Bees; they might be jolly good for giving us tasty toast toppings, but there’s a lot more to their hives than honey alone. Propolis - ‘bee glue’ - has a whole host of powerful benefits and beeswax is renowned for protecting as well as nourish skin. Royal Jelly, has long been used in skincare and the combination of all three can pack quite the skincare punch.
Here’s a pick of some beautifying treats that’ll soothe, treat, nourish, hydrate and prettify you - and it's all thanks to the power of bees.
Propolis Micellar waters have become a solid part of skincare regimes since they hit our shores a few years ago, mainly because they make cleansing so very easy while being ultra gentle. Bee Good Honey, Propolis and Watermint 3-in-1 Cleanser, £10, is packed full of nourishing, calming ingredients to soothe and calm skin while it gently dissolves makeup.
If your skin is irritated or delicate, the addition of propolis into your skincare regime may help ease the situation. SBC Propolis Gel, £19, also contains a mixture of resins, essential oils and waxes for skin that’s truly cared for. Or for those who tend to suffer from flare ups, Bee Health Propolis Cream, £4.46, is just the pot of cream you need to reach for. The high-potency formula is high bioflavonoids and antioxidants that protect and heal skin - it may be a budget-buy, but you get a lot of bang for your buck.
When lips are chapped or feeling dry the last thing you need is a greasy, or worse sticky, layer as this just makes the problem worse.Thanks to the inclusion of propolis extract in First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Intensive Lip Balm, £14, lips are given instant relief from that sore, split feeling while honey and beeswax lock in moisture.
Royal jellyThis nutritional emission from the lovely honey bee makes for a nourishing and repairing addition to beauty products. Burt’s Bees Radiance Serum, £20, teams royal jelly with liquorice root and glycerin to help nourish your skin and boost radiance, while Soap & Glory The Fill Monty Instant Wrinkle Filler, £10, is a dab-it-where-you-need-it treatment to give an instant lift and tightness to skin. It also contains bio Royal Jelly extract, which has been loaded with vitamin B to nourish and smooth your skin.
HoneyManuka oil and honey are well known for their healing properties, so when you skin cries out for something more Living Nature Manuka Honey Gel, £19.95, can take the sting, itch and burn out of it. And if firm skin is your want then those trusty bees can also help. Guerlain Abeille Royale Face Treatment Oil, £64, is packed full of goodness from the hive to add tone to the skin. If ageing is your main concern an oil is a great step to add to your regime.
Need an excuse to take 15 minutes of ‘me time’ every evening? Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask, £21.99, is it. The honey-rich mask hydrates day-worn skin, plus the vanilla pod and mandarin oils add a sense of Zen to your evening.
