Healing Honey

Arissa Ha travels to a remote island in Brittany to discover Guerlain's commitment to protecting bees

In the vast landscape of skincare brands that claim to prioritise sustainability and clean beauty, few truly walk the talk like Guerlain. With a longstanding commitment to protecting nature and preserving biodiversity, Guerlain does not pay lip service, but actively engages in meaningful initiatives and partnerships to create a more sustainable world. BAZAAR had the privilege of visiting Ouessant, an island off the coast of Finistère, west of France, and one of the five islands of Brittany, but most importantly, home to the Ouessant black beeswhich play a pivotal role in Guerlain's Abeille Royale range.

It's a long four-hour train ride from Paris to Brest, followed by a 40-minute drive to Le Conquet, and another one-hour ferry ride from Le Conquet to Ouessant-truly earning it its nickname of "the island at the end of the world." What awaited us at the end of the journey was raw, untouched nature and the promise of rich biodiversity. We saw dolphins which followed the ferry on the way out of Le Conquet, were greeted by a vivid palette of wild flowers upon arrival, and were enveloped by a fresh sea breeze in the island.

In Ouessant, cars are discouraged to preserve the ecosystem and reduce the carbon footprint. We travelled mainly by bike and a short ride took us to the apiaries of the black bees. The island's flora is free of chemical aggression and rich in pollen and nectar, allowing the black bees to thrive. This unique environment also allows the bees to produce an exceptional honey-rich in amino acids and polyphenols compared to other honeys.

And it's the honey of the black bees of Ouessant, together with honeys from three other locations-Corsica (France), Ikaria (Greece) and Åland (Finland)-that form an exceptional blend for the new Abeille Royale Honey Treatment Day and Night Creams.