General

Times are tough. But does that mean you should hunt for cheaper and cheaper stuff? Not necessarily. Let us introduce you to a shopping hack that advocates for conscious consumerism, called “Buy Better, Buy Less”. Buy Better, Buy Less works on the principle of investing in fewer higher quality products that give you greater results, last waaay longer, delight your senses, honour your values and save your wallet over time. Basically, it’s shopping smarter, not harder. Spending more can save … [Read more...] about Why Buy Better = Buy Less

  It’s summer and the air is suffused with the sound of honeybees. They’re feasting on nectar and pollen from so many flowering plants, filling their bellies and baskets with the raw materials that will become honey, beeswax, propolis and royal jelly. And we’re feeling intensely grateful for their tireless trips back and forth from the hive, the food crops and forests they pollinate and the healing products they share with us. Thank you, bees. What are you grateful for? As the year … [Read more...] about Our Festive Gratitude Guide for 2024 [featuring bees, apples and you]

  If you’re taking a spring or summer road trip around Tasmania (or jumping on your mountain bike) here’s something beautiful to look out for. Roadside stalls are part of the fabric of rural Tassie culture, and will really refresh your faith in humanity – and your holiday produce stash. What are they? Roadside stalls are a way for growers and foodies to share delicious things directly with the public, usually right outside their front gate. You might see a sign saying Fresh … [Read more...] about Tap Into This Cute Island Tradition on Your Next Tassie Road Trip [Roadside Produce Stalls!]

So, you want to see Tassie… but not with your nose smushed against a tour bus window. You’re looking for a holiday that’s a little more active, a little more immersive, a little more memorable… …something that combines fresh air, tall trees, belly laughs and a healthy dose of adrenalin. Something the whole family will love! We have two words for you: mountain biking. Tas-biking-mania Did you know that our wild island is threaded with world class biking trails? North to south, … [Read more...] about Mountain Biking : A Fun Way to Immerse Yourself in Tassie’s Beauty

  Let’s take an imaginary trip to your bathroom sink. What kind of soap do you use? Is it a handmade bar on a little wooden rack or a liquid pump pack? We’re curious about why people opt for liquid soaps and washes when, objectively speaking, they have so few redeeming features. Sorry to sound judgy, but it’s a fair call when you look at the facts. Liquid vs. solid soap showdown Liquid soaps/washes: 🫤 Are up to 90% water 🫤 Come in single-use plastic packaging 🫤 Contain … [Read more...] about When it comes to soap, solid beats liquid every time. But why?

  Every little thing you do to minimise waste makes a difference. Everything. Landfill is simply a vast (and smelly) collection of individual wrappers and packets and pieces of junk. Without our ongoing contributions, landfill would just be land. Not another product 😱 It’s easy to forget that the fourth R in Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is Refuse – and refusal is a powerful weapon we can all wield in the ongoing war on waste. We’ve had plenty of requests to create travel cases for our … [Read more...] about Why we refuse to make travel cases + how to upcycle your own

There is so much involved in launching a new product. Dreaming, scheming, researching, bee-searching, hand crafting, testing (humans only!), more testing, tweaking, speaking to growers and suppliers, test test testing, puzzling over planet friendly packaging, tears, cheers, label design, writing, crafting at scale, website shenanigans, a sprinkling of heartfelt marketing, shipping logistics, unboxing the final product, happy tears, hitting “PUBLISH” on our product listing… Gosh, golly, … [Read more...] about Meet the Newbees! [A sneak peek at five exciting products landing in 2024]

tassie As the skies brighten and cherries ripen down here in Van Diemen’s Land, we’re dreaming of our favourite things about summer in Tassie. Most people agree that it’s the best time of year to visit, with temperatures set at Goldilocks level – not too hot, not too cold, juuuust right. But even if you can’t catch a boat, plane or albatross to spend Christmas on the island, we hope you enjoy this vibrant and juicy Tassie to-do list that even Santa agrees is epic. Speaking of … [Read more...] about We wish you a Tassie Christmas! Greetings + good things for summer

