I’m not normally a big one for starting Christmas shopping early, but after this shitshow of a year, well, any displacement activity is welcome. So let’s talk gifts, specifically stocking fillers, small gifts and little treats for yourself just for keeping going.
I hope we can all support small, independent brands this year because it really does make a big difference to the future we’re creating. And with that in mind, let me introduce you to Oxfordshire-based natural skincare company Neve’s Bees.
Natural skincare by the bees
This is a mother and daughter firm, operating under the principal of ‘If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin!’.
All products are made using natural beeswax from the company’s bees in West Oxfordshire. Then the beeswax is blended with sustainably and ethically farmed butters and pure essential oils to make skincare that’s good enough to eat.
They’re 100% natural with no added water, no paraffin, parabens or other artificial preservatives or emulsifiers. And 5p from every sale goes to the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.
Additionally, the packaging is 100% recyclable and made from totally bio-degradable materials. Speaking of the packaging, look at this on the back of the box – how sweet is that?
I love a heart-warming story and a brand that’s built from a personal passion. But what of the products? I was sent the lip balm gift box and one of the solid perfumes to try out.
Bee Happy Lip Balm Gift Box
These beeswax-based lip balms are available singly (RRP £4.95) but for gift purposes they’ve been packaged three to a box in various combinations of flavours.
I tried the Bee Happy set (RRP £14), which contains Lemon & Lime, Honey Vanilla and Sweet Grapefruit lip balms. Each is packed with nourishing ingredients including Organic Apricot Kernel Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Pure Cocoa Butter and Natural Vitamin E. They’re designed to protect lips from dryness, and heal lips which are already feeling chapped.
Most importantly they don’t contain petrolatum, which is the ingredient you get in some lip balms that can leave your lips feeling dryer than when you started.
I love the nourishing feel of these lip balms. Use them as is or add a little dot of red lipstick to turn them into a tinted lip balm. The scent of each is actually quite light and not overpowering as some balms can be. There’s something very pleasing about the way the lid of the tin slides open and clicks shut. I think these would make a great gift for pretty much any age.
Next, up, is a new release just out in time for Christmas: solid perfume in a tin.
Bee Sleepy – Neve’s Bees solid perfume tin
Although this is called a solid perfume, really it’s more of a sleep-aid balm. Apply it on pulse points before bedtime to help you drift off. I did this last night and was rewarded with my best night’s sleep all week. I track my sleep on my FitBit and a Sleep Score of 83 doesn’t lie.
The strongest initial note in this blend is, unsurprisingly, lavender (always good for encouraging a restful night’s snooze). There’s also a sweet, floral blend of frankincense, rose, vanilla and jasmine which adds up to a very relaxing combination.
The Neve’s Bees solid perfumes are made using an ancient technique called enfleurage, which sounds like the kind of word you’d get stumped by in a pub quiz. Ever heard of enfleurage? Nope, me neither.
Enfleurage is apparently the oldest method of preserving the scent of flowers and turning them into essential oils. It’s how Neve’s Bees fix the essential oils into the final perfume.
If you want more of a daytime scent, there’s also a floral citrus and a woody citrus version of this product available. Each comes with the linen bag shown here, or you can add on a gift tag if it’s a present. Like the lip balms, I could see these solid perfumes going down well with all ages, plus you’re helping the bees so it’s a win win all round.
Product details
All products are available direct from the Neve’s Bees website and on Amazon.
Lip balm gift boxes containing 3 lip balms are available in various options, all RRP £14. Shown here is the Bee Happy Lip Balm Gift Box.
Solid perfumes come in 3 different fragrances, from £16. Shown here is Bee Sleepy Solid Perfume.
100% natural products. Suitable for vegetarians.
*PR samples. Contains one affiliate link to Amazon.
Find more reviews of vegetarian products here