If there were an award for Best Bees in the Beauty Biz, it would have to go to Burt. Those benevolent little bees of his have been cranking out some really fantastic products lately, so when I spotted something from the line I hadn’t seen before at Target, I reached for it quicker than you can say “bzz!”
Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes with White Tea Extract ($6 for 30), pre-moistened wipes designed to remove dirt, makeup and oil in a single step (no rinsing required), boast being made from 99.1% natural ingredients. The all natural cloths also carry an FSC certification, meaning that the ingredients used to make them come from a well-managed forest (as certified by the Forest Stewardship Council).
The moment the first cloth touched my skin I thought, These are so soft that I’ll go through 30 of them quickly. One wipe easily removes whatever foundation, powder, lipstick, blush, eye primer, eyeshadow and non-waterproof mascara I might be wearing (waterproof and long-wearing eye makeup, however, require something stronger, like a dedicated eye makeup remover).
Two big considerations for me when it comes to wipes like these are the scent, if they have one, and whether they leave behind a film on my skin. I think these are great on both fronts; I love the white jasmine and citrus scent, and I don’t detect any residue or film.
But for some (ironic) reason the cleanser stings my face — just a little — and leaves my skin feeling a touch dry and tight. I don’t feel it on my hands or my arms, however, when I use them there to remove eyeshadow and lipstick swatches. That said, it might be at least partially due to the fact that I recently started using Retin A again, so the skin on my cheeks and forehead has been a little more sensitive than usual.
Oh — and for ladies trying to avoid skin care products that contain oils, these aren’t oil-free, as they do contain soybean oil. Just something to keep in mind.
All in all, I like these for a few reasons — the price, scent and 99.1% natural ingredients — but I wish they were gentler on my sensitive skin. Your results may vary, though, so they could be worth a try, especially if you don’t wear a lot of long-wearing and/or waterproof eye makeup.
PRICE: $6 for 30 towelettes (7.09 by 7.88 inches each)
AVAILABILITY: Available now at most drugstores, grocery stores and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Speaking of sensitivities
Burt just launched a new line of face products designed to cleanse and moisturize sensitive skin (I should give it a try!). The line’s called Natural Skin Solutions: SENSITIVE, and it contains four products.
There’s a Facial Cleanser ($9.99), a Daily Moisturizing Cream ($14.99), an Eye Cream ($14.99) and a Night Cream ($14.99).
If you’re a fan of Burt’s (and his bees), they might be worth checking out.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I’m always afraid of trying new makeup wipes. The Yes to Cucumber wipes burned the crap out of my skin :(. OUCH!
Really? That’s awful! Maybe you’re allergic to an ingredient. Hope your skin’s feeling better now.
I have sensitive skin and tried those cucumber wipes, too. They didn’t burn me. Felt very soothing, actually.
Cool find. I don’t know if I’m sold on the whole wipes thing though. Do you wash your face afterwards or is that it? Also, thumbs up on Retin-A. Started back on it after I stopped nursing the twins (tmi, i know) and it really does work.
i dont like makeup wipes that sting!
i use philosophy’s help me retinol treatment every other day, and its really made a diff!
that would mean this is a pass for me. i remain loyal to my wallet friendly kirkland wipes – i even cut one sheet in half since that’s all i really need!
What a shame they sting, I think I’ll pass.
Oh cool! 😉
I like make up wipes!
And I like Burts Bees!
xoxo
I had these with me on a camping trip this weekend, and I didn’t find they stung- so perhaps it is the retin A. I also recently picked up the Yes to Blueberries wipes, and they seem a bit more soothing and moisturizing than these… if a bit less effective at getting off tough eye makeup. Perhaps give those a try?
PS- I’m not sure what they’re supposed to smell like, but they were a dead ringer for Pez candy to me 😉
Karen,
Since you have started back on the Retin-A, what cleanser and moisturizer do you use?
