My Favorite Burt’s Bees Products

My favorite Burt’s Bees products started with my goal to combat my acne started with my first purchase with Burt’s Bees’ Charcoal Clay mask. I hadn’t been able to find the Yes to… product at Target that day, so I figured What’s the harm if it’s an all natural product? It was an amazing experience for me, my face felt cleaner than after the YesTo product, and it stung less; soon after, I had convinced myself to slowly transition to trying other Burt’s Bees products. (Side note- it only stung the first time because I think it was my first time using it).

One of the things I find most helpful about switching cleansers and other products that are part of your daily skin care routine, is to let your body kinda ‘purge’ itself of the previous product(s). This was especially necessary when I was dropping Proactiv from my collection of skin care products. My mom once said that you should ‘skip’ about 3 washes (only using warm water) then add the new product. So when I try new cleansers and such, I start that on the weekends. Having struggled so much with finding the right products over the years, I decided to start with just 1 product at a time. I started with the Orange Essence cleanser, then gradually added Acne Solutions products, masks, makeup and makeup remover wipes.

Here is my full review of the 16 products I use for combating acne. There are no affiliate links in this post, I simply want to share with you Lessons About Skin Care that took me 10 years to figure out, and my own skin care routine that has been working to combat my acne.

Disclosure- there are amazon links in this post. If you choose to purchase these items through the links in my blog, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Affiliate marketing is how I support my business.

My Favorite Burt’s Bees Products

Washing Your Face with Burt’s Bees

Burt’s Bees Orange Essence Cleanser– After much consideration and finally ditching Proactiv, I tried this product as my new cleanser first. I love it because it has a waxy texture that is more like a smooth product is covering my skin. It’s easy to move all over my face and I still feel its benefits whether or not I have used a lot of water to rub it into my skin. I also love the citrus sensation and scent from the oranges!

One common complaint that I have read on Amazon and Target is that its “waxy” feeling “doesn’t leave their face feeling cleaned”. I think that that has more to do with our expectation that our face needs to feel like its been scrubbed and purged of everything on it. I even recall a certain Neutregena (or other brand) ad talking about how a woman wishes that she could use a little shovel to clean out her pores and that those charcoal nose strips are the way to do it….

My reply to this comment about the Orange Essence cleanser is that I don’t think cleansers should make your face feel like it’s been scraped clean. Your face needs to be taken care of gently- even if it is prone to acne. It’s very important to clean your face, but one thing that I have learned by using Burt’s Bees is that you don’t have to strip every living thing off your face. I know how tempting it is to want to strip your skin away (layer by layer) to get rid of all the acne, but patience is really important. And I have also made the mistake of being impatient.

Usual Price: $6.60/individual bottle or $23 for 3. I have opted for the latter and did a Subscribe & Save with Amazon Prime.

Burt’s Bees Oil Cleanser – After reading from Skyn Therapy blog, I decided to give this a whirl and I am loving it. Have had some dry spots but I am still alternating with my orange essence cleanser. It works great as a makeup remover and on days I need a little extra oomph for cleaning my face I use this. This Skyn Therapy blog post I have linked in this blog post below talks about the benefits of oil cleanser….for a certain kind of acne that isn’t typical. Read more on her blog.

Update August 18, 2021: My skin needs different products at different times of the month. I am working towards Cycle Synching, but I generally only need the oil cleanser to combating acne for certain days. So, pay attention to what your body and face needs on a daily basis!

Usual Price: $13.70

Skyn Therapy Blog– this answered so many questions about my acne!

Burt’s Bees Charcoal Clay Mask I use this once a week. Preferably on Saturday or Sunday mornings. While the mask dries, I usually put away my laundry. I think of it as a hard reset for the week, while my acne scrubs are mid-week resets.

Usual Price: $11.93 and if you’re only using it 1/week then it lasts quite a while. I bought my last bottle Dec 29, 2020.

Burt’s Bees Restoring Antioxidant Mask with Green Tea– OMG, I am loving this. It is just what my face needs when it needs a little extra moisturizer and I even feel cleaning sensation- and I think that is because of the green tea and its antioxidant properties. Not on Amazon right now, but I got it at Target (not an Aff link).

Burt’s Bees Skin Nourishment Day Lotion– This was the very first moisturizer that I have tried with Burt’s Bees. It serves it purpose although I find that it is sometimes difficult for me to maneuver the product all over my skin…I find that the moisturizing cream (see below) is much easier and a little goes a very long way. This Day Lotion has lasted a long time, although I probably won’t buy it again because I much prefer the cream below and the Restoring Antioxidant mask above.

