by Marie | Jan 4, 2021 | Lotion, Projects with Videos
Happy new year, and happy 2021! I decided to kick off this new year with an evolution of the formulation that kicked off 2020—my much-loved Moisturizing Repair Cream (please read that post, too—there’s lots of good background information in it!). This lotion-y evolution features Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG-100 Stearate as the emulsifier instead of Glyceryl Stearate SE or Polawax, creating a lighter, more glossy finished product that is more lotion than cream but still has all the gorgeous richness of the cream version. I am loving it to bits, and I hope you will too!
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by Marie | Dec 31, 2020 | Thoughts
Welcome to the last day (and the last post) of 2020. Phew. We made it, guys. That’s a thing to be grateful for every year, but even more so this year. This year has been a doozy, to put it very lightly. It’s been full of challenges, changes, lessons, reflections, worry, and a lot of time at home with my dog and mug after mug of tea. If you’ve been reading Humblebee & Me for a while you’ll know I share this entry towards the end of every year (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019). It’s one of my favourites; I jump into this document all year as I have relevant thoughts and reflections, but tend to do the most work on it in the last six or so weeks of the year. Beyond the exercise in remembering and distilling lessons and experiences, I also love the comments on these posts, where you guys share what you learned in the past year. It’s really lovely. Thank you for joining me, once again, for things I learned—this time, in 2020.
I usually stud this entry with photos from my travels that year. That’s obviously not an option this year, so I’ve opted for favourite photos from fondly remembered trips in previous years.
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by Marie | Dec 28, 2020 | Beards & Mustaches, Projects with Videos
Today I’m sharing my last formulation of 2020—a Midwinter Conditioning Beard Balm. Beard balms are usually made up of carrier oils thickened with some sort of wax to create a firm balm. This formulation features argan oil, jojoba oil, and a small amount of beeswax—plus something a bit different for extra softness and all-around loveliness. The finished beard balm has an indulgently rich, almost ointment-y consistency and leaves beards feeling softer and more manageable. Let’s dive in!
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by Marie | Dec 21, 2020 | Facial Lotions, Projects with Videos
Today is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere—the shortest, darkest day of the year, but also the turning point towards longer days (tomorrow will have a whole 5 seconds more daylight than today!). I’ve shared several winter solstice themed projects over the years, always right around now, and I’m excited to add another one to that collection today. This Winter Solstice Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer is a richly moisturizing fluid emulsion, featuring some of my favourite humectants and an ultralight blend of oil-free emollients. It feels incredible on the skin, vanishing within seconds and leaving your skin feeling soft and hydrated.
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by Marie | Dec 17, 2020 | General DIY
DIY’ed cosmetics and skincare have the potential to create some seriously impressive messes, so I thought I’d take some time today to share how I deal with those greasy/fragrant/pigmented/powdery messes! I’d also love to hear your cleaning tips in the comments 🙂
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by Marie | Dec 14, 2020 | Christmas 2020
Hey Bees! Welcome to the 2020 Humblebee & Me Holiday Gift Guide 🎁 This year has undoubtedly been a strange one, and this holiday season is looking like it’ll be very different from last year. This will be the first Christmas I’ve spent away from my family, and undoubtedly the quietest holiday season I’ve ever had. The distance has meant lots of gifts needed to be made and mailed well in advance, so it’s a good thing I usually start working on Christmas formulations in September! I’ve used this year’s themes—Cocoa Coconut & Ice Palace—to explore all kinds of fun formulations, like a brand-new emulsified body butter, a hand-shaped sulfate-free shampoo bar, a simple 6-ingredient conditioner bar, and a twist on classically giftable lip balm. I hope you’ll find some wonderfully giftable things here—I know many of these formulations are already in the mail, heading to my loved ones ❤️ Happy making!
Looking for more ideas? Check out the gift guides from some previous years:
Other Awesome Gift-Worthy Projects from 2020
