Beeswax
Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honeybees (Apis mellifera) and is widely used in skincare for its emollient, protective, and soothing properties. Rich in natural esters, fatty acids, and vitamin A, beeswax helps to lock in moisture, making it an effective ingredient for hydrating and conditioning the skin. Unlike petroleum-based occlusives, beeswax allows the skin to breathe while forming a protective barrier that prevents moisture loss and shields against environmental irritants.
Beyond its moisturizing benefits, beeswax has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it beneficial for soothing sensitive or irritated skin. It is commonly used in lip balms, creams, and salves to protect dry, chapped skin while promoting healing. Additionally, beeswax enhances the texture and stability of skincare formulations, acting as a natural thickener and emulsifier that helps bind ingredients together.
Due to its gentle, non-comedogenic nature, beeswax is suitable for all skin types, including dry, sensitive, and acne-prone skin. It is often found in natural and organic skincare products, particularly in balms, lotions, and ointments designed to nourish and protect the skin while maintaining a soft, smooth texture.
Beeswax (also known as cera alba) is a natural wax produced by honey bees of the genus Apis. The wax is formed into scales by eight wax-producing glands in the abdominal segments of worker bees, which discard it in or at the hive. The hive workers collect and use it to form cells for honey storage and larval and pupal protection within the beehive. Chemically, beeswax consists mainly of esters of fatty acids and various long-chain alcohols.
Beeswax has been used since prehistory as the first plastic, as a lubricant and waterproofing agent, in lost wax casting of metals and glass, as a polish for wood and leather, for making candles, as an ingredient in cosmetics and as an artistic medium in encaustic painting.
Beeswax is edible, having similarly negligible toxicity to plant waxes, and is approved for food use in most countries and in the European Union under the E number E901. However, due to its inability to be broken down by the human digestive system, it has insignificant nutritional value.
