29 June 2016

BRAND FOCUS: ABEECO BEE VENOM

During the many many months last year I was at the Royal Children's Hospital with our little baby, I continued to receive countless of deliveries with new product launches - and while I had the best of intentions of writing about them all, reality was just that I simply didn't have the time as well as my mind was simply elsewhere! Since our little boy came home late last year things have been extremely hectic with continued trips to the hospital three times a week, along with looking after his 3 year old brother. While we still have a long road ahead, lucikly, our little man is now doing so well that checkups at the hospital are getting at least a little further apart - so finally, also giving me a chance to catch up...


One of those beautiful deliveries I received, was a selection of products from Abeeco.

In case you're unfamiliar with Abeeco, it is a New Zealand brand that believes in the beauty benefits provided by bees. All the products are made from high quality, local ingredients, where possible, and are environmentally friendly, and free from parabens and fragrances.

The Abeeco products that I put to the test were the Beevenom Mask, Beevenom Mask Whitening, Beevenom Skin Perfecting Serum, Revitalising Eye Serum and the Beevenom Lip Plumper.

These products containing bee venom has been dubbed as a natural alternative to botox, as the bee venom in the products tricks the skin into thinking that it as been stung, which in turn stimulates the production of naturally occurring chemical collagen and elastin, creating a tightening and smoothing effect, diminishing fine lines and wrinkles.


The Abeeco Beevenom Mask can either be used twice a day, morning and night, leaving it on for 20 minutes before it is washed off, or it can be left on the skin over night. Already struggling to find time to do face masks, I've only been trying it on overnight. The mask is thick and white, although, it does absorb clear into the skin, leaving it feel soft and smooth - however, it is also very rich and unfortunately too rich for me probably thanks to also containing manuka honey, jojoba oil, shea butter and cocoa butter- so I feel it is not quite suitable for daily use on my combination blemish prone skin - but maybe as we now head to the cooler months and my sin getting a little drier, it will be more suitable. That said, once absorbed into the skin it leaves it soft and smooth, with no greasy residue. It also has a slight cooling and stinging sensation thanks to the bee venom, but it quickly disappears, and it is far from uncomfortable.

After using the mask, I wake in the morning and my skin is looking nice and refreshed, and fine lines definitely seems to have plumped out, and my skin in general looks healthy and glowing. And that is when just using a few times during the week - then imaging daily use!!

Next is the Abeeco Beevenom Whitening Mask, which as well as also working to reduce lines and wrinkles, this mask also claims to help lighten skin tone, reduce blemishes and brighten and illuminate the overall complexion. It also contains niacinamide, a natural derivative of vitamin B3, as well as retinol, to improve skin's barrier function as well as the appearance of photo-aged skin, hyperpigmentation, redness, fine lines and wrinkles - and it is used in the same way as the 'general' Beevenom mask, either twice a day washed off after 20 minutes, or overnight. It has a thick rich consistency, so again, I've just been using it a few nights a week to ensure it doesn't make my skin congested - and while I enjoy the other mask, this one is definitely more suited to my skin, and my skin concerns with increasing pigmentation and sun damage, and being prone to breakouts. While I am yet to see a major difference in my skin tone or that it reduces the amount of breakouts that I get, I do feel that my pores, especially in the t-zone area appears to be smaller, and after each use, my skin is definitely looking so refreshed and radiant.


Then there's the Abeeco Beevenom Skin Perfecting Serum which is made from among others vitamin E and avocado, rosehip, evening primrose, jojoba, macadamia, meadow foam and kukui nut oils, as well as of course bee venom and consequently I would actually classify it as a face oil. The oil is very concentrated, so you just need a few drops onto cleansed skin morning and/or night, before your usual moisturiser. It promises to help dry and dehydrated skin, and again stimulate the collagen and elastin production to leave the skin more hydrated and radiant. It feels very hydrating on the skin, so it is also great for adding an extra boost of moisture to the skin.

The Abeeco Revitalising Eye Serum lightweight serum that targets the signs of ageing around the eye area. It contains 100 per cent botanical including vitamin E as well as avocado, rosehip, evening primrose, jojoba, macadamia, echium and argan oils, and promises to hydrate and firm the skin and smoothe fine lines. Unlike the rest of the products I've put to the test, this eye serum doesn't seem to contain the bee venom, which is probably a good thing, as while I find the slight tingling sensation minor and certainly tolerable, I am not sure that I would enjoy that feeling around my very sensitive eyes. Again, the serum is very oil like, and very concentrated too, so you just need one drop for the whole eye area, and you can use it both morning and night. Immediately after use I can both see and feel that it is very hydrating, and after using for a few weeks I can definitely see that my eye area has benefitted from the increased moisture as fine lines and wrinkles do appear minimised.

Finally, the Abeeco Bee Venom Lip Plumper is a lip balm that promises to leave the lips plumper as well as minimise fine lines on and around the lips, leaving them smoother and healthier. When you apply it, it leaves the cooling and tingling sensation, but again, it doesn't last long, and it really does leave the lips looking plumber, although it is a subtle effect - but then again, I didn't expect more. It also leaves my lips hydrated, soft and smooth, just like a 'normal' lip balm.

The balm comes in a little jar that makes it easy to pop into the handbag, and as it goes on clear and without any sticiness, it is great to use during the day under your usual lipstick or lipgloss for added benefit!


So there you have it, a selection of products from Abeeco - I've really enjoyed using all of the products, - and love incorporating especially the Whitening Mask, the Eye Serum and the Lip Plumper, the into my routine. I probably wouldn't go as far as to say that they deliver results comparable with Botox (not that I've ever had it, and I'm certainly no prepared to at this point), but considering these are reasonably priced products, you cannot complain about the results! Definitely worth a try!


Abeeco Beevenom Mask - $72 / 50g
Abeeco Beevenom Mask Whitening - $78 / 50g
Abeeco Beevenom Skin Perfecting Serum - $65 / 15
Abeeco Revitalising Eye Serum - $46.50 / 5g
Abeeco Beevenom Lip Plumper - $29.50 / 9g


* Some products may have been kindly provided for consideration, and have reviewed in accordance with my Disclosure Policy.


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