Thanks – 🙂
Hi Katie,
I’ve been using La Roche-Posay Toleriane Gentle Dermo-Cleanser and I really like it a lot! Here’s a link: Dermo-Cleanser.
Wow! Sucks that it stings you!
My skin isn’t very sensitive, so I wouldn’t mind giving these a try.
You might be sensitive to these because of the citric acid and the benzyl alcohol, especially if you just started Retin-A again. Citric acid and benzyl alcohol always makes my skin burn. Citric acid will actually sometimes give me second degree burns.
Retin-A and retinoids are actually tricky. You actually shouldn’t be using anything with acids and alcohol in them ewally because they will dry out the skin more plus make your skin sting and/or burn your skin. Retinoids make your skin more sensitive so you have to be more careful what you put on your skin! I’ve been on Differin for years and so I’ve mastered the balance for my skin.
I love Burt’s Bees products, and their company ethic. I do have sensitive skin though, so not sure whether this would be the ideal product for me.
The scents sounds amazing though!
I was thinking of giving these try but once I heard oil.. I was out. My skin is extremely oily and I gonna gamble that adding more oil wouldn’t be the best thing. Thanks for sharing.
– Shakiyla
I use the Kirkland wipes, too, and like them.
I really want to try the sensitive skin line from Burt’s Bees; my skin is really sensitive along with being dry and acne-prone *shudder* and most facial cleansers either dry out my face or give me breakouts. I recently tried using the hydrating cleanser by CeraVe and it really burned my skin. I was really surprised and bummed because it had rave reviews everywhere and it was a little pricey for being a drugstore buy.
I just got the sensitive one, and it stings too! I was very excited to try those because I love burts bees productst, but i am disappointed with this one. At first I was going to buy the original one for the non sensitive, I don’t want to imagine how much that would sting if the sensitive stings this much!
I have been using the Burt’s Bees sensitive cream cleanser and moisturizer. I really loved the soapbark and chamomile cream cleanser but hated the menthol in it, so i thought they would be a good alternative. I’m still using them because the cleanser is light but ironically it stings more than the other.
Yikes, fragrance is really high on the list. I’m not really sure why it’s necessary for my face to be perfumed after using a cleansing wipe? I’d much rather have a more moist wipe and *no added fragrance* than anything else. Sheesh.
I was totally on-board until “soybean oil” 🙁 I don’t have issues with oils, but my skin recently freaked the eff out for no apparently reason… I tried everything and eventually narrowed it down to soy flour in my foundation. I’m not even allergic to soy, but apparently that and soybean oil can clog pores, so super-sensitive girls will definitely want to avoid those.
I just bought these today and so far I really like them. They didn’t cause my eyes to water when I removed my mascara, so that’s a plus for me.
If they sting your skin they will undoubtedly leave mine a flaming mess. No thanks!
I love those cartoon bees. so adorable!
I have never found dry shampoo, facial wipes and the like to be worth the money. I just cannot get that same clean feeling that I can with running water and soap of some kind.
These are great, but for a better value you should give Walmart’s Equate brand towelettes a go. I was pleasantly surprised bec usually generic brands are not that good but these are – I dare say – even better than name brand makeup remover wipes. They’re called Equate With Chamomile, Vitamin E & Triple Tea Complex Facial Cleansing Towelettes and you get 120 wipes (yes, 120! It comes as a 2-pack of 60/ea) for just under $6! That’s three times more product than the name brands @ basically the same price (if not lower). And with this one, you don’t just get the benefits of white tea, but an amazing combination of anti-oxidants that also includes green tea & red tea as well as chamomile & vitamin E. They’re gentle enough for sensitive skin and they leave your face feeling so soft & smooth and clean & refreshed, not at all sticky with that filmy residue some other brands leave behind. They contain no alcohol, have a nice, subtle scent and are safe for contact lens wearers & are also hypoallergenic, which is why it initially caught my eye (besides the amazing value) when I couldn’t find the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Towelettes I normally get. I really couldn’t imagine any reason to ever switch back to any other brand (unless, horror of horrors, they were to be discontinued). They’re just awesome, you will not regret it if you give them a try.
