Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Line Review - BzzAgent

Once again, I was offered a BzzAgent campaign to try the Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Line, specifically the Night Cream, Cream Cleanser & The Hydrating Mask. As a Bzzagent I received these full size products for free to review the product and see how effective it is for its purpose. It is free to become a BzzAgent, and I would say that if you like to test out different products and enjoy reviewing them, there should be nothing stopping you from signing up for this program.



The main ingredient in all of these products is something called Clary Sage, Burts Bee's describes it as the following: "Deep in the windswept hills of the Mediterranean, a lone plant fights for its life against the elements. Clary Sage survives and thrives in spite of its harsh surroundings, thanks to the plant's fierce will and exceptional ability to adapt and retain moisture. This remarkable botanical is the inspiration behind Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Face Care line - the brand's natural ode to soft, supple and revitalized skin".

Burt's Bees Intense Hydration BzzKit

NOTE: I used solely the products in this Burt's Bees Intense Hydration for about 45 days prior to this review.

DRY SKIN ALERT ! I know the cold weather is near when I happen to look down at my hands and they seem to be bleeding from cuts that I didn't have there before. Oh the joys of dry skin! Of course, my face doesn't get to such extremes but I do notice there seems to be a bit of tugging when I make any kind of expression, and this can lead to wrinkles, and we don't want that!!! This is where Burt's Bees Intense Hydration line comes in to hopefully save my skin (literally!) !

BEFORE:

You can see in this photo the skin around my nose and mouth is very dry forming fine lines. I am a smiley kind of person, and I can be very expressive, so I really need to moisturize my face to prevent and reduce my affectionately called "laugh lines". My nose has a tendency to crinkle when I laugh, not in a scary way, but enough that I worry that if I don't moisturize, these will be permanent, and that would be a HUGE problem in my book.

In this photo you can see fine lines forming, particularly some teeny tiny crows feet and fine lines underneath my eyes - These pictures are really beginning to depress me a bit. Oh the joys of aging! Mind you I'm in my 20's. lol.











AFTER:

OK, so you can't really SEE anything too much in this photo, but take my word on the following: My face feels and looks moisturized and nice and plump (and not because I over-did it during Thanksgiving ;) ). This plumping/moisturized effect reduces the appearance of my smile "crinkles" and gives my skin the feeling of more elasticity. Also, a plus is that my little broken capillary on my nose has actually reduced in redness and size, go figure?! I really couldn't have asked for more from this product.

You can see in this photograph that fine lines under my eyes have been reduced, and this is after having a few sleepless nights before I took this photograph. After all that, my eye area still manages to look bright, refreshed, and most importantly moisturized. In addition, those tiny crows feet were also reduced. They are not completely gone, obviously, but I am quite happy with the results.










Intense Hydration Night Cream: [from the website] Beauty sleep takes on a deeper meaning with our rich, natural night cream. Infused with Clary Sage, it's clinically proven to provide intense hydration* and helps increase your skin's ability to retain moisture. It also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. So you wake up to skin that fees soft, supple and smooth.

• Intensely hydrates dry skin
• Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Enhanced with probiotic technology
• Dermatologist Tested and Noncomedogenic
• Absorbs quickly with non-greasy formula

*when used as part of the 5-step Burt's Bees Intense Hydration regimen 

It is a very thick formulation, great for the winter months and that terrible artificial heat. I did find that a little went a long way and that you need to massage it into your skin well, otherwise you may be left with a white film on your skin. After using the product I noticed that it felt a little tacky on my skin and not nearly as moisturizing and smooth as the day lotion in this line. I would not recommend this cream for the summer months as it feels a little tacky on my face for my liking, something I do not want to feel during the summer. Personally, I did not find that this product was one that I would give a second chance because of the tacky feeling and the fact that I did not feel like this cream was all together very moisturizing. I was a little nervous that it would make my skin break out, but no breakout's to report. This product smells like lemon gumdrops/dots, mm mm good & refreshing. Some of the people that I gave night cream samples to, that were in the 40+ demographic found the cream to be very drying.

Pros:

• Smells lemon-y and delicious.
• 99% Natural - Really doesn't get any better than that. 
• Packaging: I was pretty impressed with the packaging as it is a thick and heavy glass jar with a plastic lid. I find that glass jars help to preserve the product better, and less toxins.
• Availability: At your local drugstore, or Target, Walmart, and natural health food stores, etc. 