Usual Price: $18

Renewal Firming Moisturizing Cream with Bakuchiol, Natural Retinol Alternative–

During one of my more recent facial appointments, it was suggested that I start using a retinol with Vitamin C and that I should considering setting a dermatologist for a prescription level retinol….Being a person that prefers to try natural treatments for anything before jumping towards extra strong, acidic ingredients or prescriptions, I decided to take a chance on this natural retinal alternative. I have used it to replace my Royal Jelly moisturizer because it is easier to apply it to my face, feels richer. BONUS: I got it in my eye the other day by mistake and it did not sting one bit!!

Usual price: $20

Burt’s Bees Makeup Remover Wipes

• Pink Grapefruit, and for Normal to Oily Skin. I liked this but was not in-love with it. I felt like my face was left with residue on it. But it totally did the job on getting the makeup off. Then I tried the one with White Tea Extract, which is what I currently have in my bathroom.
• White Tea Extract, for Sensitive Skin. Currently using this right now. I try to use makeup remover or cleansing wipes seldomly because I don’t think it should be used to totally replace cleanser, unless that is the only option.

Usual prices: $5/package

Combating Acne with Burt’s Bees

Natural Acne Solutions Pore Refining Cleansing Scrub– I have read on Pinterest from multiple articles and infographics that it is best practice to use a scrub 2-3 x each week. When you alternate it with cleansers and masks, it makes for a perfectly balanced routine for your face. One of my favorite things about this scrub is that while it does truly scrub my face and pull mid-week gunk off my face, and ‘reset’ my face, it isn’t harsh on my skin. Unlike the crushed walnuts in a MaryKay scrub (that honestly feels like glass on your nose), the jojoba beads are soft (yet solid) enough to brush off the dead skin. And of course, the light amount of Salicylic acid and the Willow Bark treats the acne.

For the first time ever, I have opted for a combination of normal skincare products and Acne solution products so that I do not over-do it with the Salicylic acid and related ingredients. I have found that over the last several months, this has proved beneficial!

Usual Price: $13

Acne Spot Treatment- This works for most spots on my face. The complexion stick below works better on other areas.

Usual Price: $12 and lasts a long time

Complexion Stick- It is for acne scars or general scars, plus it clears up acne in some spots of my face. So I use it on that spot too thanks to its witch hazel.

Usual Price: 2 for $13.18 and I have this on Subscribe & Save so I save 5% on each order.

Burt’s Bees Makeup

Burt’s Bees Concealer– I almost always have dark spots under my eyes, and I have many acne scars and still get acne in some of my trouble spots (even though Burt’s Bees items have helped this significantly), so I still use concealer every now and then. And this has been a good buy in my opinion. When I run out, I will definitely buy it again.

Bought this for $10

Burt’s Bees BB Cream– sometimes my face needs a little more moisturizer than the regular foundation and this helps for those days. Especially since Montana winters can be so terribly dry. It has SPF so I’m definitely bringing it to Hawaii in March. I’m going to bring both my foundation and BB Cream just in case.

Usual PriceL $15 and this lasts a very long time!

Burt’s Bees Mascara– for years I used Covergirl Lash Blast mascara and I truly love it. But I wanted to switch to exclusively doing Burt’s Bees and try to transition to all natural items. I enjoy the mascara but can’t tell if I miss the lash blast mascara tube more…. After I finish this current tube, I will debate with myself again.

Usual Price: $13 (makes me rethink the Covergirl Lash Blast because I usually find it for $6-7

Natural Blush with Vitamin E– I have the peach shade for $9. I have struggled with looking my proper age, and I can’t believe that it took a peach shade (rather than a pinker shade with Revlon) to make me finally look 25 (or closer to 25). 😉

Usual Price: $10

Burt’s Bees Liquid Foundation– I have been buying this foundation for 2 years now! It’s usually in the $13 price range and it has worked for my skin changes- pregnancy does that 😉

Final Thoughts about my Burt’s Bees Products

And there it is! A full review of the Burt’s Bees products that are in my bathroom, the ones I love to use for cleaning my face, combatting my acne and my using as makeup to prevent future breakouts. Just because some of the products haven’t turned out exactly as I expected them to, doesn’t mean it isn’t worth giving it a try. Everyone has a different beautiful face with different cleansing needs. If you want to check out what my skin care routine looks like, check it out here.

How are you combating your acne?