Burt's Bees (QUICK) Product review

Hello Beautiful People,

I am assuming since you are reading this blog you share the same curiosity as myself; finding AWESOME beauty products that actually work.  Well look no further as I promised, I will  try every beauty product that exist in hopes of perusing every inch of beauty as possible.  I admit it, I am vain, I do not want to age, and I am obsessed with smooth, clear wrinkle free skin. I will admit the older I get, the harder this tasks has become, now topping the big 40 this year, I will do anything to keep my youthfulness alive.  if there was a magic potion watch out, Ill drink that too.

All Jokes (haha) aside, see my review, hopefully they will keep you from wasting your money as well as getting hooked on something new.  I know we all have different skin, but usually if a product sucks then in sucks.

These review will be quick and to the point, I will follow up in greater detail later, doing an extended product review.

Currently I am using the Burt's Bees Collection(s), and I must report I love it. To date I have tried both the hand and feet creams/lotions in addition to the majority of all their facial creams, lotions and balms.

Let's Begin...The Brightening Collection. 

On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the worst thing I have ever tried in my life, and I almost puked using the crap.  I mean it is so bad I would not even give it to my worst enemy, and 10 being heavenly like it is so Good, I cannot even out words to it, and I am ready to do a dirty deed just to get it.  

Overall score  8

Overall is an average of all the products together, the overall score may bring the product score down but it is a cumulative based on the entire collections as a whole. 

Brightening Eye Treatment with Daisy Extract  product score = 9/10

Product above & Below

I seen immediate results in which I was in total disbelief.  I was so shocked and amazed I made my nephew and BF, rush in there and verify that I was not drunk, and the results were as great as I thought they were.  Do not miss out on this EYE treatment. Product receives the score that is not given lightly the ultimate 10.  Yes baby this is a TEN 10!

 Brightening Dark Spot Corrector = 3.5 (honestly did not see any result, but did add to the firming component of the skin line collection. Do not recommend this product within the line.

Love it, Love it, Love it! Over all product is a 9. Not only has this product improved the elasticity in my face, every time I put this cream on my face, it feels so good, almost a calming feeling especially getting out of a hot shower.  I live in Florida so I know it is hard to put a heavy cream on one's face then go outside.  (right melts off like ice cream) not this cream. It goes on smooth, absorbs great and has definitely evened out my skin. Read the side of the box, it does it all.  

Have not tried to the toner or cleanser from this product line as of yet.

Any questions please let me know, photos will follow at later date.

ENJOY!

Oatstraw Infusion with Susun Weed

Stinging Nettle Infusion with Susun Weed and Monica Jean

Dandelion Tincture with Susun Weed

Dandelion Tincture with Susun Weed

Susun Weed, part 3

Comfrey Leaf Oil

Chickweed, Plantain, and Comfrey Salve pt 2

Chickweed. Plantain, and Comfrey Salve pt 1

The Natural History of Burt's Bees

Great DIY soap Idea

DIY Herbal Soaps–A Great Gift!

Everyone uses soap! (Er… everyone should use soap. But I digress.) That’s why homemade soap is the perfect gift – you can customize the color, scent and even shape according to your recipient’s preferences. And if you’re leery of working with lye, there are plenty of shortcuts for a quick and easy soap-making process. In short, there’s no reason not to give out homemade herbal soap for any special occasion.

Homemade Rosemary Mint Bar Soap

Ingredients:

• 3 cups melt & pour solid glycerin base or goat’s milk base (OR a plain bar of natural soap, grated)
• 2 Tbsp chopped rosemary
• 25-30 drops rosemary essential oil
• 20 drops peppermint essential oil
• For color: tiny pinch of spirulina or kelp powder

Other materials:

• Double boiler or saucepan and heat-safe glass bowl
• Silicone molds (can also use clean empty cans, yogurt cups, etc.

Directions: 

1. Cut your solid soap base into smaller pieces and melt in a double boiler (or a heat-safe glass bowl inside a saucepan of hot water).
2. Add pinch of spirulina and stir. When it comes to color, a little spirulina usually goes a long way, but feel free to play with the amount until you get the color you’re looking for.
3. Add essential oils and stir.
4. Pour into molds and let cool for several hours.
5. Remove from molds – tie with ribbon, twine or raffia before giving as gifts!

Variations:
Your soap can be customized to suit your (or your friend or family member’s) personal needs and preferences.

• For a citrus-scented bar, swap the chopped rosemary with grated lemon or orange zest and use your favorite citrus-based essential oil.
• To make an array of hues, experiment with the natural coloring powers of beet root powder, turmeric, cocoa powder, henna and clay.
• To make a liquid soap, start with liquid glycerine and add your favorite essential oils and natural colors as necessary.

