bee simonds
H is For Love is a minimalist skincare brand based out of Eastern Washington. In late 2019, before the world turned upside down, I met Bee at an intimate event hosted by West Seattle’s Spruce Apothecary. There, she thoughtfully introduced us to the bulk of her green beauty range, to which she has since added Kaphar Cleansing Bar. And what a perfect time to release a soap, with all that’s taken place since we’ve last met. If you follow her on Instagram, you enjoy a privileged window into her rebel soul. She frequently draws my attention to questions, contradictions, and counterculture points of view. Gently and generously, Bee asks us to reach inwards, to look upwards (at the sun!), and to revel in all that Nature has provided.
MM: It seems to me that you have lived a number of different lives- briefly tell us a little bit about the Bee we would have met at 20, 25, 30, 35, and so forth.
BS: Oh wow, is it that obvious? At 20 I was fresh out of a girls’ boot camp in Montana and very wild. By 25 I was waiting tables and playing music full time in Seattle. I spent a lot of my 20s traveling the world. I’d get an opportunity to leave the country and if my job wouldn’t let me go I’d just quit and find a new one when I returned. Nothing was as important as adventuring. I ran out of money in Thailand once and in order to pay the bill for my hotel room I had to offer to do dishes. I’ll never regret the complete lack of fear I had in my approach to life as a young woman. At 30 I decided to get it together, so I quit the band, got married, had a baby, became a housewife. I took this time at home to devour information about natural living/food/health/and began to take radical responsibility for my own wellness and that of my family. It changed the course of my life. By 35 I took all my knowledge and put it into the skincare line that is H IS FOR LOVE. By honoring the microbiome in the soil (so, sourcing with that in mind), and also the microbiome of the skin, I approach formulation with the core belief that the body will find balance when given the proper tools. We offer a line of highly effective skincare and couple that with a focus on internal wellness. There’s really no point in selling people expensive products without educating them on how to get the most out of each one. Internal and external go hand in hand. From age 35 to now (40) I’ve received an endless stream of inspiring feedback from our customers with stories of how their skin has finally found balance. H IS FOR LOVE is a skincare line, but my hope is that it’s also a seed that grows into a way of life. I have the best job in the world because I get to help people discover the healing power of their own body.
MM: Prior to H is For Love, you earned your living as a musician. What kind of an impact does being a musician have on your life?
BS: I love this quote from Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia:
“If you want to understand the entrepreneur, study the juvenile delinquent. The delinquent is saying with his actions, "This sucks. I'm going to do my own thing.”
I think, aside from the fact that I was born with a musical gift, I was drawn to the musician lifestyle because I’m a rebel. I’ve never once understood perfectly manicured lawns, dressing like everyone else, the desire for a boring old diamond on my finger, or the traditional roles espoused by our culture. I don’t view the world and think “that’s just how things are,” I think “this sucks, I’m going to do it my own thing.”
When I discovered that our food system in the US is not only toxic, but seemingly intentionally so, I became curious. I dug deep and found that toxicity is a common theme in most all conventional products these days. As a rebel, this bothered me. If I put something unhealthy in my body it will be my choice to do that, thank you very much. Nobody is going to make that decision for me or for my children. Rather than focusing on the fear though, I chose to be a light in the darkness. The light always wins.
MM: What set you on a path to natural living? What resources would you share with someone looking to take those first steps?
