The bees over at Burt’s house have been busy. Last fall they reformulated their cruelty-free Naturally Nourishing Milk and Honey Body Lotion for normal to dry skin, and it’s raising quite a stir.
With skin softening milk, honey and botanical moisturizers like coconut, grape seed and sunflower oil, the thick lotion feels like a body cream.
Back when I used the O.G. version a few summers ago, it was thinner and made from 98.2% natural ingredients, but Burt’s kicked that up to 99% now.
I remember liking the original bottle, the sweet honey fragrance and how fast it absorbed, but when winters rolled around it wasn’t moisturizing enough for my alligator skin. Being the fickle lotion lady that I am, I moved on to other things.
Burt gave the reformulated version a new outfit (also cute), a new scent (more on that in a sec) and a thicker texture. Based on the reviews on burtsbees.com, long time fans of the original version don’t sound very pleased with the changes.
I actually don’t mind most of them. The tube seems easier to use than the original plastic bottle, and the new, thicker formula definitely moisturizes my dry winter skin better than the thinner old school one did.
Sadly, the thicker texture doesn’t absorb that quickly anymore. It takes about five minutes after my shower to thoroughly lotion up with it, and after I finish my skin still feels a little greasy. And the just isn’t anywhere near as yummy to me as it used to be. Now it smells less like honey and more like plastic, which is a big bummer and quite unexpected, as Burt bills the scent as 100% natural.
But that aside, I’m going to keep Burt’s Bees Milk & Honey Body Lotion around because Tabs and I like that it’s cruelty-free and mostly natural. Seriously, kudos to Burt for increasing the percentage of natural ingredients over the last version. That’s nice to see.
PRICE: $8 for a 6-oz. tube
AVAILABILITY: At select drugstores, grocery stores and burtsbees.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. No Saturday Surfing for me, girls. I painted myself into a corner by putting off my Xmas shopping. I have GOT to get some stuff done today.
Shannon says
I’ve tried this! I got a random sample from Walgreens. I remember hating the old version – I’m a much bigger fan of this stuff. I didn’t notice anything plastic-y about the smell, but I was only using it on my hands. I really loved it’s moisturizing-during-the-winter capabilities, fo sho. I have a $1 off coupon, too… might have to go snag a full bottle of it sometime!
Karen says
It’s so much more moisturizing than the old version, right?
Shannon says
Definitely.
Tracy says
I think I’ll pass on this one. I’m not a big fan of that greasy feel on my skin. I rather try that Kieh’ls one you reviewed las week- planning to pick that one up soon!
Happy Saturday!!
Karen says
Hi Tracy,
I hope you get to trying that Kiehl’s one soon! It’s lovely. 🙂
Nina says
id have to admit, im not a fan of thick lotions – they feel so warm on the skin esp the crevices eg that space between your arm and forearm.
i did love the smell of this when i used it before they reformulated. my sister gets very, very dry skin (offshoot of her bout w/ steven johnson’s syndrome a few years ago) … this will definitely work for her!
Karen says
Oh, I know! I hate that warm feeling in the crevice of my chin and my neck… yuck!
vicky says
The “new and improved” is most definitely NOT. The old, classic milk and honey was wonderful – and smelled GREAT. The new version has a terrible scent and it’s thick and kind of goopy. I really wish they’d bring back the original. It was my all-time favorite lotion and I’ve already contacted Burt’s Bees about it.
Bialik says
I was in a store in Langly, Wa. and tried the Holistic Honey Lotion from Made from Earth. I fell in love with the smell first. I have a sensitive nose and thought I smelled like a Pez! I made everyone smell me and they agreed, it smells wonderful! I love the way it feels on my skin, it sinks into your skin real quick and my skin is immediatly softer. I am a lotion fanatic and use lotion at least 6-9x a day at work due to many bathroom visits. I wish it was a little less expensive, but well worth the cost in my opinion:)