There’s a lot of buzz about bee propolis. This is the sticky substance that helps hold the hive together. It’s made up of plant resin, as well as a natural substance produced by the bees themselves.
Bee Propolis Benefits for Skin
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In recent years, this healthy substance has become a beauty aid. You can find skin creams with propolis, designed to help smooth and soften your neck and face.
Folk healers have used propolis for thousands of years. Propolis has always been considered very good for the skin. It’s traditional use has been to heal infections and abscesses.
It’s also believed that propolis is very good for the immune system. It’s packed with antioxidants, as well as various nutrients and minerals, including the trace minerals most of us don’t get enough of. In animal studies, a propolis extract was found to halt the growth of cancer in mice.
Benefits of Bee Propolis For Skin
Apparently, natural bee propolis is considered good for younger, acne prone skin, as well as more mature skin. It’s now being used as a wrinkle fighter by what seems to be a growing number of women. Propolis is also considered a potential natural remedy for eczema, rosacea and other stubborn skin conditions.
I read on one site that Cleopatra used propolis as a beauty aid on her skin. I have no way of verifying whether or not this is true. But propolis, apparently, was used as an embalming agent in ancient Egypt. I’ve also heard that Cleopatra used frankincense to improve her complexion, as some modern women are doing today.
In any event, bee propolis is now staging a comeback as a health and beauty aid. It’s now found in a seemingly growing number of natural beauty products, such as the Bee Friendly Face & Eye Cream seen here. This handmade formula also contains organic olive oil, beeswax that contains bee pollen, raw Hawaiian honey and essential oils. This is also designed for use in the neck area.
DIY Bee Propolis Cream For Skin
Several years ago, I gathered up all of my chemical-based facial products and put them where I thought they belonged – in the trash. That’s because they contained a number of known or suspected carcinogens, such as parabens. These compounds mimic estrogen and are categorized as “hormone disruptors.” Some health experts fear they could be linked to breast cancer. In any event, I’m not waiting for the studies. I’ve already gotten rid of these chemical concoctions that I’d been using for decades.
Guess what? Since I got rid of my chemical “beauty products,” my skin tone has improved so much that I no longer feel the need to wear foundation. So I’m a big proponent of natural cosmetics. I’ve even started making my own skin creams. This is really easy to do, as long as you have the ingredients. If you want to make homemade bee propolis skin cream, you’ll obviously need some of the sticky stuff that keeps the hives together. Here is a bee prop9lis tincture that’s really easy to use, if you want to add some of this substance to a natural cosmetic.
How To Make Bee Propolis Skin Cream
Making your own cosmetics is really easy, and fun. Here is a very simple recipe using a two-ingredient body butter base. Then, when it’s almost finished, add 40 drops of bee propolis tincture, plus a few drops of essential oils.
1/2 cup of coconut oil (It’s available here)
1/4 cup of shea butter (It’s available here)
- Heat these ingredients on the stove at low heat until they are liquid.
- Transfer to a clean glass bowl for cooling. Put them aside and wait 15 minutes.
- Then put this bowl in the freezer for just 10 minutes. When you take it out, you should see the edges of the mixture beginning to harden.
- Whip these oils with an electric mixer for 11 to 12 minutes.
- Just before you’re done mixing, add 30 drops of bee propolis tincture.
You can also add 10 drops of frankincense essential oil and 5 drops of lavender essential oil when you add the propolis. Store in a clean glass jar with a cover, away from heat and light. If you want to add extra firmness to your homemade skin cream, add two tablespoons of beeswax pellets to the coconut oil and shea butter mixture that you heat on the stove. Beeswax pellets can be ordered online.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional. People with bee allergies should check with their doctor before using any products with propolis.
