Beeswax-Honey-Olive Oil: A combination of the ages

By Tiffany Shelton

About two months ago I had my firstborn son, Axel. He is the absolute love of my life and I’d do anything for him. But I have to say, this kid drives me insane. No one can ever really prepare you for the challenges that your child will pose.  As all new moms can imagine, skin care was the last thing on my mind.

My skin care routine is really simple--in the evenings I use Honey Girl Organics' Foaming Facial Wash in the shower, then finish with Night Cream. On the weekends I like to relax with the Honey Girl Organics facial mask. Ever since Axel, my whole life has been turned upside down. Sleep was  is the only thing I want.

Now that I am a bit more used to the haphazard sleep pattern of an infant, I decided to get back into my skin care routine. While I massaged my silky cream into my cheeks one evening, I realized how weird my skin care might seem to other people.

I use Honey Girl Organics’ Night Cream. This product has three main ingredients: beeswax, honey, and olive oil. I realized that I have two of these ingredients in my kitchen cabinet. Who would have thought that two of the things that are a part of my diet are also a part of my skin care?

Let’s be honest, who looks at their olive oil and says, “hey, I should rub this all over my face!”

But hey, these three work harmoniously together. My face is all the better for it.

Like sugar, spice, and everything nice, Honey Girl Organics started out with just three small ingredients: beeswax, honey, and olive oil. The combo that started as an experiment grew into a vital branch of the green beauty movement, and helped so many deal with skin issues naturally.

But even though decades have passed, why does Honey Girl Organics always go back to beeswax, honey, and olive oil, despite its increasing expansion and awareness of other ingredients? 

That’s because these three ingredients played roles in historical skin care regimens throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Even today, Honey Girl Organics’ creams are a great alternative to the typical paraben and chemical-filled ointments that plague drug stores and shopping malls. When it comes down to it, these three ingredients are the base of phenomenal, all-natural skin care. 

Holy Honey & the Burning Beeswax

Honey and beeswax are like siamese twins: difficult to separate. And I’m not just talking about separating honey from honeycombs. When I looked into the history of skin care for both of these, more often than not I found that people historically tried to make uses out of both bee by-products. Though cultures used both, they were usually used separately. Honeybees had it right the first time: better together.

A Brief History of Honey

We are not exactly sure on when we started harvesting honey. There is a rock painting in Valencia, Spain which dates back over 8,000 years ago, depicting a person stealing honey from bees. Honey is also mentioned in ancient religious texts such as the Bible, the Talmud, and the Koran. In some religions, honey was used as an offering to the gods to gain favor. This shows that as a race, we have valued honey for ages.  

Obviously honey has been used as a food sweetener for millennia. Its aroma is mouth-watering, even today with all the artificial sugars available. However, honey is also rooted in history as a tool for skin care! The most famous use of honey is by Cleopatra. Apparently she added honey to her milk baths to firm her skin. Another Egyptian who used honey regularly was Nefertiti, wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten. Other historical figures who used honey in their skin care include Queen Anne of Great Britain, Madame du Barry of France, and Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough to name a few.

How it Works

So what makes honey so great at skin care? Here are a few reasons backed by modern science:

i. Honey is a Humectant

A humectant is a substance that retains moisture. Honey traps moisture onto skin keeping it hydrated longer. This makes honey a great overall moisturizer as well as a scar fader and healer.

ii. Honey is Antibacterial

Bye bye unwanted bacteria clogging those pores. Honey’s low pH, hydrogen peroxide, and high sugar concentration actually act as a natural disinfectant for human skin. Studies have even shown that honey can be used as a topical treatment for minor cuts (Sears, Sugar and Honey as Disinfectants and Healers).

iii. Honey is an Exfoliant

The enzymes in honey help to shed flaky, dying skin cells, leaving the skin radiant and clean.

A Brief History of Beeswax

Early beekeepers discovered that holding a flaming stick near the honeycomb calmed bees, making harvesting easier. Some theorize that this is when humans discovered a use for beeswax--the candle. Candles were (and still are) popular by the Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Egyptians. The Egyptians took it one step further and used beeswax as an embalming agent in the mummification process. Like honey, beeswax also seemed to preserve the life of the skin. Unfortunately in Egypt, you’d have to be a mummy to get a wax facial.

How it Works

Thankfully we live in the twenty-first century, where we can now blend beeswax with other ingredients to use on our skin. Beeswax now plays a vital role in modern organic skin care products. Here’s how it works:

i. Beeswax is an Anti-Inflammatory 

Beeswax is a natural anti-inflammatory, which reduces swelling and redness on skin. When applied topically, beeswax aids in the healing of acne blemishes and discoloration.

ii. Beeswax contains Vitamin A 

According to researchers at the University of Michigan Medical School, lotions containing Vitamin A have been found to reduce the appearance of wrinkles significantly better than lotions without. Therefore, creams containing natural beeswax have a much better chance at reversing the signs of aging.

iii. Beeswax as a Shield

Beeswax is a common ingredient in products like lip balm because of its protective properties. It acts as a barrier between the skin and the elements, keeping skin from being burned or lips from becoming chapped. Similar to honey, beeswax is able to keep moisture from escaping the skin.

Athena’s Gift to Humanity: Olive Oil - A Brief History

Atop the rocky hill Acropolis, lies a sacred olive tree that is said by the Greeks to have roots to the very first olive tree ever, invented by the Goddess, Athena. It is mythologized that she had created the most useful invention and was the greatest gift she could have given Zeus. Because of her gift, Zeus granted her Athens, the great Greek city that holds her name. Who knew a small olive had such sacred roots?

The olive is also mentioned in many religious texts, such as the Bible and the Koran. Greeks used olive oil to anoint kings and winning athletes. Christians still use olive oil as holy oil in anointings. Its most famous origin is in Italy, where it has been used as a staple for thousands of years, though currently Spain is the largest producer of olives.

In the world of skin care, historically Egyptians, Greece, and the Japanese all used olive oil in massage because of its antibacterial and healing properties on the skin.

How it Works

Olive oil, honey, and beeswax have a lot in common when it comes to health benefits. The three are great moisturizers, are antiviral and antibacterial, and are excellent exfoliants. Here are some things that make olive oil stand out:

i. Olive Oil Contains Antioxidants

Olive oil contains the antioxidants vitamin E, polyphenols, and phytosterols. These three help prevent the effects of aging in the first place. These antioxidants are also helpful in moisturizing delicate and sensitive skin areas.

ii. Olive Oil as Hair and Cuticle Treatment

Olive oil is good for the entire body, both inside and out. Olive oil can help loosen flakes in the scalp and promote hair growth. The same goes for the cuticles. Rubbing some olive oil onto the nails activates its fatty acids and vitamin E, both important for nail and hair growth. 

At this point you may be thinking, why don’t other skin care businesses jump on this tricycle for profit?

Because Honey Girl Organics takes no shortcuts. They source from reputable vendors the finest ingredients possible. They refuse to use artificial items for preservation. And finally, every product is handmade. Every. Single. Product. This ensures high-quality delivered from hive to door. Honey Girl Organics truly cares about their consumer base.

I can personally testify to the viability of these ingredients. I used Honey Girl Organics’ Mom and Baby Butter all throughout my pregnancy and I have absolutely no stretch marks where I used the cream! Regrettably, I have stretch marks in places I didn’t rub the cream. Before purchasing a product that contains potentially dangerous chemicals, consider the natural alternative.

Try the Cleopatra Cleanse and pour some honey into your next bath! And maybe finish with a night cream ;)

 

Tiffany Shelton