Review: Burt's Bees Ultimate Care Body Lotion with Baobab Oil

I don't know about you, but my skin is going crazy right now with this end-of-winter-beginning-of-spring weather. The areas of my body that are usually dry to begin with are extra dry lately.

So when Burt's Bees sent me this lotion for review that "soothes extremely dry skin," I couldn't wait to start testing it. I've been using it for a few weeks now and I'd love to share my thoughts with you.

Burt's Bees Ultimate Care Body Lotion with Baobab Oil

(retail: $10, 6.0 oz)

Keep reading for my full review...

From the Burt's Bees website:

Dry skin says “so long” thanks to this quick-absorbing body lotion. It combines nourishing Baobab Oil, nutrient-rich Pumpkin Seed Oil and the lovely scent of Green Tea Extract. The result? A rich lotion that naturally smoothes your skin no matter how dry. Leaving it soft and lovingly moisturized. How’s that for ultimate skincare? 

• Clinically proven to provide all-day moisturization for extremely dry skin

• Comforts skin with help from Baobab Oil, Pumpkin Seed Oil and Green Tea Extract

• Contains no added fragrance

• Non-greasy formula that absorbs quickly

• Dermatologist Tested and Hypoallergenic

Featured Ingredient

Baobab Oil — Harvested from its fruit seeds, this oil has been used for centuries in Africa to guard against the harsh climate. 

Ingredients: aqua (water, eau), glycerin, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, adansonia digitata oil*, cetyl alcohol, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, glyceryl stearate citrate, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) seed oil, buddleja davidii leaf extract, bisabolol, cera alba (beeswax, cire d’abeille), camellia sinensis leaf extract, aniba rosaeodora (rosewood) wood extract, artemisia umbelliformis extract, citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot) fruit extract, coriandrum sativum (coriander) fruit/leaf extract, jasminum officinale (jasmine) flower/leaf extract, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower/leaf/stem extract, cupressus sempervirens leaf/stem extract, fucus vesiculosus extract, peucedanum ostruthium leaf extract, prunus persica (peach) fruit extract, rose extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, vanilla planifolia fruit extract, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, tocopherol, saccharomyces ferment, hydrogenated castor oil, citric acid, lactic acid, xanthan gum, sucrose stearate, arginine, biosaccharide gum-1, glyceryl caprylate, glycine soja (soybean) oil, magnesium aluminum silicate, polyglyceryl-3 stearate, phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate, sodium anisate, sodium benzoate, sodium levulinate, sodium stearoyl lactylate.

This lotion comes in a standard flip-top tube and the lotion itself is thick, but not so thick that it's difficult to squeeze out of the tube:

For a body lotion, this is one of the thicker lotions in my collection. It's not one of those lotions that you can slap on in a hurry right out of the shower; you kind of need to take your time with it because I don't find that it absorbs quickly enough to be able to put on your clothes immediately after application. 

For me personally, this lotion is a little too heavy for me to slather over my entire body. I have been reserving it for problem areas such as my hands, elbows, knees and feet. Used in that capacity, I think this lotion performs excellently. After you first apply it to the skin, it does feel a bit greasy and your skin will have an oily sheen to it (no doubt due to the high levels of sunflower seed and coconut oils, which are the third and fourth ingredients). But after a few minutes, I find that this product does sink in, leaving a soft, protective barrier behind. It doesn't feel sticky or greasy--it dries down to a slicker, waxier feel once absorbed. I actually really like the way my skin feels after this lotion has absorbed, but that's a personal preference and your results may vary.

As for longevity, this lotions definitely sticks around. I can apply it to my elbows in the morning and by the end of the night, my elbows still feel super soft and silky. I have also been impressed with how this lotion works on my feet. I have been applying it right before bed and by the next night, my heels still feel soft and hydrated. In fact, looking at the reviews on the Burt's Bees website, others seem to like this product for feet as well.

Now let's talk about the fragrance. I have a feeling this is going to be a love-it-or-hate-it type of thing for most of you. I am in the "love" camp, but that's because I generally tend to like products that smell like green grass, green tea and coriander, which happen to be the three main notes that I dectect in this this fragrance. This lotion has a refreshing, herbal quality to it that both Mr. G and I like equally, so in that respect it could probably be consider unisex. I don't think it's masculine, but it's the type of fragrance that men could tolerate (or even like), if that makes sense.

FINAL VERDICT:  If you're looking for a heavier, substantial lotion for dry, problem areas, I would certainly consider giving this product a shot. For me, it's not light enough to use as an all-over body lotion, because it does require some time to absorb. For problem areas like hands, feet, elbows, etc., I find this lotion really does the job and leaves my skin soft and hydrated for a good 12 hours or more. If you generally tend to love fragrances that smell natural, fresh and herbal, I think you'll enjoy the fragrance of this lotion. To my nose, it smells like fresh green grass, with some underlying coriander and green tea notes. This is not a lotion that you can slap on quickly and go, but if you're OK with spending some time working this one into your skin, I think you might be very happy with the results.

Have you tried Burt's Bees Ultimate Care Body Lotion? I'd love to hear about your experiences!

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews.