venom

On my latest trip down to Hawkes Bay with my girls we stopped in (as we always do) at Arataki Honey. If you're ever in the Bay with little folk it's a really neat place to take them (and it's free, a bonus!).

This time around, as I stalked all the honey skincare products, I noticed Nelson Honey's Royal Nectar Moisturising Face Lift (essentially bee venom cream). I remember first hearing about bee venom products around the time of Kate Middleton's wedding, as apparently she, Camilla and the Queen used it. I wasn't swayed then to rush out and buy some but since I was standing right by it on that day I decided to get a jar.

I am not keen on botox, and I really don't mind age-appropriate lines but the perma-frown between my eyes kind of bugged me.

I was staying at my fathers the first time I tried the cream, and I really did factor in the time I applied it with the availability of an open A&E, just in case I reacted. If you're allergic to bee stings then don't go anywhere near this.

At first it felt tingly, a bit like extremely mild little stings all over your face (and I feel like that's even exaggerating things but I certainly did feel something), and by next morning I swear my frown was much lessened.

I have been using it for about a month now and I still think its fabulous. The smile lines around my mouth have all but disappeared too. The were previously visible even when I wasn't smiling but now, nothing. Wow.

A friend of mine is also using it, so I asked her how it compared to botox (which she's had) and she thinks it's as good as if not better. Put it this way, she's not going back to botox.

My jar cost NZ$60 (and I've found it as low as NZ$48), and I think it's worth more. I actually feel like stocking up in case they hike the price.

P.S. I wouldn't have gone near this if I knew bees were perishing for beauty - I watched a video showing that the bees did indeed live on, and stung of their own free will. If ever this changes, I'll be the first to give it up.