Beeswax can help the skin attract and retain moisture and is often used in skin care products and cosmetics.
Beeswax has been used topically on the skin since ancient Egyptian times.
You can find beeswax in many products today, including:
- makeup
- sunscreen
- baby products
So, what makes it so good for skin, and how can you use it?
What is beeswax?
Simply put, beeswax is a wax that comes from bees. The worker bees produce a honeycomb of this wax to store the colony’s honey.
Many beauty products that contain beeswax are EWG-certified. This means that a product has gone through the Environmental Working Group’s verification process to give consumers a better idea of its ingredients.
Beeswax for chapped lips
The next time you have chapped lips, try beeswax. You can purchase a beeswax-containing lip balm or make your own using this simple recipe.
DIY beeswax lip balm
Ingredients and supplies
- 2 tbsp. filtered beeswax
- 2 tbsp. shea butter
- 2 tbsp. coconut oil
- clean and dry lip balm containers
- double boiler pot or bowl
- paper cup for pouring
- 5–10 drops of peppermint baking oil (optional, for fragrance)
Directions
- Place 2 tablespoons of beeswax pellets, 2 tablespoons of shea butter, and 2 tablespoons of coconut oil into a heatproof bowl over a pot of water or into a double boiler.
- Heat the water over low to medium heat to melt the ingredients.
- Keep ingredients over the heat as you add the oil to your desired fragrance preference. Then turn off the heat.
- Crease one edge of the paper cup to create a small beak to pour the liquid out of.
- Before the mixture has the chance to harden, carefully fill the cup and use this to distribute the mixture into empty lip balm tubs.
- After the mixture has had several hours to harden and cool at room temperature, cap the containers with their covers.
Be sure to use natural, food-grade peppermint oil that you can typically find in the baking section at a grocery store. Peppermint essential oil is not the same thing.
Use beeswax to make a lotion bar
Beeswax can create a protective layer on the skin. It’s also a humectantTrusted Source, which means that it attracts and binds water. Both of these qualities can help the skin stay hydrated.
By making beeswax into a lotion bar, it can work double-duty to keep your skin soft and hydrated.
DIY beeswax lotion bar
Ingredients and supplies
- 7 tbsp. olive oil
- 4 tbsp. yellow beeswax pellets
- 7 tbsp. shea butter
- fragrance honey oil (optional)
- silicone soap bar molds
- microwave-safe container like a Pyrex measuring cup
- a container for storage
Directions
- Combine 7 tablespoons of olive oil and 4 tablespoons of yellow beeswax into a microwave-safe container.
- Microwave in 30-second bursts until completely melted.
- Remove the bowl carefully from the microwave as it may be very hot.
- Add in 7 tablespoons of shea butter. Stir.
- Add in 1–3 drops of honey fragrance oil. Stir to mix in.
- Prepare 6 silicone molds and carefully pour the mixture into each.
- Allow the mixture to cool and harden for several hours or overnight, if necessary.
- Once hard, be sure to store lotion bars in a cool, dry place to prevent melting.
Beeswax on its own has a light, honey fragrance. So you might not need to add any fragrance to your recipes.
Beeswax and skin conditions
Thanks to its antibacterial agents, beeswax has a long history of being used for certain skin issues. Historically, this has included treating burns and wounds.
Nowadays, it’s used to in ointments and creams, often to soothe symptoms of certain skin conditions, such asTrusted Source:
- psoriasis
- atopic dermatitis
- boils
- wounds
- diaper rash caused by Candida albicans
A 2018 study even found that natural products, such as beeswax, were far superior in managing sensitive skin compared with skin care products with synthetic ingredients.
Natural products minimized the chances of skin irritation while still providing soothing benefits.
A 2020 reviewTrusted Source notes the following benefits of beeswax when used in skin care:
- softens and lubricates skin
- prevents water loss
- has antiseptic properties, which may help protect the skin from pathogenic microorganisms
- provides a protective barrier to the skin
- provides vitamin A, which helps skin regenerate sooner after damage
Considerations
Allergies
Before using beeswax on your skin, you may want to test for allergies. You can do so by completing a patch test, which involves leaving a dab of beeswax on your inner wrist or elbow for 24–48 hours.
Some adverse reactions could include:
- skin swelling and redness
- itchiness or rash
- a burning sensation
If you experience any of these reactions from a patch test, discontinue the use of beeswax products. You may have an allergy.
Clean beeswax off skin
If using beeswax on your face, be sure to wash it off afterward.
Removing beeswax or any products containing beeswax from your skin is extremely important to let the skin breathe.
Since beeswax doesn’t dissolve in water, you may have to use an oil-based cleanser to remove it entirely from your skin. This could be the case if you use beeswax on your face or other areas of your skin.
