Product Reviews: Burt's Bees goodies for super shiny lips and naturally ageless skin

Reviewing natural products is one of the many great joys of this job and the days that you find something, that you know you will be using for many years to come, is always really exciting. Last week, I had such a moment with Burt's Bees Super Shiny Natural Lip Gloss.

Lip gloss is one of those things that most females (and some males) just love to use. A quick slick of lip gloss seems to make you feel fresh and ready to conquer the world (or the next latte whatever your day may hold!). I often get asked for an alternative to the super glossy offerings from conventional cosmetic companies; Ladies and gentlemen: here is your answer!!

I trialled all three colours in the Mini Lip Gloss Trio and actually loved every one, they seem in a strange way to tone into your lip colour. If I had to choose, 'pucker berry' is my absolute favourite, and will becoming a permanent resident in my handbag. But don't take my word for it, the benefit of the mini gloss trio, is the cost is about the same as a single good quality lip gloss but you get to try all three colours.


Gina's tip: If you want a hint more colour than the gloss provides, these work really well over lipstick too.

Here is what Burt's Bees say about their lip super shiny lip gloss.....

Burt’s Bees Super Shiny Lip Gloss is 100 per cent natural and moisturises lips while providing a brilliant sheer colour gloss. Sunflower oil and sweet almond oil intensely moisturise the lips, leaving them soft, supple and healthy while citrus oils give a fresh, natural flavour. Natural earth pigments such as iron oxide, mica, carmine and titanium dioxide provide colour and a hint of sparkle.

Now you can have three of our favourite shades for just $19.95.

Beat the recession naturally with this great little gift for a friend – or a treat for yourself.

The environmentally-friendly tube contains 26 per cent post-consumer recycled plastic that can be recycled again.

Price: $19.95

The second product I reviewed last week was perfectly timed, I was feeling and looking pretty dull after a nasty bout of gastro knocked the family, when this little parcel of golden oil arrived at my door. I am so glad it did! Being more than a little afraid of needles and just as scared of putting potentially harmful substances into my body, I need all the natural help I can get when it comes to looking young.

I will definitely be adding Burt’s Bees Naturally Ageless Intensive Repairing Serum, to my arsenal. I'm only on day four of using this product, but already my skin feels smoother. I'll get back to you on how I go with the wrinkles!! The thing I love about this Serum is that it is really lightweight and easily absorbed (so it won't stain your bedsheets!), it is 100% natural and smells fabulous.

Here is what Burt's Bees say about this Serum;

Natural beauty is ageless, so keep your true age a secret with the power of pomegranate, featured in Burt’s Bees premium facial care line, Naturally Ageless.

Burt’s Bees Naturally Ageless Intensive Repairing Serum helps smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes, mouth and forehead to help address the signs of aging, naturally. 100% natural, this concentrated serum combines the power of antioxidant-rich pomegranate with gentle moisturisers including borage and evening primrose oil.

At $64.95 the price is in line with conventional serums, but you need so very little, so it should last you a long time.

Gina's tip: I use this under my foundation to give my face a 'dewy glow' so to speak. Obviously different foundations may not react so well to this. If you want to try; cleanse as usual, use a tiny amount of oil to cover all areas of the face that need moisture, wait for about 5 minutes and then apply your foundation. If your foundation 'pils' when you do this, the products are not compatible, so stick to using them at different times.

The Burt’s Bees range is available at David Jones, Terry White Chemists and selected retail outlets. For stockist information, phone 1300 855 478 or visit the store locator at www.burtsbees.com.au

What does 'Natural' mean to you, when it comes to personal care?

Like to have your say about what constitutes a natural personal care product?

Burt's Bees (Natural personal care company from the US), have launched an Australian survey, so you can have your say. It is easy to complete and takes around 5 minutes or a little less. You'll find the link on the Burt's Bees home page. http://www.burtsbees.com.au/

Below is a little information from Burt's Bees on the Survey.

Burt’s Bees and Porter Novelli Adelaide have launched an online survey asking Australian consumers about their concerns and attitudes to ‘natural’ ingredients – what ‘natural’ means to them and what matters to them about ‘natural’ ingredients in personal care (meaning products for body, face, hair etc). Burt’s Bees has done a similar survey in the US but as far as we know, no-one’s done one here.

Essentially, we would like to invite you to take a look at the survey and help us encourage people to participate. If you would like to take it further, we are more than happy to set up an interview with Emma Atkinson, the GM of Burt's Bees here in Australia, to discuss in-depth the ideas behind the survey and the ultimate goals for the results.

The survey process itself is only five minutes long and is just a series of simple questions about/around natural ingredients and natural personal care products. We are aiming to gather as much feedback as possible over the next three months, and will be sharing the results with online communities and health and beauty media. Burt's Bees is committed to transparency about 'natural' in the industry, and was instrumental in the creation of a 'natural' standard in the US - now we're aiming high here too! I think that for many people this issue is confusing and frustrating, and I hope that we can achieve greater clarity for everyone interested in natural personal care.

Why are we doing this? Firstly, because we just don’t want to make assumptions about what Australians think and know about ‘natural’ in personal care. Obviously Burt’s Bees is a ‘natural’ focused company but this survey is about understanding what consumers actually want. All sorts of assumptions get made in marketing and both Burt’s Bees and Porter Novelli Adelaide have decided that’s not enough for us. So we’re asking. We’ve decided to approach online communities because we know connecting online is one way consumers can share their unfiltered views and concerns, and that’s what we want to hear. Yes, you will be talking to a PR company and a manufacturer in the industry - because we genuinely want to know what people are thinking.