Cons:

• Price: $17.99 - I found this to be a little steep for a drugstore brand, considering there are other "higher-end" moisturizers that run for that amount if not a few dollars more. Maybe it's been a while since I bought drugstore moisturizers?
• Feels tacky on the skin after application
• Doesn't feel like it sinks very well into the skin
• Not the most moisturizing night cream I have ever used.

Intense Hydration Cream Cleanser: [from the website] Our cream cleanser proves nature can create the most remarkable of things. Inspired by the Clary Sage plant's ability to trap and retain moisture in its harsh environment, our natural cleanser hydrates your skin while leaving it super soft and oh-so supple. Clinically proven to provide intense hydration* your skin will not only drink in all the good - but keep it in. How's that for a beautiful clean?

• Intensely hydrates dry skin*
• Removes dirt, oil and make-up
• Enhanced with probiotic technology
• Dermatologist Tested and Noncomedogenic

*when used as part of the 5-step Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Regimen.

This has a refreshing lemon type scent to it (same as the night cream and pretty much everything else in this line) and it leaves the face feeling soft, plump, and supple. It did a good job taking off my makeup but my eye liner needed a bit of assistance. Otherwise, I thought the cleanser performed well; my skin felt clean without the dryness and tightness you get with some other cleansers I have used in the past. There was no greasy residue left on your face after rinsing it off, like some "cream" cleansers.

In fact, even my brother, who is all about all natural products, loved it so much, he took it from me, and I am about to pick up a bottle for myself, which shows you how much I loved it. Please keep in mind that my brother is very particular about the products he puts on his face, specifically he looks for all natural products (check), a products that will not make his skin breakout as he has acne prone skin (check), and a product that will not strip his skin of too much moisture as he uses very harsh acne medication on his skin (check). All of these benefits all rolled up into one great and affordable product. Who can ask for more!?

Pros:

• Price: $9.99 - I found this price to be very reasonable for a 6 oz. tube and being that the product is really effective. I love it so much that I plan on making it a permanent staple to my skincare routine.
• 99% Natural
• Great Fresh Scent
• The formula is very gentle and creamy
• Effective
• Very Moisturizing, seems to replenish moisture as you cleanse away dirt. - 
• Good for all skin types - It does not overwhelm your skin, so you will not break out from this product if you have acne prone skin.
• Availability: At your local drugstore, or Target, Walmart, and natural health food stores, etc. 

Cons:

• I really can't think of any...I'm at a loss.

Intense Hydration Treatment Mask: [from the website] Give your skin the gift of hydration it dearly deserves. Our replenishing treatment mask is clinically proven to intensely hydrate skin and also helps increase skin's ability to retain moisture. So you're skin will possess softness and suppleness like never before. 

• Intensely hydrates dry skin
• Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Enhanced with probiotic technology
• Dermatologist Tested and Noncomedogenic

This has the same refreshing scent as the other products in this line. Upon first application it feels cool and very moisturizing. I applied a fairly thick-ish layer to my face and neck. I was a little cautious as I did not want to breakout. I don't really have sensitive skin, but I was in a routine for so long with my other face products (which I took a break from to try this line) that the second I switch to something else that first week my skin will react by forming a few non-"monthly friend" related pimples. Just an FYI, I did not break out from this mask.

5 mins in, I feel the mask starting to tighten/dry on my skin, as a mask should. I guess I sort of thought it would stay moister considering it is a treatment for dry skin, like putting on some Ponds Cold Cream. That cooling feeling lingers throughout the process. I left it on 10 mins, but instead of tissue-ing it off as the instructions say to do I rinsed it off while in the shower. Let's be realistic here people, that is really the most convenient time to do a mask; right before you shower. The mask dried patchy leaving some spots fairly less opaque than others and feels a little tight. After rinsing off, to the touch the skin feels cool and moisturized, not dry and as tight like a clay mask.

Intense Hydration Mask Application

Pros:

• Availability: At your local drugstore, or Target, Walmart, and natural health food stores, etc.
• Effective: Leaves skin feeling clean, soft and moisturized
• Not drying like some other masks
• Does not cause your skin to break-out (at least for me it didn't)
• Fresh Scent
• 99% Natural
• Great to treat winter skin; dry skin; and maybe even sunburned skin?

