As a beekeeper, I’ve discovered firsthand how superb beeswax may be. You’ll discover this pure substance in lots of my DIY recipes for the whole lot from cleaning soap to lotion bars. Beeswax makes use of don’t cease at DIY skincare recipes although!
Why Bees Are Superb
Ever seen the within of a honeybee hive? It’s unbelievable. Think about a state of affairs during which you had been concurrently:
- Caring for a new child who wanted fixed care
- Constructing a home with your personal palms
- Combating off individuals attempting to interrupt into your property
- Nonetheless accountable for regular cooking and cleansing
Aggravating… proper? But that is what a honey bee colony does each single day. On prime of that, the whole lot they produce is helpful not directly!
Every little thing is all the time utterly ordered, clear, and functioning. At occasions I’ve had hassle taking good care of one child at a time, and honeybees handle a whole bunch, all whereas constructing a home. As a former beekeeper and now watching my son handle his bee hive, I’m in fixed awe of how superb bees are.
Honey, Honey
Honey could also be the most well-liked product bees create, however it’s removed from the one useful one. (However strive utilizing honey in your face in the event you haven’t already.)
The phrase apitherapy refers to utilizing bee merchandise like honey, bee pollen, royal jelly, propolis, and beeswax in useful methods. Even honeybee venom has been used therapeutically! Sound loopy? Try this video from the Discovery Channel that explains it.
Now, earlier than I ramble on for hours about how cool bees are (and I actually may ramble for hours about it!), I need to give attention to one particular product.
Beeswax: Bees Being Sensible
We normally prize bees for his or her honey, royal jelly, and different useful (and attractive) by-products. However beeswax deserves to be excessive on the bee appreciation checklist as effectively. Bees make beeswax to type the construction of their hive. They secrete wax from particular glands, then chew it up and use it to type an ideal hexagon-shaped honeycomb.
Honeybees have additionally apparently been on board with minimalism for the reason that starting. Their completely hexagon-shaped honeycombs supply essentially the most space for storing with the least quantity of constructing materials (on this case, beeswax).
When beekeepers harvest honey, they take away the cap off of every cell to extract the honey. These cappings are melted down and filtered to take away non-wax particles. This yields the beeswax we use in lots of magnificence merchandise and DIY recipes.
Pure beeswax is without doubt one of the 7 elements I purchase in bulk. I all the time preserve pure beeswax readily available for lots of my DIY merchandise and cures. It has dozens of makes use of across the residence.
Advantages of Beeswax
Beeswax is a superb addition to cosmetics for a lot of causes.
- Beeswax creates a barrier in lotions and lotions to assist seal moisture into the pores and skin. That is particularly useful in do-it-yourself lip balm in the course of the dry winter months.
- This barrier additionally helps to guard the pores and skin from environmental toxins and irritants.
- Not like petroleum jelly, which is utilized in a big number of magnificence merchandise, beeswax received’t “suffocate” the pores and skin. As a substitute, it permits it to breathe whereas nonetheless offering a protecting barrier.
- Beeswax helps thicken do-it-yourself cosmetics and lotions as a result of it’s stable at room temperature. Plus it has a comparatively excessive melting level of 147 levels Fahrenheit. That is particularly useful in recipes with a lot of coconut oil, which has a low melting level, or different oils which are liquid at room temperature.
- Beeswax additionally has vitamin A, which improves pores and skin hydration and promotes cell regeneration.
15+ Beeswax Makes use of Across the House
Melted beeswax is an extremely versatile pure ingredient for DIY magnificence and pure residence merchandise. It’s a staple in my do-it-yourself pure merchandise and round our home.
Whereas beeswax makes use of are nearly countless, there are a couple of straightforward methods I take advantage of it at residence. For those who haven’t already, strive beeswax in these do-it-yourself recipes:
1. Selfmade Deodorant
I’ve been making my very own deodorant for years as a result of it really works so significantly better than store-bought. One of many elements I take advantage of is beeswax as a result of it helps type a pure protecting moisture barrier. This implies it helps keep away from sweat stains on garments with out the necessity for dangerous and pointless chemical substances.
2. Lotion Bars
I’m biased, however these are one of the best moisturizers on the earth. An ideal mixture of oils, shea butter, cocoa butter, and beeswax varieties a stable soap-like bar that’s used on dry pores and skin. It helps soothe pores and skin, locks in moisture and even has pure anti-wrinkle properties. I take advantage of melted wax together with oils like olive oil or coconut oil.
