Renewing My Skin, Part 2

next
April and May Beauty Favorites

Alright it’s been roughly a month since I’ve been using the Burt’s Bees Renewing line and I’m pleased with the results! BBafter-2-2 While it’s probably the most trivial, my favorite part of the products was the pleasant, semi-earthy aroma. I hate products that are too floral or pungent on my face since I smell it all day. These reminded me of a spa. Of the handful of products from the line, my absolute favorite was the Burt’s Bees Renewal Firming Night Cream. I loved how hydrating it was without feeling too heavy. I’ve tried night creams in the past that are just too sticky and heavy, and I was afraid to smear it all around as I slept. So the consistency of this one was just right! I found that on days when I wasn’t planning on wearing much makeup, I would just splash my face with a bit of lukewarm water and didn’t even need to add a moisturizer for the day. That’s how nourishing the night cream was. BBafter-1-2 Here I am without a stitch of makeup. BBafter-1 BBafter-3 The biggest thing I noticed was just a general look of health to my skin. It may sound cliche but I think I can see a nicer glow now that I could before. It looks, and feels, fresher if that makes any sense. I also noticed more smoothness, especially on my forehead. BA I noticed a big change in the melasma under my eyes, which could partially be due to time passing, but could also be thanks to the renewing properties of the cleaner and Sensitive Face Serum. Either way, I’m pleased to see those spots fading. Up close and personal, the crows feet at the outer part of my eyelids isn’t quite as noticeable. That wasn’t a major concern of mine, but I’m always happy to be doing good things for my skin NOW instead of trying to back track once I’m old and wrinkly. And I spotted my first grey hair the other week so it’s coming quickly. The price point for this line, along with anything else from Burt’s Bees is fantastic. I’d really recommend looking into it if you are in the market for some new skincare!

comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stephanie says · 05.18.15

I started using their exfoliating wipes recently and I’m in love. I want to try everything they have. They’re so good for sensitive skin and you’re right about the scent. It’s light and I don’t feel like I smell it on my skin for an hour after using them, which I like.

http://aneducationindomestication.com/burts-bees-love/

Reply
Tara says · 05.18.15

I got the eye cream and the daytime face lotion after reading your last post. So far I love them! I’m excited to try the night cream next.

Reply
Megan H. says · 05.18.15

I love Burt’s bees, especially the lemon cuticle butter. I would use it on clients during manicures and suggested they get some and use it often, fixes so many nail problems! They have a line of baby clothes, have you tried any of those out? Also, I’m close to 32 and starting to see crows feet, but then I look at my dad and see his and they only show up when he laughs. It’s my favorite feature of his. So I’m thinking I’ll just embrace the beauty that is happiness. Thanks for your posts, all of them 😉

Reply
sarah says · 05.18.15

I *LOVE* this outlook. I’m all for keeping my skin healthy, but sometimes things come that you just can’t “fix” and are too much work to cover up so might as well embrace ’em. Good for you!

Reply
ailyn says · 05.18.15

I have to agree that before and after photos still look amazing though

Reply
Hush Hush says · 05.18.15

I have never tried any face products from Burt’s Bees. This line sound interesting.

hushhush990.blogspot.com

Reply
Kim says · 05.18.15

Your skin looks great! I’ve never used their skin care. Thanks for the review and recommendation!

Kim
http://trendkeeper.me .. Spring flannel?!

Reply
Kate says · 05.18.15

I’ll have to check this out. Do you have any other recommendations for melasma? Mine is quite prominent + not pregnancy related, so I don’t think it will go away on its own 🙁 any suggestions you have for covering it up and/or products to help it go away would be great!

Reply
JNJxn says · 05.18.15

Reverse regimen from Rodan+Fields. It has cleared up many complexions suffereing from melasma! It could be a great option for you. https://jhn.myrandf.com/Shop/Reverse
60 day money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied.

Reply
JNJxn says · 05.18.15

*suffering* Oops! 🙂

Reply
Kate says · 05.19.15

Thank you 🙂 I’ll look into this.

Reply
JNJxn says · 05.18.15

Gorgeous as always, Kate!

Reply
Meg @ Adventures in Verdance says · 05.18.15

Thanks for the recommendation!

Reply
Susan says · 05.18.15

Do they have a anti wrinkle cream?

