Becks Lee
Becks and I crossed paths through mutual friends. A casual conversation quickly revealed a strong (and slightly nerdy) shared passion for herbs, plants, and green beauty brands! We’ve both spent many years in deep self-study, exploration, and experimentation with food and herbal remedies - at a level that only those motivated by health issues and skin challenges can comprehend.
Our friendship has been a slow burner, in the best of ways. Though we live far apart, we’d exchanged long emails and handwritten letters. When one of her letters arrived with some foraged nettle seeds and a nut butter recipe tucked inside, I had no doubts I’d found a kindred spirit :)
I’ve had the privilege to witness Achillea materialise. From when she first shyly shared her dream with me, to now - Becks (a Virgo Projector, iykyk…) is truly in her element with the business she is creating. Achillea is curated with so much care and intention, offering some of the most beautiful products you can get your hands on. She’s kindly shared a discount code for us too (find it below)!
Please introduce yourself, and what it is you so wonderfully do:
Hello! I’m Becks, and I’m the founder of Achillea, an online shop and apothecary where I curate a selection of natural skincare, beauty and botanical wellness products. I’m a self-taught plant alchemist, magpie and my love for the natural world is driven by curiosity. I am passionate about the medicinal, culinary, energetic and craft uses of plants, flowers and herbs, and surround myself with them every single day.
What is your ideal way to start the day?
I love mornings. I wake up around 7am and make a tea right away (yorkshire tea + oat milk please), then go outside. I’m lucky to live in the countryside so I wander through the garden - let the chickens out, say morning to our cats, and get some sunlight in my eyes and on my skin. I’ll spend the best part of an hour outdoors if I can, drinking tea and writing. My mind jumps into overdrive mode as soon as I wake up so journaling first thing has been so beneficial. It gets all the niggling anxieties out onto paper and immediately puts me in a positive frame of mind.
The best thing about the morning is breakfast. I go to sleep looking forward to breakfast! My go to is oat and buckwheat porridge with a medley of toppings. I love shakshuka too. Or, recently I’ve just been into simple, buttery omelettes with a few chopped chives (and edible flowers, of course!).
I love coffee but occasionally I’ll give my body a break from caffeine to readjust my natural energy levels. It feels so good to not rely on it for stimulation, and I find my body reacts differently depending on my mood / cycle etc. So, currently my morning work is fueled by a high quality decaf (Aeropress, black), or a milky hojicha if I need something cosy.
Do you have any daily rituals/ routines?
I really love living in tune with the seasons, and I’m self-employed so my daily routines vary a lot.
Recently I have been spending my mornings outdoors, soaking up as much vitamin D as I can get. Journaling, and making a big breakfast to set me up for the day. Spending time on my skincare too - I’m currently using Maiwe’s mist and rosehip serum, plus a natural SPF and a homemade calendula, helichrysum and carrot seed oil balm. It’s so good I’m going to make some for Achillea soon (you heard it here first).
On summer evenings, I’ll wander around the garden. In the winter, I really lean into being as cosy and warm as possible. Time spent making stews, candles all day, hot cacao, hot baths and lots of knitting.
Do you have any practices or remedies to stay healthy, both in body and mind?
I started Achillea because of my own journey with my skin. I’ve suffered with eczema since I was little, but in my twenties, it came back with force. I was burnt out and my body had had enough - it was time to get back to basics and find balance once again. I made my own herbal tea blends, grew more edible flowers, mixed up balms and filled my shelves with ancient herbal books - from Ayurveda to Alchemy.
I knew plants were healing, and I had found so many makers around the world using plants to make incredible products. These were safe, natural, highly effective, and - crucially - looked beautiful. Because - in my darkest moments, the power of a gorgeous essential oil by my bedside did wonders for my mental health.
And so, Achillea was born - to share the infinite healing powers of plants, to champion craftspeople, and to help everybody lead a more joyful and radiant life.
My favourite ways to use plants:
Herbal teas - The easiest and most gentle way to use herbs. My favourite at the moment is nettle, oatstraw and hibiscus.
Infused and essential oils - My favourite is calendula oil. It has wonderful healing and soothing properties. Essential oils are incredibly powerful and can be used at any time to soothe your mind and body.