PS And they’re also oil-free 🙂
PS again 🙂 If you wanna check it out & can’t find it In-Store, here’s a link:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Equate-With-Chamomile-Vitamin-E-Triple-Tea-Complex-Facial-Cleansing-Towelettes-2-pk/11047656
These sting me, too. I like them, I will re-purchase, but they definitely sting my eyelids and make my skin dry. So I just avoid my eye area. The Say Yes to Cucumbers and Blueberries both sting me as well. These cloths are softer IMO and the scent is fresh and light.
I had to quit using these because of the sting. Not a product I would recommend for folks with sensitive skin or rosacea.
Thank goodness it’s not just me. I have NEVER thought of myself as having sensitive skin. I feel like I can use a wide variety of products without really having to worry about breakouts, etc, so… I think it’s just something about these wipes! And the Yes to Cucumbers one, too! That one is even worse. I really don’t know what it is about those. I was scrutinizing the ingredients list trying to figure out what causes my eyes to sting so badly when I use them to get rid of eye makeup, but I couldn’t narrow it down. Sigh. I’ve been looking for a cheaper alternative to the MAC wipes which is why I’ve been trying so many different facial cleanser wipes but so far it’s looking bleak. I may have to go back to the more expensive, but at least reliable, MAC wipes.
It didn’t sting me! It left my face feeling cool and refreshed, and I too have sensitive skin! Everybody has different skin. So you just have to try things out and take risks. If the product[s] you are using currently is working fine for you, then why change?
Always keep some aloe vera in your home in case your skin gets irritated from a face product.
These sting me as well! They also leave my skin a little dry, but I found that if I put a little moisturizer on after, my skin feel great! They make my skin smooth and soft, and also it visibly looks better. Definitely will be repurchasing.
I just stumbled across this post after Googling these Burt’s Bees wipes. I have been using them for about 4 months now and almost every time I use them my face stings/burns a little bit and gets red and blotchy in places. I noticed that you said you thought it may have been from taking Retin-A, but I do not take that or any other medications so I think there is just an ingredient in the wipes that makes our faces react negatively! My sister also experiences the exact same thing. I love these wipes and the way they feel and smell but I have decided that I probably shouldn’t be using them anymore if my skin doesn’t seem to like them! Just thought I would share!
Hi there! 🙂 I’m using the Sensitive Facial Cleansing Towelettes, no sting, but I’m not too fond of the scent. It’s nice to know that the regular line has a nicer scent. Best Regards! Cheers! 🙂
Yes!! I googled this topic because I purchased these specifically because they were “natural” and I didn’t want to wipe my face with nasty chemicals. But! For some reason the nasty chemicals don’t cause my skin to react- but these do. Thanks for the heads up on the Cucumber ones as well, I have been wanting to try those and now will not. I’m cheap so I’m using up this pack lol but I definitely won’t repurchase. It burns!! The ELF ones I had before this worked great.
I bought the cucumber wipes. I don’t use any medication of any kind. My skin burns, especially my eyes when taking off mascara.
:(!!! Was trying to be more “natural” but ouch!!
I’ve tried the Neutrogena and Simple makeup removing wipes and they both stung my skin. I’d like to try BB’s sometime in the future. I really hope it doesn’t sting.
I just went through a nightmare with those very wipes. I’ve never had an allergic reaction from anything in my life and they caused a huge red painful rash under both of my eyes. I think the ingredients are much to harsh for the skin!
Initially I thought it was a stress rash, stopped using makeup for a week and it started to clear up. One more round and the rash came back worse than ever…
Definitely do not recommend.
