Bees are your skin’s BFF.
These industrious little insects are hard at work to give your skin everything it needs. Like honey, the sweet nectar that moisturises your skin and fights acne at the same time.
And beeswax. Less famous than honey, beeswax is everywhere – especially in solid products like lip balms. What makes it so popular?
Here’s everything you need to know about beeswax in skincare:
What Is Beeswax?
Beeswax is a natural wax bees make to build the walls of the honeycomb where they’re going to raise their children and store their pollen.
Bees need to consume around 10 pounds of honey to produce just one pound of beeswax! To put it into perspective, bees need to collect nectar from nearly 2 million flowers to make just one pound of honey.
Beeswax is mostly made up of esters of fatty acids and long chain alcohols that give it its moisturising and thickening properties.
Once humans take it from the hive, they create three types of beeswax with it:
- Yellow beeswax: This is the raw beeswax product.
- White beeswax: Bleached yellow beeswax.
- Beeswax absolute: Yellow beeswax treated with alcohol.
Fun fact: its Latin name is Cera Alba (cera means wax). That’s how it usually appears on the ingredient list of skincare products.
Related: The Complete Guide To Honey In Skincare: What Is It And How Does It Help Skin?
Beeswax Benefits: How Does It Help Skin?
Beeswax is an emollient that makes skin softer and smoother. It works by creating a barrier on the skin that keeps moisture in.
Moisture is the key ingredient that makes you look younger and healthier. When your skin has all the moisture it needs, it gets softer to the touch; it plumps up so that fine lines and wrinkles look smaller; it takes on a dewy glow.
By keeping moisture in, beeswax helps to hydrate your skin and make it look its best. But this barrier also has another function: it protects your skin from environmental assaults.
Harsh weather, irritating skincare products, pollutants & co can break down your skin’s protective barrier and dry out your skin. By reinforcing this barrier, beeswax helps prevent dryness and irritation.
Related: The Best Skincare Routine For Dry Skin
What Else Does Beeswax In Skincare Do?
FYI, its moisturising properties ain’t the only reason you’ll find beeswax in skincare products. It has two other jobs:
- Fragrance: Beeswax has a natural honey fragrance that makes skincare products smell delicious.
- Thickener: It thickens the oil portion of solid products (think lip balm) to give them their solid shape. It also stiffens eye makeup products without hardening them.
- Water-resistant: It makes mascaras waterproof and smudge-proof.
Related: Is Fragrance In Skincare As Bad As Paula Begoun Says?
Does Beeswax In Skincare Has Any Side Effects?
Beeswax in skincare is generally considered to be safe. Unless you’re allergic to it. In that case, stay away.
What Are The Best Skincare Products With Beeswax?
- CeraVe Sunscreen Stick SPF 50 ($9.99): available at Dermstore and Walgreens
- Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm ($18.00): available at Cult Beauty, Sephora, and SpaceNK
- One Love Organics Skin Savior Multi-Tasking Wonder Balm ($49.00): available at Blue Mercury, Credo Beauty, and Dermstore
- Paula’s Choice Lipscreen SPF 50 ($10.00): available at Dermstore and Paula’s Choice
The Bottom Line
Beeswax in skincare is mostly a thickener to give products their shape. But when it’s high on the ingredient list, it helps to keep skin moisturised and safe from environmental aggressors, too.
What’s your take on beeswax in skincare? Let me know in the comments below.
Lisa, I hope you are not allergic to anything else. Yes, that’s definitely frustrating. Most lipsticks have pretty much the same ingredients so you could compare the ingredients of those that irritate your lips to see which they have in common. Although the best way to know for sure if you’re allergic to something is to get allergy tested.
Unfortunately I haven’t found any more information as of yet, but I’ll keep you updated 🙂
I’ve continued to use the Avon Pro-to-Go lipsticks, and my lips are ok so far so I don’t know why I seemed to have a reaction after using this product before. Sigh. I’m also going to buy the Eco Lips Bee-Free lip balm soon and give it a try at night. Right now I’m still using Mentholatum ointment on my lips at night because it doesn’t cause any reaction. My lips cleared up very quickly (3 days) after stopping any products with beeswax, so at least I know for sure that I am allergic to beeswax at a minimum.
Hi Lisa … there are times that I reacted to beeswax and others I didn’t. I try to avoid it at all costs because I have had ‘a’ reaction. Even one time will do it. Perhaps it depends upon how well or poorly our immune systems are functioning at those times. If you notice your immune function dip, it might be wise to use something else until your immunity picks up again. Hugs
Lisa, I’m glad the Avon lipsticks work for you and that you don’t seem to be allergic to anything else bar beeswax. That must have been a relief! I hope the Eco Lips balm works for you. 🙂
Joelle, just like you, I tried the Eco Lips Bee-Free lip balm and had a bad reaction — not immediately, but the second night I used it. Red, swollen, dry and peeling lips. It doesn’t contain beeswax, but the first listed ingredient is organic jojoba oil, which is also one of the (few) ingredients in the Dr. Bronner’s organic lip balm that I had such a horrible reaction to (it also contains beeswax). So, I know I’m allergic to beeswax, but I’m also apparently allergic to either jojoba oil or something else in the Eco Lips. I’ve given up on all lip balms and will just use Mentholatum ointment at night. I don’t like using petrolatum but have run out of other options.
Lisa, I’m sorry to hear the Bee Free lip balm gives you a bad reaction as well. What a bummer! I’ve checked the ingredients again and I’m wondering if it is the candelilla wax that’s causing the problem? There’s no way to be sure without an allergy test, but I’ve recently found out that beeswax and candelilla wax may both contain natural resins that could trigger an allergic reaction. I’m not sure if they contain the same resins, though. I’ve been researching possible connections betwen allergies to beeswax to other types of waxes lately but there’s barely any information on the subject, I’m afraid.
I think petrolatum is an ok ingredient, but if you’re not comfortable using it maybe you can just apply plain olive oil to your lips? I do that sometimes and it makes them very soft and moiturized.
Hi everyone … I wanted to offer my experience as well, so we can maybe get closer to finding an answer. I used the vegan bee-free Eco lips many years ago without problem and just bought a couple tubes last week when I saw them again (for the first time in years) and I made the connection this morning, that it has been giving me an allergic reaction since I started using it. I am also allergic to beeswax and a growing list of things, due to having my immune system severely triggered, due to stress and a living in two severely moldy homes in past years. I remembered, that when I was using pure shea butter and olive oil or coconut oil prior to using Eco lips last week, I didn’t have any of these little weird ‘lip balm allergy’ breakouts above and below my lips. The skin around my lips wasn’t red, inflamed or irritated as it now. I, too am very curious about which ingredient triggered the allergic reaction. I agree that it might be the candelilla wax unless it is the source of their vit. E. I know from the process of elimination, that it is not shea butter or coconut oil – in my case, unless they are contaminated somehow, with something – however this is a doubtful scenario. I’m not allergic to lemon oil either. This narrows it down to: sunflower oil (which I do not think it is), candelilla wax, their vitamin E source, lime oil and rosemary oil. I have used calendula as well … so that’s not the culprit either. I tend to like to avoid lip balms with strong oils … such as lemon, lime, rosemary, orange. I find they are too strong to be on the lips even in meager doses. Perhaps us sensitive types are best off with using: shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut butter, olive oil etc. It’s just too bad that without some sort of wax or substance similar to wax, home-made VEGAN lip balms don’t seem to work well. It is a tricky balance and mine are usually too thick or too thin and don’t have any staying power – at all. It doesn’t help that I have always had dry lips and began using lip balms when I was just a little girl – maybe 9 y.o. (I’m 37 now) when my mother gave me something for them and they are well-conditioned to be dry and highly dependent on having a layer of something rubbed on them every 20 mins. or so. It’s not as easy thing to ween off of extra moisturization. Best of luck to everyone to find what works for them. Hugs
Moonshinegal, thanks for sharing your experience with us. I’m sorry to hear about your allergy. I agree that when one is very sensitive, it’s best to stick to only olive oil, coconut oil and things like that. Unfortunately, they don’t have a great texture when used alone, but I guess it’s always better than getting a negative reaction.
