Walk into any pharmacy and pick up a lip balm or skin balm off the shelf. Flip it over. You'll likely see ingredients like paraffin, petrolatum, dimethicone, or polyethylene — all synthetic waxes and occlusive agents derived from petroleum.

They work, in a narrow sense. They create a barrier on the skin that prevents water loss. But they do nothing to nourish the skin underneath, and some of them come with questions worth asking.

At JW Honey, we use beeswax. Here's why — and what beeswax actually does that petroleum-derived alternatives don't.

What Is Beeswax?

Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honeybees to construct their combs. It's been used in skincare for thousands of years — ancient Egyptians used it in cosmetics and wound care, and it remained a staple of apothecary preparations well into the 20th century.

Chemically, beeswax is a complex mixture of esters, fatty acids, and hydrocarbons. It has a melting point of around 145°F, which is why balms made with beeswax hold their shape at room temperature but melt on contact with skin.

What Does Beeswax Do for Your Skin?

It creates a breathable barrier. Unlike petrolatum, which forms a completely occlusive seal, beeswax creates a semi-permeable barrier. This means it slows moisture loss without suffocating the skin. Your pores can still breathe, and your skin's natural processes — temperature regulation, toxin elimination, microbiome maintenance — continue uninterrupted.

It has genuine antimicrobial properties. Research published in peer-reviewed journals has found beeswax to be effective against common skin pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. This makes it particularly useful for dry, cracked, or broken skin where infection risk is elevated.

It works synergistically with coconut oil. In our balms, beeswax and organic coconut oil work as a team. Coconut oil is antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal on its own. Beeswax's occlusive properties lock the coconut oil against the skin, so it stays in contact long enough to do its job. The result is a balm that doesn't just sit on the surface — it actively supports skin health.

It has been shown to help burns, dermatitis, and psoriasis. A 2023 review of beeswax in skincare applications found evidence supporting its use in managing inflammatory skin conditions. For people with chronic skin issues, this isn't a trivial benefit.

What About the Alternatives?

Paraffin is a petroleum byproduct. It's cheap, shelf-stable, and effective as an occlusive agent. It also contains trace amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which have raised safety questions in some research contexts. It provides no nutritional benefit to the skin whatsoever.

Petrolatum (petroleum jelly) is similar — highly occlusive, long-lasting, and nutritionally inert. The European Union requires petrolatum used in cosmetics to demonstrate full refining history to be classified as non-carcinogenic. In the US, there is no such requirement.

Dimethicone is a silicone polymer that gives products a silky feel. It's considered safe by most regulatory bodies, but it does not biodegrade and accumulates in aquatic environments. Some people also find it causes breakouts or buildup.

None of these provide anything your skin actually needs. They're delivery mechanisms at best.

What We Pair With Beeswax

Our beeswax doesn't work alone. In our Peppermint and Eucalyptus Beeswax Balm and Lavender and Tea Tree Beeswax Balm, we combine beeswax with:

• Organic coconut oil — antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, UV-protective
• Peppermint oil — anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, shown to help treat dermatitis
• Eucalyptus oil — antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and useful for respiratory health when applied around the face
• Lavender oil — anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, gentle enough for sensitive skin
• Tea tree oil — one of the most well-researched antimicrobial essential oils available

Every ingredient has a job. You can read the research behind each one on our Our Ingredients page.

The Transparency Piece

One of the things that drove John to start JW Honey was the lack of transparency in the cosmetics industry. "Fragrance" on an ingredient label can mean hundreds of undisclosed chemicals. "Natural" has no legal definition. And most brands have no interest in explaining why they chose one ingredient over another.

We think you deserve to know what you're putting on your skin — and why it's there. Beeswax isn't in our balms because it's cheap or trendy. It's there because it has a documented history of working, because it comes from a natural source we can trace, and because it actively supports skin health rather than just sealing it off from the world.

That's the standard we hold every ingredient to. It's not the easiest way to formulate a product. But it's the right way.