Negin Mirsalehi is a millennial bee-keeper, which you don’t see everyday, but of course if you’re one of her seven million Instagram followers, you know she’s much more than that. Mirasalehi has made a business out of bees first with hair-care products, inspired by her mother’s uses of honey and bee propolis on hair at home, then tacking on skin care as well.
As Miraslehi prepares for her first born baby boy to arrive, she also welcomes another new creation in her life—Gisou Honey Infused Beauty Balm ($37). It’s the perfect multitasking product for summer to keep skin hydrated and dewy through hot temperatures and blaring air conditioning. We chatted with Mirasalehi to learn about the inspiration behind Gisou, her favorite wellness practice, how her skin-care routine changed during pregnancy and more.
Your family has been in the bee business for generations. What inspired you to use honey for hair-care products?
“Growing up, my family and I spent much of our time in our family’s bee garden, working closely with our dad to keep and care for the bees. Having our own bee garden, we got to enjoy an abundance of the freshest and finest honey produced by our bees, using it for just about anything.
My mother, a hairdresser in training at the time, discovered how the moisturizing and nourishing properties of honey could work wonders for our hair. After years of experimenting and mixing, she perfected a honey-infused oil formula that our entire family has used since then for healthy, moisturized and conditioned locks.
As I grew my online community, which largely came to me for fashion and beauty, I noticed an interest in how I cared for and styled my hair. Knowing how beneficial my mom’s homemade Honey Infused Hair Oil recipe was to my hair, I was inspired to share it with the world. We launched Gisou in 2015 with our Honey Infused Hair Oil ($87) as a natural extension of my family’s heritage, my passion for beekeeping and my love for beauty.”
Gisou is rooted in hair care, but you’ve ventured into skin care before with Face Oil and Lip Oil. Tell us a bit about the benefits honey has for the skin.
“Yes! I’m so excited that we have expanded our range to include skin-care products. Rich in vitamins, minerals and amino acids, honey is a potent antioxidant and natural remedy that helps heal, nourish, prevent moisture loss, ensure long-lasting hydration and leaves behind a healthy, glowing and brighter-looking complexion. For this reason, it felt like such a natural next step to infuse the benefits of honey into a face and lip oil.”
The Honey Infused Beauty Balm is your newest product. How do you use it in your routine, and what are you most excited about with this new launch?
“The Honey Infused Beauty Balm is my new favorite—and the ultimate multitasker! Whenever my skin feels dry and chapped, I apply it to instantly soothe and protect. Before going out, I’ll dab it onto cheekbones, eyelids or the bridge of my nose to leave behind a subtle glow. Other ways that I like to use it include running a bead-sized amount through my hair to tame flyaways or swiping it onto brows to fluff and shape them into place.
I’m really excited for our community to experience the versatility of the Balm—especially since it’s just in time for summer! Honey Infused Beauty Balm truly does it all, treating anything from dry and chapped to itchy or irritated skin (commonly caused by excess sun exposure or AC). It also enhances your natural complexion by leaving behind a highlighter-like sheen for healthy, glowing and dewy skin.
It melts like honey and absorbs like oil for instant results, is deeply hydrating, nourishing and soothing for both the face and body, and it’s the perfect multitasker to throw in your bag and go during your Summer travels and adventures—I can’t wait for our community to try it!”
Are there any skin-care hacks that have been passed down in your family?
“The most important ‘skin-care hack’ that I’ve learned from my mother is the art of self-care and simplicity. She taught me that more is not more and that, in fact, a simple routine that responds to your skin’s ever-changing needs and is specific to your skin type is the most beneficial in the long run. My mother showed us the importance of being gentle with our hair, and the same principles apply to skin.”
Congratulations on your pregnancy! What did you change in your skin-care routine while pregnant?
“Thank you! I’ve been obsessed with beauty for as long as I can remember, so naturally, I love trying new brands and products. But, with pregnancy comes a higher awareness of everything I’m putting in and on my body. So I’ve been doing a lot less experimenting, which has probably been the biggest change! Since I know exactly what goes into Gisou products, I’ve been relying on them even more for my skin-care routine.”
How has being pregnant shifted your perspective on beauty and wellness?
“When it comes to beauty, my philosophy during pregnancy has been to go back to the basics. It’s really important for me to know exactly what ingredients are in every product I use and for them to be as natural as possible. It’s meant I have relied heavily on a routine centered around ingredients I know and love, like our Mirsalehi Honey and Propolis. For example, our Honey Infused Face Oil is 95.7 percent natural, so that’s a daily staple in my routine I know I can trust.
I’ve always been a lover of wellness and have prioritized my wellness rituals that make me feel good, so I’ve been doubling down on those during my pregnancy. My number one wellness practice I always turn to to feel connected and grounded is being outside with nature. It’s where I’m the most calm, centered and at peace, and particularly during pregnancy, it’s where I’ve felt most in tune with my body. So I make sure I’m constantly prioritizing that. Long strolls around my hometown, Amsterdam, with my dog Mosey and fiance Maurits, are my favorite way to recharge, refresh and reconnect after a busy week of getting ready for the baby and running Gisou!”