I had a terrible reaction to these wipes, specifically the Burt’s Bees wipes for sensitive skin! Made my face feel like it was on fire and I immediately washed my face with cool water and a face wash to remove all traces of it. Still my face got red and blotchy and the next day my eyes were puffy and my skin was red and slightly itchy on my cheeks with little bumps under my nose and on my forehead. One or some of the ingredients in the wipes set me off, as do many products, and I get this same reaction. I have sensitive skin, probably from over-scrubbing my face with horrible St Ives apricot scrub for years (which btw ladies is terrible for your skin; the apricot pieces are jagged and creates micro tears in your skin and over time will make acne, roseate, sensitivity, etc all worse. It destroyed my skin because I used it for 4 years. Now I’m left with super sensitive easily irritated skin and permanent redness (rosacea), large pores and adult acne, although my acne has gotten WAY better since going off dairy, cutting down on alcohol and taking liver supplements!).
Does anyone else have skin like mine? I also cannot use benzoyl peroxide, sulfur-containing products, salicylic acid, and most regular face washes and creams because of fragrance and other harsh chemicals. I’m also allergic to regular laundry detergent. If you experience reactions like mine to these same types of things, let me know! I would love to learn what products you use that don’t cause you irritation! I’ve been doing research and I’ve started using argan oil but was also considering hemp seed oil or jojoba oil, for cleansing and moisturizing. But I do get dry skin so I really want to find an actual moisturizer I can use and not react to! And not coconut oil, it’s highly comedogenic. I’ve also read anything with SLS, alcohol, fragrance, sodium benzoate, certain acids, sulfates, parabans, etc are bad. So I’ve been looking at natural organic products with minimal ingredients, but don’t know which to choose! And I’m scared of most products!
Hi! My name is Rebecca and I am 16 years old. I experience the same exact reactions with anything Burts bees, most eyeliners (especially liquid or anything really cheap), moisturizers, sunscreen, aloe Vera, etc. Brands I have had luck with are stila and glam. Anything soy free or gluten free should be absolutely painless. Avoid anything with fragrance, too. I use jojoba oil as make up remover and it does wonders on my face. It keeps it hydrated and not oily, and it keeps it clear of acne. If you have a Kroger they have vegan/ organic sections and that’s where I get my jojoba oil. Make sure it’s 100% jojoba oil. I know you posted this nearly a year ago but I hope you receive this and I hope it helps. If you have found any products or have any tips feel free to comment and I will receive an email. Best of luck to you with these products!
Rebecca
My skin goes berserk after using these (I do not have sensitive skin; I use all sorts of things but this is just a big N-O). It is such a pity because I love the smell and the towelettes themselves are thick and high quality. My skin goes red and blotchy like a sunburn, really quickly, and feels a bit warm to the touch and prickly. Especially around the eyes, which makes sense as that skin is delicate and thinner.
Does anybody know if the BB’s *sensitive* wipes have the same problem? I love the wipe quality and the no-residue “finish” they have.
Second try at the Burts Bees cucumber sage and my face is stinging and I have welts on my eye lids! I don’t have sensitive skin normally. 🙁
I used the sensitive skin version of these wipes. They did sting. I also developed redness in my eyes like conjunctivitis. I hope it resolves!
I recently came across these at a dicount store. I have been having major skin problems for about a year and since I love all the other Burt’s products and they were only a dollar I gave it a go. I noticed it stings a bit near the outside corners of my eyes but only for a second. It does feel a little tight and dry after, which is my major skin complaint as it causes me to break out and large patches to become flakey and I even have scars. But I solved the dryness issue by waiting at least 5 minutes and applying Udderly Smooth hand cream to my face. I’m allergic to synthetic fragrances so Burt’s is nice as the fragrance is natural. My favorite is the cucumber sage. It’s very cooling and makes my skin feel silky on my neck and throat on the hottest days of summer when I just need to wipe the sweat off. Baby wipes work for that too but can make your skin feel sticky.
It stings my face too and I wouldn’t say I have sensitive skin. It’s annoying because usually I just buy any thing on sale at the supermarket but this time I thought I’d look after my skin more and get natural products and I also liked that they’re not tested on animals. After reading all these comments I think I’ll be throwing them out!