Benefits of Honey and Beeswax in Skincare

Honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly and bee bread (yes bees make bread!) are natural products that have been used in medicine since ancient times for a variety of ailments because of their antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. Women cottoned on pretty quickly to these benefits and bee products became valued as natural beauty ingredients too. It is said that Cleopatra added honey to her milk baths to keep her skin smooth and firm and in Ming Dynasty China, women in the Emperor’s Court used a blend of honey and ground orange seeds to keep their skin fresh and blemish-free (Altman, 2010)

Natural bee products are still prized today for treating wounds and honey dressings are even on the British National Formulary for drawing out infection and speeding up the process of wound healing! Honey and beeswax products are ideal for skin care too as the effectiveness of bee products on the skin has been proven by numerous studies (table 2). It’s no wonder they are key ingredients in many cosmetics.

Honey, made by bees from nectar and honeydew, has high nutritional value, regenerative and antimicrobial properties. Whilst beeswax, taken from honeycombs at the heart of the hive, has lubricating, softening activities and reduces water loss from skin. We use honey in our lotion and both honey and beeswax in our soap, and lip balm. Here’s our top reasons for formulating with these wonderful ingredients.

• Moisturised Skin

Honey is a natural humectant, meaning that it attracts and retains moisture to the skin. This makes it a great ingredient in skincare products where the aim is to have good moisturising qualities. 

• Everyday protection against germs

Honey has antibacterial superpowers which is down to several things. Sugar content, pH and hydrogen peroxide content (from bee enzyme, glucose oxidase, which is introduced into honey during nectar harvesting) prevent most microbial growth, but honey’s humectant properties play a role in dehydrating bacteria too.

All great news for a honey lotion working hard to keep the skin protected and helping to prevent spots.

• Softens and protects

Beeswax is rich in fatty acids and widely found in the formulation of cosmetic treatments intended for dry skin. Beeswax is a key ingredient in our lip balms. Applied on the skin, it gives comfort thanks to its softening action and provides lasting protection against external aggression such as the cold or wind.

• Bountiful Bubbles

The sugar content of honey helps boost the lathering properties of soap.

• Your favourite soap lasts longer

Cold process soap made with luxury butters is a real treat for the skin, but the downside is that the bars are somewhat softer than shop bought syndet bars (syndet is quite literally synthetic detergent passing as soap or “beauty bars”) Beeswax makes cold process bars harder so your favourite bar will last longer!