Which products can help me and my troubled skin?

Hello Everyone, 

I am sure you are not aware of this, but to let you all know I am addicted to products. I love over the counter goodness as well as anything scripted.  I have gotten Botox but only in the forehead I would not say I have gone crazy as of yet.  I would do plastic surgery, under two conditions; 1) I must have a great surgeon, my definition of great is one in which I have seen their work, and heard testimonials from the patients that they are pleased with the work, 2) Time- recovery time is crucial and it cannot be rushed. You can have a great surgery, go home, and do one little thing and completely ruin what was just done, and yes it is that simple, one wrong move and you can mess it all up.  If you are going to do the surgery make sure you have the time off to do nothing but recover. A good month is needed from personal experience.  I had three brachial plasts but I will tell that story another day. Back to my love of products.

I will admit I am addicted to lotions, potions, creams, soaps etc.. You name it; I will bet I have probbaly tried it and know a great place (lower prices) to get it. There is only one thing I enjoy more than getting new products and that is getting new products for nothing or next to nothing (any good deals I find I will post on here as well).

 Before I get started I would really like for anyone reading this to know what my motivations is for creating this blog and postings and why it is important to me. I have two main reasons the first being personal experience as I grew up struggling with skin issues- Hidradenitis suppurativa (hi-drad-uh-NIE-tis sup-yoo-ruh-TIE-vuh).  Hidradenitis suppurativa  is a chronic skin condition that features pea-sized to marble-sized lumps under the skin. The lumps associated with hidradenitis suppurativa can be extremely painful (THEY ARE VERY PAINFUL) and may break open and drain foul-smelling pus. In many cases, tunnels connecting the lumps will form under the skin. Hidradenitis suppurativa tends to start after puberty, persist for years and worsen over time. Early diagnosis and treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa can help manage the symptoms and prevent new lesions from developing. 
For anyone who suffers from this, I am sure if aware this is not exactly true as I know of no one who has been able to prevent new lesions from forming unless you have your sweat glands removed, and in very rare cases surgeons will agree to do the surgery.

The second reason is because of my sister who has lupus and the issues she is currently struggling with.  I believe my sister is suffering from Morgellons disease. I know very little about this condition but it has caused a lot of damage.  I will discuss this more at a later time, as I want to keep these blogs short. and to the point.  I am aware people lose interests quickly, and unless I am showing nudity on here, or something or similar entertainment value, most people will not make it to the end of this blog.  I will touch on these topics in more detail at a later time. My intent was to explain my motivation. I wanted to be clear on the why, hoping that my openness would demonstrate my motivation and possibly create a little trust when it comes to discussing products and cool stuff like that.

Will be reviewing Burt's Bees, Dr, Woods, Dr. Bonners, Shea Moisture, and Nubian soaps and lotions.  These will actually help with different skin conditions.


What does hidradenitis suppurativa look like? 
Photos from internet giving you different images as it can appear different. I can relate to these people, as I know how bad this is, I had surgery about 13 years ago.

Let's begin with a cleanse Diatomaceous earth

Today will be Day one of beginning the new regiment. Not only will I be trying out a new product line- beautify myself, but before I start I plan to cleanse myself so this should be real good.
I plan to start tonight once I get home, so I am excited.  Some of you may choose to follow up, if you are considering it, then just decide you will, I promise to do something stupid or destructive.
FYI- I will be adding Diatomaceous earth to my cleansing plan.

A little about that mysterious stuff- below-

What is diatomaceous earth?

Diatomaceous earth is made from the fossilized remains of tiny, aquatic organisms called diatoms. Their skeletons are made of a natural substance called silica. Over a long period of time, diatoms accumulated in the sediment of rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. Today, silica deposits are mined from these areas.

Silica is very common in nature and makes up 26% of the earth's crust by weight. Various forms of silica include sand, emerald, quartz, feldspar, mica, clay, asbestos, and glass. Silicon, a component of silica, does not exist naturally in its pure form. It usually reacts with oxygen and water to form silicon dioxide. Silicon dioxide has two naturally occurring forms: crystalline and amorphous. Most diatomaceous earth is made of amorphous silicon dioxide. However, it can contain very low levels of crystalline silicon dioxide. The first pesticide products containing silicon dioxide (diatomaceous earth) were registered in 1960 to kill insects and mites.

How does diatomaceous earth work?

Diatomaceous earth is not poisonous; it does not have to be eaten in order to be effective. Diatomaceous earth causes insects to dry out and die by absorbing the oils and fats from the cuticle of the insect's exoskeleton. Its sharp edges are abrasive, speeding up the process. It remains effective as long as it is kept dry and undisturbed.

