The Benefits of Beeswax Lip Balm

Beeswax has been used in skin care for thousands of years and there is a good reason it has not fallen out of favour. It does several things at once, all of them well, and it does them without the need for synthetic stabilisers or preservatives. Here is what it actually does on your lips, and why we build every BeeKiss’d balm around it.

Natural moisture lock

Lips do not have the oil glands the rest of your skin relies on, so they lose water faster and chap more easily. Beeswax forms a thin breathable film that slows that water loss. Unlike petroleum-based occlusives, the film lets skin function normally underneath while still giving you the barrier you need in cold or windy weather.

Long-lasting protection

The same film that holds moisture in keeps wind, salt, sun and central heating out. Because beeswax has a higher melting point than most plant oils, the protection sticks around. You are not reapplying every twenty minutes.

Soothing and healing

Beeswax contains natural anti-inflammatory and mild antibacterial compounds. On already-chapped lips it calms the irritation while the barrier effect gives the skin underneath a chance to repair itself.

Genuinely non-toxic

You will, eventually, eat your lip balm. With a beeswax balm that is fine - all of the ingredients in ours are food-grade. There is nothing on the label you would not be happy to find in a kitchen.

A small amount of gentle exfoliation

The slight grain of solid beeswax provides very mild exfoliation as you apply, lifting off dead skin without abrasive sugar or salt scrubs.

Subtle natural scent

Real beeswax has a soft honey-and-pollen scent of its own. We add only a small amount of essential oil so that scent comes through.

Sustainable when sourced well

Beeswax is a renewable byproduct of responsible beekeeping. Where it comes from matters - imported wax is often contaminated with the pesticides and antibiotics used to treat overseas hives. We use Welsh beeswax from local beekeepers who do not use either.

How to choose a beeswax balm

A few things to look for on the label:

• A short ingredient list - five ingredients or fewer is a good sign
• Country of origin for the beeswax
• Natural rather than “fragrance” or “parfum”
• A pot or tube that you can actually compost or recycle

If you want to read more about why provenance matters, we go into detail on our Environmental Impact page.