BS: Right as I was finishing up cosmetology school two things happened: I found out I was pregnant and my then-partner was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. The doctors said it would never go away. My family are doctors, and if there’s one thing I know about them, it’s that they aren’t taught about food as medicine. So I started reading. I discovered Sally Fallon and Weston A. Price, I became a fan of Joel Salatin, and I realized that our modern day heroes are biodynamic farmers...or, they should be. Western medicine docs take the Hippocratic oath when they are in med school, but I find it interesting that they spend little to no time studying food and herbs. (It’s not surprising once you discover that the healthcare industry is big money and that keeping people on medication is wildly profitable. I do believe most doctors intend no harm, but there are vast areas of information pertinent to wellness not even broached in their schooling). Hippocrates also said “Let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be thy food” and, “Health begins and ends in the gut.” So I mastered cooking traditional foods. I removed all refined and processed foods from our diet, chose to only eat pastured animal products, lots of healthy fats, soaked and sprouted grains, raw dairy, and organ meats along with an abundance of fresh local produce grown organically. Within a year my partner was off meds and a decade later, that remains. Once I learned how misguided we are in this country when it comes to nourishment, I knew it was up to me to read and research every product and food in my life. I would encourage anyone starting this process to get comfortable reading; to take on one area of focus at a time, and to know that this process can and will take years. Start with food, move to products you use on your body-then in your home; then fibers in your home, etc. Have the goal be to surround yourself with 100% natural and as often as possible, organic. The more natural, the less of a toxic load you’ll be carrying, and the more healthy you will be!
MM: Like Josh Rosebrook and May Lindstrom, it sounds like you began formulating products because you couldn’t find what you were looking for, at least not at a price point which you could afford at the time. Tell us more about how you began to experiment.
BS: I threw out all my “natural” products the day I learned the term “greenwashing.” I spent years cleaning up my diet, greening the furnishings in my house, purging and replacing cleaning products, but for some reason I didn’t look at skincare and makeup until years into that process. When I did I discovered that I could do much better. I decided to take what I knew of the gut and the knowledge I had acquired in the kitchen, and apply that to formulating my own products. I spent a full year reading and getting lost in chemist chat rooms before I made my first one. What looked great on paper didn’t translate, however, and thus began another year of trial and error. My goal was to create heavenly products that delivered all the nutrients my skin could need, while sourcing ingredients that truly honored the earth. I knew I didn’t want multiple products for different purposes, so I formulated the line to bring most every skin type into balance. I knew this would work externally because I had watched disease heal by using real foods and honoring the internal microbiome. The skin works in a similar way. Our bodies speak the same language as plants. I believe we complicate things when we alter and isolate ingredients. The closer to source, the better. The part that took the most work was creating textures and scent profiles fit for a queen. The products needed to be the ultimate in luxury, but utilize wisdom from herbalism-namely whole plant extracts made in our studio. I’ve studied essential oils extensively and I have great respect for their potency. They’re not to be used carelessly. When formulating, I chose to use them for their antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It is a side benefit that they also provide aromatherapeutic benefits. However, the full spectrum of carrier oils, infused plant material, and essential oils is what makes H so unique. Each product is heaven for the senses, and each ingredient is there for a specific reason.
MM: If you could pass a small bookshelf on to younger Bee, what would be on it?
BS: I’ve often thought how cool it would be if I could have stumbled onto my passion a little earlier in life. Not sure there’s any benefit to that kind of thinking, but it sure wouldn’t have hurt to employ some of what I know now a bit earlier. Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon, Medicinal Herbs by Rosemary Gladstar, Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, The Naked Communist by Cleon Skousen, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin, Wild Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz, The Gerson Therapy by Charlotte Gerson and Morton Walker, Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins, and 12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Peterson. I could go on, but these cover a few bases. It’s also not lost on me that some of these titles come with controversy. I love to read and I take in all kinds of information. At a time in the world where we’re witnessing challenging viewpoints categorized as dangerous, I maintain that the greatest growth comes from constantly challenging ourselves to have hard conversations and think bigger.
MM: A concept that dawns quite late in a child’s life is the notion that our parents are individuals, separate from their identity through parenthood. How has motherhood affected Bee Simonds, the individual?
BS: I think motherhood is a wonderful opportunity to observe our weaknesses and correct ourselves with grace. I’ve learned that it’s okay and healthy to have time for me. In fact, it was after serving my family for a number of years and taking no time for me at all that I started formulating this line of skincare. I cooked everything from scratch, did 100% of the home duties alone, cloth diapered, and everything you can imagine to make my life more difficult (haha) and I found myself getting burned out. It was through handling these ingredients; locking myself in my bathroom alone for just 5 minutes a day to breathe deeply and put on a face mask or just wash my face, that I found myself again. Having my babies taught me true selflessness. Once I learned how to be selfless I was able to learn to love myself well and with intention. My children help me grow into the woman I’m meant to be.
