Review of Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser

Review of Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser
By Caroline Scott

Packaging: Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser is packaged in a really handy, flexible plastic tube with screw top lid. It is extremely easy to use, the tube is soft and easily squeezes to allow you to control the amount of product dispensed.
The tube itself is made from 42% recycled plastic and can be recycled after use.
It comes in the recognisable earthy tones of yellow, orange and brown which mark it out as a Burt's Bees product from the outset.

Application: I have been a fan of Burt's Bees Products for a few years now - the Super Shiny shampoo does exactly what it promises and the Honey Lip Balm is delicious - however I have never tried the Orange Essence Facial Cleanser before.
This cleanser had a lot to live up to because orange oil is my absolute favourite scent in natural products and my expectations for this one were pretty high. Luckily, it was everything I had hoped for!
The scent of this cleanser is strong, tangy, sweet and refreshing - like plunging headfirst into a bathtub of freshly squeezed orange juice. It is truly delicious and makes your mouth water. For an uplifting boost, you could do far worse than have a big sniff of this!
I admit it took me a couple of tries before I worked out the optimum amount of cleanser to use as it is a very thick gel/paste - not a liquid face wash or a cream cleanser. In fact, I'm not quite sure how I would categorise this at all.
I tried applying it to a wet face with my fingers and rinsing off, as stated in the instructions. It didn't foam at all and dissolved very quickly on the skin, leaving behind plenty of make-up residue and an oily feel. So that was a no-no.
Next I tried to make a lather in my hands first - but that didn't work either!
Eventually I found that I achieved the best results by smoothing the gel liberally all over my face, allowing a few seconds for it to dissolve the dirt on my skin and then removing it gently with a flannel/muslin cloth and rinsing with warm water. Using it in this way, I found that it removed make-up and grime really well without me having to scrub at my skin with the cloth.

I must confess that I am terribly fussy about my cleansers. I like something that I can rinse off with water that leaves behind no residue and gives me squeaky clean skin. Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser is very moisturising and leaves a soft film of essential oil on the skin if not removed with a cloth. However, if you prefer to simply rinse off with water, using a toner after cleansing will achieve the same result.
A lot of people with dry skin prefer their cleansers to leave their skin protected and nourished, however, so Burt's bees Orange Essence Cleanser is suitable for both normal AND dry skins - just alter the way you use it to suit your needs.

Ingredients: As with all Burt's Bees products, the cleanser is 100% natural and not tested on animals, however some of their products do contain milk, royal jelly, lanolin and beeswax and so are not suitable for vegans. (Orange Essence Cleanser contains lanolin.)
You will never find any Sulfates, Parabens, Phthalates or Petrochemicals in any Burt's Bees products.
glycerin, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, limonene, avena sativa (oat) kernel flour, lanolin, citrus aurantium dulcis (sweet orange) peel oil, quillaja saponaria (quillaja) bark extract, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, avena sativa (oat) kernel oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, beta-carotene, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, tocopherol, glycine soja (soybean) oil, olus (vegetable oil, huile vegetale), canola oil (huile de colza), sodium benzoate

Results: So, having had to work out the best way of using this cleanser to suit my skin, was it worth it? Well, surprisingly yes it was. I have sensitive skin, prone to dry patches and redness and this cleanser is so gentle and soft that it didn't irritate at all. It dissolved make-up better than a lot of cream/lotion cleansers thanks to the high oil content. It made a pretty good job of removing my waterproof eyeliner too - without the need to rub at my eyes.
It leaves skin very soft, very plumped and dewy and it is incredibly good on any dry areas.
I find that it is best for me as a night-time cleanser when there is a lot of dirt to remove. As I'm prone to oily, enlarged pores around my nose, it is just a little too rich to use twice a day. However, in the evening, I get an extra burst of vitamins and moisture into my skin thanks to using this cleanser prior to applying my night cream.

Pros

Great value for money
Leaves skin clean and soft
Smells fantastic!
Brilliant tube, so handy for travel due to its size, shape and flexibility
Will last a long time as you only need to use a small amount and the tube contains 120g

Cons

Wouldn't recommend for oily skin types
Takes time to adjust it to your skin preference
May be too much effort for people who like to "wash and go"

Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser (£9.99) and Burt’s Bees Products are available at Naturisimo.com