Beeswax is natural and has skincare benefits. It softens skin but also provides an occlusive barrier to hold in moisture and protect. This article answers Why You Should Use Beeswax on Your Skin.
What is Beeswax
Beeswax is a bee by-product. It is the honeycomb of the honeybee. It has a variety of food, health and beauty uses. It has less skin actives than propolis or bee venom.
Beeswax is used in cosmetics after honey has been removed from honeycombs. The wax is melted and extracted and any impurities are separated.[1]
It can enhance the texture of a cosmetic formulation. In a lipstick or lip cream product, a beeswax base provides elasticity and increases skin adhesiveness. [2]
There are three types of beeswax:
Yellow Beeswax (Cera flava)
Yellow Beeswax is raw beeswax as found in its’ natural, unrefined form direct from the honeycomb. Yellow beeswax is what most of us picture when thinking of beeswax. Because it is smokeless, it is often used to make candles and within aromatherapy applications. Yellow Beeswax candles smell of honey.
White Beeswax (Cera alba)
White Beeswax is purified (and sometimes bleached) yellow beeswax. Most manufactured or mass produced beeswax is white beeswax. It is used in ointments, cosmetics, soft-gel capsules, and creams.
Beeswax Absolute
Beeswax Absolute is yellow beeswax which has been treated with alcohol. It is a pale yellow, waxy and has a base note similar to a light vanilla. It is also used in cosmetics such as lip and eye makeup. It works as a natural formulation fixative and can soothe and calm the skin.
The Benefits
“Beeswax is used for production of cosmetics and ointments in pharmacy. Due to a large number of biological activities, bee products could be considered as important ingredients in medicines and cosmetics applied to skin” [3]
For skincare purposes, beeswax is an occlusive. It provides a barrier to help keep retain skin moisture. It is often used in natural lip balms, but it has direct facial skin benefits.
Beeswax contains β-carotene, which converts into a gentle Vitamin A. Unlike retinol versions of Vitamin A, beeswax-derived Vitamin A is gentle the skin. Vitamin A delays collagen degradation and stimulates healing and regeneration in the epidermis. [4].
Beeswax skincare benefits include:
- softening
- emollient
- occlusive
Beeswax is also an anti-fungal.
Contraindications
While Beeswax is a natural and gentle ingredient, some people do have allergies to bee bi-products. While this is less common with the processed white beeswax found in most cosmetics and creams, it is still possible to have an allergic reaction.
- Pregnant and nursing women are advised not to use Beeswax without the medical advice of a physician.
- Avoid beeswax if you have hay fever
- Avoid beeswax if you have an allergy to bee pi-products. These include Honey, propolis, bee pollen, bee bread, royal jelly, beeswax and bee venom.[5]
- If you are unsure if you are allergic to beeswax, testing it on a skin spot is advised.
Summary of Why Use Beeswax on Skin
Beeswax has an occlusive quality to provide a barrier while retaining precious skin moisture. It is a natural skin conditioner that stands up to wind, dry weather, cold winters, and hot summer sun. Beeswax contains a gentle form of Vitamin A to regenerate the skin. It helps with healing, stimulating cell turnover, and protects against UV radiation.
Was the article Why You Should Use Beeswax on Your Skin useful? Then you may enjoy similar skincare topics such as:
- What You Need to Know About Beta Hydroxy Acids
- Why Use Bakuchiol Not Retinol
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References
- Kędzia B., Hołderna-Kędzia E. The use of beeswax in medicine. [(accessed on 12 July 2019)];Pasieka. 2014 3 [Google Scholar]
- Kasparaviciene G., Savickas A., Kalveniene Z., Velziene S., Kubiliene L., Bernatoniene J. Evaluation of beeswax influence on physical properties of lipstick using instrumental and sensory methods. Evid. Based Compl. Altern. Med. 2016 doi: 10.1155/2016/3816460.
- Kedzia, The use of beeswax in medicine, 2019
- Buchwald R., Breed M.D., Bjostad L., Hibbard B.E., Greenberg A.R. The role of fatty acids in the mechanical properties of beeswax. Apidologie. 2009;4:585–594. doi: 10.1051/apido/2009035.
- Kurek-Górecka A, Górecki M, Rzepecka-Stojko A, Balwierz R, Stojko J. Bee Products in Dermatology and Skin Care. Molecules. 2020 Jan 28;25(3):556. doi: 10.3390/molecules25030556. PMID: 32012913; PMCID: PMC7036894.