Thanks for your compassion. 🙂 I had my first very bad reaction while I was living in a very hot climate without air conditioning. The nearest store (Walmart … you know you’re living in the “middle of nowhere”, if the nearest store is a Walmart LOL) ) was a 30 min. drive away and the only ‘pure’ option was Burt’s Bees (they didn’t carry Eos, Say Yes To Carrots etc.). How unfortunate. The stuff dried my lips badly but I had nothing else to use. Olive oil evaporates quickly and easily especially when it’s hot. Since my dry lips needed application every 20 mins. or so, I couldn’t keep the balm in the fridge – I kept it nearby. The stuff went rancid pretty fast and I wasn’t conscious enough to know right away and my lips became so inflamed, irritated, broken out, painful. I stopped using it and used olive oil. I had to apply some every 15 mins. or so but my lips cleared up within a week. I’ll never go back to B.B’s again. I’ve noticed switching what you’re using helps … perhaps it fools the body a little bit if you dabble here and there without giving your body enough time to realize there is an allergen to fight. I know switching seems to help me. I go back and forth from Say Yes To Carrots, Eos, Dr, Bronners and sometimes if I find a rare-gem-of-a-gloss that is natural and lists olive oil or avocado oil or coconut oil as the first ingredient, I’ll take a chance that it will moisturize and not give me a problem. Thank you for this very enlightening blog! Hugs
Moonshinegal, I’m sorry you had so little options. When you have allergies, it’s already hard enough to find something in big stores that carry a lot of different lines. But I’m glad that switching seems to help somewhat.
You’re welcome and thank you for sharing your story. I’m sure other people will find it helpful.
Hi Giorgia,
You may be right and I might be allergic to candelilla wax. The Eco Lips lip balm has a lot more ingredients than the Dr. Bronner’s, which I had such problems with, so it’s hard to know which one(s) are causing the reaction. Someone else suggested using plain olive oil, and I should try that. I have plenty at home.
Lisa, I feel bad now about recommending the Eco Lips lip balm but I didn’t really think there could be a connection between beeswax and other types of waxes until recently. Of course it could also be something else, which just makes things even more frustrating. Do try the Olive Oil and let me know how it goes. I’m sure it’ll work fine for you 🙂
Thanks, and don’t feel bad for mentioning the Eco Lips lip balm. I’ve tried so many at this point, and this one does not have beeswax so *should* have been ok. Maybe my lips are just on “hyper-alert” at this point, and almost anything will cause a reaction.
Lisa, that must be so frustrating! But at least the olive oil should work fine. It’s just one ingredient and if you often use it to cook without problems, it shouldn’t give you an allergic reaction. 🙂
I’m so sorry to hear that lip balm is still troubling everyone. I had a reaction to shea butter (ugh) so my home-made lip balm is on hold. I wanted to stop using petroleum so I’ve been carrying vitamin E capsules with me, and use that as a moisturizer for my lips. I’ve also been using coconut oil when at home, but maybe I’ll switch it up with olive oil ;).
I’ve been so frustrated with this whole thing that I decided to see a highly recommended allergist who said I am NOT allergic to beeswax, but rather have a skin irritation. He believes that by breaking the cycle, I could be able to wear “normal” products again. I’m extremely skeptical, but I am undergoing patch testing and such with him next week. I will definitely post when I hear something more definitive!
Hi Joelle,
Do you know what the allergist meant by “skin irritation”? That sounds pretty generic. What does he think caused it, and why are so many different products causing your lip problems? Just curious if he explained himself. I wonder why he’s so confident that you aren’t allergic to beeswax. If you’re not, then why can’t you use products with beeswax without your lips being so affected?
Please let us know what happens with the patch testing — is that to rule out allergy to beeswax and other ingredients?
Joelle, I’m sorry that you’ve had a reaction to shea butter too. I think it was a good idea to go to an allergist so you’ll know once and for all what’s causing the problems but I have the same questions and concerns as Lisa. Please, keep us updated 🙂
I’m allergic to wax too. Nice to read all of the other comments and realize that I’m not the only one out there. For years I had horribly itchy eyes, cracked lips, and an itchy scalp. I kept buying different kinds of lip stick and lip balms b/c my lips were cracked and bleeding. Then, several years ago I bought Neutrogena wax free mascara and suddenly my eyes stopped itching. That got me thinking about the wax in lip products and the wax in the conditioners I use for my thick, curly hair. I now use only lip gloss and my lips feel great. I use Selsun Blue on my hair and only natural oils for conditioner. My scalp had itched all of my life, and now it never itches. Unfortunately, it appears that Neutrogena has stopped making wax free mascara. I tried their new mascara (beeswax is the second ingredient) and immediately the itching started. Any mascara suggestions?
Heyden,
I have the same problem and it sucks. Anyway, I did find a wax-free mascara that recently came out by Origins. It’s call Full-Story. If you go to their website you can find it and it says “wax-free”. This works great for me and I really like it. However, it does have “kaolin” in it, which is a clay-like mineral that has sometimes given me problems because it is known to have a wax-like make. Generally, I am fine using Full-Story, I just make sure to wash it all off at night. What’s nice is that you can buy Origins online or at Macy’s =) Hope this helps.
Hayden, I’m sorry you are allergic to beeswax too. Looks like this allergy is more common than most people think. I’m glad that you have managed to find products that work for you though. Is it just beeswax you are allergic too or other types of waxes? Cos most brands use some kind of wax in their mascaras. I know Origins makes a wax free mascara, it’s called Fringe Benefits. I haven’t tried it so I’m not sure how well it performs but it doesn’t contain beeswax. It uses carnauba wax instead. And I believe you can still find the Neutrogena mascara online. Hope this helps.