MM: What makes up a solid skincare regimen? Pitch one to the minimalist and one to the maximalist!
BS: (RAPHA, POLLEN, NECTAR &/or BARA) Morning and night: A gentle oil cleanser (no foaming agents on the face), a gentle face toner / floral mist, and an oil or balm that’s perfectly balanced (ie; high in nutrients but stable-one that wont clog pores).
(RAPHA, PROPOLIS, POLLEN, NECTAR, BARA, KAPHAR, LIN, KINU, LIP CONDITIONER, LIP GLACE) I wouldn’t call this maximalist, just heavenly:)
In preparation for your bath or shower, massage RAPHA Harmonizing Oil Cleanser into skin for 2 full minutes, breathing deeply and working to gently remove all oil-soluble debris. Run our ultra-soft 100% organic cleansing cloth under hot water, then ring out until warm. Place over face and steam. Gently wipe RAPHA away. Follow by mixing PROPOLIS (our dry powder mask) with POLLEN (our locally distilled gentle floral mist) for the ultimate at-home spa-experience. Using our cruelty-free custom fan brush, apply to the face, neck, and chest. With your mask on, dry brush each limb in long strokes toward the heart. Get in your bath or shower, then, once it’s close to dry, rinse PROPOLIS away. Using scrubby gloves, get a nice lather with KAPHAR and exfoliate your whole body from the shoulders down. Once all soap is rinsed away, scrub once again with Lin Purifying Skin Scrub. Rinse sugar away with only water. Get out of the shower or bath, but leave skin damp, apply KINU Glowing Skin Balm. It takes very little KINU to cover the body if skin has been properly exfoliated and left damp. One finger dip full per limb is all it takes, then pull excess into the center.
Finish your bath with your facial care routine:
Mist face liberally with POLLEN Illuminating Mist (this balances the pH of the facial skin which is the foundation of happy skin!). Press several drops of NECTAR Nourishing Face Oil into face and neck, then follow with ½ pea sized portion of BARA Balm pressed into face and neck. Follow with a generous misting of POLLEN to seal it all in. Finish with Lip Conditioner under the eyes as an overnight treatment and Lip Glace on the lips!
MM: If the H, Josh, May, Tata, etc. ranges of green beauty are out of the budget for our reader, where can they source some great alternatives?
BS: We can take incredible care of our skin using very simple ingredients! I love to recommend a good quality jojoba oil for cleansing and moisturizing. Mountain Rose Herbs has a good one, and you can purchase one of their beautiful hydrosols as a mist for after cleansing and as a perfect prep for face oil. Ground oats and lavender make a lovely gentle exfoliant, and raw local honey is a perfect antibacterial moisture mask. Tweak these a little for fun by adding different herbs to your exfoliant, or oils with different properties to the base of jojoba. It’s unnecessary to spend loads of money on skincare and food in order to be healthy. We just need to know how to choose well. Hint: for internal and external wellness, the quality of ingredients is EVERYTHING.
MM: How do tools and technologies intersect with the H is For Love facial ritual you’ve developed for yourself? Any favorites?
BS: I swear by our masking bowl and brush. Once I had our beautiful mask brush custom made I couldn’t believe I’d ever gone without it. It elevates the skincare experience for sure. For application of our oil and balm I use my fingers. Every once in a while I use a beautiful clear quartz gua sha tool to encourage drainage and decrease puffiness. But, for the most part I love to utilize the warmth from my hands and fingers to draw blood to the surface of the skin to encourage healing and cell production. I love going to see Emily Elizabeth here in Spokane for my full H facials-that steamer and her kwanza wand are magic!