Cons:

• Price: $17.99 for 4 oz. I guess it's not too bad, but still more than those $1 masks you can get at the drugstore. 
• May be a little heavy for use in the hotter months, or a hot/humid climate.

The following items (Eye Cream & Day Lotion) are items that I purchased myself. 

Intense Hydration Eye Cream: [from the website] You'll love what you see when you use our lightweight eye cream. Clinically proven to provide intense hydration, it also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles leaving the delicate skin around your eyes feeling softer than soft. Suppler than supple. And lovelier than lovely.

• Intensely hydrates dry skin
• Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Absorbs quickly with non-greasy formula
• Enhanced with probiotic technology
• Ophthalmologist Tested and Dermatologist Tested.

 Silicone Applicator Tip

I sucked it up and got the eye cream to this line. The cover snaps on and you pull it off and it has this funky little silicone tip so that you can apply the product directly to the eye area without worrying about poking your eye out like with regular eye cream tubes that you have to put on your digits first because you're not brave enough to bring that thing near your eye. I was really impressed with this product, it was very moisturizing and at the price tag of $17.99 I was hoping it would be. It has a cooling effect to the eye area, and leaves it nicely lubricated with out looking greasy. It melts into the skin very nicely. I did notice that this product was fairly effective at reducing my fine lines.

Pros:

• Moisturizing
• Fresh Scent
• Rich formula
• Easily blended into the sensitive eye area without tugging. 
• 99% Natural
• Has a nice cooling effect when applied.
• Does not sting when applied. I have tried some eye creams that stings the sensitive skin around my eyes.
• Interesting and convenient little silicone tip applicator.
• Effective: Reduces fine lines
• Availability: At your local drugstore, or Target, Walmart, and natural health food stores, etc.

Cons:

• Price: $17.99 - I think that's on the higher end of eye cream prices I have seen at the pharmacy. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Then again, eye cream or eye treatments tend to be kind of pricey in general. 
• Have to squeeze the tube a little harder than usual to get the eye cream out of the silicone tip.

Intense Hydration Day Lotion: [from the website] Love your skin like never before with our unique day lotion. Infused with Clary Sage, our fast-absorbing lotion leaves your dry skin feeling soft and supple while helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Clinically proven to provide intense hydration and enhanced with probiotic technology, our carefully crafted, dermatologist tested formula also helps increase skin's ability to retain moisture.

• Intensely hydrates dry skin
• Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Enhanced with probiotic technology
• Dermatologist Tested & Noncomedogenic
• Absorbs quickly with non-greasy formula

This is a better formulation than the night cream. Again for the sake of testing I figured I would try the whole line. This retailed for $17.99 as well - still a little pricey for drugstore. The big downer for me is the fact that there is no SPF; which if it weren't winter in NYC by now I would probably have never invested in this product. I like to know that my skin is protected. Although, for a natural product, the lack of SPF is understandable. I have to admit though that this products feels like it provides a nice barrier for my skin; locking in moisture. This product is a little thick, like the night-cream, so you do have to massage it well into the skin.

Pros:

• 99% Natural
• Nice cooling effect when first applied to the skin
• Leaves skin feeling soft and moisturized. Not greasy.
• Effective: leaves skin moisturized and protected
• Packaging: Convenient opaque pump with snap on cap.
• Availability: At your local drugstore, or Target, Walmart, and natural health food stores, etc. 

Cons:

• Price: $17.99 - Again, found this to be a little pricey for drugstore brand. Maybe I'm just out of the loop
• Needs a little blending to get it to fully absorb
• No SPF

Overall, I was very very impressed with this Intense Hydration line from Burt's Bees. I will probably re-purchase everything with the exception of the day lotion (only because it does not have SPF, but I will probably re-purchase during the next winter season) and the night cream. I know it is a bit on the higher price range for a drugstore brand, but after balancing the pros and the cons, the eye cream, treatment mask, and cleanser are worth every penny. I HIGHLY recommend trying this line if you suffer from dry skin or if you have combination or even acne prone skin I would at least try the cream cleanser and the eye cream. For more information on the product please visit their Facebook Page: Facebook.com/burtsbees & feel free to "Like" and leave feedback on whatever products you try from this line.  

Currently, since this is a fairly new launch, I have seen $3 off coupons for the Burt's Bees Intense Hydration line at RiteAid and Target. In addition, some drugstores may have special offers for the Burt's Bees line, so check your local weekly circular. Stay Beautiful!

Love,

Helen