It’s a sure sign of spring when you see the first bees buzzing about. I love to watch them work in my garden, their legs heavy with pollen. It is amazing how our species relies so heavily on bees for our survival, and how we’ve found ways to incorporate the fruit of their labour into so many parts of our lives, including skincare.
People have been using beeswax to support their health and skin since the times of ancient Egypt and Rome, and in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. In ancient Egypt, they used beeswax in salves to treat burns and wounds, and even to soothe joint pain. There is evidence to show that in 150 B.C., a Greek physician began creating cosmetic creams using Beeswax.. I love knowing that we are using the same ingredients!
So what is it about beeswax that makes it such a popular ingredient in both healing and cosmetics? It can be found in everything from lotions to chapstick to even eyeliner. Part of the answer lies in beeswax’s relationship to water.
Beeswax for Moisture Retention
Beeswax is a funny thing. I include it in my Sun Creams because it creates a protective layer on the skin, giving it more staying power. It also offers a bit of waterproofing on those sweaty summer days. So on the one hand, beeswax keeps water away. It may surprise you to hear then, that beeswax is also a humectant. That means it’s a water-loving ingredient! Humectants like beeswax help draw moisture into the top layer of the skin. This creates a protective, moisturizing environment for the skin without clogging the pores.
Beeswax for Healthy, Clean Skin
Beeswax helps give my oil cleansers, like the Jojoba & Calendula Calming Cleanser, a smooth, luxurious texture. It also increases the nourishing and moisturizing benefits of the cleansers, unlike most cleansers which actually dry out and damage the skin, which allows us to use less products after cleansing.
Read more about oil cleansing and why it works
Beeswax has antibacterial properties, so as you gently massage the cleanser into your face, it aids in removing impurities and bacteria from the skin. If you’re struggling with oily, combination, or blemished skin, the Lavender & Lime Balancing Cleanser is ideal. The addition of lavender and lime essential oils offer even more antibacterial and antiseptic support.
Vitamin A is found in abundance in beeswax. As the precursor to retinol, vitamin A may help the skin with cell turnover and to stimulate collagen production. All of my cleansers, including the Chamomile & Mandarin Nourishing Cleanser, will leave your face feeling soft and smooth, while supporting and maintaining the skin’s protective barrier.
It seems the ancient cultures had it right when it comes to using natural skincare solutions!
Beeswax and Lanolin (a by-product from the cruelty-free wool industry,) are the only two ingredients in my products that come from animals. It’s important to me that bees will be buzzing through the gardens of all the generations to come, so I choose my suppliers carefully. All of my ingredients (where possible) are certified organic and cruelty free (Leaping Bunny).
Sources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.
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