What it is: A natural wax created by honey bees.

Where it comes from: Honey bees secrete wax flakes from glands in their abdomens that they use to construct their honeycomb. Once the nectar they’ve collected has been turned to honey, the bees cap each cell with wax, which the beekeeper cuts off to separate from the honey. This wax is melted into molds and sold for use.

Properties: It is a tough wax with a high melting point and yellowish color.

What it’s good for: When it is combined with mineral or olive oil and made into a paste, the mixture is soothing and protective to the skin. It provides a water-resistant coating around the skin, but can be easily removed with soap. It can also be used to wax, polish, and lubricate things such as surfboards and furniture, and for coating screws and nails. It can be used to waterproof leather and wood products, as modeling wax, and as a coating to protect cheese.
Where you’ll find it: Because it is an emulsifier that softens and protects the skin, beeswax is found in moisturizing skin products.

Other uses: It’s found in makeup, soaps, polishes, lubricants, lip balms, mustache wax, hair pomade, and candles.

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