I was so hopeful seeing the recommended renowned allergist, and he was absolutely no help at all. When I returned for patch testing, we confirmed that I have absolutely NO reaction to beeswax on my back, which I suspected anyway. However, the allergist who originally thought there was a way to “break the cycle” with the lip irritation, after further research, thinks this isn’t a possibility for those of us with balsam of peru like allergies/irritations, whether we react only on our lips or not. I almost walked out while he was still sitting in the office. I really don’t care whether it’s an allergy or irritation, and I don’t care what it’s classified as, I just want to wear normal products and not have to use hydrocortizone after each reaction. Sorry for venting, but you all know my pain. 😉 Anyway, I’m struggling with the homemade lip balm, since the reaction to shea butter. I just tried making some today with pure carnauba wax but it feels grainy on the lips. I’ll know if I have a reaction by tonight.
As for mascara, I too have been using Neutrogena waxless mascara for the past 3 years and also just found out it’s been discontinued. No longer on their website, not in CVS, Target, etc, and I haven’t found any other online suppliers. I did however find a mascara at Sephora (looking online) that uses no wax, but is $40. I’m planning on going in this weekend for further investigation.
Good luck with the experimenting and searching for products, ladies. I’ll post once I find something, whether it’s mascara, lip balm, or a miracle worker dermatologist!
Hi. I have a history of adverse reactions to beestings. And now, after years of using different chapsticks with beeswax, I’ve developed soreness, redness, and cracking on the lower lip. My dermatologist prescribed Hydrocortisone Ointment 2.5 mg. to heal this area just below and around the lower lip. It worked temporarily. There seems to be alot of shedding of the skin on said lip area. Anyway, I’ve stopped using any chapstick with beeswax and we’ll be trying alternate products (sparingly) by what I’ve read here. I was wondering if anyone has tried a bee-free chapstick from Whole Foods which has lemon/ lime oils in it. My concern with this is a sensitivity to citrus fruits. Finally, my wife is concerned about the effects of kissing me with her beeswax chapstick. Lord, have mercy! Any thoughts? Thanks…
Hi Peter,
I think you’re referring to Eco Lips “Bee Free” vegan lip balm (lemon lime flavor) that’s available at Whole Foods. Yes, that’s the most recent lip balm I tried and I had a reaction within 24 hours, just like when using anything with beeswax. So I’ve personally given up on all lip balms since I had a reaction to so many and am back to my old stand-by, Mentholatum ointment. I don’t like using a product with petrolatum, but I can’t find anything else that doesn’t cause a reaction.
If you’re like me, your lips will heal within just a few days after stopping all lip balms (the Mentholatum also helped my lips to heal after stopping the balms). My lips also peeled, were incredibly dry, red, cracked, and were horribly uncomfortable and looked awful while using numerous different brands of lip balm. It started with me while I was using Dr. Bronner’s organic lip balm, which I had used for many months with no problems and which contained only about five ingredients, all organic. I didn’t connect my peeling, dry lips with the Dr. Bronner’s balm since I’d used it with no problems for so long, but it turned out that it was what started my hyper-sensitivity, and now it seems that any lip balm causes the same reaction.
Good luck and let us know how you do!
Hi Joelle,
I’ve been wondering if you went to the allergist, so thanks for posting about your visit. I’m sorry it didn’t help! I would have been as frustrated as you are. It’s interesting that you had no reaction on your back to beeswax. I suspect I wouldn’t either, but if it’s anywhere near my lips (along with other ingredients that I haven’t nailed down yet), forget it. I finally gave up after reacting to the beeswax-free Eco Lips Bee Free lip balm and am back to using what I used for years before trying to go more organic and natural, Mentholatum ointment. I don’t like using petrolatum, but at this point it seems to be the only thing I can use without a reaction.
If you discover anything else that works for you, please post.
Joelle, thanks for keeping us updated about your visit to the allergist. I’m sorry to hear he wasn’t any help at all. That must have been so frustrating! I’m also sorry you’e stuck with the homemade lip balm, but I hope that carnauba wax didn’t give you a bad reaction as well. And $40 for a mascara?! That’s insane! It’s appaling how few options are out there for people that are allergic to beeswax and it’s not fair when they are so expensive! I hope you can find some products that work well for you and please keep us posted if you do.
Joelle, the mascara I use does contain beeswax and jojoba oil, but it has never bothered my eyes. Have you reacted in the past to mascaras with beeswax? Maybe in my case I only have problems with beeswax on my lips. At any rate, I try to use cosmetics that are as natural as possible, and I use Dr. Hauschka mascara from Germany, available at Whole Foods for about $25, which at least is better than $40. I like it because it goes on well and doesn’t have any mercury (which I read that some mascaras and other eye cosmetics contain and are allowed to contain), and it washes off with plain water which I also like. If you ever want to try it and live near a Whole Foods, if you react to it you can return it for a full refund. Whole Foods is great about taking products back for almost any reason.
Peter, I’m sorry to hear you are allergic to beeswax too. That’s awful but I hope some of the products mentioned in this post will work for you. As for the kissing, I don’t know what to say. I guess that if the lip balm she’s wearing contains lipgloss and comes into contact with your skin there is a possibility it may cause a reaction, so personally I would err on the safe side. But it’s just my personal opinion. If someone else has any experience with this, please share.
Hi Lisa,
Yes, my eyes did have a reaction the last time I used mascara with beeswax. It was just around the time I started having trouble with my lips, so I might try a mascara with wax again- maybe it was an old tube. I also started looking at metholatum ointments. Which do you use? And do you ever have reactions to products other than lip balm? I’m so sensitive that even if I wear certain body lotions, I have a reaction later in the day, on my lips. Even coming in contact with people with lotions, hair products, etc, will cause a reaction on my lips. Is anyone else this sensitive? I’ve been trying to abstain from using the hydrocortizone until absolutely necessary.
Hi Peter,
I actually do have plenty of experience with the “swapping” of beeswax. My boyfriend does not wear any lotion, lip balm, hair product, cologne, aftershave, etc that causes me to have a reaction. He definitely does not enjoy this (as I know your wife won’t either) but witnessing my battle the past few years has made him self-less. I think he wants me to figure this out as much as I do. 😉
Hi Heyden,
Are you allergic to ALL waxes? Not just beeswax, but also vegetable wax (candelilla wax and carnauba wax)? After trying the carnauba wax in my homemade lip balm and having a very slight reaction, I was curious if anyone else thinks they have reactions to wax other than beeswax.
I had a thought, or two, about strength in numbers. So far, my dermatologists, primary doc, and allergist(s) have no other patients with my condition, but surely somewhere out there someone has, and solved it. I was thinking that collaboratively we could search out help for our condition, such as contacting multiple dermatologists (as a group), publishing an ad in a dermatology publication, or things of this nature. Anyone interested?
Hi Joelle,
The mentholatum ointment I’m using on my lips is actually the Mentholatum brand — little green plastic container with a white lid that says “Mentholatum Ointment / Topical Analgesic”. Available at most stores and drug stores. I used this for years on my lips at night until I started searching out more natural products and started using the Dr. Bronner’s organic lip balm which I loved, until after about six months my lips started going crazy. So now I’m back to using Mentholatum, even though it contains petrolatum which I do not like.