How might I be exposed to diatomaceous earth?

People can be exposed to diatomaceous earth if they breathe in the dust, eat it, get it on their skin, or get it in their eyes. For example, when applying the dust or when entering a treated area before the dust has settled. Exposures can also occur if products are accessible to children or pets. Exposure can be limited by reading and following label directions.

What are some signs and symptoms from a brief exposure to diatomaceous earth?

If breathed in, diatomaceous earth can irritate the nose and nasal passages. If an extremely large amount is inhaled, people may cough and have shortness of breath. On skin, it can cause irritation and dryness. Diatomaceous earth may also irritate the eyes, due to its abrasive nature. Any dust, including silica, can be irritating to the eyes.

What happens to diatomaceous earth when it enters the body?

When diatomaceous earth is eaten, very little is absorbed into the body. The remaining portion is rapidly excreted. Small amounts of silica are normally present in all body tissues, and it is normal to find silicon dioxide in urine. In one study, people ate a few grams of diatomaceous earth. The amount of silicon dioxide in their urine was unchanged.

After inhalation of amorphous diatomaceous earth, it is rapidly eliminated from lung tissue. However, crystalline diatomaceous earth is much smaller, and it may accumulate in lung tissue and lymph nodes. Very low levels of crystalline diatomaceous earth may be found in pesticide products.

I really need to site the images and information above as I totally stole it from this site.

Reference

Bunch, T. R.; Bond, C.; Buhl, K.; Stone, D. 2013. Diatomaceous Earth General Fact 

Sheet; National Pesticide Information Center, Oregon State University Extension Services. http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html.

Burt's Bees, just a bunch of Buzz? Buzz, Buzz, Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Burt's Bees, just a bunch of Buzz? Buzz, Buzz, Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz 

Facial care

Burt's Bees offers several different beauty care products; their collections range from lip and facial care to body creams. This company has seen great success going from Organic food stores and farmer's markets to mainstream markets. What can we relate this shift to? Lips and facial care are not the only thing these these bees have gotten themselves into; the buzz is now focusing on hair, baby and a targeted facial care line focusing on improving one's overall facial and beauty care needs. 

I will admit the company has sparked my interest...and in general I am a very curious person so as always when something gets my attention I need to check it out!  I do not like taking one;s word for it as I am a skeptic. I have the tendency to believe a lot of these reviews on the internet are some paid promotional marketing B.S. and I usually disregard the majority of them. Then I started thinking " I try a lot of products" I spend a lot og money on items, some I purchase again, and some I get so mad I even wasted my money the first time, the only thing I can think about is saving someone from making my same mistake.  I do realize products work different for different people, but some products work for no one, and its those products I am hoping to save at least someone from. There is a  positive here as well, if I find a "super cool" product then of course I want to tell you about it. You may be thinking why.....well here is my reasons I have troubled skin and have had issues for years. I know what I have gone through so helping someone does actually make me feel good, so I guess these are selfish reasons why, but hey if you benefit then even better, right! Second I am mommy and mu kids have had skin issues, so if I can help another mommy who is struggling with issues for herself or her child then great.  Again a selfish reason for me to do this, it makes me feel good, and maybe will give me some "good Karma points", who knows?

Burt's Bees lets get on it.  Here are the lines I am going to review; Renewal, Brightening, Intense hydration and Radiance.  They are part of the facial care line,  I place photos below.  My goal is to use the product, check in and document the effects, or whatever one would call it, but I will report on if I think it works or is it a bunch of bunk, and we (the public) are getting ripped off with this whole bee and honey concept.

Review Items: I will review the Brightening, Intense Hydration, Radiance and Sensitive collections.  The specific items will are below.  I will post the entire collection below that in case you have used one of the items in the past or happen to come across one.  

I am sure I will need to update as we go along. Please if you have questions let me know.  I will give you the truth,well my truth as it pertains to me.

Here are the entire collections below. I will also report on their lips balm. I have several of their lip balms.

Intense Hydration above 

Renewal

 Brightening

 Sensitive 

Radiance

Lip care

DOUBLE G TIP- Household cleaners. Going green in your home and keeping green in your pocket.

DOUBLE G TIP- Household cleaners. Going green in your home and keeping green in your pocket.

• 1 tbsp. of baking soda 
• 1/4  Castile Soap (Your scent selection is optional, Citrus or Almond really it is up to you.) You can use Castile soap, I prefer Dr. Bonner's or Dr. Woods.
• 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
• 20 drops of any of the following essential oils: Lavender, Tea Tree, Lemon, Eucalyptus, Purification (a blended oil of Lemongrass, Rosemary, Melaleuca, Myrtle, Citronella, and Lavandin) or Thieves (a blended oil of  Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Rosemary, Lemon, Eucalyptus). You can get these in several different places as well as online.
• Mix the baking soda and some hot water and lightly shake to dissolve the baking soda. Then, add the remaining ingredients and slowly fill the rest of the bottle (slowly because of the soap – it will get bubbly!) with filtered water (especially if you have hard tap water).