We will use the results of the survey in the following ways: we will report back to the blogs and site communities that link to the survey on what we find, we will share the results with the health and beauty media in Australia and we will make the results available via the Burt’s Bees website. We hope the results will help address any concerns or confusions about what ‘natural’ means and how it is presented in Australia. (One result of a similar survey in the US was that Burt’s Bees joined together with other major natural personal care companies to develop a national standard for ‘natural’ via the Natural Products Association.)

The results will be available to you to use and we hope the whole process encourages conversation and education about the topic.

The survey is for Australian residents and will run from August 20 until November 14. You can find it here.

As the results of this survey will be featured in the media, this is a great opportunity for CleanLife readers to have their say about what 'Natural' means.

Organic Beauty World

Mae is the founder and director of Organic Beauty World, and online store specialising in natural and organic product to make you feel and look beautiful. We caught up with Mae to find out a little about her, her company and her favourite products.


What inspired you to start Organic Beauty World and how has the journey been for you?

I used to spend most of my Saturday’s going from store to store looking for natural/organic products. This was a time consuming, costly and frustrating process. I remember thinking, surely it can’t be that difficult to buy organic hair products, natural makeup and natural supplements in the one place. Hence the idea for Organic Beauty World was born over a cup of green tea with some friends and encouragement from my 6 year old daughter.



The Organic Beauty World online store seems to have an ever growing range of products, including everything from certified organic beauty products and makeup to natural hair colours and breastfeeding teas, how do you choose which products you will sell?

In the beginning what to sell was based on trial and error. Now 2 years on I have a much better idea of what customers are looking for. Often our customers will tell us what they want or will let us know about a particular product they like. Many of our top selling products have been uncovered through customer referrals.


Many people find overhauling a chemically laden toiletries cupboard a little too daunting, so continue to use potentially harmful products. What would you suggest for people looking to make the change gradually without breaking the bank?

Keep it simple and throw out 1-2 toxic products a week to start with. Begin with the toothpaste and mouthwash. Gradually replace every single personal care item including sunscreen, makeup, hair care and body care with non toxic alternatives. The Chemical Maze Pocketbook may become your best friend on this journey. Its full of information about the potential health effects of food additives and ingredients used in cosmetics and personal care products. Another great resource is www.cosmeticdatabase.com. Once you start using organic, natural, non toxic products you can’t go back to using the stuff you used to use. There is such a big gap between toxic and non toxic products in terms of quality, feel, smell and peace of mind. Organic and natural products work better!


Are there any standout best selling natural and organic beauty products?
Our top selling Organic Beauty World products cover both health (inner beauty) and personal care (outer beauty)


• Coral White Toothpaste (SLS Free) - helps re-mineralize tooth enamel

• Naturalene Invisible Glove Skin Protection - excellent for dry skin, chafing, nappy rash, eczema and Dermatitis

• Red Iron Plus">Red Iron Plus – a unique natural source of raw liquid iron sourced from an ancient rainforest

• Logona Herbal Hair Colours – 100% certified natural hair colours

• Natracare Organic Cotton Feminine Hygiene products

• Miessence Tahitian Breeze Organic Roll-on Deodorant – will keep you smelling lovely even after a work out

• Giovanni Hair Products – an excellent range even for the most sensitive noses


If you could have only three beauty products what would they be and why? First 3 products that came to mind:

I can’t leave home without smothering my face with the Devita Solar Moisturiser. It has an SPF of 30+ (perfect for the Australian climate). It’s non greasy and I love the way my dry skin feels – really soft and hydrated. It uses micronized (no nano) Zinc Oxide, fragrance-free, PABA-free, Gluten-free, safe for vegans, and titanium dioxide-free.

Miessence Organic Deodorant - a beauty must have to keep me smelling beautiful even when most of the day is spent running around doing things.

A handbag must have is the Suvana Certified Organic Paw Paw & Honey Lip Balm.
I use this on my lips and under and around my eyes. I really like the safe organic ingredients and the way my lips look plumper after putting it on.


Most people consider starting and running a small business a difficult undertaking, what keeps you going when things get tough?

In a word – my customers! They make me laugh, inspire and educate me and vice versa. In their words:

“I received my hair colours today and dyed my hair, my hair feels AMAZING! It feels so nourished, enriched and the colour is absolutely gorgeous! Just perfect, thank you for your tips”. Susan

“Hi, I just wanted to thanks for my upgraded tub of vital greens. It was a
nice surprise. Thankyou for your excellent customer service with all my
orders”. Kristy

“Thankyou very much for all your assistance. I love the makeup you recommended. I have been searching for quality organic cosmetics for a while now”. Amanda


Any advice for those individuals wishing to start their own ethical business?

Start with a big vision that drives you and keeps you excited about your business. Write it down so you can see it every day. Tap into any support offered from friends, colleagues, community (online and offline). Use this support base to share information, market your idea, find untapped markets and bring in new customers.

Use your existing networks to find someone with a big database to market your products to. Don’t spend time worrying or fearing about what to do. Take action and do not indulge in negative thinking. Be open to all possibilities and solutions.


What is your favourite way to indulge?
A long soak in a tub filled with warm water, 2 tablespoons of Himalayan Detox Bath Salts and a few drops of rose essential oil. Soft music playing in the background. I can just relax and day dream.


The perfect day is different for everybody, how would you describe yours?
Every day is perfect, just because I woke up and am able to live and love one more day.


Check out www.organicbeautyworld.com.au for a huge range of natural and organic products.