Guerlain launched Abeille Royale Black Bee Honey Balm a few months ago in Summer, which was perfect timing to test it thoroughly. As you've already known, their Orchidée Impériale Exceptional Complete Care has been my go-to range in their skincare range as the products are very regenerating for skin, so I had high expectations on this new multi-purpose healing balm.
I personally found Abeille Royale Black Bee Honey Balm's tube packaging to be quite sleek compared to other products on the market. Perhaps because of the feel that I get from the combination of gold and matte black? Not sure, but I like the simplicity. As much as the packaging is simple, the product by itself also fits well into simple skincare routines since you can basically use it all over face and body :3.
Scent & Consistency
Guerlain Abeille Royale Black Bee Honey Balm has a very deliciously sweet scent, which always reminds me of dessert in a restaurant somehow. It's artificially fragranced, so if you are not a fan of those, you might not like it as much just like my man :P.
A sun-drenched nectar by the Guerlain nose Thierry Wasser: fresh and airy honeyed scents (Source)
The texture of the balm is very straightforward; creamy and neat. I know, it may sound a little contradicting to some of you as it has been named Balm, but I would describe it more like a non-watery cream.
It doesn't have any of that sticky oily texture that most of the balms on the market carry. It goes on very easily and absorbs fast without leaving any kind of uncomfortable sticky veil on top.
There's no mask-y effect and it doesn't come off if you follow with other products. I would say that the texture is very compatible with any product that you decide to use together.
Benefits
Guerlain Abeille Royale Black Bee Honey Balm is specially formulated for dry, undernourished skin weakened* by:
- Extreme conditions, such as excessive cold or heat, sunlight, hard water and humidity
- Cosmetic procedures carried out by a dermatologist
Highly concentrated in Ouessant Black Bee Honey, this intensely nourishing balm optimizes skin repair: the skin is nourished**, it feels supple and comfortable, imperfections and wrinkles appear significantly diminished.
*Apply to healthy skin
**Upper layers of the epidermis
Expert Formulas
At the heart of Black Bee Honey Balm, Abeille Royale Repairing Concentrate, highly concentrated in Ouessant Black Bee Honey, boosts the skin's ability to repair itself at every levels*.
It forms an ultra-nourishing, protective barrier which restores and strengthens the cohesion of the skin's surface, creating the optimum environment for the skin to repair itself.*In vitro tests on ingredients
Ingredients
Some of the main ingredients include meadowfoam seed oil, shea butter, honey, royal jelly, beeswax and sodium hyaluronate, which seemed to more focus on skin healing and regeneration through moisturising. The formula may work better for dry/dehydrated skin with a bit of sensitivity. I wouldn't suggest those with sensitivity towards some of the ingredients above though, which also includes oily/combination skin. It can be any skin type and the skin reaction to the ingredients could vary depending on the concentration and other products that you use together as well. As you might have noticed, good ingredients don't mean that they can be always beneficial to all skin types. I know, the marketing has been very misleading in the cosmetic field, but you really need to invest some time on your skin to find out which ingredients are the best for your skin without breaking out or giving any sort of irritation.
Ouessant Honey
Just 18km off the coast of Brittany is the Island of Ouessant, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with an ecosystem that is parasite-free and protected from pesticides. On this island, the Black Bee produces honey of unrivalled purity, with exceptional properties. Rich in amino acids, trace elements and high in fructose-content, this honey offers the essential ingredients that are vital in the repair process of skin tissue.
Guerlain Exclusive Royal Jelly
Royal Jelly is the most precious substance to be produced by bees. It is reserved exclusively for feeding queen bees and offers regal nourishment for the skin as well.
Guerlain developed its own Exclusive Royal Jelly in order to guarantee its quality and purity. This Royal Jelly is rich in exceptional nutrients and is a natural source of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and vitamins. It is produced in a protected environment and offers exceptional benefits for the skin.
Speaking of which, the honey balm also contains fragrance, PEG and colorants, so if your skin has sensitivity to those, then it may not be the best for you. Just for reference, normal/dehydrated skin got along with the balm well, but my man with very thin skin from bad eczema got irritations, so he had to stop using it.
Effectiveness
- Dehydration wrinkles: immediate 20%* reduction
- Extremely cold conditions: skin fully nourished: +62%**
- 75% of women said their skin was more elastic, 87% said it was softer and 89% said it was more supple***
*Instrumental test immediately after application (15 subjects)
**Clinical test immediately after application (32 women)
(Satisfaction test, 61 women, twice daily application for 1 week)
Full ingredients
AQUA (WATER) • GLYCERIN • LIMNANTHES ALBA (MEADOWFOAM) SEED OIL • HYDROGENATED COCO-GLYCERIDES • MEL (HONEY) • PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE • BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA BUTTER) EXTRACT • CETYL ALCOHOL • GLYCERYL STEARATE • PEG-100 STEARATE • DIMETHICONE • PENTYLENE GLYCOL • ROYAL JELLY • PHENOXYETHANOL • HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER • OCTYLDODECANOL • PALMITIC ACID • STEARIC ACID • ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER • IRVINGIA GABONENSIS KERNEL BUTTER • JOJOBA ESTERS • POLYGLYCERYL-3 BEESWAX • TOCOPHERYL ACETATE • TROMETHAMINE • CARAMEL • SODIUM HYALURONATE • PARFUM (FRAGRANCE) • SODIUM CITRATE • GLYCERYL POLYMETHACRYLATE • POLYSORBATE 60 • SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE • PEG-8 • CITRIC ACID • LIMONENE • CI 19140 (YELLOW 5) • GERANIOL • BENZYL SALICYLATE • SODIUM LACTATE • BHT • CI 14700 (RED 4) • PALMITOYL HEXAPEPTIDE-12
Face & Neck
It feels very nourishing on skin without feeling heavy or oily and it works great for a quick massage in the morning. My skin felt very soft to the touch upon wake-up and I've noticed that fresh pimple scars were healed much faster. I even tried it as an after-sun care cream, and it didn't irritate my skin after long sun exposure during the day this Summer. Skin felt soothed to a certain degree, and I've noticed more of a balancing and normalising benefit upon waking up. Frankly, there isn't much for lifting or firming benefits, but it's a pretty good as a long term preventative care product. If you have very dry skin though, you might need to add a few drops of face oil to the balm over colder seasons to maintain more long-lasting moisture level into skin.
Hands
The balm instantly smooths and hydrates hands, leaving them velvety soft. If you like a neat hand cream, you will definitely love Abeille Royale Black Bee Honey Balm as it doesn't leave your hands sticky or oily. It feels more like a concentrate for hands XD. It comes in a 30mL tube, so it's the perfect size for a purse, but the price is indeed quite eye-watering :'(.
Lips
Let me tell you, the balm is a great base for lip make-up. It was the saviour in Summer as it replaced my other lip care products thanks to its light fast-absorbing texture. It hydrates instantly without any greasy feel. Yes, kissable lips! Trust me, it's like a sheer lingerie for your lips ;). My cold sore prone sensitive lips felt fine, which is another bonus!:)
Where to buy
- Nordstrom (Free shipping & samples)
- Saks Fifth Avenue (Free shipping & samples)
Recommendations
- Kahina Giving Beauty Antioxidant Mask (Gentle detoxifying mask)
- Chantecaille Flower Harmonizing Cream & Magnolia, Jasmine and Lily Healing Emulsion
- Chantecaille Jasmine and Lily Healing Mask
- Sisley Sunleÿa Age Minimizing After-sun Care
- Kahina Giving Beauty Face Oils (Argan/ Serum/ Prickly Pear Seed Oil)