Reply
Daisy - émoi émoi says · 05.18.15

Your skin looks great, you look so beautiful without any makeup on!! I will definitely take a look at their products 🙂

http://en.emoi-emoi.com/blog/

Reply
Elainea says · 05.18.15

I love burt’s bees stuff! And your skin looks amazing. 🙂 I’ll have to check some of these products out at my local target. Thanks for sharing!

http://toastthegirlalmighty.com

Reply
Jen says · 05.18.15

I’m confused. On April 15, you introduced the Burt’s Bees skin care line and said readers should look for a follow-up post after you had used the line for a few weeks. On April 29, you raved about a night cream from Pond’s. On May 11, it was the Garnier night cream. Now, after approximately four weeks, you are crediting Burt’s Bees with your skin improvements. Yet you have been using at least two other products during this time, which means you have not exclusively used the Burt’s Bees line. So how can you be sure the Burt’s Bees is what is making the difference in your skin?

Reply
Marta Espinosa says · 05.18.15

Kate, I know you will read this and more than likely delete this… But people are figuring you out. It’s all about the money…so it appears….and not about the honest review. If it is going to be strictly about the money for you, I would suggest that you at least keep up with what products you are reviewing and what promises you are making to your readers. Like the reader above said, how can you give an honest review when you are being paid to sponsor three different products in one month? Even your sponsors will figure you out.

Reply
Kate says · 05.19.15

I completely understand that it looks that way, I really do. The timing of these posts is not ideal. There is usually weeks of lead time before a post goes live when I’m working with a brand, so while it looks like I tried all of these super close together, I didn’t. Again, as a reader you only see one side and I completely understand that it looks confusing.
I also tend to jump at the opportunity to try new skincare without looking at due dates and when the campaign is going live. So, I should have been a little bit more aware that these were going to run into each other.

Reply
Jen says · 05.19.15

Kate, if that is the case*, then you need to mention that in your reviews. “I used X product from date through date, Y product on these dates, etc.” That way even if your reviews post close together it is clear that your use of the products did not overlap. That being said – if your use of the products is spaced out as you claim, then wouldn’t the reviews be spaced out as well…. ?

* For what it’s worth, I do not actually believe this to be the case. I read your blog fairly infrequently and even so, your constant shilling of products has gotten old. It is clear that you are all about the freebies and I think people – casual readers like me as well as regular readers – are catching on.

Reply
Michelle says · 05.20.15

Kate,
Wow, I feel bad for you. I want you to know that I am a regular reader and I don’t feel that way.
It’s a terrible thing to be called a liar, keep your head up.
I just don’t understand why we have to be so mean to each other. It’s possible to give your opinion without being mean and tearing someone down.
Please stop being mean and show some kindness.

Kristin says · 05.18.15

I’m pretty confused about all this myself…

Reply
Katie says · 05.18.15

Agreed. Also did you turn up the brightness on the after photos? In the before/after comparison photo, the after photo looks the same, just paler skin.

Reply
Kate says · 05.19.15

No, I didn’t turn up the brightness. They were shot weeks apart in front of my window (I don’t have lighting that I use), so it was just a brighter day.

Reply
Jenny says · 05.19.15

Also really confused. With so many up for a review, how do you know Burts helped?

Reply
Piggy Spaghetti says · 05.19.15

Totally

Reply
Katie says · 05.19.15

I was wondering the same thing!

Reply
Kate says · 05.19.15

The timing these posts were published makes it look like there was an overlap, but I did use the products separately. I understand that it looks confusing, and in hindsight I should have agreed to review so many skincare products around the same time.

Reply
Heather says · 05.20.15

Goodness gracious. I love your blog, and I like hearing your experiences with different products (regardless of what you did or did not pay for them or how many you review). It gives me direction, but even then I know that products can and will work differently for each of us. Thanks for your great work, and I think that the person you really are shines through!

Reply
Lindsay @ HotMessCoolDay says · 05.18.15

I wish I saw this post last week! I just purchased Garnier’s Sleeping cream, but wasn’t a fan of their day gel/lotion. Perhaps I will try out Burt’s Bee’s! Thanks!

Reply
Tina says · 05.18.15

You look great without any makeup on!! It must have been scary to post those pictures, but you look great. And I love Burt’s Bees, so it’s good to hear your opinion on these products.

