Reinventing the Medicine Cabinet with Beekeeper’s Naturals

Carly Stein is helping people rethink what belongs in the medicine cabinet. After discovering the therapeutic benefits of bee products (like raw honey, pollen, and propolis), she made it her mission to develop naturally derived remedies backed by science. And that was the inspiration for Beekeeper’s Naturals.

As the founder and CEO, Stein has learned a lot along the way. Today, she’s sharing what she’s most proud of and the advice she would give her younger self.

When you reflect on your business, what are you most proud of?

When I talk to our customers, it brings tears to my eyes to hear their stories about how much they struggled before discovering our remedies. I have a firsthand understanding of what that’s like, and I know how incredible it is to find something that finally works and to actually feel healthy again. It’s life changing. I’m so proud to be able to provide that sense of relief to people.

We are deeply committed to making a difference in people’s lives. We design our products for people who feel unwell and have struggled to find a solution to their health issues—whether they’re dealing with low energy levels or endless colds. And we’re not just giving people access to the relief they’ve been searching for, but we are doing it from a clean, nontoxic, and natural place.

That’s why we take research and development so seriously. We exclusively use premium, therapeutic-grade ingredients and take a scientific approach to all our products. It gives people a sense of relief to find products they can trust.

Which product would you recommend to people who are unfamiliar with your brand (and why?)

If you’re new to Beekeeper’s Naturals, I’d recommend trying our Propolis Throat Spray first—our everyday immune support product. A lot of people have no idea what propolis is, so I love introducing them to this really unique bee product that can help them stay healthy. Propolis is an antioxidant-dense bee product with incredible antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. Bees create it by collecting and processing plant resins, creating a sticky protective substance, but it’s nothing like honey. They use propolis to line the inside of the hive to keep everyone safe and clean, especially the cells of newborn baby bees. I like to call it the hive immune system. It’s amazing stuff.

If you’re busy, tired, and stressed (who isn’t these days?), that kind of day-to-day stress takes a massive toll on immune health. If you find yourself getting sick or just feeling low, propolis is the key to upping your daily defense. I take a few spritzes of our Propolis Throat Spray every day to keep my immune system strong. It saves me, especially while I’m traveling.

How do you unwind after a tough day?

When I’ve had a really crazy day, I tend to feel wired at night and have trouble sleeping. Recently, I have started using an infrared sauna at night to help me decompress from the day and improve my sleep. While I’m in the sauna, I’m able to disconnect from technology, so I try to take advantage of the quiet time. Sometimes I’ll do a little meditation practice to really recenter myself and recover from the day.

Immediately before bed, I journal—every night. I believe it’s so important to take the time to check in with myself at the start and at the end of each day, to wipe the slate clean and acknowledge where I am. I have a Five Minute Journal that I use to practice positivity and goal-orienting, and it’s an evening ritual I’ve grown to cherish.

Describe a favorite self-care or wellness ritual that helps you feel your best.

For me, self care is often about simplicity. I’ve recently started taking my neighbor’s dog to the park to play ball. Nothing fancy, just pure outdoor pup playtime, and it has really been a game changer for my stress levels. Hey adults, we all need to remember that playtime is important for us, too!

But primarily, I’m really trying to prioritize rest. I am very much a type A personality so when I have a free moment, I usually feel like I need to go do a hardcore workout, or do something that feels productive. It turns out, resting is one of the most challenging, most uncomfortable things for me to do—but it’s so important. So, on Sundays, I’m working on quieting myself down by taking at least an hour to rest, indulge in a good book, and just chill out.

Beyond resting, I’m kind of a nerd when it comes to new wellness treatments. Currently, I’ve been loving Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy. It comes with amazing benefits like improved cellular function and it helps with full-body healing. With my insane schedule, I regularly push my body to the limit and I’ve found PEMF therapy sessions to be hugely helpful.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Believe in yourself. Keep going and be resilient. At every level you’ll hit walls. You will mess things up. You will have to do things that you are bad at. You will have people telling you that what you’re doing is dumb. Throughout all of that, you need to be able to keep going and not get knocked down. You need to keep pushing forward and not lose sight of your goals. That’s the hardest and most crucial part. Achieving success isn’t about talent or wisdom or some other elusive “X” factor. Success comes with perseverance and grit—I really believe it’s the most important thing. Don’t be afraid to believe in yourself.

What social, political, or environmental issue are you most passionate about?

Is it a surprise to anyone that I’m passionate about the environment and saving the bees?

When I first discovered the power of bee products, I learned everything I could about bees. (They’re incredible creatures. Did you know they form intricate societies and even communicate by dancing?!) But I quickly found out that bees are in trouble.

Bees have been dying in huge numbers for years due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. They are having a hard time finding food that isn’t coated in harmful pesticides, like bee-killing neonicotinoids. Meanwhile, they are losing access to precious clean habitat due to climate change and commercial land development. They are being pushed to the brink of extinction, but if we lose these pollinators, the global food system as we know would literally crumble. (They pollinate one out of every three bites of food on your plate, and a lot more!)

With the odds stacked against them, bees need all the help they can get. That’s why Beekeeper’s Naturals puts the health and safety of our bees above all else. We practice sustainable beekeeping and partner with the cleanest, remote small-scale apiaries. We give our bees vast access to pesticide-free foraging grounds, and, since bees can forage up to five miles from their hive, we go the extra mile to ensure that our hives (and products) are free of toxic chemicals through third-party pesticide testing. We do our best to ensure our bees are happy and healthy, and even partner with leading bee research organizations to educate and raise awareness.

I don’t want to live in a world without honeybees, wild bees, and other insect pollinators, so Beekeeper’s Naturals is on a mission to #SaveTheBees.