As for other products, yes, I developed dry, flaky, peeling skin on my face several years ago. Even went to my dermatologist who was a bit confounded and wasn’t sure what was going on. That’s when I decided to stop using conventional cosmetics, face creams, etc. with ingredients like sodium laureth sulfate, parabens, phthalates, etc. after reading about how many of them can cause skin irritation, sometimes severe (as well as all kinds of other nasty problems). I threw away all of my expensive perfumes (pretty much ALL perfumes contain phthalates, a nasty chemical), cosmetics and lotions and started using products from Whole Foods and other natural stores and even then was diligent about reading labels. When I stopped using the conventional face creams and cosmetics, the skin on my face cleared up immediately. So I’m not sure what I was sensitive to, but it was definitely an ingredient in something I had been using.
I now use a wonderful face lotion that I buy at WF, Alaffia brand, which contains wildcrafted shea butter from Africa — but I think you said you can’t use shea butter. Bummer!!
You do sound a lot more sensitive than I am. I truly feel for you! Just the struggle I’ve had with my lips has been so frustrating. I hope you can connect with some other people who are as sensitive as you are and find some answers.
Sounds like many of us need pure care items. I react to just about all unnatural substances with a red itchy rash with tiny bumps … if it was something I applied to my lips – that’s where it happened. I have gone through times in my life where I react to something and I have no idea why or what from. I would wake from rashes, dry itchy flaky skin etc. It would come and go without logic or warning. This has happened on my scalp, sides of face/temples by my eyes, around my nose, my lips, elbows, knees, hands. My immune system is so sensitive, I have cause to be aware of everything I apply, where, when and for how long. I try to switch products so my immune system has a rest because I have found that if I use something for a long period of time, my body (immune function) begins to get triggered. That’s why I think it’s good to mix things up a bit if there are enough options for you. I have numerous food allergies (allergies trigger the immune system, intolerance have more to do with digestion) and I say I was born to be a vegan because of this. Non-organic things trigger me too. I don’t chance eating GMOs because of how I feel afterwards. Skin irritation is a symptom and I can’t help but wonder how all your immune system functions are. Hugs.
Joelle, as I mentioned above, while I was researching any links there could be between an allergy to beeswax and other types of waxes, I stumbled on an article that mentioned that a girl had a reaction to both beeswax and carnauba wax. It turns out that it was cinnamic acid, which is a component of carnauba wax, that trigged the negative reaction. And I think that cinnamic acid is also one of the many substances those with Balsam of Peru allergies need to avoid. I’m no doctor but my guess is that’s why you had a reaction. I’m really sorry about that. As for other types of waxes like candelilla wax, I haven’t found any connection to beeswax allergies yet, but then there isn’t a lot of information about this subject. I will keep looking though.
I also think that your idea is really good and I hope that a lot of people will come forward to help find a solution. I don’t have any allergies, at least not yet, but if I can help in any way, just let me know.
Hi There,
Sorry to hear that so many of you have allergies to beeswax and other lip balm ingredients. I too have many of the same reactions, so started making my own lip balms and body products. I have done a lot of research as to why the skin around my lips (corners) crack and bleed depending on what I use on them. So, here is some information that may help. Please keep in mind that I am only relaying what I have found for myself, and in no way am implying it would help you!
1) Many people who are allergic to nuts or latex will be allergic to shea butter, so you can try mango butter instead. It is very moisturizing and has many of the same properties and consistency of shea butter. It also has a less greasy feel than shea butter.
2) Jojoba oil is not actually an oil but a wax ester. It is most like human sebum and rarely causes reactions. There is a golden type which is unrefined, versus the clear, non-scented type which goes through various refining processes. Maybe you could try the golden to see if it works better.
3) Candelilla wax comes from a plant in Mexico and southern areas of Texas. The wax is separated from the plant through boiling of the stems. Then it is further refined along the way to you. You can read more about it here: http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/waxcamps/index.html. In general it is not known to have adverse reactions in people, but that’s not to say you couldn’t be allergic.
4) I have tried both refined and unrefined beewax in my lip balm recipes, and am starting to think that although the unrefined is more natural and smells better, it may actually be making my lips more sore than the refined. It only affects my lips though, not in the other products I make for my feet and hands.
I also made a lip gloss with Caster Oil, Sunflower Oil and Beeswax, which is now making my lips hurt when I use it. So, next I will try Caster Oil, Sunflower Oil and Candelilla Wax to see if that makes a difference. The lip gloss is very nice looking though so I am hoping the Candelilla Wax works.!
5) Many organic and natural products which are anhydrous (no water ingredients) have vitamin E added as an antioxidant to retard the rancidity of the oils. It can either be natural or synthetic vitamin E (tocopherol). Perhaps you are allergic to the vitamins?
Thanks also for information about Balsam of Peru, I will have to check that out more for myself as I use that in some of my recipes and would hate to have anyone have an allergic reaction from it.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Not Quite Springtime =-.
Kathy, I’m sorry you have negative reactions to beeswax but thanks for sharing this info with us. I’m sure a lot of people with the same problem will benefit greatly from your experience.
It doesn’t surprise me that the unrefined beeswax makes your lips more sore than the refined type. Unrefined beewax contains all sorts of resins, pollen and other substances, that unless removed, can cause negative reactions.
Also, let us know how the lipgloss with Candelilla wax turns out, it sounds really good!
Kathy, very interesting, and you sure have done some research! Thanks for the information.
Very interesting reading on beeswax allergy. I was in incredible pain for nearly 3 years before my beeswax allergy was identified. My symptoms include a very red and swollen face, my eyes are so swollen they virtually disappear, then as it starts to subside my skin starts to peel like I have been severly sunburnt. And to top it all off my eyebrows fell out! The itching and soreness is intense and with it being on my face very embarrassing.
Do not take this lightly, comments about refining and taking out certain ingredients before being used in make-up and lotions is nonesense if you have a true beeswax allergy avoid at all costs. look our for cera alba and propolis cera as well. Beeswax is also found in food as a glazing agent and on tablets as a glazing agent.
I had skin patch tests done at the hospital so if anyone thinks they have a reaction to beeswax get tested, if not you could end up like me with 3 years of problems, which I still have every so often, and now having related issues such as very sensitive skin, an intolerance to UVA and UVB and having to shell out loads of money for sun-cream that does not contain beeswax. Oh and I still havent got any eyebrows!!!
Rach, I’m so sorry to hear that. You went through a real nightmare and I hope things are better for you now. I guess if your allergy isn’t very severe or if you are allergic to only one of the components in beeswax, then using the refined type may help, but in severe cases like you, avoiding beeswax at all costs is definitely the best thing to do.
Wow! I am so happy I want to cry! I can’t believe there are others whoe share my horrific problem. I too have an adverse reaction to all chapsticks. I can not figure out what ingredient causes this all I know is that the only thing I can use is Vaseline, which I also hate useing because of the petroleom. I have not used chapstick in about a year or two so I decided to try it out again and now I am in such horrible pain and discomfort. Thats when I decided to do a little research online.
I do have some other things I’ve tried that I would like to pass on so that others can feel some relief…
1.) I bought an Aloe Vera plant and each morning I break off a tiny bit and apply on my lips. I also take that tiny piece and put it in my purse for later.
2.) When I accidently or purposely use chapstick and get an allergic reaction I put RX grade exzema cream that I got from the doctor for my exzema problem. That helps soooooo much to cure it faster.
