Beeswax: Recipes for your skin
For thousands of years, honey, a product of bees, has been appreciated for its nutritional value and medicinal properties. It is certainly not the only flower-based product that can bring us benefits. Beeswax possesses characteristics that make it appreciable for our health and a marvellous product for our natural beauty, benefitting our skin greatly.
What is Beeswax?
Bees produce wax to structure and give necessary protection to their hive. Beeswax is extracted from the beehive and can be found in different forms depending whether or not it has passed through a process of bleaching and colouring. Naturally, beeswax tends to be a light greenish yellow colour, however when it has spent more time forming the structure of the hive it darkens in colour, taking a more yellowish hue as it absorbs parts of the honey, among other substances. The wax which is most recently made and most clear in colour is considered to be of better quality, and artificially bleached waxes will tend to have a lower quality.
Traditionally, beeswax is used to reduce cholesterol levels, as an anti-inflammatory, and in the treatment of ulcers it has been attributed some analgesic properties. It is also used in the cosmetic industry to improve the state of hair and skin.
General Health Benefits
Although beeswax is usually used in the preparation of creams and ointments, there are some benefits that natural beeswax can provide us with.
Beeswax is edible and although we rarely eat it, it is notably rich in vitamins such as vitamin A and is estimated to have about 284 different compounds, although its composition varies depending on its place of origin.
It may help to look after the health of our gums and teeth by chewing beeswax, and it has also been suggested that some components in beeswax protect our gastric mucose, however this has not been proven.
Beeswax to relieve skin
The use of wax for cosmetic purposes is not exactly new, in fact, over the years it has been used to maintain hydration of the skin. However, this is not the only possible application of beeswax on the skin as it can also be used as a remedy against certain skin conditions and also a healing ingredient, among many other benefits.
Remember when making any kind of cosmetic recipe using beeswax, you must use cosmetic grade beeswax.
Chapped lips?
A beeswax-based balm is ideal for cold weather to help us conserve the necessary hydration to prevent and treat chapped lips.
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons beeswax beads or flakes
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 5 drops of almond oil
Preparation:
- Melt the beeswax.
- Add the honey and stir it to incorporate into the beeswax.
- Add 3 drops of almond oil and remove from heat, then pour into a small, clean container before it solidifies.
Note: Remember that you can apply the balm with your fingertips, so it is advisable to keep it in a small container with a lid which is compatible with the heat of newly melted liquid and that it is easy to reach to the bottom with your finger.
For stretch marks
Another property of beeswax is its ability to promote the healing of skin, and is very effective in the treatment of stretch marks.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons beeswax
- 1 tablespoon wheat germ
- 1 capsule of vitamin E
- 1 tablespoon rosehip oil
Preparation:
- Melt the beeswax in a bain-marie.
- Incorporate the wheat germ with vitamin E and stir.
- Add the Rosehip oil, mix together and place in a bowl to cool.
The resulting cream should be applied in the areas of skin where you have stretch marks, distributing on the skin with the tip of our fingers. The cream should be used daily, so you can prepare a greater quantity and keep it in a container with a lid.
For irritated skin
Beeswax is also a remedy for skin irritations and allergies, thanks to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties which help to soothe the skin.
It is possible to make a cream at home which will alleviate irritation.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon cocoa butter
- 1 tablespoon beeswax
- 1 tablespoon green tea
- 1 tablespoon sweet almond oil
- 1 tablespoon shea butter
Preparation:
- Melt the beeswax in a bain-marie.
- In another bowl, mix the shea butter and cocoa on a low heat. Once blended together, add to the beeswax.
- Add the green tea and almond oil.
- Put in a bowl or other recipient, and let stand.
This cream helps to moisturize the skin and soothe irritation which occur with conditions such as rosacea or eczema.