February 2008 - Burt's Bees Personal Care Products

In 1984, Burt’s Bees main product was honey, and bee’s wax candles. In 1991, they began making perfumes and soaps cooked on gas stoves, and lip balm. Today, the company manufactures over 150 products and is carried in major retail chains in six countries.

Burt’s Bees products are 99% natural on average, with over half being 100% natural. No artificial colors, no artificial preservatives, even their packaging is created from recycled material, or is developed with recyclability or reuse in mind. In fact, Burt’s Bees is one of the leading forces leading the charge for "Natural Product Standards" in the United States.

In 2007 alone, Burt’s Bees won five awards for excellence, including the Natural Health Beauty Award for their Replenishing Lip Balm, and the Self Healthy Beauty Award for Best Exfoliator for their Peach and Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub.

Although Burt’s Bees products have been common place in our home for several years, the one product we could simply not live without is Burt’s Bees Poison Ivy Soap ($8 for a 2 oz bar). A two-minute lather with the soap immediately following an encounter with the nasty plant has shown to completely prevent any rash whatsoever from developing.

Other personal favorites includes the Marshmallow Vanishing Creme ($15 for a 1.5 oz. jar), and the Rosewater and Glycerine Toner ($12 for an 8 oz. bottle).

Of course, each Burt’s Bees customer has their favorite. At local retail outlets, readers can pick two of the most popular products, the lip balm (about $3 per tube), and the herbal blemish stick ($8.50 for .25 oz.). Retail outlets carry only a small selection of the Burt’s Bees product line, but the entire line is online at burtsbees.com.

Because the products do not have artificial preservatives, containers are smaller to prevent spoiling. However, a little bit of each product goes a long way.

Women interested in trying the Burt’s Bees line should begin with the Head to Toe Starter Kit ($15). The kit includes: Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Creme, Beeswax & Banana Hand Creme, Citrus Spice Exfoliating Shower Soap, Hand Salve, Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme, Honey Lip Balm, Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion, Orange Essence Facial Cleanser, Peppermint Foot Lotion, Vitamin E Body and Bath Oil, Peppermint Shower Soap and Coconut Foot Creme.

Men interested in all natural personal care items should try the Men’s Travel Kit ($13), which includes: Cologne, Aftershave, Shave Cream, Bar Soap, Body Wash and Lip Balm with natural botanicals including Sunflower, Coconut, Cyprus and Fir oils, Aloe and Vitamin E..

We also recommend the Outdoor Gift Set ($20) which includes: Herbal Insect Repellent, Bug Bite Relief, All-In-One Wash, Res-Q Ointment and Hand Salve. Unfortunately, the kit does not come with the Poison Ivy Soap.

Products for babies are made using buttermilk for skin conditioning and cleansing. The Baby Bee Starter Kit ($13) includes: Apricot Baby Oil, Buttermilk Lotion, Buttermilk Bath, Buttermilk Soap, Diaper Ointment, Dusting Powder and a Shampoo Bar.

With Burt’s Bees, you know your skin products are as natural as they can possibly be.