The Humble Bee: Nature’s Unsung Hero and Its Role in LEON Luxury Skincare
The Vital Role of Bees
There are 24,000 species of bees in the world and each and every one of them is more critical to the survival of our planet than any one of us, humans, are. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, bees, pollinators, and many other insects are declining in abundance. Dr. Lynn Dicks of the University of East Anglia argues that “every square kilometre in the UK has lost an average of 11 species of bee and hoverfly, between 1980 and 2013.”
Bees are not just crucial pollinators; they are the lifeblood of our planet’s ecosystem. At Leon Luxury, we harness the incredible healing properties of beeswax, honoring these tiny creatures that play an outsized role in sustaining life on Earth. By supporting beekeepers and using sustainably sourced beeswax, we aim to protect these invaluable pollinators and promote a healthier, more beautiful world.
Bees and Our Food Supply
For a tiny insect – pollinator – the humble bee’s role in our lives and in the life of our planet is phenomenal. Perhaps the most startling role of the humble bee is that, according to the United Nations’ Environment Programme, a third of the world’s food production depends on it. As a natural luxury cosmetic manufacturer, bees are very special to what we do at Leon Luxury, and we want to make sure that our customers understand the amazing qualities and healing properties that nature and its glorious plants and insects offer us, without asking for anything in return.
The Consequences of Bee Decline
Sadly, it is human nature to take for granted that which does not come at a price; and if we lose the bees, humanity will be on the brink of extinction. When we launched Leon Luxury we made a pledge to donate 5% of our net profits to the Scottish and British Beekeepers Associations. Their work is fantastic, and their public outreach and educational programmes are critical in ensuring the British countryside, and not only, is becoming a haven for these amazing pollinators.
Beeswax in Skincare
We use cosmetic-grade British beeswax in ALL our skincare products. Why? Because its healing, hydrating, and anti-inflammatory properties – and not only – are outstanding:
As beautifully argued by Yale’s Forum on Religion and Ecology, bees are essential for the pollination of all flowering plants, including fruits and vegetables, as well as plants used to feed cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, giraffes, elephants etc. They provide us and the rest of nature with an irreplaceable service.
How You Can Help
If you can’t plant bee-loving flowers, buy a jar of honey; if you can afford an organic piece of fruit or vegetable, buy it; if you can support a beekeeper, do so; if you use skincare products, use at least one that is beeswax-based; instead of buying two paraffin-based candles, buy a beeswax one. We can all do our part to protect the tiny bee: our food chain depends on it.
