#TheGoodTribe Interview with Dorothy Saulewicz, Founder of BeesButter

Beeswax is one of the most common cosmetic ingredients used to stiffen and thicken skincare products, but did you know that it also protects your skin from local allergens? Nothing’s worse than buying an expensive skin product only to have breakouts or allergies due to its harsh chemicals. In addition, most drugstore products not only contain harmful ingredients such as synthetic fragrance and parabens but are farmed with pesticides and fertilizers. All these are made to be put on your skin! 

What you put on your skin is extremely important. Dorothy Saulewicz, the founder of BeesButter, is an example of a true advocate for natural ingredients being used in skincare. When asked how she came up with the name, she explained, “I thought of the name when working with beeswax and melting it with the oils. During the cooling process, the oils and wax begin to solidify and it looks just like butter, so creamy and rich.”

Her company uses all-natural ingredients with minimal processing as well as local beeswax to ensure that your face gets the proper nourishment that it needs and protection against local allergens! Did we also mention that her company thrives on sustainability through her eco-friendly and plastic-free packaging?

This week of #TheGoodTribe, we got the chance to interview Dorothy to learn more about BeesButter and why natural ingredients are an essential part of your skincare routine.

1.  Tell us about your journey and what inspired you to start BeesButter? 

In 2009, I spent the winter volunteering at a yoga retreat on the Big Island of Hawaii. It was during this time that I learned the recipe of a very simple yet effective body balm using only natural ingredients with minimal processing. I took a good look at the drugstore products I had been using for years and realized the ingredients were less than desirable and all the packaging was plastic! This was enough for me to create my own skincare products for personal use and that eventually evolved into a business founded on sustainability.

2. Why did you decide to source locally? 

I source all my ingredients and packaging as close to home as possible because it creates less pollution for the environment through lower transportation costs and it keeps money in the local economy. Of course, this is not always possible as with tropical ingredients such as coconut oil. In this case, I focus on organic, cold-pressed ingredients with minimal processing and eco-friendly packaging.

3. What are the benefits of using local beeswax and pure and natural sources compared to normal drugstore products?

Great question! Local beeswax carries the benefit of defending users from local allergens found in the surrounding area. This means that consuming local bee products such as honey or propolis will protect you from common allergens found in that area as bees process pollen from plants in the environment. Bees are truly amazing, and I encourage everyone to learn more about them. 

Many drugstore products not only come in plastic packaging, which is bad for the environment but also include the use of various chemicals, binders and fillers to make them stable and consistent for years of self-life. These chemicals do not only harm the environment in the production process but can also cause damage to your body and endocrine system. 

4. As an avid user of sustainable and naturally sourced products, what ingredients would you look out for and avoid in a skincare product?

Generally, I avoid any ingredients that I cannot pronounce. However, this rule of thumb is not always fair because, by law, labels on cosmetics have to use the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI). This often requires the Latin words for common ingredients and can be difficult to understand. I would avoid the following:

• ALUMINUM
• DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), and TEA (triethanolamine)
• DMDM HYDANTOIN & UREA (Imidazolidinyl)
• MINERAL OIL
• PARABENS (Methyl, Butyl, Ethyl, Propyl)
• PEG (Polyethylene glycol)
• PHTHALATES
• SILOXANES
• SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) & SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES)
• SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES
• TRICLOSAN

5. Which one is your favorite out of all of your shop’s products? How and when would someone use it?

This is a hard question because I love so many products. I use the Cocoa Lip Balm every single day, and it is the best! 

I also absolutely love the Healing Face Oil too. It is wonderful for breakouts and redness. It soothes and calms the skin and has been so effective for so many people with problem skin. That being said, the original product, the Coconut Body Balm is probably my favorite. I like using it after a bath or shower, right before bed. I lather in it head to toe and it feels like the ultimate self-care. You wake up feeling totally nourished. Less is more with this rich moisturizer. 

6. What do you do in your free time other than running a (Bee)-sy business?

When not making skincare products, I work as an Outdoor Educator taking students on canoe trips in the wilderness. My background is in education, and I have been working with companies such as Alive Outdoors, Outward Bound, and YMCA camps to deliver outdoor programs and connect young people to nature. 

7. Any exciting plans for BeesButter for 2022 and beyond?

This year will bring a new family member into our lives and with that I suspect a line of baby products will follow. Natural, eco-friendly and wholesome products for all the little ones.

To summarize, BeesButter uses natural ingredients that are gentler on your skin, local beeswax to protect yourself from local allergens, AND provide eco-friendly and sustainable packaging. The BeesButter truly is an amazing skincare company! We at TheGoodTee are honored to support them and hope you will too! 

Check out the BeesButter in the links below to learn how to nourish your skin sustainably today!