expertadvice
INGREDIENTS
Beauty and the Bees
In the process of pollinating the planet, bees make some great skin care products by Lauren Snow
There are more than 25,000 known species of bees around the world. And as they buzz around pollinating plants and basically keeping the planet alive, they create by-products that humans have found a great many uses for. Many bee b-yproducts are used for food, but you’ll also find them flourishing in skin care.
SWARM-WORTHY SKIN CARE
As trends shift toward more natural living and clean ingredients, bee products have created a buzz in the beauty and wellness world. Found in everything from cleansers and toners to serums and moisturizers, the big by-products—honey, propolis, royal jelly, and beeswax—offer some amazing benefits for several common skin conditions. Honey Honey has myriad benefits to the skin, and one of the most significant is wound healing. In a study on pediatric dermatitis where a mixture of honey, beeswax, and olive oil was applied to the diaper area or on eczematic areas of children, the clinical trial showed that the honey mixture was well tolerated by this sensitized skin, and the skin had significant improvement.1 When applied to acne lesions, honey can soothe and disinfect the surface. Its naturally acidic pH prohibits bacteria survival, and it pulls oil from the lesion and absorbs it. According to a study in the Scientific World Journal, honey even contains an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide, which is known to kill Cutibacterium acnes bacteria.2 Honey is full of antiaging qualities, as well as serving as an emollient, a humectant, and an exfoliator. Honey also contains vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and natural enzymes. Propolis Propolis is a resinous substance that serves as a “glue” inside the beehive. It is mostly composed of resin and wax, with essential oils and pollen from flowers making up the remaining portion. Propolis is one of the most potent antimicrobial substances found in nature. In the beehive, it is used to seal holes and cracks, keeping the hive protected from the spread of bacteria and fungus. In skin care, propolis has healing properties due to its wide range of “anti” properties—antibacterial, antiseptic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal. It is the mostused honeybee by-product in skin care products.
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INGREDIENTS Propolis is often used in creams and moisturizers because of its lipophilic, anti-allergy, and antiinflammatory properties, and its promotive action on collagen synthesis. A clinical study of 40 acne patients using propolis showed it was highly effective in treating acne vulgaris and was tolerated well, likely in part to its essential oils and soothing wax.3 Propolis’s lipophilic properties mean it can also dissolve oil on the skin, helping the management of acne. In another study, propolis demonstrated its ability to increase collagen production in wound healing, thus earning a place in the antiaging category as well. Royal Jelly Royal jelly is a white and viscous jelly-like substance created by worker bees for the sole consumption of the queen bee and her larvae. Considered a superfood, a substance inside royal jelly called royalactin is what induces the queen differentiation from worker bees in the hive. This substance is so powerful that it is also responsible for the queen bee’s ability to live long past her worker bees. Perhaps this is the fountain of youth Greek philosophers wrote about! Used in both traditional and modern medicine, royal jelly is also found to have antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects.4 The multitasking composition of royal jelly makes it an exciting ingredient for skin care use. The antioxidants and anti-inflammatories soothe and nourish the skin while helping protect, hydrate, and heal. You can find royal jelly in serums, moisturizers, sprays, and masks. Beeswax Beeswax is the substance bees produce to build their honeycomb. When you think of beeswax, you might only think of lip balm, but it goes far beyond providing an occlusive layer between your lips and the elements. As a natural emulsifier, it helps cosmetics, soaps, and lotions bind. Beeswax is also considered an emollient and humectant, which can help soften skin and keep moisture locked in.
HERE’S THE ZINGER
An allergic reaction to bee by-products can be severe and potentially life-threatening to those who are sensitized. If someone is allergic to bee stings, it is highly likely they will react to the topical application of bee by-products. As always, it’s imperative to complete a comprehensive consultation before any treatment.
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Used in both traditional and modern medicine, royal jelly is found to have antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEE-HOLDER
At a time when more invasive treatments are being sought to stimulate collagen production, maybe it’s time to take a look at what nature has given us as an alternative. As a growing body of research continues to prove these bee by-products are buzzworthy, pick one up and try it out for yourself!
Note
1. Visweswara Rao Pasupuleti et al., “Honey, Propolis, and Royal Jelly: A Comprehensive Review of Their Biological Actions and Health Benefits,” Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity 2 (July 2017): 1–21, https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/1259510. 2. Noori Al-Waili, Khelod Salom, and Ahmad A. Al-Ghamdi, “Honey for Wound Healing, Ulsers, and Burns; Data Supporting Its Use in Clinical Practice,” Scientific World Journal 11, no. 1 (April 2011): 766–87, https://doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2011.78. 3. B asma Mourad Mohammad Ali et al., “Significance of Topical Propolis in the Treatment of Facial Acne Vulgaris,” Egyptian Journal of Dermatology and Venereology 1, no. 35 (2015): 29–36, https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-6530.162468. 4. V isweswara Rao Pasupuleti et al., “Honey, Propolis, and Royal Jelly: A Comprehensive Review of Their Biological Actions and Health Benefits.”
Protect the Bees Bees are essential to the existing flora and fauna of the earth. Many plants depend on bee pollination for survival, as plants cannot reproduce without it. Some studies show if bees were to become extinct, all other life on Earth would too. The United Nations designated May 20 as World Bee Day. To learn more about why we need to protect the bees, visit www.worldbeeday.org/en.