Beeswax is a fantastic by product of honey production. As well as being used for candle making, it makes wonderful lip balms, hand lotions, hand creams, and moisturizers. If you are interested in using your extra beeswax to make your own cosmetics, here are some beeswax cosmetics recipes, courtesy of RachelsSupply.com (where you can get many of the essential oils and containers needed).
BEESWAX COSMETICS RECIPES
Moisturing Vitamin E Cream
4 oz. sweet almond oil1 oz. beeswax2 oz. water10 drops Vitamin E oil10 drops lavender essential oilMelt the oil and the wax in a double boiler. Remove from heat, add water, and stir thoroughly. Add your Vitamin E, essential oil and stir continuously until cool. After you have added the essential oil and the cream is still warm enough to pour, carefully pour it into Salve Jars or Metal Tins.
This cream is very moisturizing and emollient. It is nice for rough, dry, or chapped complexions and should help promote healthy looking skin.
Antiseptic Balm
2 ounces Beeswax3 ounces Sweet Almond Oil1 ounce Jojoba Oil20 drops Wheatgerm Oil20 drops Myrrh Essential Oil20 drops Tea Tree Essential OilMakes enough to fill 4 each 1 ounce salve jars or 1 ounce metal tins. A rule of thumb is 2 parts oil to one part beeswax. Simply heat the Sweet Almond and Jojoba oil in a saucepan and add Beeswax. If you want a thin consistency ( such as a cream or Vaseline ) add only a little bit of Beeswax. Want it thicker like wax? Just add more Beeswax. Allow the base to cool down to see what the consistency is like. If it’s too thick, add more Sweet Almond oil and reheat. Too thin? Add more Beeswax.
As the base is cooling add the essential oils to enhance the healing effect of the balm. After you have added the essential oil and the lip balm is still warm enough to pour, carefully pour it into Salve Jars or Metal Tins.
Use this instead of antiseptic ointment, this is far superior!
Coconut Butter Body Moisturizer
2 tablespoons beeswax2 teaspoons distilled water4 oz. cocoa butter4 tablespoons sweet almond2 tablespoons coconut oilMelt the beeswax over low heat with the water. Spoon in cocoa butter and blend. Gradually blend in oils. Pour into glass jar. The lotion will thicken as it cools.
This is particularly good for wind and sunburned skin.
Skin Cream
2 1/2 ounces beeswax4 ounces lanolin2/3 cup baby or mineral oil3/4 cup water1 teaspoon borax (sodium borate, CP)Fragrant oil (optional)Melt the oil, lanolin and beeswax to 160 degrees F. Heat the borax and water in a separate container to 160 degrees F. Be sure the beeswax is melted and the borax is dissolved. Add the water mixture to the oil mixture while stirring. When a white cream forms, stir slowly until the mixture cools to 100 degrees F. Pour the cream into small, wide-mouth jars.
Beeswax Hand Cream
2 ounces beeswax1 cup sweet almond oil1 cup water10 drops essential oil (if desired, for fragrance)Heat the beeswax and sweet almond oil until the wax melts. In another container, heat water until warm. Both mixtures should be warm, but not so hot as to be uncomfortable to the touch. Place warm water in a blender. Cover the blender, leaving open the small opening in the cover.
With the blender running on high speed, slowly pour in the beeswax-oil mixture in a thin stream. When most of the oil has been added, the mixture should begin to thicken. At this point, add the essential oil. Continue to add oil and blend until the mixture is sufficiently thickened. Turn off the blender. You should have a thick cream. Spoon into salve jars or metal tins.
IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP: Beeswax melts at 143-148 degrees. It is pliable at 100 degrees. All waxes will ignite explosively when they reach their flash point temperature. To melt beeswax safely, place it in the top of a double boiler, or place the container of wax in a larger container of hot water.
Do not melt beeswax in a microwave, as it could become hot enough to ignite. Do not cover the beeswax while melting in a container of water, as steam may condense on the inside of the cover resulting in water in the wax.
MEASURING TIP : To measure a small amount of beeswax, grate it before melting.
2 comments
Are your measurements liquid ounces or by weight?
Thank you,
Karen
Author
Hi Karen, they are by weight.