In the beauty industry, bees are truly remarkable. Honey, along with propolis and beeswax, are cherished skincare ingredients, each praised for their diverse and valuable benefits.
While it's impossible to create synthetic honey or propolis, synthetic beeswax can be produced. But does it offer the same advantages as natural beeswax?
Synthetic Beeswax
Ingredient Type: Occlusive
Primary Benefits: Synthetic beeswax helps maintain skin hydration by forming a barrier that reduces trans-epidermal water loss. It is also widely used in formulations to give products like lip balms and mascaras a creamy texture.
Who Should Use It: This ingredient is beneficial for everyone, particularly for those seeking vegan beauty options (although there’s a notable exception to consider).
Recommended Usage: Daily
Best Paired With: Synthetic beeswax pairs well with all oils and oil-soluble ingredients. Its relatively inert nature in purified, cosmetic-grade forms makes it compatible with a wide range of biologically active ingredients, such as vitamin E, enhancing their efficacy.
Avoid Using With: Synthetic beeswax doesn’t mix well with water-soluble ingredients, like herbal or flower extracts, unless an emulsifier is present. However, this is mainly a formulation issue, and there are no known topical ingredients that negatively interact with synthetic beeswax.
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What Is Synthetic Beeswax?
Synthetic beeswax is a man-made product designed to replicate the properties and uses of natural beeswax. It primarily consists of fatty acids and alcohols, which are processed to create a wax-like substance. Unlike regular beeswax, which is sourced directly from beehives, disrupting the bees' natural environment, synthetic beeswax avoids this issue. This makes natural beeswax non-cruelty-free and not vegan. The growing demand for vegan and cruelty-free products is a key reason why synthetic beeswax has surged in popularity. Additionally, synthetic beeswax is much more affordable and easier to produce on a large scale than its natural counterpart.
Benefits of Synthetic Beeswax for Skin
The benefits of synthetic beeswax are similar to those of natural beeswax, though not identical. You can't completely replicate nature. Specifically, natural beeswax contains additional components like beta-carotene and flavonoids, which offer antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. However, synthetic beeswax provides many of the same benefits from both a skincare and formulation perspective:
Prevents moisture loss: The waxy texture of synthetic beeswax forms a protective barrier on the skin’s surface, preventing moisture from escaping. It also smooths and softens the skin while adding a subtle sheen.
Acts as an emollient: Synthetic beeswax is widely used in various products to help them solidify and maintain their shape due to its high melting point, Yadav explains. This makes it a common ingredient in cosmetic sticks, where it contributes to a creamy texture and allows for smooth application.
Side Effects of Synthetic Beeswax
Since synthetic beeswax doesn’t contain any actual bee-derived components, it shouldn’t pose a risk to those allergic to pollen, honey, or other bee products. This concern is more relevant with natural beeswax. Synthetic beeswax is generally well-tolerated, given that it's composed of simple fatty acids and alcohols. However, there is a possibility of an allergic reaction or irritation from other ingredients in a product's formulation. Natural essential oils, often added to enhance the scent of products containing synthetic beeswax, can increase the likelihood of allergic reactions.
How to Use It
Since synthetic beeswax is a relatively inert ingredient, there aren't any special considerations for its use. It will be listed as "synthetic beeswax" on ingredient labels and is found in a wide variety of beauty and personal care products. However, it’s important to note that while synthetic beeswax is often promoted as a vegan alternative, it isn’t always completely vegan. Some types of synthetic beeswax include lanolin, a waxy substance derived from sheep, which isn’t vegan. If adhering to vegan criteria is important to you, it’s best to look for products labeled as vegan or certified cruelty-free, as the ingredient label won’t detail the exact composition of the synthetic beeswax.
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II DISCLAIMER: Every skin is different, not everything works for everybody. I recommend you test the product before completely using any new product. II