Celebrating World Bee Day and National Biodiversity Week at Hawthorn Skincare

13 May

The hawthorn is in full bloom in the hedgerows around our farm and studio. An abundance of creamy hawthorn blossoms is traditionally seen as a sign that summer is just around the corner! In our garden, pollinator-friendly flowers like borage and calendula are bursting into life. These vibrant blooms don’t just support bees and other essential pollinators, we also gently infuse ingredients like calendula into some of our handmade, natural skincare products.

We’re especially buzzing this week as we celebrate both World Bee Day (May 20th) and National Biodiversity Week (May 16th–25th), two important reminders of the delicate balance of nature and how closely our wellbeing is tied to the health of our environment. Bees are extraordinary creatures. From their highly organised hives to the way they communicate through movement, they play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity. Bees pollinate crops, wildflowers, and trees, helping to maintain thriving ecosystems that support food production and countless other species, including us.

But bees do more than pollinate. In skincare, they offer us one of nature’s most versatile gifts: beeswax. On your product product label, you will find it listed under its INCI name, Cera Alba. This beautiful, natural wax is a by-product of honey production and features in several of our Hawthorn favourites, including our new Rejuvenate Cleansing Balm, Calm Body Balm, Calm Lip Balm, and Uplift Lip Balm. In natural skincare, beeswax acts as a gentle emollient, softening and smoothing the skin while forming a breathable, protective barrier that locks in moisture. It doesn’t clog pores, making it ideal for dry, sensitive, or mature skin. Beeswax is also a natural source of Vitamin A, which encourages healthy cell renewal and leaves skin looking vibrant and well-nourished. Its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties help calm irritation and support overall skin health.

Beeswax is not only skin-loving, it’s also eco-friendly. It has a low environmental footprint compared to many synthetic skincare ingredients. It requires little to no chemical processing, which helps preserve its natural integrity and reduces strain on the planet’s resources. Choosing products made with beeswax also helps support local beekeepers, who play a vital role in maintaining healthy bee populations and pollinating the plants that keep our ecosystems in balance. It’s also comforting to know that beeswax is fully biodegradable. It breaks down naturally without leaving behind harmful residues, a gentle choice for both your skin and the earth. And because it’s produced in its purest form by bees, beeswax is free from synthetic additives or residues, making it a safe and sustainable ingredient to enjoy every day.

At Hawthorn Handmade Skincare, our ethos has always been rooted in nature. From the pollinator-friendly flowers in our garden to the way we handcraft each balm and oil in our farm-based studio, we remain deeply connected to the world around us. We formulate without fillers, synthetics, or harsh detergents, choosing instead to work with ingredients that align with the rhythms of the earth, just like bees do.

So this week, as the hawthorn trees flower and the bees hum across our fields, we’re taking a moment to celebrate them, and to honour their gifts through the nourishing, natural skincare we create by hand.