Cooking with nourishing whole foods - Our skin is our biggest organ and will always reflect what’s going on within.
When you need to get out of town/ out of routine, where do you go or what do you do to escape?
I love this question. For a quick fix, going on a walk is the best pick me up there is. I gravitate to the fields and hedgerows around my house and almost always take a basket if blackberries or rosehips are out. That, or setting aside a whole day for a hike. It always resets me.
Otherwise, I love travelling and experiencing new places. I’m becoming more and more attracted to places with water, woodland, and wild landscapes. I recently went to the Isle of Skye and fell in love - it’s rich with an ancient, magical, peaceful energy that I felt so connected to.
How do you like to spend your nights and or/weekends?
My weekends are very sporadic. Being self-employed means really leaning into work when I feel motivated, and conversely, resting when my mind feels tired!
Saying that, I am trying to block out at least one day a week for myself. An ideal day off revolves around food, so making a delicious breakfast and planning a nice dinner for family or friends. I’d go on a long walk no matter the weather - either through the countryside or to town - I can very easily while away a few hours at my favourite health food store, farmer’s market or antique centre. The afternoon would be spent on some sort of craft.
Creating for the sake of it is so good for my mental health - I breathe slower and I tap into a childlike play that makes me feel calm and centred. I make beaded jewellery, crochet, knit and sew.
How do you unwind, re-centre and find balance?
My healing journey has taught me that stress can manifest in subtle and unexpected ways. With eczema especially, my body can overreact to the smallest of things like food, weather, or stress. For example, productivity can be misinterpreted as overwhelm. It’s exhausting but I’ve been able to manage this daily by having a toolkit of things that instantly calm and ground me.
One of my favourite things is running a long, hot bath. I soak in a blend of dead sea salts, ground oats, coconut milk powder, lavender and rose essential oils. Baths have soothed me in my most painful moments, and even now I’m a lot better, I still turn to the water to relax me. It’s my safe space.
Ultimately, I need a lot of alone time to recharge. My Moon is in Cancer and I truly lean into that. I love to ‘potter’ around, do a little tidying (Virgo Sun, obviously), some crafting and reading - that’s how I re-balance.
What is your favourite form of movement?
I’ve had a love-hate relationship with exercise ever since I went to a very sporty school and was forced to do athletics, hockey and netball (I’m sure I’m not alone).
Over time, I realised that moving your body is such a personal thing that changes from week to month, and it does take time to figure out what feels the best. I love hiking and my partner and I go on weekly long walks together. I like running when I’ve got pent up energy and yoga a few times a week for deep stretching. Occasionally, a good pilates class. You will never find me in a gym, ever.
Your favourite meal to cook?
Food, cooking and making meals for people I love is my favourite thing in the world. When I cook my mind switches into its flow state - for me it’s creative, sensory and alchemical, and it brings me so much joy to nourish and sustain my body and in turn, my health.
I love experimenting in the kitchen with new and seasonal ingredients. My cooking is led by whole foods, plants and vegetables, and I love to find ways to make gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free taste incredible, especially in baking (it can be done!) I’m loving Aran Goyoaga’s gluten-free baking book, and am a huge Nigel Slater fan.
I haven’t really answered the question, but I suppose if I had to choose for a day like today - it would be a big slow-cooked stew - vegetables, beans, herbs and homemade stock topped with toasted seeds, a homemade pesto and the best olive oil. Apple and blackberry crumble for pudding.
Your favourite place to get dinner?
I lived in Bristol for 8 years and was so lucky to have incredible restaurants on my doorstep! For my 30th, we had dinner at Wilson’s which was extraordinary. I really want to try Juliet in Stroud next.
Your guilty pleasure? :)
It’s got to be a burger! I rarely eat meat, but once in a while I really crave a burger. There’s a place in Cheltenham called Beefy Boys that uses high quality beef and local ingredients and it just hits the spot.
Do you experience any challenges in your work/life balance? If so, how do you navigate this?
The biggest challenge I live with is my eczema. It’s a misunderstood and underrepresented chronic condition with no one cause, and no cure. Every single person is different, and doctors can only prescribe steroids, which have their own set of troublesome side effects.
Working with plants and expanding my knowledge of herbal medicine has helped me manage my eczema. I’ve also worked with a kinesiologist, a naturopath and Chinese medicine practitioners who look at your whole lifestyle to get to the roots of the issue.