How/where do I use this?

Use: spray on countertops (and you don’t have to wipe off!), all over the bathroom, cutting boards and any other non-porous surface that needs some germ smothering. It also works very well on mold and mildew. 

How to make it!

• White Distilled Vinegar and/or Peroxide, use whichever is your preference as both have powerful antibacterial properties that won’t harm ecosystems or your organs.
• 20 to 30 drops of any of the following essential oils: Lavender, Tea Tree, Lemon, Eucalyptus, Purification (a blended oil of Lemongrass, Rosemary, Melaleuca, Myrtle, Citronella, and Lavandin) or Thieves (a blended oil of  Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Rosemary, Lemon, Eucalyptus) 

Note: Tea Tree has a very strong scent  
*10 drops for an 8 oz. bottle, 15 drops for a 16 oz. bottle, 20 drops for a 20 oz. bottle
In a 16 oz. container, fill it with either vinegar or peroxide or half of both for the most power. Then add your essential oils. Lightly shake and done!

Stole this idea from http://mymerrymessylife.com/2012/03/diy-homemade-laundry-detergent-cheap-and-green-free-printable-2.html

- DOUBLE G TIP of the day-

Health & Beauty in the house- giving credit to the page I stole this idea from Author: Sara - My Merry Messy Life.

(Thanks Sara) I may be back to steal more ideas from your site.

Double G = It's Green for the environment and keeps you green in your pocket.

 

 

Print

Prep time

1 min

Cook time

5 mins

Total time

6 mins

 

Author: Sara - My Merry Messy Life

Recipe type: Laundry Detergent

Ingredients

• ¾ cup Castile Soap (For laundry, I like to use the peppermint, lavender, and citrus varieties)
• ½ cup Super Washing Soda (where to buy)
• ½ cup 20 Mule Team Borax OR substitute with Baking Soda where to buy

Instructions

1. Take your two gallon bucket and pour lukewarm to cold water in the bottom of it, about an inch high of water
2. Add the dry powders (baking soda, super washing soda, borax (if using borax)
3. Add more water if necessary to cover the powders then take your hand mixer or immersion blender and blend the powders for a few minutes, or until it is fully blended and there are no clumps.
4. Fill your two-gallon bucket up almost all the way with tap water (the temperature doesn't matter).
5. Add the castile soap (this helps it not to bubble up), and stir with a long-handled spoon.
6. Using the funnel, pour into your containers.

Supplies

• 2 one-gallon containers in which to store the detergent (I recycled an old laundry detergent container and a vinegar jug)
• A measuring cup or two
• A two-gallon bucket or larger (I used my old mop bucket)
• Funnel to pour the detergent from the bucket into the containers (not necessary but certainly helpful!)
• 1 hand blender or immersion blender

When mixing- use some sort of blender, otherwise will appear clumpy.

This is one of the many castille soaps available, Dr. Woods is also a great choice, and less expensive.  remember to use ¾ cup Castile Soap

How Much To Use in the Washer:

 1/3 cup

DO IT YOURSELF

DIY Luxurious and Natural Body Wash Recipe

Making your own body wash is very easy and this recipe is as pure as it gets! It is made with Castile Soap, which is made from olives, so it is free of sulfates like sodium laureth sulfate, a detergent that strips your skin of it’s natural sebum and has even been found to be a carcinogen.

Supplies

• 1 foaming soap pump 
• 1/4 cup liquid castile soap 
• 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oils 
• 6 ounces of water

How to Make

Fill bottle 1/4 of the way with castile soap, add oils to the soap, then fill to the fill line with water.

Selection of oils

Relaxation, soothing: Stress Away, Gentle Baby, lavender, Ylang Ylang, geranium, cedarwood, sandalwood,

Refreshing & uplifting: rosemary and peppermint, eucalyptus

Grounding: Valor, Idaho Balsam Fir

Supplies

• Glass container like a mason jar or hinged glass jar
• 2 cups Epsom or Dead Sea salts 
• 5-10 drops of essential oils – lavender, lemon, orange, Citrus Fresh, Stress Away, Dragon Time, lavender, frankincense & many others!  

How to Make

Fill jar ½ full with salts. Add 10-20 drops. Fill rest with salts & shake. Use 2 cups per bath (for adults, just 1 cup for kids) & soak 20 min. or more to detox. The salts pull the toxins from the body as you soak! Can also use Dead Sea salts.