Sunday, October 24, 2010

Burt's Bees Fragrance Free Shea Butter & Vitamin E Body Lotion

I appreciate Burt's Bees for being a forerunner in the green beauty industry - I remember getting a Burt's Bees gift set for Christmas back in the '90s and I loved everything in it. But as I've tried more of the Burt's Bees line I've realized that their products can be hit or miss. Their peppermint lip balm is, of course, a gold standard, and I love their pomegranate lip balm, lip glosses, and medicated acne treatment as well. But certain BB's products I've tried have been disappointing - the pungent sunscreen with a chalky consistency, the deep pore scrub that leaves a weird film on my skin and makes me break out, the night cream that feels like a mask. I still have mad love for the brand but I'm always wary when I try one of their products for the first time.

I had high hopes for BB's Fragrance Free Shea Butter & Vitamin E Body Lotion but, unfortunately, it was one of those products that left me unsatisfied. The consistency is great and keeps my skin well hydrated for a long time. But the scent seems off. At first I thought it smelled like chlorine, but after using it a few more times I think it smells more like wet dog (sorry BB!). I've continued to use it because my broke/cheap self can't throw it out, but I'm still thrown off by the scent. I wonder if I got an old bottle? Or maybe I'm just detecting the scents of the natural ingredients? I might mix some essential oils in with it and see if that helps...

If you have a sensitive nose, I would strongly recommend that you sniff this lotion before buying! If you don't mind the scent, then this lotion might be a great option for you. But if you're turned off post-sniff, you might want to keep looking...or stay tuned to see if mixing in essential oils can save this product :)

Green Beauty Blog Rating: C-

Sunday, October 17, 2010

$$$

I'm broke. Anyone in the same boat?

If I had $100 to re-stock the beauty cabinet, this is what I would buy (grand total comes to $99, leaving me $1 for Sour Patch Kids :P).



It's been a while...

Wow, I haven't updated in over a month...life is picking up! My schedule is packed nowadays and it's a struggle to make social plans let along update this blog. I did grab some time last weekend to go shopping with my mom, and came home with the treat below:


It's Sexy Bath's Pumpkin Oatmeal Body Bar! It was only $3.50 at Marshall's - amazing. I've been noticing more green beauty products popping up at discount stores like TJ Maxx and Marshall's and I love it!

Lovers of the Philosophy brand can expect a similarly delicious experience with this product. It smells sweet and spicy - like Thanksgiving dessert in soap form. It's definitely a festive pick-me-up as the days turn grayer in Nor Cal. It lathers nicely but rinses clean and leaves the faintest scent on the skin. I even used it to lather up my legs before shaving and no nicks!

I threw away the packaging and can't find an ingredients list online (doh!). But I do remember that the bar contains natural plant oils as well as Vitamins A, C, and E which protect and smooth skin. Thankfully it does not contain parabens or Trisodium EDTA. A quick search revealed that Sexy Hair Concepts, the brand behind Sexy Bath & Body, may be fading out this product, so if you are curious to try this snap it up online! Or try your local Marshall's :P

Green Beauty Blog Rating: A+