MM: You’re a fan of the power of three, pick three of the following: a.) desert island H products, b.) raw skincare ingredients, c.) essential oils, and d.) modern conveniences. In case it matters: I’m banishing you to a tropical island where you can enjoy the Sun to your heart’s content!
b) jojoba, olive oil, french green clay
c) vanilla bean CO2, bergamot fcf, vetiver
d) running water, heat, a refrigerator
Yes! I’d love to have an excuse to get all that vitamin D!
MM: How does H is for Love rebel against conventional beauty norms? How does the brand rebel against conventions within the world of natural, green beauty?
BS: Well, H IS FOR LOVE is a response to an industry rife with shaming women for not being enough. I’ve always refused to say anti-aging. How silly is that term? We’re all aging, let’s hope we gain some wisdom along the way, but to plant in every young woman’s mind that she must fight this natural process is this industry’s way of attempting to create dependence. I don’t accept this and I hope going forward we as women don’t support this nonsense. I embrace the natural aging process by honoring my body. I eat whole foods, I lavish my skin with the best of what nature has to offer, and I support businesses that don’t appeal to fear and shame. In this way I communicate to myself that I am enough.
I love the green beauty world. I’ve maintained that there’s plenty for everyone, and I love how many brands seem to be coming out lately. Here’s what differentiates “green” from highly effective, potent, clean and organic skincare: sourcing, handling, production, and batch sizes. Two ingredient decks can look the same, but how long have those ingredients been sitting on the shelf at the distributor warehouse before being ordered by the company, then sitting in bulk, then eventually being used to make a huge inventory of product? Maybe then they’re even put into clear glass where they’re exposed to sun damage? Or, how was the soil tended to before seed was even planted? All ingredients are not created equal even when they read the same and have the same organic certification. I strive to create a platform of transparency where customers can get to know that I’m nothing if not stringent about how we source. Potency and purity are everything when it comes to efficacious skincare. It’s taken me 5 years to develop relationships with the farmers who grow our herbs and press our oils. Plants contain energy. The way we handle ingredients, make our infusions, speak loving words as we make products; it’s all energy. To answer your question, my response to an industry with a lot of saturation is to hold myself to the highest possible standard in every area and trust that it will translate. I’ve been pleased to find that it really does translate. I’d also like to say that although it’s important to be aware of how we can choose well, there is a whole thing in clean beauty (or motherhood, or any area where we are trying to do better) where people can take it so far that it becomes a point of stress, or something we shame ourselves or one other about. I’ve always subscribed to the rule of percentages. Many eat clean 80% of the time and allow fun “cheating” things 20% of the time. It may be different for each of us in every different area, but it’s important to maintain a level of balance, if only for our own mental wellbeing. Life is meant to be lived! This is why I’ve always chosen to highlight the beauty of natural, rather than focus on the dangers of conventional. We’re bio-individual-we’re each unique. There isn’t a one size fits all and freedom of choice for each individual is really important. I can’t emphasize that enough.
MM: What does your process look like as you start to develop a new product, how does math, intuition, memory, and counsel play into this?
BS: Product development always starts when I discover a need. Makeup is an area that’s pretty well covered by other brands, but with skincare, I seem to always find products that do one thing well, but are lacking in some area. So, that’s how the line started for me, and it’s how it continues. My most recent obsession was KAPHAR Cleansing Bar. I wanted a bar of soap that had the perfect scent and lather, and that left skin feeling moisturized. I also wanted a bar of soap that looked stunning in my bathroom. I was intimidated by the process of soap making, so taking on this latest formulation was about conquering my fear in addition to learning some complex chemistry that, over time, really blew my mind and challenged me in ways I haven’t been challenged. Our body scrub, LIN, was similar. I wanted a scrub that held shape, where the oils didn’t run through my hand and go down the drain. It took a lot of trial and error to get LIN to the perfect, fluffy consistency. But, I nailed it. Lip Conditioner was the same. It needed to really last, moisturize without feeling waxy, and to be the kind of product that the more one uses, the less they need it. It’s these kinds of challenges in addition to having scent profiles and textures that are wildly luxurious, that give me life and keep me fascinated by this work. Math is obviously a huge part of formulation and scaling. I never imagined I would love it, but I do. Intuition works hand in hand with research when I’m in the process of discovering what a new product wants to be. It’s definitely a dance, and very often I learn lessons about life during the process. There is so much metaphor in formulating. Many of our products have names that reflect those learnings.