3.) throught the winter I carry my vaseline tube. You can get it at any drugstore it’s actually made my Vaseline. (white tube with a blue cap). Love love love this product except for the petroleum jelly aspect. But it has great effect.
I hope you all are doing well and at least finding something to tame this aweful problem. I am so glad to find you all.
Rebecca, so sorry to hear that you’re having a similar problem to the rest of us. I no longer even attempt to use any lip balm. The one that started it all for me was my very, very favorite lip balm, Dr. Bronner’s, which is 100% organic and only has about 5 ingredients, including beeswax, and which I used for months with no problem — until I developed a huge problem. As I recall, Chapstik also contains beeswax, but if you want to narrow the possibilities of what’s causing your reaction, you might try buying a tube of the “Naked” variety of Dr. Bronner’s organic lip balm (available at natural stores like Whole Foods, etc.) — naked has no fragrance which eliminates a potential ingredient that you might react to. Beeswax is one of the main ingredients in Dr. Bronner’s, along with jojoba seed, avocado and hemp seed oil. If you still react, then you can bet you’re sensitive to beeswax, jojoba, avocado or hemp seed oil. If you don’t react, then you’ve found a fantastic, moisturizing organic lip balm without petroleum.
I’ve resorted to using Mentholatum brand ointment on my lips at night (which is when I like to use some type of lip balm), as I reacted to everything else I tried, even products without beeswax like Eco Lips “Bee-Free” vegan lip balm. I’m actually going to have allergy testing done in a few months, since I’m having seasonal allergy problems anyway that cause upper respiratory infections, so I will definitely be discussing this with the allergist and will hopefully be able to have beeswax included in the patch testing.
Lisa, good luck with your allergies tests. I hope the doctor will be able to determine exactly what it is you’re allergic to and give you some valid alternatives to mentholatum as well as I know you don’t like using it. Keep us updated. 🙂
Thanks Giorgia. I will definitely post after the allergy patch testing (will be a few months). I sure hope it shows why I have this reaction to lip balm ingredients!
Rebecca, I’m sorry to hear you have such a bad reaction to most lip balms as well. But at least Vaseline works ok for you. I don’t have a problem with it but it’s a shame there aren’t more alternatives for people with allergies out there especially since it looks like a lot of people are suffering from them. Thanks for sharing your experience and the tips, I’m sure people in your same situation will find them very useful.
I just found this page and I’m happy to have some people who can sympathize! For the past 12 years, I’ve been having these problems! I will use a lip product for anywhere from a few months to two years, and then all of a sudden I will develop an allergy to it! My lips get red and irritated and break on in small bumps. It’s extremely frustrating! I finally went to a dermatologist last year (at my husband’s insistance), and the jerk dermatologist told me that he “wasn’t concerned” about the problem. Um, thanks! I am concerned, seeing as they’re MY lips! At the time, I was using vaseline (after having switched from chapstick, to which I had just had a bad reaction), and it was working, so he seemed to think that vaseline was the solution, even though I repeatedly told him that most new products work for me for a while, and then I develop an allergy/reaction.
This week, I started breaking out with vaseline, so I’m back to square one. Things that I can’t use include: Chapstick (the weird thing was that I had a reaction to vanilla mint chapstick after using it for two years, then was able to use regular chapstick for six months before developing an allergy to that), Vaseline, Naturals Brand, Vitamin E stick, Neosporin Lip Health, Bonne Belle, and more that I can’t think of. Yesterday, I bought organic Jojoba oil thinking that since it was just one ingredient, it wouldn’t irritate me, but when I woke up this morning after putting it on before bed, my lips were literally HARD and cracking. It was pretty gross. At the moment, I have olive oil on my lips. It’s the first time I’ve tried it, so I’m hoping it works because I am running out of options…
Sorry this has been so long. I’m just glad to have people to talk to about this! My question for all of you is – do you think it’s worth me finding another dermatologist and/or an allergist? I’d like to find a solution, but since I seem to develop new allergies every few months, I don’t know if it would even be worth it.
Bethany, I’m so sorry to hear about your problem. It’s awful and it must be so frustrating for you to develop allergies all the time. I really hope olive oil works for you. I wouldn’t know what else to suggest if that doesn’t. 🙁
That dermatologist was a real jerk. His job is to help patients so he should be concerned with their problems. He was just so rude, but I think it’s worth going to an allergist. If you get some tests done, you’ll be able to know which substances are causing the reaction and maybe even why it’s happening. I hope you manage to find something that works for you.
Bethany, I feel your pain (literally). I used lip products without any problem, including my favorite lip balm, Dr. Bronner’s organic (100% organic ingredients and only about 5 ingredients total), then started reacting terribly to it about a year ago. At first I had no idea it was the lip balm, figuring I’d used it for a long time so how could that be the problem? So I used more and more on my increasingly dry, peeling and finally red/cracked lips until I realized IT was the problem. Went to a dermatologist who recognized that I was having a severe reaction to something I was using. Since then I’ve tried quite a few natural lip balms (Eco Lips vegan balm, Waleda from Germany, Burt’s Bees, etc.) and have reacted to every one. I’ve isolated beeswax as at least one of my problem ingredients, but then I also reacted to balms without beeswax. So I don’t know, maybe I’ve just gotten so sensitive that I’m reacting to multiple ingredients.
A pharmacist at a local “whole health” pharmacy where they do a lot of compounding and are very knowledgeable about natural alternatives suggested that I might have lost the protective “lipid layer” on my lips and hence almost anything is causing a reaction. She suggested that I try Caladryl lotion (the colorless one) on my lips for a week or so. Apparently she thinks it might help to restore the lipid layer due to some ingredient in the Caladryl. I haven’t found the colorless one yet, only the original pink formula, so will check a few other places and give it a try. What do I have to lose? Sounds far-fetched, but at this point I’m willing to try just about anything. Even my favorite Avon lipsticks are now causing problems. The one thing I seem to be able to use without any problem, which you might want to try, is Mentholatum ointment, the one in a little green plastic container. It has petrolatum which I’m not crazy about as I like to use products that are as natural as possible, but my lips get so dry that I have to use something and it works without making my lips break out. It also helped my lips to heal when they were in horrible shape (has camphor in it, which I think is supposed to be healing).
Thanks, Lisa!! I will try Mentholatum ointment! Let me know how the Caladryl lotion works for you, too. I’d definitely give that a shot if it worked for you.
My mom has had a similar problem all her life, and Avon chapstick is the only thing that works for her. I used a tube of it, but was using something else at the same time (someone had suggested that not always using the same product might “trick” my lips into not developing an allergy so quickly), so when I began to break out, I didn’t know if it was Avon or the other product and stopped using both. I may try Avon again. My mom’s problem is so bad that she can’t eat apples with the skin on – the wax that they use to coat fruit makes her lips break out. If my problem is inherited from her, I’d assume that at the very least, I’m allergic to some kind of wax (carnauba wax and candellia wax are often used on apples), but that wouldn’t explain me breaking out to Vaseline. So frustrating!
