If you’re afraid of bees, you may start seeing them with different eyes after reading this article. It turns out that some of the substances created by honey bees have amazing skin benefits. Here, we’ll elaborate on three particular bee products we love to utilize in some of our products and how they can actually improve the health and beauty of your skin.
Honey
With a near miraculous composition, many consider honey the perfect beauty remedy. Often referred to as liquid gold, honey isn’t just prized for its nutritional value; it can also benefit the skin when applied topically. This isn’t a new trend either; the use of raw honey on skin dates back more than 4000 years. Many cultures utilized it to cleanse their skin and treat certain ailments.
Fast forward to today and not much has changed. Even high-end cosmetics contain honey because of its abundance in amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, proteins, and minerals. It’s also one of the few natural products on earth that does not spoil. It’s no doubt that there are many reasons to incorporate honey in your beauty routine:
It’s a natural moisturizer. Honey contains humectant properties that help balance skin hydration.
It has antibacterial properties. Due to the enzymatic activity in honey, it can help treat wound infections as well as provide a protective barrier to prevent further infection.
It helps reduce Inflammation. Honey has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect, which can aid in treating skin flare-ups caused by psoriasis, eczema, and atopic dermatitis.
It reduces oxidative stress and promotes cellular regeneration. Compounds like phytochemicals and flavonoids found in raw honey act as antioxidants, which can help fight free radical damage and promote skin cell regeneration.
Beeswax
Beeswax is another product gifted to us by honey bees. Made using the nectar or pollen of flowers, this natural wax is secreted by the bees themselves and used to construct the beehive. Beeswax has likewise been used for centuries in skincare and is often incorporated as a base ingredient in skincare products. Like honey, it also doesn’t spoil, which can help increase product’s shelf-life. Products made with beeswax are extremely beneficial for the skin for several reasons:
It promotes skin cell turnover and enhances skin elasticity. Beeswax is rich in vitamin A, which has emollient properties that soften skin and promote cellular reconstruction.
It helps skin retain moisture. When applied topically, beeswax forms a protective barrier on the skin allowing hydration to deeply penetrate while also preventing moisture from escaping.
Relieves itching and dry skin. Beeswax has anti-inflammatory properties that help sooth problematic skin flare ups, itchiness, and dryness.
Bee Pollen
Bee pollen is made from pellets of flower pollen gathered and packed by bees. Along with flower nectar, bee pollen serves as a source of food for the bee hive and is packed with over 200 biologically active substances. It constitutes a natural source of proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Bee pollen is utilized both for medicinal purposes and cosmetic purposes for many reasons:
It is antifungal and antimicrobial. Phenolic acids and flavonoids found in bee pollen contribute to its antifungal properties and can help fight against certain fungal species, such as Candida albicans.
It can help balance the skin’s oil production. Its anti-inflammatory effects along with the presence of minerals like zinc in bee pollen can help regulate the skin’s sebaceous glands and control the formation of acne and blackheads.
It helps boosts skin cell regeneration. Due to its high content in vitamin C and flavonoids, bee pollen also influences cell metabolism and aids in skin cell regeneration.
If you’d like to reap the benefits of these amazing ingredients, try our Nourishing Cream, which is made using natural, unrefined, raw beeswax and bee pollen, or our Honey and Oat soap, made with sustainably-sourced, raw, organic honey.