MM: What’s the longest it’s taken you to formulate one product? How about the shortest?
BS: Once I had released the first few products, from idea to launch I think the longest was a little over a year of daily obsession. However, as we scale production and move to machines that are more powerful than my modest beginnings, I’ve found that I’ve needed to re-adjust small details to keep products consistent. There’s never a dull moment around here, which is exactly how I like it.
Let’s dive into ingredient decks and what catches my eye as a skincare connoisseur! (Reader: Skip ahead a few questions or hunker down for the deep dive behind Bee’s Green Beauty Chemistry!)
MM: Why include both the CO2 and Steam Distilled Oils of Chamomile in Rapha Oil Cleanser?
BS: I mentioned this earlier, but I use essential oils for several different reasons. They provide aromatherapeutic benefits, antioxidant properties; some have astringent benefits, etc. They aren’t moisturizing to the skin, that’s why we have cold pressed oils. Specifically regarding the Roman and German chamomile in RAPHA, the steam distilled roman chamomile is calming to the senses while the german chamomile, which is a CO2 distillation, has never had heat introduced to the plant material. Often, when plants go through steam distillation, certain compounds can change. German chamomile that is distilled with Carbon Dioxide still has all the compounds of the raw plant material, namely something called matricin. Matricin is a sesquiterpene known to be highly anti-inflammatory and improve skin-barrier function. When choosing essential oils to use in our formulas, methods of distillation depend on what role they play in the overall formula.
MM: Citrus oils are more rare in leave-on skincare products because of their photosensitivity- why include Grapefruit as a top essential oil in Nectar Facial Oil?
BS: This is an issue when it comes to percentage and specifically which citrus oil. For example, we only use non-photosensitizing (FCF) bergamot in our leave-on products, but with an oil like grapefruit that is low on the photosensitizing scale and the fact that we use less than the smallest percentage recommended for dermal use, we can experience the benefits of this beautiful oil safely.
MM: Share more about the magic of White Turmeric on the skin.
BS: Oh this ingredient has a love story all it’s own. As with all ingredients that were hard to track down, or, formulas that challenged me the most, it seems the chase makes me appreciate them that much more. White turmeric is elusive, to say the least. I used to buy it from an Indian woman in Texas who would grow and shade dry it, then hand grind it into powder. Once I realized our production would surpass her supply capabilities, I had to find the real thing directly from the source. It took me three years to track down the farm we work with now. White turmeric, known as poolan kilangu, or ginger lily, is used extensively to correct hyperpigmentation. It helps to fight free radicals and enhances the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Yellow turmeric is used a lot in Ayurveda, but for many, can turn skin orange for a time. I know, I tested it a lot when I was first formulating PROPOLIS. White turmeric is brightening and warming as well. In conjunction with the warming spices used in PROPOLIS, blood is drawn to the surface of the skin, inspiring cell production.
MM: Sunscreen or safe, monitored sun exposure without it?
BS: In my family we strip off our clothes and spend at least 15-30 minutes a day in the full sun (depending on where we are geographically, and time of year). It’s one of the healthiest things we can do, IMO. What we do may not be right for everyone though, so my thought is to encourage people to understand the importance of vitamin D, to understand what their skin can safely handle, and to make decisions based on that. I climbed Kilimanjaro in my 20s and came home with half my face peeling off. I’ve also been lobster red several times in Bali. I’m wiser now, so if I know we’re going to be out in the sun for a while we always have a non-nano zinc sunscreen on hand. I don’t fear the sun, but I really respect it.
MM: What infusions do you make in-house, what kind of love, care, and attention gets paid to them?
