Beeswax is a natural ingredient that has several therapeutic properties. You can find it in skincare products such as lip balms
Source of Beeswax
Beeswax is not extracted from a plant, unlike many other natural skincare ingredients; it is actually a natural product of the honey bee (genus Apis). Worker honeybees secrete a waxy substance to build the walls of the honeycomb. The beehive has to be at just the right temperature (91 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit) for the worker bees to be able to secrete the wax; the bees maintain the temperature within the hive by using water and flapping their wings in order to circulate air (source: The Chemistry of Bees).
The honeycomb is the home and workplace of the honeybee where both baby honeybees are raised and honey and pollen are stored. Beeswax is collected from the honeycomb by heating the honeycomb in water so that the wax separates from the water when it cools down (a similar process to the distillation of essential oils). It takes a lot of honey to produce a small quantity of beeswax; 10 pounds of honey yields just one pound of beeswax (source: Alabama Bee and Honey Producers).
Chemistry of Beeswax
Secreted beeswax is a white to colorless substance in liquid form; this turns into a yellow, tough, waxy solid substance on contact with the air. The color of solid beeswax may vary due to resins and plant material in the geographical area where the beeswax is produced. Beeswax can be softened by heat to work with for cosmetic product making. Beeswax is chemically composed of fatty acids, hydrocarbons and other minor components (source: What is Beeswax?).
Therapeutic Properties
Beeswax contains Vitamin A and has anti-bacterial properties; centuries ago it was used as an antiseptic. It is excellent for use in skin care because it is an emollient, skin softener and skin soother. It also helps the skin to retain moisture (source: Cosmetic Properties of Beeswax). Beeswax has the aroma of honey and flower pollen.
Why Beeswax is Added to Cosmetic Products
Beeswax has several roles in cosmetic making; it can be used as a binding agent, skin-conditioning agent, thickening agent and can help to absorb water in a product. It is a common ingredient in lip balms, body butters, lipsticks, lotions, soaps and facial creams. It is solid at room temperature, so you need to heat it up first in order to be able to combine it with other cosmetic ingredients when making your own cosmetic products. Once it has cooled down, it will become solid again. Beeswax is sometimes available as beeswax granules or pastilles for cosmetic making.
Using Beeswax for Cosmetics
Beeswax should not be confused with other types of waxes that some plants produce; for example, Candelilla wax which is extracted from Euphorbia cerifera or Carnauba wax which is extracted from Copernicia cerifera. These types of waxes are not the same product as beeswax, although both are also used in cosmetic making. However, beeswax is one of the most popular waxes used in cosmetic making.
Photo by Barabeke
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