3. DIY Lip Balms
You can also make dozens of do-it-yourself magnificence merchandise with the identical set of straightforward elements. This lip balm recipe makes use of the identical elements because the lotion bars however with a couple of added elements for scent or colour. Upon getting these primary elements readily available, you may make lip balm for means lower than store-bought ones!
4. Beeswax Candles
I ditched the scented candles and air fresheners years in the past. Most candles use soy or paraffin wax and pollute the air. We solely use beeswax candles in our residence now. Plus they’re straightforward and enjoyable to make your self. Additionally they make nice do-it-yourself Christmas or birthday items.
Do this tutorial to make your personal! Or you should purchase pure beeswax candles right here.
5. Selfmade Soaps
Beeswax is usually added to cleaning soap recipes to make the completed cleaning soap more durable and last more. It ought to solely account for as much as 2% of your cleaning soap recipe. Any greater than that and your cleaning soap will start to lose lather.
Do this spiced important oil cleaning soap.
6. Child Merchandise
Most infants can have a diaper rash in some unspecified time in the future. I attempt to solely use pure skincare merchandise, however with delicate child pores and skin, I’m further cautious.
I take advantage of beeswax in diaper rash cream as a thickener. The wax offers a protecting pores and skin barrier whereas serving to the opposite useful elements keep on the pores and skin. This manner they’ll have a higher impact on clearing up the rash.
7. Soothe Cracked Heels
A easy salve of beeswax, coconut oil, and magnesium makes a fantastic treatment for cracked heels. Right here’s how you can make this do-it-yourself ointment.
8. On Cracked Fingers
I actually imagine that nearly the whole lot we have to treatment minor illnesses may be present in nature. Beeswax is a superb treatment for cracked palms from gardening or outside work. It additionally creates a protecting barrier to assist keep away from future harm.
I like so as to add useful herbs from the backyard to hurry reduction much more. Plantain grows in most yards and is a pure treatment for bites, stings, and even sunburn. Seize the recipe for DIY gardeners’ hand salve right here.
9. Pure Therapeutic Salve
I preserve this “boo-boo lotion” readily available to deal with scrapes, stings, poison ivy, bruises, and any different delicate damage my children handle to get. It really works nearly in addition to kisses for reduction of minor scrapes and boo-boos. The herbs I take advantage of are anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing.
10. Chilly and Flu Aid
When sickness strikes, I flip to beeswax-based pure cures. Selfmade pure vapor rub helps when coughing and congestion hit. It offers reduction with out slathering petroleum jelly throughout your pores and skin.
Frequent nostril blowing throughout sickness can wreak havoc on the tender pores and skin round your nostril. This sore nostril soothing balm recipe combines herb-infused oil with beeswax and shea butter for a nourishing balm.
11. Beeswax Wraps
I attempt to keep away from single-use plastic merchandise within the residence, and that features plastic wrap. Aluminum foil can be a no-go for meals storage since I don’t need heavy metals leaching into my meals! You can also make your personal reusable meals wraps although with some yellow beeswax. These have a “cling” that makes them a beautiful different to plastic wrap.
Not everybody has the time and curiosity to make their very own meals wraps. If that’s you, there are fantastic beeswax meals wrap choices on-line as effectively.
12. Lotions and Lotions
I’ve already talked about my love for lotion bars, however there are different methods to moisturize with beeswax. I’ve experimented with a number of lotion recipes through the years and created totally different ones. This do-it-yourself lotion recipe is thicker and extra like a physique butter. Or strive considered one of these widespread recipes:
Different Methods to Use Beeswax
- Make your personal beeswax crayons. My crayon recipe makes use of a distinct form of wax although that I believe works even higher!
- Soften beeswax with olive oil to make use of as do-it-yourself furnishings polish. You can too use it to guard picket spoons and reducing boards.
- Fashion quick hair with do-it-yourself beeswax pomade.
The place to Purchase Beeswax
Though I like issues pure, I received’t ask you to go digging in a bee hive! I like to purchase beeswax pastilles or pellets as a result of they’re straightforward to work with. It’s what I attain for once I want a smaller quantity for lip balm and salves.
Having pastilles isn’t vital for bigger tasks like candles as a result of you may measure by weight, moderately than by the tablespoon. You can too purchase beeswax in block type, which is barely inexpensive than the pastilles.
Some beeswax is bleached so I desire yellow beeswax. It ought to have a slight honey scent to it, in any other case, it’s extremely refined (or pretend!).
An alternative choice is to purchase it regionally in the event you’re capable of get in contact with beekeepers in your space. This helps help native beekeepers (which is essential!) and you’ll typically discover it comparatively inexpensively.
How do you employ beeswax? Share a few of your favourite makes use of beneath!
