Apparently, the global honeybee population is dwindling fast. Why? A nasty virus known as Israeli acute paralysis is affecting already stressed-out, overworked bees, and destroying their colonies. This is not cool on a number of levels (it’s not just about the honey - bees are essential to our food chain). But one natural skincare brand from Greece is showing the bees some love by seeking to learn from their self-sustained hive communities. Enter Propoline by Apivita, a line of skincare based on propolis, which bees produce to build a protective wall around the hive. How does this relate to skincare? Propolis is a skin-healer that’s been used for centuries and is known for its antibiotic, anti-inflammatory properties. Apivita’s Propoline products are also infused with the bees’ main bag, honey (also known to be anti-bacterial), as well as a host of other natural extracts such as rosemary, soapwort, calendula, and St. John’s Wort. I tried the Apivita Propoline Pedi Care Cream, which is further loaded with fruit acids, olive oil and salicylic acid to soften and slough off hardened skin layers on feet and elbows. I used it overnight and was pleasantly surprised at how it smoothed my rough heels, even without a having done a manual exfoliation first (and without having done a pedicure in months!). It smells decidedly medicinal (and not necessarily pleasant) but to me, that shows it’s working. In short, this stuff is the bee’s knees.

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