I’ll definitely post after I try the Caladryl. And if you try Mentholatum, please post also and let us know if it caused a reaction.
I am also considering going to an allergist in a few months for testing (did it many years ago for seasonal allergies that caused very bad upper respiratory infections and took shots for a year which helped a lot, but I think the protection has worn off). If I do, I’ll certainly ask him/her about this problem with my lips and see if they can test for beeswax or other lip product ingredients.
Lisa, if the skin’s natural protective barier (or “lipid layer”) is damaged, then skin won’t retain moisture well and can become dry and chapped. It is severely damaged, I think it makes sense that it makes your lips more sensitive and prone to a bad reaction. I’m glad you found something that works for you, but I didn’t know Mentholatum contains camphor, but then I’m not very familiar with the product. Camphor is an counter-irritant, which means it reduces inflammations in deeper skin tissues by causing local inflammation. It just substitues one kind of inflammation with another, really which may be good short-term, but not in the long run. Petrolatum, on the other hand, has shown in several scientific studies to have healing properties without the side effects. And please, do let us know how the Caladryn lotion works for you.
Giorgia, Mentholatum’s active ingredients are camphor (9%) and natural menthol (1.3%), both of which are listed as “topical analgesics”. It did seem to help my lips heal when they were in horrible shape, and is still the only thing I can use on them without reacting. Bummer. I’ll post after trying the Caladryl.
Lisa, as far as I know Camphor and Menthol are both analgesic and counter-irritants. They can both relieve pain and help healing but can cause irritations too. I don’t think it’s bad to use it for a while, but I wouldn’t want it to make your lips more prone to irritations overtime. Still, I’m not a doctor and if it works for you, by all means keep using it.
Giorgia, I would dearly love to be able to ditch the Mentholatum, believe me! If I could only find *something* else I could use on my dry lips. Everything else I’ve tried has caused reactions or just didn’t help my dry lips (like the pure shea butter that I tried again last night). I used to use Mentholatum years ago, every night for years, before I started using natural products and it never caused a problem.
Lisa, I know. Unfortunately sometimes the products that work for us don’t have the best INCI. I hope you’ll manage to find something else that’ll work for you. 🙂
Hi Lisa,
I don’t know, but I came across your blog while searching google for wax-free mascara. I developed an allergy to waxes a few months ago. I have no idea why and neither did my allergist. My lips become super dry and start to peel, by eyes become puffy, red, and swollen. Once I eliminated ingredients, I realized it was wax! Wax in my lipsticks, wax in my foundations, wax in my mascaras! Lipstick may be hard, but there are lip-glosses and foundations at the drug store that don’t have wax. Also, instead of chapstick, I now use Vaseline. Mascara is harder: Origin’s has a wax-free mascara you can buy at many Macy’s or Neutrogena has one you can buy online (it’s been discontinued).
I am planning on going back to my allergist to see if she can test all waxes on me and hopefully help. The process has been horrible and seems never ending. I just wanted to let you know there is someone else out here with your problem!
Good luck!
Oh, also, a wax allergy is confusing because wax is a natural product. So all of the natural and organic mascaras don’t matter, because it isn’t a chemical problem. I went through patch-testing with my doctor because we thought is was a chemical…
Apparently you can just develop allergies and no one knows why.
Exactly — you can develop an allergy at an time, even to something you’ve used or taken for years. I became allergic to penicillin a few years ago after having taken it at various times my whole life without any issues. Last time I took oral penicillin for a bad spider bite, I immediately broke out in horrible hives. I used Dr. Bronner’s organic lip balm for about six months with no problems, then suddenly I couldn’t use it any more.
Hi,
It’s comforting to know that I’m not the only one out here with this bizarre problem. When I first found this blog, I was so relieved because I’d never heard of anyone else with this issue. I know for sure that I’m extremely sensitive to beeswax, but also obviously to some other ingredients. I can use my Avon lipsticks most of the time, but then occasionally my lips will start to react and I’ll have to use nothing on them for a few days. Right now I can use my lipstick with no problem, so it’s strange. But I also had reactions to some other natural products that didn’t have beeswax so there are obviously other ingredients that cause me problems.
Thanks for your post and I wish you luck with your situation too!
waxallergies101, I’m sorry to hear you have this problem too. Yes, unfortunately you can develop an allergy at any point to any substance you have used before, and not just chemical ones. Natural substances can cause allergies too. It must be so frustrating. I hope the allergist will help determine to which waxes you are allergic to so you’ll know exactly what you can and can’t use.
I’m sitting at my desk right now with incredibly red, swollen and inflamed lips after stupidly trying another natural balm last night. I can use it on my hands with no problem (it’s actually a natural product sold at Whole Foods called Climb On Bar and was designed for rock climbers to use on their hands; it’s a great product with all natural ingredients). I have no idea why I thought I might be able to get away with using it on my lips after all I’ve been through, but I put a tiny bit on my lips before going to bed last night and woke up this morning, took one look in the mirror and realized that any child looking at me would run screaming in fear. I am so tired of this!!! I’ve learned my lesson and will not even try any other product except Mentholatum ointment. I’m glad there’s one thing out there that doesn’t irritate my ridiculously sensitive lips, even if it’s not a natural product and I don’t like using it.
Lisa, I’m so sorry. It must be a nightmare not to be able to trying anything new cos it’ll just gonna cause a bad reaction. I can see why you are so tired of this, anyone would be, it’s so frustrating. I really wish you could find something other than Mentholatum that works for you as I know you don’t like using that, but I think it’s best if you stick with it after all, at least until you do some allergy tests and figure out exactly which ingredients are causing you to react so badly.
Have you tried Vaseline? I know that is the only thing I can really wear, but I love it for my lips! It’s pretty low on ingredients…basically petroleum jelly. Hope you find something soon =(
Laine, I haven’t tried Vaseline. I actually like the menthol smell of Mentholatum but don’t like that it’s not a natural product (petrolatum or petroleum jelly is not a great thing to put on one’s skin). I’ll check out the label on Vaseline at my grocery store and if it has less ingredients, I might give it a try. I imagine it would not cause my lips to react since I think its main ingredient is petroleum jelly, like petrolatum.
Hey I am soooo glad I’m not alone with this horrible allergy thing… I have developed an allergy to all lip balms, lipsticks and glosses I have spent a fortune trying to find something. My lips immediatly go dry and flaky with an eczmea type look under my bottom lip – Attractive not especially as I am getting married in 8 weeks………….HELP PLease…XX
Lisa, I’m sorry to hear that, it’s awful that you can’t use anything. I’m not a doctor or anything but my advice to you would be to use something like olive oil or jojoba oil or even vaseline, which all have moisturizing properties and being only one ingredient, they’re less likely to cause a negative reaction. I would suggest have some patch tests done if you haven’t already so you can determine exactly what is causing the problem (may be more than one ingredient) and what products you can use on your lips without irritating them. Hope this helps and that you can find something that works for you soon.
Congratulations on getting married!
