Beeswax

What it is

Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honeybees to build honeycomb. It is composed primarily of esters, fatty acids and long-chain alcohols. In cosmetics it is listed as Cera Alba.

Function

Beeswax functions as an emollient, occlusive and thickening agent. It is used to give balms and salves their structure and to form a protective film on the skin that helps hold in moisture, while being less airtight than petroleum-based occlusives.

Properties

Beeswax has a very low irritancy and low comedogenic rating in cosmetic assessments. It is generally well tolerated, though it is an animal-derived ingredient (not vegan) and should be avoided by anyone with a known bee-product allergy.

In tattoo aftercare

Beeswax is a common base in natural tattoo balms, giving them their solid texture and forming a breathable-ish protective layer. Balm formats are often favoured for the protect-and-maintain stage of healing and for long-term care.

Considerations

Not vegan. Anyone with a bee-product allergy should avoid it. Heavier balm formats are sometimes reserved for later healing rather than the very fresh stage.

This is general, factual information about a cosmetic ingredient, not medical advice or a product recommendation. If your skin reacts to anything during healing, stop using it and speak to your artist or a GP.