Jill is the founder and creator of Honeybee Hippie & mother of four.
How did Honeybee Hippie come about?
I had never been into skincare but always had a passion for holistic wellness, cooking, and raising my family with nourishing practices. I had been wanting to try tallow skincare and made a batch for myself and my family and fell in love with the simplicity and luxuriousness of it. I shared it with my friend who owns a refill shop and she offered to carry it in the store. People started loving the product and my daughter helped me with a logo and Instagram, and there the brand was born!
What are the benefits of tallow?
The cool thing about tallow is it’s nothing new. It is ancestral skincare- your ancestors used it on their skin for generations since it is truly skin food. As people go back to the ways of ancestral living, we have realized we can tap into this incredible “skin food”. Tallow has a remarkable nutrient profile, rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are readily absorbed by the body due to its similarity to our skin’s naturally occurring cells and oils. It is great for all skin types because it helps to balance out the skin, a hero for things such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis. It helps to build collagen and reduce fine lines, decrease inflammation, and aid in anti-aging. Its natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties make it effective against UV damage and environmental stressors while aiding in the healing of burns, scars, and stretch marks. Tallow promotes natural oil regulation, resulting in improved skin health and hydration- but it’s non comedogenic, meaning it does not clog pores. Plus, it’s nothing new. It is ancestral skincare.
How can your products support postpartum?
We carry several products catered to nourishing motherhood. Our skin is our largest organ and we absorb so much through it. By using our nutrient-rich products, mothers can benefit from the vitamins and minerals absorbed through theirs and their baby’s skin. The products in the line formulated for motherhood are the Natural Mama tallow balm which acts as a whole body moisturizer for baby and mama as well as a nipple balm, the bath soaks for postpartum soaking with your baby, the tallow bar which is a solid lotion bar perfect for on the go moisture, and the Miracle Mud which is a wonderful tallow based diaper balm. Our products are free from essential oils which can be very harsh for the skin and instead we herbal infuse which is very gentle and utilizes the full spectrum of benefits from our organic herbs.
What was your own journey through postpartum like?
I had four kids and looking back, my journey was relatively tough because I didn’t have a community of like-minded mothers or postpartum help at the time. I also had the “bounce back” mentality, whereas I now understand postpartum rest is so needful and should be emphasized way more. Thankfully my mom empowered me to use my intuition, breastfeed, baby wear, cosleep, and be attentive to my baby’s cries- all of which I know helped me bond with my babies and empower my motherhood journey. Quitting my career as a physical therapist and becoming a stay-at-home was also a huge blessing for which I was so thankful to do.
What is a tip you'd love to share with a new mama?
Everything is a stage, everything passes. Every little challenge and struggle in motherhood is so fleeting- just remember that if you’re having a difficult time the stage will most likely give way to a new phase in your baby and in your motherhood. I would also say, trust your intuition. It is great to seek advice, but you know your baby best and you should lean into your mothering.
What is on your vision board for modern motherhood?
The overly structured lifestyle is out and a slow intentional modern motherhood is in- taking in everything, soaking up every moment of those early years together.