Thanks for the reply – Even vaseline irritates them … I’ve just rubbed olive oil on them – not a great look for wedding pics tho hey ;-( x
Lisa, I agree with the other Lisa too. At the moment I think your priority should be that of getting your lips in good condition and olive oil should do just that. I also wouldn’t try any new lipstick or other lip product or you could risk having red, irritated and flaky lips on your wedding day and you don’t want that. Maybe try applying olive oil very sparingly so that it will moisturize without looking too shiny and oily.
Lisa, welcome to the club that you never wanted to join! 🙂 So sorry to hear that you’re in the same boat as many of us. I can’t use ANY lip balm anymore — have tried many, and anything with beeswax makes me look like someone threw acid on my lips by the next morning. Most of the time my lipsticks are ok, but sometimes they also cause a problem. You also might be severely allergic/reactive to beeswax, and if even lipsticks are a problem, then perhaps also to the other types of cosmetic waxes used in them.
In the short term, to heal your lips, you might want to try the only thing I’ve been able to use — Mentholatum ointment. It seems to be healing (for my lips at least) and got my lips past the swollen/red/flaking/peeling stage in about a week. This might get your lips back in shape for your wedding, at least. If even lipsticks are causing your lips to react, then I don’t know what to tell you to try for your wedding day. You might have to play up the rest of your face with makeup and go “au naturale” on your lips, or use just a bit of extra virgin olive oil to give them a little shine. I’ve been wanting to stop using the Mentholatum as a long-term lip balm (I like to use something on my dry lips while I sleep) because petrolatum, the main ingredient, is not a totally benign ingredient. So I just started trying some extra virgin olive oil on my lips at night, and it feels good and is not causing me any problems. It’s also safe and benign.
From my experiences trying many different natural and even 100% organic lip balms and reacting to every one, I’d say since you’re getting married soon, the main goal is to get your lips back to a healthy state ASAP. To that end, I’d avoid all lip balms and lipsticks if I were you and try Mentholatum for a few days and see if your lips heal, or even just try the olive oil.
If you’ve done some reading, you might be aware that now that your body recognizes beeswax (or whatever ingredient you’re reacting to) as a trigger, you will probably always have this sensitivity. At least that’s what I’ve read. I used my favorite 100% organic lip balm, Dr. Bronner’s, for almost a year every night with no problems — until I started reacting horribly to the beeswax in it. But I’ve also reacted to Eco Lips Vegan lip balm, which contains no beeswax. Sigh.
Keep us posted, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!
Lisa, have you completed a patch skin test with unrefined organic coconut oil? Avocado oil is good too .. if you decide you want to give olive oil a break. Please do a skin test first before attempting to put any of these on your lips. Hugs. Do you also have other immune function issues? Rashes, itchiness, dry skin on other parts of body, constantly shifting body temperature, fatigue, feeling run-down? Malaise? I’m looking for links to weak immune function … that’s why I ask. Thanks. Hugs.
Aw thanks for your advice ladies,I started trying olive oil last night although did try putting sudocream on them before bed and used couple of lip balms today they’re worse than ever so sore!! Gonna try that menthoulm n make sure I stay clear of eveything else in the meantime.
Thanks again peeps x
Lisa, since you posted above that even Vaseline irritates your lips (the main ingredient of which I think is petrolatum), I wouldn’t even use Mentholatum if I were you, since the main ingredient in it is also petrolatum. Petrolatum seems to be the one thing that does not inflame my lips, but it might yours. I’d recommend just sticking to the olive oil and not to use anything else at all until after your wedding so you’ll look fabulous in those photos!
I’ve always read that if you play up your eyes with makeup, you should have nude-ish lips, so maybe on your wedding day use some beautiful eye shadows, a bit of blusher on your cheeks, and just a touch of olive oil on your lips which will (hopefully) make them look like you have a bit of gloss on them.
Lisa, once again I agree with the other Lisa. If Vaseline irritates your lips, Mentholatum will too so just sticking to olive oil will probably be the best thing for you.
Also bridal makeup is usually very natural, barely-there so no one will probably notice that you’re only wearing some olive oil and nothing else. I know that’s probably not what you wanted your wedding makeup to be like, but sometimes we just don’t have a choice. The idea of playing up the eyes is a very good one too. It’ll make the eyes the focus of your look so that the lips will be less noticeable.
Well ladies would you believe Olive Oil made them worse?? Weird as I cook with it everyday with no reactions…. However been to the pharmacist today he said wouldn’t use mentholeum but recommended camex which is for cold sores has NO lanolin or beeswax in it and my lips feel and look better already after only 1 days use – Plus it only cost me £2 BARGAIN I’ll keep you posted xx
How bizarre! I would have thought olive oil was safe, especially since you said you cook with it. Which probably means it gets on your lips. Well, if Carmex is helping then by all means use it. Keep us posted.
Lisa, oh no! I thought olive oil would have worked well for you as you can safely it, guess not. I’m glad you found something else that works for you, though and please, keep us updated.
Question: I know many of us have problems with lip balms and lipstick and irritation around our lips…but do other products affect you as well??? I can’t wear 99% of mascara (because of wax) or any type of creamy eye shadow and some foundations. I know my allergy is to wax, which is maybe different from some of you all…but are you having problems anywhere else on your face??? This has been such a nightmare!
I know what helped me is I compared my mascara/lipstick ingredients (which made me react) to ingredients in something I wore all the time with no problem (lotions, eyeshadow, etc.) and then narrowed down the ingredients and went from there…
Good luck everyone!
Laine, that’s too bad that you can’t use products with beeswax anywhere, it must be so frustrating to find some products you can use. I’d think that if you are allergic to something you should react to it everywhere, but then I’m no doctor and I guess it’s possible to react only on the lips, if the condition is not too severe. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help, hopefully someone else with a beeswax allergy will be able to help.
Hi Laine,
I actually can wear mascara (though I don’t any more), and it did not make my eye area irritated. I wore Dr. Hauschka’s mascara (a German, natural cosmetics company with very pure ingredients, available at Whole Foods stores), which I really liked. I think it did contain some type of natural wax. But the weird thing is, I can use products with beeswax, which make my lips go crazy, elsewhere on my body without any problem. So my lips seem to be much more sensitive than other areas of my body.
Although, when my lips were in their worst state before I knew that beeswax was the main culprit, the irritation (dry, flaking, peeling skin) actually spread from my lips to my cheeks and the skin around my mouth to the point that I had to use a powerful Rx prescription steroid cream.
Your sensitivity sounds even worse than mine, and I’m so sorry!! I know the frustration you must feel.
Hi Laine,
I also have reactions to mascara with all waxes, but I’ve found Nars at Sephora and my eyes don’t react. And Lisa, when I first discovered this horrible allergy, I also reacted around my mouth, due to the moisturizer I was using.
I’ve revamped my entire facial products regime, especially concealers and moisturizers as they cause me to react. I experiment with products, mostly from Whole Foods and Sephora. I stay away from anything with waxes, or ingredients that start with “benz” such as benzone, benzoate, benzyl, etc. What I have been unsuccessful in finding is a tinted moisturizer. Before this madness started I loved Bobbi Brown- does anyone have any recommendations?
Best wishes!
