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Burt's Bees Facial Cleanser for skin with dark spots

Average

  • AverageNormal Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for skin with dark spots; other cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate cleansing for your normal skin, as Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract and Glycerin help remove impurities while retaining moisture. Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil provides emollient action, supporting overall skin hydration.
  • While Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Avena Sativa Kernel Flour offer soothing benefits, the formula lacks targeted ingredients to address your main goal of pigmentation.
  • The product is safe for your normal skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like aloe and oat kernel flour.

How to apply

  • You can use this cleanser AM and PM every single day. Start slowly 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
  • Apply this cleanser as the first step in your morning routine or the second step in your evening routine. Follow it with toner and moisturizer.
  • Massage a small amount of cleanser gently onto your face using circular motions. Rinse well with lukewarm water and pat dry.
  • For the best results, apply your cleanser directly to wet skin to help wash away dirt. Make sure your face is clean before you begin.
  • Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes. Always do a quick patch test before using the product for the very first time.

People Say

★4.1Overall rating based on 4.5k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, Burt's Bees facial cleansers are frequently praised for their natural ingredients and gentle, hydrating effects, particularly for sensitive, dry, and combination skin. Many users report a soothing outcome. However, a significant number of reviews mention that the cleansers can leave a residue, and some users experienced breakouts or irritation. The effectiveness for removing makeup is also a concern for some.

Highlights

  • Gentle on skin Mostly Mentioned
    • “Doesn't strip moisture”
    • “No stinging/redness”
    • “Feels very mild”
  • Hydrating feel Often Mentioned
    • “Leaves skin soft”
    • “Not tight/dry”
    • “Moisturizing cream texture”
  • Leaves residue Often Mentioned
    • “Weird waxy film”
    • “Doesn't rinse off”
    • “Feels grimy”
  • Natural ingredients Sometimes Noted
    • “99% natural origin”
    • “No harsh chemicals”
    • “Clean ingredients”
  • Soothing effect Sometimes Noted
    • “Helps reduce redness”
    • “Calms reactive skin”
    • “Aloe is soothing”
  • Caused breakouts Sometimes Noted
    • “Broke me out”
    • “Acne in a tube”
    • “Clogged my pores”
  • Poor makeup removal Sometimes Noted
    • “Doesn't remove makeup”
    • “Not for heavy makeup”
    • “Needs double cleanse”
  • Irritating sensation Rarely Noted
    • “Burned around eyes”
    • “Tingling was painful”
    • “Skin on fire”

Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, target.com, walmart.com, burtsbees.ca, sephora.my, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Burt's Bees Facial Cleanser work for skin with dark spots?

Burt's Bees Facial Cleanser is an average fit for skin with dark spots because it cleanses gently and helps keep skin calm, but it lacks targeted ingredients for pigmentation. A cleanser of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to effectively address dark spots while maintaining skin health.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for skin with dark spots?

This cleanser works for your skin because aloe and oat kernel flour help soothe it while glycerin helps retain moisture, though it lacks targeted ingredients for dark spots. A cleanser of this type needs targeted ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to effectively address pigmentation while providing gentle cleansing and maintaining hydration.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Aloe Vera Leaf Juice do for skin with dark spots?

Aloe vera leaf juice helps fade dark spots and even out skin tone by encouraging melanin aggregation and reducing pigmentation. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may gradually brighten areas affected by melasma.

Planta Medica, 2012Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2017

What does Glycerin do for skin with dark spots?

Glycerin helps keep dry skin hydrated and supports a healthy skin barrier, which makes skin feel soft and smooth. While it does not directly fade dark spots on its own, it is often added to spot-fading products to keep the skin comfortable while other ingredients work.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?

This cleanser fits into your morning routine and your evening routine to gently remove impurities while retaining moisture. Because this formula lacks targeted ingredients for pigmentation, skin with dark spots needs cleansers or additional products containing active brightening ingredients.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying it before your retinol treatment in your evening routine. A cleanser for this skin needs targeted brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide to help fade dark spots.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your normal skincare routine. Using a gentle cleanser regularly helps wash away impurities while keeping your skin hydrated.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?

This cleanser may cause breakouts for some users, as reviewers moderately complain about this issue. To better care for skin with dark spots, a product of this type needs targeted brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide to help fade dark spots while gently cleansing.

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

This cleanser is safe to use on the body, but you should avoid applying it directly around the delicate eye area since eyelid skin is much thinner and more easily irritated. A product intended for this area needs a specialized formula designed to protect very thin skin without causing discomfort.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene). Cetearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.

    Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
  • Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.

    Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018
  • Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.

    Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010
  • Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2006
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012

Why other cleansers fit skin with dark spots better

Ingredients

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Olea Europaea Oil Fruit Olive Oil Fruit, Limonene, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour Oat Kernel Flour, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil Oat Kernel Oil, Lanolin, Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Canola Oil, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Benzoate

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.