Reply
Clever Girl Reviews says · 05.18.15

I always love Burt’s Bees! I haven’t seen this line yet in my local Rite Aid, but I’ll keep my eyes out for it!

Reply
Kristi Craig says · 05.18.15

I can totally see a difference! I will be keeping an eye out for these when I go to the drugstore!

Kristi
http://www.beloverly.com

Reply
Stephanie says · 05.18.15

Hi Kate,

I was wondering if you have ever tried any Paul Mitchell products and if so, how do you feel about them?

Reply
Kate says · 05.19.15

I have in the past but nothing really blew me away!

Reply
hannah says · 05.19.15

These sound amazing! I’ve never tried Burt’s Bees before but will have to now! xx

http://www.secretsofarose.com

Reply
Maggie Turner says · 05.19.15

How can you say that Burt’s Bees was the product that made such a radical difference if on April 15, you first started talking about the Burt’s Bees skin care line and said you’d follow up with us later…. but then on April 29, you were sponsored by a night cream from Pond’s. Then a week and a half later on May 11, you were all about your c/o Garnier night cream. So it’s been a month and you swear that the Burt’s Bees (and clearly not photoshop…. even though your skin tone is a totally different color…)

Seriously though. I get that you’re all about free stuff but don’t you value integrity at all? Do you truly believe that your sponsors will keep giving you #thefreethings to fund #thefreethingsblog if you endorse their product one day and then two and three weeks later, respectively, you say those products did zilch and you actually think every good thing is from another product?

Reply
Bethy says · 05.19.15

I’m sure I’m not the only person who sees the irony in questioning the integrity of someone you’ve likely never met.

Reply
Kelsey L says · 05.19.15

Yes, because heaven forbid there be any accountability for anyone these days. This comment is ridiculous.

Reply
Maggie Turner says · 05.19.15

Poor Bethy. She probably went to the same high school as Kate, with made up grammar rules and where they never taught the meaning of ironic…

Reply
Sandy Springs says · 05.19.15

Bahahah Maggie Turner, this is an amazing comment. Isn’t it ironic…

Kate says · 05.19.15

I totally hear you on the timing of these. I wish I could share in real time as I use the products, but typically there are several weeks of lead time before publishing a post. I hate that they all seemed to fall in the past few weeks, and I can completely see how it looks bad.

Reply
I forgot says · 05.19.15

So, I use a mix of burt’s bees, ponds and garnier to get this result? Can you do a follow up post informing how much of each and which one at which time of day just so I get the formula right or do I mix them all together in another jar?
It will be expensive to buy all three creams, I guess I’ll just have to if I want results.
Is it better for me to email the companies themselves and ask for the exact formulas?

Reply
Melissa says · 05.19.15

Or you could just not read and rip up a blogger if you don’t appreciate their opinion/blog content, Really high school, really jealous. Kate has far more class and patience than I would for all of the trolls showing their true colors on here. Really simple…don’t like it, don’t read and spew hate in the comments.

Reply
Sarah says · 05.19.15

I am so tired of all the comments claiming anyone who wants a little accountability and transparency is a jealous hater. So not jealous, so not a hater, just want a little integrity and accountability in the bloggers I follow. Again, if this is Kate’s job then she should be held accountable for what she posts. I guess none of you are held accountable in your respective jobs. And sorry not sorry for expecting integrity here. I have followed Kate for a while now but all this shilling is just getting old.

Reply
Sarah says · 05.19.15

Amen to you, name sister!

Reply
Sarah says · 05.19.15

Why is it if someone has a dissenting opinion, they are automatically “jealous”? Why would anyone be jealous of someone who clearly botched a professional Job, and is giving a vague attempt at an explanation?

Reply
I forgot says · 05.19.15

How on earth are you getting a “jealous” vibe from what I wrote?
I’d very much like to know what it is I’m meant to be jealous of!!
Legit questions I had. I have read all of K8’s reviews recently and they all make wonderful claims. I was simply asking how I combine all three to get a decent result. I was wondering if all these products are owned by the same parent company for K8 to be using them so closely hence my suggestion to ask them.
But really. If you see it as your role to jump in and fight imaginary battles for k8 from ppl who are asking legit questions (are you her PR person or some such?) maybe you need to look at your own circumstances because I’m fine thanks, certainly not jealous at all!

Reply
Michelle says · 05.20.15

I am totally ok with people voicing their opinions, but it is not ok to be mean and rude. This goes both ways. We need to be nice to Kate and to each other.
Kate and other bloggers will be more inclined to listen if we don’t like something if we are nice about it.

Reply
I forgot says · 05.20.15

I’m so glad YOU are ok with it.
Good to know.
Also Michelle. Can you please point out where I was rude and mean?

Michelle says · 05.20.15

Sorry, I didn’t mean to put that comment specifically under you. I was refering to the responses to your comment.
I know it’s hard to read someone’s tone in a comment.
All I am asking is that we speak kindly, it’s not necessary to run each other down.

Meredith from Penelope Loves Lists says · 05.19.15

You look gorgeous and I’m SO into seeing real life photos with no makeup. So awesome.

(And you just keep doing you, Kate. You’re doing a great job.)

Reply
Rachele says · 05.19.15

Sorry, Kate, but if this is definitely a sign that you have gone a little overboard with the sponsored posts,

If I wanted to spend my time watching commercials and being sold to, I would watch TV and infomercials.

Definitely not what I come here for. You have kind of become a puppet. Sadly, it seems you have a few too many puppeteers.

Makes me sad.

Reply
April West says · 05.19.15

I have been following your blog for years now- the amount of sponsored posts is getting old.

Reply
Comment to be deleted.... says · 05.20.15

Amen to wanting transparency, integrity and accountability. You’ll probably delete this comment like you do when someone calls you out but I hope this is a wake up call to you. Your alienating your fans who enabled you to get where you are today. It’s sad really. Advertisers use bloggers like you as another avenue of marketing since the “traditional” channels aren’t as effective. Only a matter of time until they won’t need you to constantly shill/review anything you can get for free.

Reply
Debbie Quick says · 05.20.15

your skin looks great! I haven’t seen these products around but if I do I’ll definitely consider picking them up!

Reply
kris says · 05.20.15

I have to agree with the incessant reviews and shilling as some call it. I used to read your blog every single day, and I really enjoyed it. I loved the hair tutorials and the hair advice – that seemed to be your talent. As a mom of 2, I understand how motherhood changes everything. I did not mind reading about your pregnancy and your mommy posts. They were a nice little addition to what you had going, and a fun way to get to know you. However, other things seemed to slowly shift, with more and more sponsored posts, affiliate links, etc. The makeup tutorials seem like the same thing over and over again – I really hardly see a difference in the look from one to the next – none of it is that groundbreaking. Unlike your hair tutorials which were super helpful. I have to admit, I don’t read your blog hardly at all anymore. I just get sick of seeing the stuff. Maybe others like it, but I don’t. So, please take this as constructive criticism – I’m not trying to be mean, or “say something nice or don’t say anything at all.” Until things change with the sponsored posts, I will only be checking in occasionally from time to time. It simply is not my cup of tea, and leaves me with a bad impression.

Reply
Laura says · 05.20.15

I too was initially a little confused/dismayed by all the recent sponsored posts. I trust Kate for her advice and have bought many products based on her recommendations. I have to say though, after reading the comments on this particular post and her replies I am even more of a fan than I was before. People have left some really nasty name-calling messages that she has neither deleted or responded too in a hateful tone. She has admitted her error which is not easy for anyone (myself included) to do. She is respectful in what she says to those who are critical even when they are not respectful to her. There is a way to offer constructive criticism in a respectful manner without ripping someone to shreds.

Reply
Catdefine says · 05.20.15

Guys – if you don’t like Kate’s reviews, then just stop reading the blog and go read something else. She is doing a great job as all of her fans would agree. As her content and life shifts, her posts will shift and so what if she gets compensated for her opinions. She apologized for the timing of the posts in the most gracious way possible. Leave it alone or go somewhere else – it’s your prerogative just as her blog is hers. Enough already.

Reply
Lauren Elizabeth says · 05.21.15

Kate, you are a shilling machine. Spend time with your kids instead of being a free things whore. Honestly.

Reply
Cate says · 05.23.15

Always nice when a family member comes in and mocks honest reader feedback. Classy.

Reply