Say hello to Julie, one half of Neve's Bees; a natural skincare brand she founded with her daughter Neve to create beautiful natural products from the beeswax from their own Oxfordshire hives.
How did Neve's Bees get started?
The bees were Neve’s idea when, aged 9, she decided we should keep bees – our first hive was her 10th birthday present from her Grandad Jim. We started making skincare when, both suffering from eczema and dry skin, we couldn’t find anything in the shops that wasn’t ‘ultra-processed’ full of emulsifiers, bactericides, fillers, and basically mainly water!
We made our first products (our lip balms) in 2016 and set up the company in 2017. I’m Deputy Queen Bee and Neve is Queen Bee (as the bees were her idea!).
What is the Neve's Bees ethos?
All our products are 100% Natural, Soil Association Certified and water free (less packaging and no need for the emulsifiers, bactericides and fillers in all creams and lotions) - basically they’re NOT ultra-processed, so they keep your skin’s natural microbiome and protective barrier intact. We’re in the process of certifying as a B Corp which is really exciting. We use only Oxfordshire Beeswax
blended with pure plant oils and natural minerals that we source locally and we have a workshop in West Oxfordshire where we make all our products in-house
Also, we set up the business to be more than just creating great skincare – our mission is to bring back the wildflowers and the bees they support – we donate 10% profits to nature recovery projects and donate thousands of packets of wildflower seeds each year – creating ‘mini-meadows’ all over the UK
What is your most popular product and why?
Our Deep Cleansing Balm is super popular as it offers a ‘one stop’ cleanse that
feeling stripped and dry. Our Cuticle Butter is also really popular – it works!
Are your products suitable for sensitive skin?
Because we don’t add the chemicals that can compromise the skin’s natural barrier we find all our products are popular with those with sensitive skin. However, we also have a range without any essential oils for those with super sensitive skin or prefer no scent.
What products do you recommend to someone who is trying the brand for the first time?
Lip Balms are a very easy entry point but we do also have a ‘minis’ travel and
trial set of our facial range
What tips do you have for getting the most out of your products?
Because they’re not diluted with water you need a fraction of what you would for a cream or lotion
What’s the best thing about having your own brand?
I love hearing the testimonials from people who’ve tried so many different skincare brands discover Neve’s Bees and find their skin is no longer sore or red or flaky and that, for the first time in years, they now feel confident to go out without make-up!
What’s been your biggest learning in the beauty industry?
How many people believe the ‘hype’ from the ‘big budget marketing’ (I used to create these campaigns!!) and how few people actually read the ingredients of the skincare they use!