"Bee" by antaean is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Just when you think you have a handle on what’s hot in the world of skincare, along comes a new buzzword (sorry, Garden Gal just couldn’t help herself). Propolis. A fancy word for the “bee glue”, used by our friends the bees to seal openings in their hives.
The fact is, the use of propolis in beauty products has been around for a long time. As in a loooong time, as in since ancient Egypt and Roman times. It turns out that Cleopatra was the original hippy chick and began using propolis after tiring of her usual beauty regimen of honey and camel’s milk baths. Needing to looked rested and refreshed when not ruling Egypt, Cleopatra turned to propolis, which at that time was used in embalming. Talk about serious preservation abilities!
Due to its antibiotic and antiseptic properties, propolis was also used by Roman warriors to heal and prevent wounds caused in battle. This is due to its high flavonoid content, which makes it chock full of natural antioxidants. These natural antioxidants help protect our skin from acne and irritation and soothes any burning or itching.
So, how can propolis help our dry skin of today? Due to its natural properties to restore and maintain skin structure, propolis endures as an amazing and beneficial ingredient to skin cream and lotion. And when combined with the natural moisturizers found in honey, we have a winning combination!
Fellow Minnesotans, don’t let the arctic air ravage your skin this winter! Follow in the footsteps of the Queen of the Nile and treat your skin to the amazing benefits of propolis.
Sources:
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400335/What-Are-the-Benefits-of-Bee-Propolis.html
http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/herbsvitaminsa1/a/Bee_propolis.htm
http://www.fao.org/docrep/w0076e/w0076e14.htm
http://lifebooker.tumblr.com/post/30937565675/mystery-ingredient-what-the-propolis