Beeswax information when used in cosmetics

Beeswax must be one of the most misunderstood and sometimes vilified cosmetic ingredients. Some people immediately call to mind a picture of a heavy and very solid wax when thinking of beeswax. This is incorrect and beeswax has very wonderful properties when correctly used and included in skin care formulas.

Beeswax is used in the following of our products Problem Skin Face Mask Cellumend Cellulite Cream Moisturizing Hand and Body Balm Intensive Hand Treatment Balm Nourishing and Refreshing Foot Cream

On this page

• Cosmetic properties of beeswax
• General information on beeswax
• Classification of beeswax as a cosmetic ingredient

Cosmetic properties of beeswax

Primitive people knew and used beeswax as an antiseptic and for wound healing. Hippocrates even recommended that a layer of beeswax be placed on the neck for quinsy.

Beeswax is one of natures most wonderful ingredients to use, and does a sterling job as a thickening agent, emulsifier, and humectant. It has wonderfully emollient, soothing and softening properties and helps the skin retain moisture.

People with acne sometimes incorrectly think that it is a comedogenic ingredient (an ingredient that promotes the formation of acne and pimples), whereas it in actual fact has an irritation potential of zero, and a comedogenicity rating of 0 - 2, which means that when it is properly used it will NOT promote the formation of acne or pimples.

When formulated and used correctly in cosmetic formulations, beeswax will not cause a problem or clog the pores, but brings a host of very positive attributes, such as healing, antiseptic, emollient and softening to a cosmetic product.

General information on beeswax

The honeybee, Apis Mellifera, secretes beeswax to build the walls of the honeycomb. When wax is secreted by the bee it is a transparent colorless liquid, which turns into a semi-solid substance on contact with the atmosphere.

It is purified from its raw state by freeing it of solid impurities through melting and centrifugation.

Beeswax typically contains 10-15 percent paraffin carbohydrates, 35-37 percent esters of C16 to C36 fatty acids and about 15 percent cerotic acid, melissic acid and their homologues.

Even after technological processing, it still remains a biologically active product, retaining some anti-bacterial properties and also contains some vitamin A, that is necessary for normal cell development.

Typically, beeswax has a melting point of 62 - 65 degrees Celsius, an acid value of 17 - 24, a saponification value of 89 - 103 and an ester value of 72 - 79.

Classification of beeswax as a cosmetic ingredient

Cera alba is the purified wax from the honeycomb of the bee (Apis mellifera) free from all other waxes and is commonly named white wax, when bleached and yellow wax, when not bleached.

It is classified as a wax and is used as a binder, emulsion stabilizer, miscellaneous skin-conditioning agent, emulsifying surfactant, as well as a non-aqueous viscosity increasing agent. It is also known as beeswax absolute and beeswax concrete.

For clarification of the above, please click here.