Beeswax is the primary substance for constructing the honeycomb. Honey bees make the wax to make the structure of the comb and the hexagonal cells for storing honey and brood (immature bees).

Beeswax is a popular product that offers an effective cosmetic solution for various skin nourishment and problems.

You can also use it for making candles, lip balm, lotion, use as an ingredient in soaps, in other household use and products. You may be interested to learn more about the other important honey bee products.

How do bees make the wax?

The responsibility of making beeswax goes to the young worker bees that have emerged as adults.

The young worker bees have four special wax making glands, from here they secrete a liquid form of wax. This wax when exposed to the air becomes hard into thin scales.

The production capacity of a healthy and young bee in the beehive is around eight scales of wax in 12 hours time period.

Do you know? A bee colony needs nearly 1000 wax scales to produce a single gram of beeswax for the comb.

When the young worker bees become aged the ability of the wax-glands becomes ineffective.

How do bees make honeycomb from the wax?

When the liquid form of the honey hardens, the bee uses her strong hair on her back leg to remove and pass the wax to their middle legs, then to mandibles.

After this, the bees chew the wax to make it flexible. Then they carefully go on making hexagonal cells shaped honeycomb with the wax.

The best part is that the bees using their mouths measure the thickness of each cell they make. This gives them a fair idea about which cell needs more or less wax for a perfect shape and strong cell.

How does the temperature affect beeswax?

Beeswax withstands different seasonal temperatures because it has a melting point of 64.5 degrees Celsius and it comes breakable when the temperature drops to 18 degrees Celsius.

Therefore, it stands stronger for the bee colony even if the temperature fluctuates during different seasons like summer and winter.

Beeswax contains:

1. Hydrocarbons
2. Fatty acids
3. Esters of fatty acids
4. Fatty alcohol
5. Diesters
6. Exogenous substances

It also contains antimicrobial and ant inflammation properties that aid in healing burns and bruises.

The colour of the beeswax

The variation in its colour depends upon the flowers that bees collect from the nectar. The region of the flowers and the age of worker bees do have an impact on their colour.

Generally, the colour of the Beeswax is yellow, black or light amber. This could be because of the pollen and resins content in the makers of beeswax.

How to Harvest Beeswax?

The wax is removed by the beekeepers by cutting the capping from the honey cells when they are filled.

This capping has honey left into this. So, it is collected in a tub to let the honey drain out. Thereafter, the honey is separated from the wax. Then the wax is set for melting in a safe manner.

How do we melt it safely?

You can use the crockpot to melt it safely. Because in this method you can control the temperature at which the beeswax safely melts without losing its aroma.

You got to remember that the beeswax starts melting at 62°C to 66°C. If it goes beyond 76°C then it will lose its aroma.

After the Beeswax has completely melted, make sure to remove it from the heat. After this, you can pour it to make a candle or you can further add some ingredients like butter and oils to make lotions or balms.

Beeswax Benefits

Beeswax in aromatherapy candles

The lengthy burning time of beeswax candles makes them a valuable ingredient for aromatherapy therapy.

It is reputedly popular in releasing the aroma of honey. The aroma ranges from sweet to fresh and warm smell of the floral source.

That means it smells like the floral source of the nectar collected to deposit in the beehive. The aroma also helps clean the air pollutants like dust, bacteria, odours and allergens.

Beeswax medicinal benefits

It contains anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-allergic properties which facilitate treating burns, scrapes, minor cuts, wounds and other abrasions.

The valuable anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties of beeswax prevent bacteria from getting into our bodies from causing further harmful effects.

It also helps in moisturizing the skin to bring its natural smoothness and radiance back.

Beeswax for skincare

Using beeswax topically especially for skincare is in practice since ancient times. So, it has been in use and part of beauty products including sunscreen and baby products too.

a) Worried about cracked lips:

Beeswax lip balm is a natural emulsifier that keeps the moisturizer in the skin to help cracked lips. You can order it from Amazon when you have troubling cracked lips and want to get rid of them. Or you can make it yourself with simple ingredients and instructions.

b) As a lotion bar:

It creates a protective layer on your skin when exposed to the sun and outside pollution.

It is a good exfoliates which is quite ideal for removing dead skin cells. Beeswax lotion bar will help to keep your skin soft and hydrated.

c) For better skin conditions:

Beeswax has an anti-bacterial effect. Hence, it has been in use historically for skin treatment. The usage of beeswax is especially for skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

A study conducted in the year 2003 proves the effectiveness of honey, beeswax and olive oil combination. This mixture when applied topically resulted in a great improvement among the people with psoriasis and dermatitis.

Beeswax soothes and calms the skin. It acts as a barrier against environmental pollutants.

It rejuvenates and regenerates the skin. This reduces the appearance and signs of ageing, wrinkles and skin damage. It can remedy crack heals and hands too.

Clean it after applying on the face

When you apply it to the face it is extremely important to remove it or the product containing the beeswax to let your skin breathe.

It doesn’t dissolve in the water. So, use a cleanser that is made from oil to remove it from the skin.

Benefits of beeswax for hair

The little trace of antibacterial and Vitamin A in it leads to moisturizing hair.

The people, who find it difficult to keep their hairs smooth and manage flyaway strands, use it to keep their hairstyles unaffected.

Instead of cutting split ends, you can use it to seal strands as beeswax is the best way to hide the split ends.

How to use it?

Start with the small amount of Beeswax first and increase the quantity gradually according to the outcome. Before you apply this to your hair, just rub it between your hands and apply it for a better result.

As a baby rash cream

Choose a baby rash cream that includes Beeswax as it not only soothes the rash but also protects the baby’s skin.

Beeswax is used in soap

It is often used as an ingredient in making soaps. This will help make the soap strong and last longer. You can check the recipe for making the soap using beeswax here.

DIY (Do it yourself) – make your own lip balm

You can use this to make lip balms with some added ingredients for aroma and colour. You can also make a number of beauty products with beeswax as an ingredient with simple methods.

CONCLUSION

Beeswax is widely used as a popular ingredient in cosmetics, aromatic candles, lip balm and lotions since ancient times. So, purchase this natural product to enjoy its natural benefits!

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