BS: We just did this and I’m staring at windows full of them. They are so loved. We make all of our infusions in-house. We start with plants that are grown for us by farmers we trust who tend to the health of their soil long before they plant. These are farms that have been biodynamic and organic forever. They harvest at peak potency, dry in the shade, well-protected from the sun, and ship to us directly after drying in small amounts so what we have on hand is fresh! We infuse into oils that are pressed fresh. Many oils come from warehouses where they’ve been sitting but we order the bulk of our oils from the farmer doing the harvest. He presses that weekend, then we receive the oils that following week. The effectiveness of each of our products is a direct result of this level of attention to detail. In addition to this quality of freshness, our studio is filled with sunlight. We have three huge windows that even in the wintertime warm our entire space, and it’s an energy we can all feel. This studio is sacred to me, and I know to the women who work with me as well. We protect it, and we dance and sing and infuse love into every ingredient and product we touch. Sounds woo woo, but everything is energy. Everything.
MM: They say scent was our first sense, how does your brain interact, visualize, conceptualize, and blend aromatics?
BS: About 20 years ago I had to stop wearing perfume because it gave me migraines. 10 years later I began to study essential oils and realized how very much I’d missed this part of life. What I hadn’t initially understood is that it was the synthetics that were causing the issue. Once I started playing around with scent for my own personal use I was in heaven! I studied perfumery on my own (my version of studying translates into something more like investigative research and obsession). I learned about how to layer; choosing notes that challenged and provided interest, while also being complimentary. I spent the better part of a year working on scents before I applied that learning to my skincare formulations. In the end, I used what I’d learned about the benefits of essential oils only to enhance our formulations. That’s why one can still smell the herbs and earth and seed oils in each product. We use a very small percentage of essential oil because they’re not there to cover anything up.
MM: What is your personal all-time-favorite scent from the H range, and what composes that scent?
BS: Of course this is very hard to answer, but I have to say LIN. Sorry to all my other babies. The one who started it all, NECTAR, with a scent like wildflowers and earth; BARA, a balm that transports to other realms, KINU, so woody, PROPOLIS, an ode to the spice markets under Jerusalem...how possibly could I choose? But, I must have a favorite, because I designed the scent of our soap after LIN, and anytime I make myself a new perfume I use the essential oils from LIN. Bergamot, Peru Balsam, Vetiver = HEAVEN.
MM: When you adorn yourself with perfume, whose and which creations do you reach for?
BS: Of course I use a lot of what I make, and Patrick Kelly has a stunning collection, SIGIL SCENT, I’m sure you know it. OLO out of Portland is another lovely brand. Forever faves.
MM: What other brands and/or products do you love to use? I loved hearing May Lindstrom recommend La Bella Figura in an IG live. She described Victoria’s brand as a lovely vacation away from her own creations, comparing the experience to treating oneself to a dinner out as opposed to home cooking.
BS: I keep it very simple when it comes to skincare. I use H pretty exclusively for myself, but I love Laurel Whole Plant Organics, and she is an amazingly kind and knowledgeable person to boot. Whenever she releases limited edition products I snag one. Wildcare, GARA skincare, Urb Apothecary, Botnia, are all brands I’ve gotten to know over the years and we love to do trades which is really fun. I’m also a big fan of Gressa's minimalist corrective serum foundation. It’s really important to me to have my makeup also be clean and nourishing.
MM: Everything in balance, including balance: are there any conventional products or habits you haven’t been able to/wanted to give up?
BS: Nope. I’m not a very balanced person, though. My balance is working hardcore for a month and then taking a week off. I’m hard on myself in the sense that there’s always room for improvement, but I also love living clean so it doesn’t feel like sacrifice in any way. If I wanted something unhealthy I’d have it. But, my desires are informed by how I feel and when I eat bad food I feel bad. When I drink wine full of added sulfites and sugars I feel bad. So, I don’t do it. My version of breaking my own rules (for lack of a better word) is going out to dinner at a farm to table restaurant and eating all the dairy and wheat and sugar without regret. I just don’t want to eat food that comes from farms where animals are treated inhumanely. I don’t have a desire for fast food. I used to, but that changed when I cut refined sugars grains and processed conventional dairy out of my life. We crave things mostly because we’re addicted to them. Break the addiction and things get a whole lot easier. When it comes to skincare, makeup, fibers in my home, cleaning products, etc. it’s 100% clean. I just know too much to choose differently, now.
