THE antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of New Zealand’s Manuka honey to prevent and stop colds and flu in their tracks are pretty well known. However, Manuka honey, with its potent active ingredients, also has exceptional skin-enhancing benefits, giving excellent glow and firming. At Glass, we are always keen to test the latest innovations in skincare for ourselves and, well, we wanted to find out what the hype was about the recently launchedBee Yü skincare range that has been formulated using the highest concentration of Manuka Honey possible, which is 20+ Unique Manuka Factor (UMF®).
The Bee Yü range was founded in New Zealand in 2016, and contains a unique combination of ingredients with a high bioactive rating which also have healing and humectant qualities. It includes ethically sourced bee venom which boosts the natural collagen and elastin production of the skin, and richly emollient Royal Jelly. The Bee Yü range has a face mask, a day cream and a night cream, all using the highest grade of Manuka. The company is also developing an eye serum which hasn’t been released yet. Glass met up with Ben Wilson of Bee Yü to find out more.
Ben Wilson of Bee Yü
I asked Wilson what is so special about Manuka honey. “The Manuka tree is native to New Zealand. Bees feed off the nectar of the Manuka tree and that’s where you get the Manuka honey from. All honey is antibacterial, but Manuka honey is a unique form of antibacterial activity in terms of when you strip out the hydrogen peroxide, it’s still antibacterial,” Wilson explained. “All honey has antibacterial activity but it’s due to hydrogen peroxide. The body produces a catalase which breaks down hydrogen peroxide, so it becomes less effective, unlike Manuka.
“This antibacterial activity, which is unique to Manuka, is particularly useful for regeneration and wound care applications, so that’s why it’s really good in regard to skincare applications.” Interesting, the NHS now prescribes Manuka honey for wound care applications – especially burns, and ulcers.
The Bee Yü range
New Zealand born and raised, Wilson had always wanted to bring out a skincare product utilising the powers of Manuka honey. “Bee Yü is absolutely jam packed with all these naturals.” I asked Wilson about how the honey for Bee Yü was sourced. “The honey is all ethically sourced. The bees aren’t harmed at all. A lot of people know that when a bee stings you it dies,” he tells me, “because there’s a barb and they pull the barb out. However, with the collection of bee venom, they sting a plate so that doesn’t happen. There’s no harming of the bees. Bee venom is a very potent ingredient.”
I asked Wilson just how the bee venom works? “What it does is that it tricks your skin and your body into thinking you’ve been stung by a bee, and what happens is a lot of people will ring us up and say…” “… Their face has gone red?” (This happened to one of our Glass team who was testing it and was somewhat alarmed.)
But, do not fear, this is a sign that the mask is working its magic. As Wilson clarifies, “If their face has gone red, this is normal and something you probably want to happen. And what it does is, it ‘tricks’ your skin into thinking you’ve been stung and sends blood to that affected area. This stimulates collagen (an essential protein which provides elasticity to the skin), so that’s a repeat process. Your skin thinks it needs to be repaired, so it sends that blood. However, some people call us worried about it because their face has gone red!” So, all good then.
“That’s part of the process and shows it’s working.” Basically don’t panic. How long does it take for your skin to go red?
“About 20 minutes but it’s different for everybody. If you have been stung by a bee recently you won’t have such a dramatic effect. If you’ve never been stung by a bee, your face will go quite red.”
Bee Yü skincare
And that’s just the Mask? Not the Day and Night Cream I inquire. “The day cream also has bee venom, but it only lasts 20 minutes. Generally, it’s only during the first application or the first couple of applications. Once your skin gets used to it you don’t have such a strong reaction.”
As well as Manuka, Bee Yü includes Swertia Chirata Extract, (SWT7), a new stem-cell type ingredient which stimulates “a growth factor from skin cells and this reduces vertical and blurred lines on the skin. “This is scientifically proven. There’s research behind it,” Wilson continues. “It’s not very well known but it’s this new sort of impressive ingredient from this company which is contained in a mask.”
Although it has been launched only recently, Bee Yü has already been recognised as one of the best new brands with Marie Claire UK including it in their list of top beauty brands of this year. What of future plans for the brand? “We’ve been launching our ecommerce side,” Wilson adds. “We are also going to be running some of the things coming up in the next few months with beauty demonstrations, facials and so on.” Sounds like the bee’s knees to us.
by Caroline Simpson