My first experience with working with beeswax happened when I needed to make a hand balm for my overworked, rough hands. I was making a lot of soap, which needed a lot of cleaning up and I had started experimenting with concrete products. There were a lot of balms available in the market but I really wanted to see if I could make something with the ingredients I felt my hands needed. And so began a year long process of over 20 iterations of a single recipe.
Initially, I wanted to keep it vegan and not use any beeswax. But the hardness I needed from the balm just wasn't attainable without a substance like beeswax. So I went ahead and bought some off my regular soap ingredient supplier. Tiny yellow pellets, which seemed to do the job but I was curious to see if I could source something hyper local. A few phone-calls and texts with friends lead me to an apiarist a mile from my studio who kept bees as a hobby. Turned out he had an excess of beeswax which he was very happy to part with. And so, Skunk's hand balm got its final addition of locally sourced beeswax which made it so much more robust.
Here are a few pointers on why beeswax is good for your skin and how it can be used.
Beeswax has many benefits, not least that it is able to create a breathable protective layer on the surface of the skin that helps with locking in moisture. This is especially helpful for people with dry to very dry skin and has been used for centuries.
WHAT IS BEESWAX
Beeswax is made by honey bees and is a natural byproduct of honey production. It has been time tested as a skin care product for softening and moisturising skin. Worker bees produce it to build honeycomb, and it is collected as a byproduct of beekeeping, making it both natural and widely available.
It is quite different from synthetic waxes or petroleum-based ingredients because it does not involve petrochemicals or harsh solvent refining. That means it is sought after by people who prefer natural skin care products.
Instead of being used in lighter formulations such as lotions and light creams, beeswax is usually used in products that are slightly richer in their formulations like balms, body butters and salves. It is also widely used for lip treatments.
BEESWAX AND DRY SKIN
The way beeswax works for skin care is by locking in the moisture that is already produced by your body rather than bring the moisture itself. One of the unique properties of beeswax is that it creates a breathable barrier on the surface of your skin which in tern retains moisture and still allows your skin to breathe without making it feel sticky or overtly coated.
When skin is damaged because of the elements or harsh, chemically infused products or simply because of a person's natural tendency to have dry skin, using beeswax becomes quite useful. Beeswax slows down the process of moisture escaping by locking it in and making your skin feel hydrated.
Aside from just locking in the moisture, it also allows for the skin to soften and smoothens the surface especially for rough or flaky skin. Our joints - elbows, knees, heels - are areas where skin has a natural tendency to get rough and thick and this is where beeswax can come and save the day.
WHEN IS BEESWAX NOT RIGHT FOR YOU
First up - if you have an allergy to bee related products, it might be advisable to avoid beeswax but it is also important to do a patch test for any new product that you try for your skin.
If your skin is oily or acne-prone, beeswax itself will not clog pores, but richer balm formulas can feel a bit heavy or greasy, particularly if your skin is already producing enough oil. In those cases, lighter textures might feel more comfortable.
It must be noted that beeswax is not a replacement for any medical treatment for skin. Yes, it is great for most skin types, especially people dealing with rough and dry skin but for medical conditions like eczema or psoriasis, it is best advised to check in with your GP or dermatologist before trying any product.
And of course, beeswax is not suitable if you follow a vegan lifestyle, as it is an animal-derived ingredient.
HOW TO USE BEESWAX FOR DRY SKIN
Beeswax works best as a targeted treatment rather than an all-over moisturiser. As beeswax is thicker than lotions and light formulations, it is especially good for dry areas like joints - knees, elbows, knuckles etc.
The best way to use beeswax is to apply the balm or salve after washing, while your skin is slightly damn. That little bit of damp moisture will then get trapped under the beeswax and allow for the area to be hydrated for a longer period of time
Look for formulas that combine beeswax with nourishing ingredients like shea butter or plant oils. These ingredients in combination with beeswax hydrate your skin for much longer and give better results than single ingredient treatments.
TRY SKUNK'S SOLID HAND BALM FOR WORKING HANDS
Our Solid Hand Balm for Working Hands is loaded with ingredients like shea butter, kokum butter, coconut oil, sustainably sourced beeswax, thistle oil, and vitamin E, along with a light essential oil blend for a subtle, natural fragrance rooted in lavender and Siberian fir. It is especially useful if your hands are exposed to the elements or frequent washing or if you’re an artisan or maker who works with their hands
Just remember that with a balm like this, a little really does go a long way.