Joelle
Joelle, I’m glad you finally found a mascara that works for you. As for tinted moisturizers I’m not sure to suggest. I’m pretty sure that Tarte and Philosophy make tinted moisturizers without waxes nor ingredients that start with benz but I haven’t tried them so I’m not sure how well they work.
But if your skin is very sensitive maybe mineral makeup is a better option? They usually contain only few ingredients so the chance of getting a bad reaction are very small. I know most of them can only be bought online but companies usually offer sample kits so that you can try several different shades at a very cheap price before committing to buying the full size.
I thought I’d share with the others out there who are highly sensitive to beeswax that I FINALLY found a lip balm that I can use without my lips looking like acid was poured on them. It does NOT contain beeswax. I’d just about given up on ever finding a lip balm I could use on my dry lips, when I found this one at my local Whole Foods Market. It’s made by a company called Enfusia, which is a local company where I live in Texas (it’s made in The Woodlands, Texas). It’s called “Bee Friendly” lip balm and comes in 3 flavors — spearmint, citrus and unflavored. It has good ingredients — no parabens, phthalates or petroleum products and uses organic jojoba and sunflower oils and organic cocoa butter, and organic food flavorings and essential oils. It goes on very smoothly and is wonderful! I’m so happy to have finally, finally found a lip balm I can use after I started having all the beeswax problems.
Here is a link to Enfusia’s web page about their lip balm in case anyone else wants to try it; you can probably order it on-line:
http://www.enfusia.com/BeeFriendlyLipBalm.asp
Lisa
Lisa, I’m so glad you finally found a lip balm that works for you and thanks for sharing it with us. I’m sure it’ll be very helpful for people that are allergic to beeswax. 🙂
I hope others here who have not been able to use any other lip balm might be able to use Enfusia’s BeeFriendly balm. I even reacted to Eco Lips Bee-Free vegan balm for some reason, but not to Enfusia’s. It’s a relief to finally have found something besides Mentholatum that I can use, since I don’t want to use petrolatum.
Oh my gosh, Lisa! I am so excited for you. That’s so great that you’ve found a lip balm that works. In fact, I’m rushing out to Whole Foods after work today. I’ve been making my own lip balm, using vitamin E, coconut oil, and cocoa butter, but it is far from perfected. Thanks so much for the tip! Crossing my fingers that Enfusia’s Bee Friendly works for me too…
Thank you for letting us know!
Joelle
Joelle, I hope you can find this in your local Whole Foods. They try to carry locally-made products so depending on where you live your store might not carry it, but I’ll bet you can order it on Enfusia’s website. Good luck, and if you’re able to find it, please post if it works for you!
Lisa
Joelle, did you find the Enfusia lip balm at your local Whole Foods?
Believe it or not, I just found another brand (also available at WF) that does not contain beeswax and that I did not have any reactions to! It’s made by Hugo Naturals, and it has really pure ingredients. Comes in several scents; I have the vanilla and sweet orange scent. This brand might be more readily available in stores than Enfusia.
Lisa, I’m glad that you were able to find another lip balm that you can use. And also that more brands are slowly (and finally!) coming out with lip balms that even those allergic to beeswax can use without problems. It’s nice to have choices. 🙂
Hi Lisa,
I looked and called a couple Whole Foods stores in my area but they don’t carry Enfusia products. I ordered it online and should be getting it soon. Once I know for sure that I’m not having a reaction, I’ll test it out. Thanks so much again for letting us know! I’ll try Hugo Naturals if the Enfusia balms don’t work.
Thanks!
Hi Joelle,
Ok, please let us know how the Enfusia lip balm works once you receive it. I really am liking the Hugo Naturals lip balm too, so maybe that will work for you if the Enfusia doesn’t. And I’m impressed with the ingredients in both — really natural. No parabens, phthalates, phenoxyethanol (very toxic preservative that’s common), etc.
I was very glad to find this site as I have been able to diagnose sensitivities to beeswax after much research. I see there hasn’t been any posts in a few months. Are the Enfusia and Hugo lip balks still working for anyone?
Rose, I’m sorry you have problems with beeswax too. I haven’t tried those lip balms but I think that are still working if no one has mentioned anything anymore. If anyone has more info, please correct me.
Hi Rose,
Yes, I am still using Enfusia and Hugo Naturals lip balms (neither contains beeswax) with no problems! I like the texture and feel of both of them a lot. I’m thankful I finally found something I can use!
Luckily, I don’t seem to have a problem with most lipsticks and lip glosses.
Oh how I love this forum. Thanks for all of the info from everyone. I have to tell you guys that I have been living with this for such a long time and needed to come up with some kind of moisturizing agent because I also battle eczema on my face as well as around my mouth. So here is what I use Because I too am allergic to all lip balms and chapsticks etc..
I purchase an empty lip gloss tube (from ebay by a store called more than bottles) and I fill it with vitamin E oil and and essential oil like lavender or peppermint. The other thing that is good on my lips is that rosebud balm (you can get it at sephora or cheaper at walgreens but same product) it has Cotton Seed Oil, Borax, Aromol, With Essential Oils in a special Petrolatum Base. The only thing I don’t like about it is that it comes in a tin and i have to use my finger to use it. I hate useing my finger. I hope this helps.
Rebecca, I’m sorry to hear about your beeswax and eczema problems but thanks for sharing with us what works for you. I’m sure lots of poeple will find it helpful. 🙂
Oh and if you are tired of not wearing lipstick, try using blush or a eye shadow and mixing it with your vitamin E oil or vegetable oil.
Rebecca, that’s a great tip, thanks for letting us know. All your advice is very helpful. 🙂
I bought the Enfusia lip balm after Lisa mentioned it and it’s hard to tell if I had a reaction to the lip balm or if it was something else. I’m extremely sensitive so even just touching a door handle and then my face somehow could give me a reaction on my lips. Ugh, horrible, but the fact that I’ve tried Enfusia three separate occasions and I can’t determine that it causes a reaction is a good thing.
Side note. I started seeing a holistic doctor and had a food sensitivity test done and have eliminated foods that I am highly sensitive to (dairy, egg, soy, gluten, and some nuts) and for the first time since this horrible lip sensitivity started, my body is able to heal itself from reactions without the use of hydrocortisone. My lips still have reactions, so I’m sticking with the restrictive diet and adding in probiotics for two more months. It really is a lifestyle change to eliminate so many common foods, but I highly recommend trying it. For those of you not as sensitive as me, you might be able to heal yourself completely.
Joelle, I’m glad your doctor was able to recommend a treatment and a diet that helped your problem. It sounds very restricting so it mustn’t have been that easy at first but at least you’re better now so it’s worth it.
Haha, I love this forum too. I also love Rebeccas advice about lipstick alternatives. I recommend Vaseline for your lips. Some people would rather have something all natural, but I have had too hard of a time doing finding all those. And it is very similar to the Rosebud tin mentioned above, but comes in a portable tube or larger jar. Easy to find and cheap – I dont know where I would be without it!
Goodluck!
Laine, thank you for your recommendation, it’s very helpful. I think vaseline would work very well for those allergic to beeswax too. It’d be great if there were more alternatives for those who want to use natural products, but until then, one sadly can’t afford to be too picky.