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Carly Kremer has always believed that wellness should start with nature and a little help from the hive. As the founder of Beekeeper’s Naturals, she’s made it her mission to upgrade the modern medicine cabinet with clean, bee-powered alternatives that actually work. What started as a personal health quest (and a few bottles of propolis spray at farmers markets) has grown into a cult-favorite brand sold everywhere from Whole Foods to Target.
In this edition of Living Well, Carly shares her non-negotiables for immunity (hint: she sprays propolis daily), the buzzy ingredient she’d use to replace your cough syrup, and how motherhood has shaped her approach to wellness. Plus, the surprising lesson bees have taught her about building a business that lasts.
Living Well With Carly Kremer
You’ve built the brand around reinventing the medicine cabinet— what’s one item that’s always been non-negotiable in your own wellness routine? For me, it’s always been propolis. It’s nature’s original immune defender – something I take every single day, whether I’m traveling, working, or just in the thick of cold season with my little one. It’s incredibly versatile, with antioxidant and immune-supportive properties; it also has benefits for gut health and inflammation, and I love that it’s been trusted for centuries around the world. Propolis is my way of being proactive instead of waiting until I’m sick. Two of my favorite propolis products, which I use daily, are our Propolis Throat Spray and Nasal Spray. These products cover both pathways where viruses can enter the body and defend against anything you may come into contact with.
From launching at farmers markets to becoming a top-seller at Target and Whole Foods, what’s one surprising lesson the bees have taught you about building something that lasts? Bees operate with intention, considering the needs of the whole colony. Every decision in the hive serves the greater good. That’s been a compass for me. Whether I’m formulating products, creating a clean supply chain, or making other business decisions, I’ve learned to think in systems, stay connected to purpose, and make choices that support our customers and the long game rather than take easy shortcuts. I believe that quality always prevails, and investing the extra time and money to create something truly clean and effective is our top priority.
How do you personally navigate cold and flu season now that you have a little one? Are there rituals, ingredients, or daily habits you swear by? Absolutely. Having a toddler means you’re constantly dodging runny noses, especially at playgroups and on planes. For both of us, I lean on a consistent pre-exposure routine: daily propolis spray, a gentle nasal mister for her, and immune-supportive nutrients like zinc and vitamin D. I don’t wait until we’re sick; I build our defenses up every day, so our systems are ready. My daughter loves her Kids’ Propolis Throat Spray and our Kid’s Immune Support + Vitamin C Liposomal so that also makes my job easier.
What’s something most people still get wrong about bee-based wellness? Many people think it’s just about honey, but the hive is a pharmacopoeia. Propolis, royal jelly, and pollen are all incredibly potent and functional ingredients with centuries of use and modern scientific backing.
If someone is brand new to the line, what’s the perfect “starter pack” of your products to try first? Start with the Propolis Throat Spray. It’s our most-loved for a reason (we sell a bottle every 15 seconds). It’s like a daily armor for your immune system. I’d also recommend our Superfood Honey. It’s delicious, yes, but it’s also packed with royal jelly, pollen, and propolis, so you’re getting the full spectrum of hive nutrients in one spoon. I also love to share our Propolis + Vitamin C Liposomal – it has 1000mg of vitamin C and 100mg of propolis, which is amazing for immune and skin health.
With the brand growing so quickly, how do you ensure your sourcing and sustainability practices still reflect your original mission? We’re obsessive about transparency and testing. That means everything from third-party pesticide screening to sourcing from beekeepers who practice regenerative methods. We formulate to EU standards, which is far beyond what’s required here in the United States because that’s what integrity demands.
If you could replace one product in everyone’s medicine cabinet with something from the hive, what would it be—and why? Cough syrup. The conventional stuff often contains dyes, refined sugars, and active ingredients that don’t even work, and in some cases have been recalled by the FDA. Honey—specifically buckwheat honey—has been shown in studies to be just as effective, if not more so, than the chemicals used in the most popular over-the-counter cough syrups. It supports the immune system, rather than just numbing symptoms.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up—and the last thing you do before bed? I always do a start-of-day nasal rinse with our Nasal Spray Max in the morning, and I take our Liposomal Vitamin C with Propolis first thing on an empty stomach. At the end of the day, I do my second Nasal Spray to ensure no germs, viruses, or bacteria are trapped in my nasal passage and my Stress Support Liposomal to unwind.
Besides Beekeeper’s Naturals, what are a few daily supplements or wellness products you swear by? I care a lot about bioavailability. Many products on the market don’t absorb well and end up being a waste of money, so I prefer liposomal products and use Tri Fortify Liposomal Glutathione with our Beekeeper’s Liposomal C packets. Taking the two together maximizes the results. I also love a heavy metal tested high dose omega, and I like the Needed multivitamin when I’m pre- and postnatal, and I love a sulfurphane supplement.
What podcasts are currently in your rotation—whether it’s for parenting, wellness, or a guilty pleasure binge? I’m obsessed with Dr. Rhonda Patrick. We work hard at Beekeeper’s Naturals to stay on top of all the latest research and findings in the health world, so my podcast rotation is a lot of Dr. Patrick, Peter Attia, Huberman, and most of the people covering health topics.
Complete this sentence: Living well means…
Taking care of my health, spending time with friends and family, and doing a job that gives me purpose.
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