It’s not uncommon for people to catch a flight to Hobart, hop off the plane, and hightail it straight to Salamanca Market. This iconic strip of hundreds of stalls along Hobart’s waterfront – held rain, hail or shine every Saturday – is just that good. While it’s a tourist mecca to be sure, that doesn’t mean you can’t live it up like a local. We’ve assembled our top 10 reasons to spend a blissful Saturday morn at Salamanca Market, making the most of its character, quirks and hidden gems. Go … [Read more...] about 10 Reasons to Spend Saturday Morning at Salamanca Market

By now you probably know that we’re based in Tasmania, an island off an island at the bottom of the world. We share this wild space with towering trees, rugged peaks, sharp toothed marsupials, colourful locals and, occasionally, the disappearing tip of a Thylacine’s tail (this stripy dog/tiger has been extinct since the 1930s… allegedly). If you’ve ever put our beauty care on your bod, you’ve no doubt felt this touch of wildness too. Crafting lovely things from raw, rare and real … [Read more...] about Why are people paying actual money for empty bottles from Tasmania? 

Over the coming weeks and months, Beauty and the Bees will be sharing content about the unique Tasmanian businesses we work with and admire, from farmers and beekeepers to scientists and artisans. Our first piece focuses on Marleen Herbs, suppliers of some of our finest ingredients.   From seaweed to goat’s milk to Leatherwood Honey, Beauty and the Bees’ natural products are built on our proximity to the wonderful raw ingredients of Tasmania. It’s science with a touch of magic. And some of … [Read more...] about Magical Marleen Farms – One Secret of Our Success

The next time you’re spreading some leatherwood honey across your morning toast or scone, make sure you’ve got a back-up supply. From digestive health to skincare, this amazing natural product has oh-so-many other uses. If you’re smart, you’ll keep a supply in your pantry and your medicine cabinet. In addition to its unique unmistakable silky and pungent flavor, it’s a reliable home remedy for a number of maladies. For years, Tasmanians have used it for everything from stomach aches to … [Read more...] about The Science Behind a Cure-All: How Leatherwood Honey is as Beneficial as it is Delicious

Pub Quiz question: What’s the world’s oldest tree? If you guessed the mighty sequoia, ancient oak, swamp gum, or something equally majestic, you lose. No cheese tray and bottle of merlot for you! The winning answer is The Huon Pine (Lagarostrobos franklinii), an unassuming rainforest tree that can look more like a weeping willow than the king of the forest. And, with very few exceptions, it’s found only in the southwestern corner of Tasmania. Just How Old are we talking about … [Read more...] about Tassie Rainforests Grow Some Awesome, Ancient Trees

As a user of natural products, you’re probably familiar with tea tree, eucalyptus, thyme, and other essential oils, but one Tasmanian ingredient you may not know about yet is Kunzea (Kunzea ambigua), part of the Myrtaceae family. Kunzea has a native sound, but the plant was actually named for German Botanist Gustav Kunze (1793-1851), a Zoology Professor and Director of the Botanical Gardens in Leipzig. Though the plants grow in Southern Australia, the most effective oil is derived from the … [Read more...] about Kunzea – Tasmania’s Natural Wonder Oil Distilled From the Humble Tick Bush

If there’s anywhere that epitomizes the very best of Tasmanian beach life it’s Bruny Island. And if there’s anyone who typifies the Tassie Beach woman, it’s Bruny-native and surf star Lizzie Stokely (23), who lives about 10 minutes from her favorite beach. Competing since her teens, she’s participated in dozens of junior and senior-level competitions across Australia, Indonesia, and South Africa, earning 3rd place in the 2018 Western Baja Qualifying Series. “The prize money from that year had … [Read more...] about Bruny Island surf star Lizzie Stokely inspires raw, rare, real lifestyle