A review of the use of beeswax in skincare.

Yvonne Nong, Jessica Maloh, Nicole Natarelli, Hemali B Gunt, Esther Tristani, Raja K Sivamani

Journal of cosmetic dermatology 2023 Aug

filter terms:

Beeswax is a naturally occurring product secreted from worker bees that has varied uses in modern day. In skincare, its function ranges from its role as an occlusive, helping to create a semi-occlusive skin barrier that minimizes transepidermal water loss; as a humectant, locking in hydration; and an emollient to soften and soothe the skin. As a natural substance, its use has been shown to help alleviate symptoms associated with common cutaneous conditions like dermatitis, psoriasis, and overgrowth of normal skin flora. In this narrative review, we aim to describe current uses of beeswax in skincare that has been published in the literature. A review of beeswax related publications was performed by searching the PubMed database studies. A total of five clinical studies were included with three studies on animals and two studies in humans. Several studies show the benefits of topical beeswax in supporting the skin barrier. Beeswax can be a low-cost, natural ingredient for use in products. Further studies with topical beeswax are warranted. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Citation

Yvonne Nong, Jessica Maloh, Nicole Natarelli, Hemali B Gunt, Esther Tristani, Raja K Sivamani. A review of the use of beeswax in skincare. Journal of cosmetic dermatology. 2023 Aug;22(8):2166-2173