Beeswax

Beeswax must be one of the most vilified beauty ingredients. At first glance, you may think of it as a heavy, cloying solid wax that would likely clog pores or worse...cause a fit of unsightly zits. Or, does it, really? 

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It’s classified as a wax and is frequently used as a binder, emulsion stabilizer, miscellaneous skin-conditioning agent, emulsifying surfactant, thickening agent and/or a non-aqueous viscosity-increasing agent (aka humectant). Extraordinarily emollient, safe for soothing and softening, beeswax helps the skin retain moisture. Oilier skins often shy away from products containing beeswax in fear of the comedogenic label it’s been incorrectly given. In actuality, beeswax has an irritation factor of zero because of its inert structure. When formulated and used correctly in cosmetics, beeswax will not cause acne or obstruct the pores, but rather will bring a host of slew of moisturizing attributes, such as healing, antiseptic, emollient and softening to the choice of oil or balm.

This according to Beauty Huile. Beeswax is produced by bees, who produce it from wax glands on their bodies in order to build their honeycomb homes. It was used a lot in the Victorian and Edwardian era -- most references to "white wax" mean bleached beeswax. Around 1902, it was reported that beeswax was often found adulterated with resin, fallow, stearin, paraffin, goat's fat, and "vegetable and other inferior waxes." The Pharmaceutical Journal reports that it "consists chiefly of cerotic acid (cerin) and myricin, together with a little colouring matter and traces of hydrocarbons. ... The colouring matter can be removed by bleaching in bright sunshine. Chemically pure wax breaks with a splintery fracture, and at 0° C. assumes that peculiar plastic condition described as 'wax-like.' ... Beeswax has many uses, but perhaps none more important than its use in medicine for the making of ointments, plasters and cosmetics, for stopping teeth, and for taking impressions of the mouth in dental work. It is also ufcd in France as a remedy for diarrhoea, and the vapour of beeswax is said to be a useful remedy for coughs, expectoration and erysepelas. But beeswax is employed most for industrial and household purposes, viz., in the manufacture of candles and wax-tapers, making wax-figures and for modelling, fur, waxing sewing thread, for grafting, and for making various polishes and dubbins."