How to save the bees with Guerlain

Bees need to be protected at all costs, without them, the world will quite literally fall apart

Thursday 20 May marks World Bee Day and in celebration of this, the Guerlain House is taking its commitment to preserving bees to the next level. The end goal is to ultimately save bees from extinction and on their journey to do so, the House is aiming to raise one million euros to go towards their Guerlain For Bees Conservation Programme.

Between 20 and 22 May, World Bee Day and the International Day for Biological Diversity, Guerlain will host an international fund drive in an attempt to generate up to one million euros for the Guerlain For Bees Conservation Programme. Each day, Guerlain will give 20% of its global sales to the programme and is donating 20 euros for each repost of its World Bee Day Instagram image that uses the hashtags #GuerlainForBees and #WorldBeeDay. So what are you waiting for? If you've been eyeing up the Terracotta bronzer for summer, now is the time to buy. Meanwhile, it costs nothing to repost and has a huge impact.

"A fund drive of this size is brand new for Guerlain," says Cécile Lochard, Guerlain Director of Sustainability.

"Our objective is to push our commitment to bees - these wonders of Nature that inspire our creations and guide our commitment - even further. They pose a central challenge for our House and we have made their preservation part of our Purpose."

The Guerlain For Bees Conservation Programme began over 10 years ago and features six House partnerships and initiatives dedicated to our fuzzy little friends. Angelia Jolie will head the promotion of this for 2021 as Godmother of Women for Bees and will meet the women beekeepers and follow their progress. For the fourth initiative, Guerlain has been running the Women for Bees programme since 2020. In partnership with UNESCO and collaboration with the OFA, this beekeeping entrepreneurship programme for women strives to train them to become beekeepers, develop new beekeeping operations and evaluate the benefits of pollination. By 2025, this programme will have trained 50 women in beekeeping and established 2,500 hives, resulting in 125 million bees.

The first of the six began in 2011, where Guerlain has been providing financial assistance and offering support for research and communication to the Association of the Ouessant Island Brittany Black Bee Conservatory (ACANB). For the second, Guerlain formed a partnership in 2015 with the French Observatory of Apidology (OFA), which served in developing hive stocks throughout Europe and promoting the importance of the career of a beekeeper. Then in 2018 for the third initiative, the House formed Bee School in collaboration with the OFA, an awareness-building programme for primary school children led by Guerlain employees.

2020 was a busy year for the House as they really upped the ante on their sustainability commitment by initiating their final fifth and sixth partnerships within the Guerlain for Bees Conservation Programme. The House became a patron of the GoodPlanet Foundation which aims to cultivate awareness in youth concerning the high stakes surrounding bee preservation through an artistic and educational approach. The House also began supporting the ELYX Foundation, co-created with the Yacine Aït Kaci as part of the FACE Foundation, it promotes the values and texts of the United Nations, including most importantly the 2030 Agenda and 17 Development Objectives. The ELYX character, illustrated by Yacine, serves as the UN’s digital ambassador. He also created BEEZ, the Bee School emblem.

Our joined efforts as individuals will make a massive difference. Here's how you can support:

Support and champion natural beekeeping locally and worldwide
Join and support wildlife groups and organisations like The Soil Association
Attend events dedicated to the cause
Buy and eat organic foods
Look after and care for plants, flowers and native trees
Avoid using harmful chemicals while gardening and in daily life
Join Conservation Trusts that protect wild nature
Invest in beauty brands with bee-friendly initatives

Shop some of Guerlain's bee-inspired products below:

Abeille Royale Youth Watery Oil, £105 | Guerlain

Aqua Allegoria Flora Salvaggia Eau De Toilette, £69 | Guerlain

Abeille Royale Eye R Repair Serum, £90 | Guerlain

Aqua Allegoria Nettare Di Sole Eau De Toilette, £69 | Guerlain

Lisa Oxenham is a trailblazing beauty editor, journalist, stylist, and creative director with over 20 years of transformative impact in the beauty industry. As the Beauty and Style Director at Marie Claire UK, she orchestrates high-profile shoots with celebrities and influencers, creating visually stunning and globally resonant content.

A passionate advocate for sustainability, Lisa serves on the Advisory Board for the British Beauty Council's Sustainable Beauty Coalition and the Media Advisory Board. She is also an ambassador for the Soil Association certification and the Amazon Research Institute. Through her "In The Loop" column, she keeps readers informed about the latest advancements in sustainable beauty and supports brands that champion environmental causes, emphasising the need for the beauty industry to reset its priorities.

Lisa's influence extends beyond words; she directs inspiring short films on sustainability and challenges in the beauty industry and is a sought-after public speaker. Recently recognised in the Who’s Who in Natural Beauty 2023, she also champions mental health and eco-conscious practices, demonstrating that glamour and environmental responsibility can coexist beautifully.