I listen to my body, allow myself plenty of rest, and surround myself with people and projects that feel truly aligned.
Finally - my eczema has led me to where I am today, with Achillea and with a mission that I hope people will get behind. To raise awareness of eczema and skin health, and to offer natural yet beautiful solutions. To share more widely that health is not simply about diet, or exercise, but about finding and maintaining a balance between your mind and body.
What/where/who do you turn to when you need inspiration?
Travelling and experiencing new places, flicking through art and design books or visiting museums and art galleries. I studied Art History so I love reading and going down rabbit holes of research and ideas. That or Pinterest for craft-related ideas. Letting my mind wander outside in nature. Always does the trick.
How would you describe your style? What & who influences you?
My style is elegant and folky with a slight androgynous twist. I love an oversize shirt, some navy trousers, a knitted cardigan and a neck scarf. Paired with some statement earrings and a berry blush/lip.
I’ve always loved fashion, and remember being so enthralled when I bought my first copy of Vogue when I was 14. I can still smell the pages - so otherworldly and sexy. It was the impetus to move to London - I envisioned being a stylist or an art director! In a way, I’m my own stylist and director of my business now - and I realised the countryside is far better than the big city :)
What I wear and how things feel on my body is so important to me. All my clothes are natural fibres, and I buy secondhand and vintage because they're better made, and better for the planet. I definitely prioritise comfort a lot more now too - I love layering and playing dress up with my wardrobe - it’s such a fun thing to do to find your own sense of style and not give in to trends!
Occasionally, I’ll buy something special from independent makers. I recently bought a hand dyed skirt from White Doe, and trousers by Sarah Johnson, two pieces I love and will treasure for so many years. I love making my own clothes - I’m knitting a cardigan with wool I bought in Scotland, and have a pattern for a Babaa-style roll neck.
I adore the Italian designer Daniela Gregis - she combines knitwear with natural fabrics like silk to create playful yet feminine silhouettes. Julie of Rudy Jude is so effortlessly cool. It’s never the influencers, always the girls (and boys) on the street who inspire me - it’s the little details and colour combos - and whenever I can ask them where they got something, it’s always, “I found it in a charity shop!”
What is your definition of beauty?
I think beauty lies in the smallest of moments. Ephemeral and fleeting everyday details. Going through health issues starkly shows you that beauty really is everywhere, you just need to open your eyes and heart. For me, it’s the moment you relax into a hot bath, the feeling of a breeze through a window on a hot night, a sniff of a handful of blackberries, a bouquet of handpicked flowers, the funny way a cat is lying, the way your friend's face moves as she laughs. It’s my skin even when it’s red and angry, because I trust in my body’s ability to heal. It makes me quite emotional to think about how much change could happen in the world if we just let beauty in a little.
Do you have any additional ways that you care for your mind, body & spirit?
Breathwork - It’s free and works instantly. I highly recommend reading James Nestor’s book - it’s so eye-opening.
Gardening - Sowing seeds, weeding, watering, just sitting in a space surrounded by pots and flowers. Gardening has taught me patience, softness and that everything is cyclical.
Tarot - Working to become more self-aware is the biggest gift you can give to yourself, and to those around you. Tarot is not only incredibly beautiful, and rich with symbolism, it’s a tool to help frame and understand your daily life.
What are you most grateful for in your life?
My family, being surrounded by the countryside, and access to nourishing, healing food.
Current favourite...
Book - Rachelle Robinett’s new book, Naturally - it’s an in-depth and poetic study of herbalism, with tips and recipes too.
Movie - Not a movie, but I just finished Severance (and the podcast). Totally unique and addictive.
Song - Dracula by Amen Dunes
Podcast - I’m listening to The Telepathy Tapes. It’s incredible.
Clothing Item - My late grandad's cashmere green sweater. It’s oversized, no label, plenty of little moth holes, and so soft.
Coffee Shop - Hart’s Bakery in Bristol. Hands down, every time.
Where can we find you? Follow you?
Follow me at @becksringzzz and @achillea.store! If you’d like to come and shop at Achillea, I’d love to give you a special code - just use MOONSPACE15 at checkout. See you there!
