Burt's Bees Natural Anti-Blemish Solutions Skincare Line | Product Focus

I am amazed with Burt’s Bees not only because of their products but also for their history and what the brand represents. This post is all about Burt's Bees Natural Anti-blemish Solutions line including the clarifying cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. This product was from the loot bag I got from Project Vanity’s 8^th Anniversary event.

Burt’s Bees History & Background

The company was started in 1984 by Maine artist Roxanne Quimby and bee farmer Burt Shavitz. It started as a store in Maine selling artistic candles made of leftover beeswax from Burt’s honeybees. Seven years into the business, Roxanne perfects a recipe found in a 19^th century farmer’s journal  for Burt’s Bees Beeswax lip balm in 1991. The brand decided to focus on health and beauty care in 1994. Since then the business became larger and went global. The brand launched several campaigns and policies such as The Greater Good & Wild Bees while winning awards on the side such as becoming #1 ImagePower Green Brands Survey – all of which aims to promote production of environment-friendly, natural, cruelty-free, and zero-waste products. Even their packaging is made of recycled materials.

The Burt's Bees Natural Anti-Blemish Solutions Line

Also known as Anti-Acne Solutions in some country, this line was launched in 2010.

Burt's Bees Anti-Blemish Solutions™, formulated with Salicylic Acid derived naturally from Willow Bark Extract, penetrates pores to reduce acne and prevent future breakouts. We offer our best natural acne products including: purifying cleanser, pore scrub, clarifying toner, acne moisturizing lotion and spot treatments. Dermatologist-tested and non-comedogenic, our natural acne remedies promote clear, smooth and healthy-looking skin.

Though I have read that salicylic acid per se is not derived from Willow Bark. Willow Bark contains salicin which may be converted to salicylic acid when ingested but not when applied topically. I guess the products does include salicylic acid but is an ingredient separate from the Willow Bark extract.

Here are the three products included in the loot bag.

1. Anti-Blemish Purifying Daily Cleanser

Php 850 | From cleanser to clearer

Our best acne face wash is clinically proven to help cleanse away acne-causing bacteria, excess oil and impurities without overdrying or irritating skin. Salicylic Acid, derived naturally from Willow Bark Extract, penetrates pores to help reduce acne and prevent future breakouts, while Evening Primrose and Beet Root Extracts help calm acne-prone skin. The result is naturally clear and healthy looking skin.

I don’t use this daily as my skin is not acne-prone but I have used it a couple of times and I love the smell. It was citrusy and zesty with a hint of ginger and lemon grass. The product has a very low viscosity and you only need a few drops of it every use. The color reminds me of honey. It lathers into a light foam and it cleanses without stripping your skin of moisture. It did not irritate my skin. No break outs as well.

Ingredients:

Salicylic Acid (1.0%), water, decyl glucoside, lauryl glucoside, sucrose laurate, salix nigra (willow) bark extract, coco-betaine, betaine, beta vulgaris (beet) root extractoenothera biennis (evening primrose) leaf extract, sodium cocoyl hydrolyzed soy protein, hydroxypropyltrimonium honey, glycerin, glyceryl oleate, coco-glucoside, fragrance, glucose, alcohol denat., glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase, citric acid sodium chloride, phenoxyethanol

2. Anti-Blemish Clarifying Toner

Php 950 | Clean skin clarified. Formulated with skin-clarifying Witch Hazel and Lemongrass, known for its astringent properties, our best acne facial toner removes lingering traces of cleanser, dirt, oil and make-up. Our clarifying toner also has Salicylic Acid, derived naturally from Willow Bark Extract, to penetrate pores, reduce acne and prevent future breakouts. The result is naturally clear, healthy-looking skin.

I am a little iffy with this toner because it contains alcohol. I use this twice to thrice a week as an alternate for my Mario Badescu glycolic acid toner. I use this when I have to apply Tretinoin at night. I am all in for the Witch Hazel and lemongrass in this one as I believe in their astringent properties.

Ingredients: 

Salicylic Acid (1.0%), aqua (water, eau), alcohol denat., glycerin, salix nigra (willow) bark extract, parfum (fragrance), cymbopogon schoenanthus extract, equisetum hiemale extracthamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) leaf extract, humulus lupulus (hops) extract, hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) extract, glucose, sodium chloride, glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase, citral, geraniol, limonene, linalool

3. Anti-Blemish Daily Moisturizing Lotion

Php 1450 | Clearly moisturized. Our best moisturizer for acne is lightweight and clinically proven to help control oil and protect against blemishes without irritating your skin. Formulated with Lemongrass, Witch Hazel, Goldenseal and Hops, our daily moisturizing lotion helps calm irritation. Resulting in clear, smooth, healthy looking skin. Naturally.

I love the texture of this moisturizer. The smell strangely reminds me of almonds with a hint of lemon grass, which is pleasant for me. I love how lightweight it is. It is easily absorbed by my skin. It can be worn under makeup but it made me shine at the end of the day.

Ingredients:

Salicylic Acid (1.0%), water, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, glycerin, stearic acid, sucrose distearate, salix nigra (willow) bark extract, sucrose stearate, cymbopogon schoenanthus (lemongrass) extracthamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) water, humulus lupulus (hops) extract, equisetum hiemale (horsetail) leaf extract, hydrastis canadensis (golden seal) extract, epilobium fleischeri (gravel willow) extract, lecithin chrondrus crispus (carrageenan) extract, fragrance, glucose, xanthan gum, sodium borate, sodium chloride, glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase

Project Vanity’s 8th Anniversary | Learnings

Oh this? It's nothing. Just a MASSIVE loot of FREEBIES I got from the event! #ProjectVanity8th

I was a lucky girl to attend Project Vanity’s 8th Anniversary last Saturday, March 19, 2016. I attended the blogging workshop, the second part of the event. I diligently took notes of the talk shared by blog and beauty mavens Liz Lanuzo of Project Vanity, Julia Arenas of Bless My Bag, and Donnarence Masilungan of My Lucid Intervals. 

Here are a few of the numerous blogging pearls I learned:

Invest in your blog

"If you're blogging for fun, do whatever you want. If you're blogging to make a difference, then you have to invest in it."

Time and effort for great content, aside from the monetary part, are the necessary investments for a blog to succeed. 

Be consistent

Make blogging a habit. Schedule posts to be written and published. Just keep blogging even if life gets in  the way.

You must have a goal in mind

Why do you blog? What do you want to achieve? These are the questions you need to answer to be able to tailor fit the strategies you will apply to your blog.

It was nice to meet other bloggers who are passionate with their craft. Project Vanity built a community of bloggers sharing a common interest that is beauty. 

At the end of the event, I was able to talk to Julia of Bless My Bag. She is very approachable and nice. She shared a few tips on blogging and product photography which are all refreshing, inspiring, and truly encouraging. She even recommended a couple of hand-picked blog inspirations I might like. I felt proud of myself for making a conscious effort to be confident: I asked a question to Liz during the workshop, talked to Julia, and took #selfies with them. I kept in mind what I wrote on this post on being confident.

I feel more fueled up to blog! This event gave me a much needed boost of inspiration. I am looking forward to attend more blogging events in the future.

BEAUTY WISHLIST | 2016

from my Polyvore

So this year I wanted to acquire a bunch of skin care and make up items that I have been wanting since last year. The thing is I have been meaning to buy these products for a long time but I never got to that point. I always end up trying a dupe or another affordable brand. Don't get me wrong, the dupes are nice and do not break the bank, but I still yearn to get that specific product I originally wanted.