MM: How have you raised your children to bathe, what does your shower ritual look like and what brands/products do you incorporate into the fold?
BS: My daughter is very into her skincare routine and she uses all the same products I do, and often steals mine when I do trades with my friends who also own skincare companies. My son is good with it if we try to loop him in, but he mostly loves to get in and out and go back to his drafting table to plan his next building project. They do this funny thing though where he plays stylist and does her makeup and hair. It’s adorable.
MM: Where do you shop for necessities?
BS: I do most of my shopping at the local food cooperative. For home items it’s not really cost effective, but I shop for those there too. I do a lot of shopping online as well, but I mostly choose to shop directly from the brands rather than buying from somewhere like Amazon.
MM: Where do you shop for splurges?
BS: What constitutes a splurge? I feel like shopping sustainably is almost entirely a splurge in how expensive it can be. A few years ago my home burned down and I lost everything. I learned to live with less because I couldn’t afford to replace things right away. Now, I only buy what I need. Learning to live with less has been the most liberating experience of my life. That said, I do treat myself to a delicious meal, or to beautiful clothes here and there. For clothes I prefer independent designers based here in the states. For home items I love Hook and Loom for rugs, Maiden Home for furniture, House of Baltic linen for bedding...you might have to specify in what area you mean? This is my favorite thing to discuss other than skincare...
MM: What is on the menu at Bee’s house?
BS: Lots of fresh fruits and veggies, organic pasta for the kids, grass-fed and pastured meats, grass-fed local dairy, wild game, etc. I have two very different children so many times I’ll make something simple like roasted veggies and protein and pull out olives and fruit and just cover the table with foods I hope they’ll pick at while they do their homework or work on art projects. I’ve become realistic about their preferences and I try to encourage variety without forcing them to eat things they don’t love.
MM: What supplements are in current rotation and have any had huge impacts on you or your children’s health and wellbeing?
BS: My kids are healthy-I’m really lucky there. I start each day with a glass of sole water, and about 40 ounces of berkey filtered water. We take mushroom supplements by Paul Stamets, Livon Labs Vitamin C, Ion Biome, lots of things from Organic Olivia, and most recently I’ve started taking Seeking Health glutathione and Quicksilver vitamin D3 + K2. I’m very into vetting supplement companies and read a lot before purchasing. 3rd party testing is imperative, since most supplements are lacking when it comes to efficacy. There is a lot more than that in our medicine cabinet, but these are the things that I/we take daily.
MM: What art or artists have brought you peace through difficult times?
BS: Well, I used to watch movies but since March of 2020 I have quit all movies and shows. I realized I was wasting my life. However, my favorite movies of all time are The Fall (not to be confused with Fall), Baraka, and Call Me By Your Name. Music is of course one of the universal languages, and lately the girls and I have been creating playlists to pump us up or bring us joy and hope in these crazy times. There are some dancers on instagram who move in ways that mesmerize me- @miketyus is one of those. I like to get lost on his feed sometimes.
MM: How has 2020 changed your life?
BS: Even though I got rid of my TV 20 years ago, I think quitting watching movies and shows on my computer in early 2020 made space for me to read and listen to podcasts aimed at growth and transformation. It’s redirected my life completely. Life goes by so quickly, I want to be 100% present for it.
MM: What do you know, deep in your bones, to be true?
BS: That this is not our home.
MM: What gives you hope?
BS: Love.
MM: Is there anything else you’d like to say?
BS: Nature Is Enough.
Photography courtesy of Elizabeth Rudge, Victoria Kovios, Elizabeth Podlesnik, and Bee Simonds. To learn more about H is For Love and Bee’s range of skincare visit her website here.
