Naked Beauty Podcast: Bea Dixon on Feminine Care and Black Entrepreneurship

Host: Brooke DeVard
Guest: Beatrice Dixon, Founder of The Honey Pot Company
Release Date: July 21, 2025

Introduction

In this enlightening episode of the Naked Beauty podcast, host Brooke DeVard engages in a deep conversation with Beatrice Dixon, the visionary founder of The Honey Pot Company. Beatrice shares her inspiring journey from overcoming personal health challenges to building a multimillion-dollar feminine care brand that centers Black women’s wellness.

Beatrice Dixon’s Early Life and Background

Beatrice Dixon begins by recounting her childhood experiences. Although she grew up as an adult in Atlanta, Georgia, she spent her early years before age ten in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia area) and later moved to Phoenix, Arizona.

Beatrice Dixon [05:54]: "I grew up as an adult in Atlanta."

Beatrice describes herself as an "okay" student, highlighting her strengths in extracurricular activities like the Future Business Leaders of America and the debate club, which laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial spirit.

Personal Health Journey and Inspiration for The Honey Pot

Beatrice delves into a deeply personal health crisis that ultimately inspired her to create The Honey Pot Company. After battling bacterial vaginosis (BV) for eight months with recurring infections and ineffective treatments, Beatrice experienced a transformative dream where an ancestor provided her with a natural formula to heal herself.

Beatrice Dixon [12:02]: "The only thing that worked... was the hydrogen peroxide douche."

This divine moment led her to formulate a plant-based feminine wash that effectively alleviated her symptoms. Empowered by this success, she decided to commercialize the product, launching The Honey Pot in 2014 with a single wash. The brand has since expanded into a multimillion-dollar enterprise available at major retailers like Target, Whole Foods, and Walmart.

Building The Honey Pot: From Dream to Empire

Beatrice discusses the early days of The Honey Pot, including their first sales event at the Dr. Bronner's Hair Show in Atlanta. Nervous yet excited, Beatrice and her team showcased their products adorned with natural ingredients like coconuts, roses, grapefruits, and garlic.

Beatrice Dixon [17:14]: "We bought a big banner... all these beautiful things, and we set it up on the table."

Through dedication and leveraging her background in pharmacy, Beatrice was able to create effective products that resonated with consumers, particularly Black women who had been underserved in the feminine care market.

Feminine Health and Wellness Insights

The conversation shifts to the broader topic of feminine health, where Beatrice emphasizes the importance of understanding how stress and hormones impact vaginal health.

Beatrice Dixon [18:27]: "When you're thinking about cortisol levels and how that can affect your hormones... it's one system, and it's like a domino effect."

She advocates for using organic materials in feminine products to prevent introducing harmful chemicals to sensitive areas. Beatrice distinguishes between high-quality, organic products and conventional options that may contain toxins.

Beatrice Dixon [21:19]: "Whatever chemicals are in that on whatever fabric, plastic, whatever you want to call it, whatever is on there is going into your body."

Maintaining Brand Integrity and Growth

Beatrice addresses the challenges of scaling a Black-owned business while maintaining its core values. She discusses Honey Pot’s recent $380 million deal, highlighting her decision to turn down a $450 million offer to preserve the brand’s integrity and mission.

Beatrice Dixon [29:12]: "I just think that had we taken that deal... I wasn't in the business of selling my soul."

She underscores the importance of choosing the right partners who respect the brand's legacy and values. Beatrice also touches on the broader issue of Black entrepreneurs facing different acquisition standards compared to their non-Black counterparts.

Beatrice Dixon [32:33]: "We should be happy for each other. This is what happens with businesses... Either you're going to sell, you're going to IPO, or you're going to stay a private company forever."

Self-Care and Personal Wellness Practices

Shifting focus to personal wellness, Beatrice shares her daily self-care rituals that help her stay aligned and maintain her well-being amidst the demands of running a successful company. Her practices include:

• Exercise: Strength training, HIIT, and cardio workouts with a trainer.
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Used once or twice a week to aid recovery and oxygenate her blood.
• Chiropractic Care and Acupuncture: Regular sessions to maintain physical health.
• Diet: Consumes mostly water and uses natural sweeteners like coconut sugar, agave, or honey instead of regular sugar.

Beatrice also highlights the importance of a clean and aesthetically pleasing environment, which includes using DIY skincare products like her turmeric face wash made from organic ingredients.

Beatrice Dixon [26:15]: "It's like a third of clean water, a third of coconut castile soap... a teaspoon of turmeric powder."

Challenges Faced by Black Entrepreneurs

Beatrice addresses the societal expectations and misconceptions surrounding Black-owned businesses. She passionately defends the right of Black entrepreneurs to sell their companies and create wealth, challenging the double standards that often limit their growth opportunities.

Beatrice Dixon [35:24]: "Why is it okay for us to sell? That's ridiculous... Business is commerce. Commerce is money."

She criticizes the tendency to hold Black businesses to different standards and emphasizes the importance of viewing transactions like acquisitions without prejudice.

Beatrice Dixon [35:41]: "Don't walk in expecting negative intent... we have to do better, we have to be better to each other."

Advice for Aspiring Founders

In her closing remarks, Beatrice offers invaluable advice to the next generation of beauty and wellness founders:

• Believe in Yourself: Maintain unwavering faith in your vision and team, even during tough times.
• Stay Focused: Avoid comparing your journey to others and focus on your unique path.
• Patience and Persistence: Understand that building a successful business takes time, often over a decade.
• Self-Care: Prioritize your well-being to sustain the demands of entrepreneurship.

Beatrice Dixon [40:25]: "You have to believe in yourself in a very religious way... you can't waver from your belief in yourself."

Final Thoughts: Embracing Confidence and Beauty

When asked about when she feels most beautiful, Beatrice reflects on her journey towards self-confidence. While acknowledging ongoing work in self-love, she identifies her current state of feeling beautiful as a result of investing in her body, mind, and overall well-being.

Beatrice Dixon [41:55]: "I feel the most beautiful now because I'm really invested in my body and how it feels and my mind and rest."

Conclusion

Brooke DeVard wraps up the conversation by expressing gratitude for Beatrice Dixon's insights and contributions to the field of feminine care and Black entrepreneurship. The episode offers listeners a blend of personal storytelling, practical wellness tips, and a powerful message on the importance of maintaining integrity while pursuing business success.

Notable Quotes:

• Beatrice Dixon [05:54]: "I grew up as an adult in Atlanta."
• Beatrice Dixon [12:02]: "The only thing that worked... was the hydrogen peroxide douche."
• Beatrice Dixon [21:19]: "Whatever chemicals are in that on whatever fabric... is going into your body."
• Beatrice Dixon [29:12]: "I wasn't in the business of selling my soul."
• Beatrice Dixon [35:24]: "Why is it okay for us to sell? That's ridiculous."
• Beatrice Dixon [40:25]: "You have to believe in yourself in a very religious way."
• Beatrice Dixon [41:55]: "I feel the most beautiful now because I'm really invested in my body and how it feels and my mind and rest."

Listen to the full episode here.