their products are available in such packaging.
Burt‘s Bees also sources ingredients like beeswax, coconut oil, and shea butter from responsible sources to promote biodiversity and support local communities. By 2025, they aim to source 100% of their key ingredients from renewable sources.
By supporting Burt‘s Bees, you can feel good knowing you‘re supporting a brand that prioritizes sustainability and ethical sourcing. The brand‘s certifications and sustainability initiatives set them apart from other mass personal care brands.
Final Thoughts
After trying dozens of Burt‘s Bees products over the years, I can confidently say they live up to the hype. The brand offers a wide range of affordable, natural personal care products that nourish the skin without harmful chemicals.
From their classic Beeswax Lip Balm to their gentle Baby line, Burt‘s Bees has something for everyone. I‘m especially impressed by their facial care line, which includes standouts like the Cleansing Oil and Eye Cream.
In addition to creating great products, Burt‘s Bees is committed to sustainability through their ethical sourcing and packaging initiatives. Supporting the brand means supporting a company that cares about the planet and operates responsibly.
If you‘re looking to green your personal care routine or simply want to try out some new products, I highly recommend giving Burt‘s Bees a try. With their affordable prices and wide availability at drug stores and supermarkets, they‘re an accessible, reliable natural brand.
