All about: Bees Brilliance honey-based skincare

In my job sometimes it feels like you hear about a new honey-based skincare range launch every day, mostly from New Zealand and mostly with loads of money behind them. They don’t always have the most engaging stories or products though, and make wild claims that they can’t possible live up to. Bees Brilliance skincare stood out from the pack though, and after co-owner Julene Cropp contacted me and sent me a couple of their beautifully crafted creations I can’t wait to hear what this little company goes on to achieve.

Julene’s husband Matthew says he was “born with beekeeping in his veins”. A fourth generation honey maker, he grew up watching his father tend to the family beehives. Whilst he had a successful career in aviation, a tramping trip to the Hollyford Track in Milford Sounds changed Matthew’s path. It was here he met Julene, who shared his passion for nature. It wasn’t long before the beautiful lands of Nelson called them home.

Matthew’s father had developed the world-famous Royal Nectar Bee Venom Mask, and knowing they had something special on hand, Matthew and Julene launched themselves into learning more about honey-based skincare. The pair dedicated themselves to gaining an expert knowledge of bees and honey production, carefully researching the different compositions of honey to create a range that, when combined with the finest natural ingredients, “works as hard as the bees in their hives”.

Their attention to detail is evident in everything from the eco-luxe packaging to their website, which is super comprehensive and pretty much details each and EVERY ingredient that can be found in their skincare, and in true laywoman’s terms. Some of the ones that stood out for me were:

Manuka Honey : from the nectar of the Manuka bush flower (Leptospermum Scoparium), Manuka Honey is rich in natural sugars, amino acids and vitamins. A natural humectant that helps to draw moisture into the skin, it is revered for its scientifically-proven skin healing properties.

Bee Pollen Oil : crafted from the pollen bees collect from plants, Bee Pollen Oil is often regarded as a superfood for the skin. A golden organic oil rich in amino acids, vitamins and minerals, Bee Pollen Oil is packed with vital nutrients to feed the skin and encourage regeneration.

Beeswax : produced in the glands of young bees in the hive, Beeswax is the material bees use to build hives and seal the honeycomb cells. Beeswax is renowned for its skin moisturising and soothing properties.

Propolis : a red or brown resin-like substance, bees collect Propolis from tree bark and buds. Often referred to as ‘bee glue’, bees use Propolis to seal the hive to keep it hygienic and clean.

Rich in bio-flavonoids, Propolis is known for its anti-microbial properties and is regarded as a great skin reviver.

Royal Jelly : a white liquid substance, honey bees secrete. Often referred to as “bee milk”, worker bees feed the nutritional Royal Jelly to baby honeybee larvae in the beehive. Royal Jelly is packed with vital nutrients to feed the skin and enhance texture.

Allantoin : derived from the root of the comfrey herb, this is a natural reviving and protecting ingredient, and helps healing of the skin.

Aloe Vera Powder : obtained from the leaves of the aloe plants, aloe powder is higher concentration than the fresh plant. Refreshes and calms helping to maintain moisture balance and is beneficial for soothing, sensitivity and irritation.

Avocado Oil : rich in skin-nourishing Vitamin D and E, and Linoleic Acid, this cold pressed oil supports skin moisture balance, preventing it from drying out, while helping to strengthen the dermis.

So far from the range I’ve been playing with the Manuka Honey Foaming Cleanser, which comes in a handy pump bottle and when mixed with water, becomes a soft jelly foam of microbubbles. It cleanses skin and removes makeup without stripping the skin of its essential moisture, but as it’s suited to combination skin this baby has been a little drying on my well, dry skin! I think I’ll save this for summer though, as it’s a beautiful formula.

I’ve also been playing with the Instant Hydra Firming Shot, which is new to the range and perfect for this time of year. An intense daily hydrating and cooling gel cream that “instantly firms, lifts and plumps skin”, it is lightweight but instantly hydrating, leaving your skin feeling pretty fabulous. In the formula you’ll find Aquaxyl, a natural derivative of two plant sugars that is a powerful, long-lasting moisturiser that actually increases water retention by improving the skin’s natural ability to retain water, and “Chiwi 8 Complex”, a potent blend of the best of New Zealand’s botanicals and the world of Traditional Chinese Medicine to protect the skin from ageing. Intriguing, and amazing.

On my wish list now is the brand’s Original Manuka Honey Mask, which they describe as a “pot of pure liquid gold active Manuka Honey that instantly coats the skin for the ultimate moisture boost and intense nourishment”. It is formulated with 40 per cent active New Zealand Manuka Honey, Methylglyoxal, Bee Pollen Oil, Glycerine and Meadowfoam Oil, and sounds incredible.

To find out more about this beautiful, locally crafted skincare brand, head here.