What happens if you use beeswax instead of emulsifying wax

A COSMETIC CHEMIST ON WHY BEESWAX IS NOT AN EMULSIFIER: formulabotanica.com/beeswax-i...
Here's the version that works: • How to Make a Basic DI...
If you want to make an emulsion with beeswax and borax instead of emulsifying wax, here's how: www.humblebeeandme.com/diy-lot...
THE FAIL RECIPE IN THE VIDEO (don't make this!)
73g | 2.5oz water
2g | 0.07oz vegetable glycerin
5g | 0.17oz shea butter
14g | 0.49oz sunflower oil
6g | 0.21oz beeswax
COMPLETE EMULSIFYING WAXES + INCIs
Emulsimulse INCI: Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, and Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
Polawax INCI: Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-150 Stearate, Polysorbate 60, and Steareth-20
BTMS-50 INCI: Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol
Emulsifying Wax NF INCI: Cetostearyl Alcohol and Polysorbate 60
PRODUCTS USED
Glass Prep Bowls
amzn.to/28ovXoZ
NorPro Jar/Icing Spatula
amzn.to/1touIpO
2-cup Pyrex Measuring Cups
amzn.to/1XNTYTg
Immersion blender
amzn.to/2bIGtCZ
INGREDIENTS
Shea butter
amzn.to/1U1baOB
Sunflower oil
amzn.to/1tje2j1
Beeswax
amzn.to/29oERrX
Or, check out www.humblebeeandme.com/resources/
HELPFUL READING
I don’t like the sounds of emulsifying wax-can I use beeswax (or a plant based wax) instead?
www.humblebeeandme.com/faqs/do...
Can I use emulsifying wax instead of solubilizer, or solubilizer instead of emulsifying wax?
www.humblebeeandme.com/faqs/ca...
Are all emulsifying waxes (e-waxes) the same?
www.humblebeeandme.com/faqs/em...
My lotion is either too thick, too thin, or it didn’t emulsify.
www.humblebeeandme.com/faqs/lo...
#humblebeeandme #stubbornlyDIY #DIYflop
Humblebee & Me is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases.

[@sofiavladimirova5689]

I use it all the time. 4 tsp beeswax, 2tbs of rosewater ( or any other hydrosol), 2 tbs shea butter, 4 tsp of watermelon oil, 2tbs of any other oil ( apricot, argan, rosehip- any, I just like mixing different for different batches), 2 tsp of honey ( never warm that up as it looses its properties). And I melt, and I blend- and it's gorgeous. I use it in winter for my face and body- ideal for those drying months.

[@juniperrose66]

Me too!

[@TessieDobey]

There is no water in your recipe, so that is the difference!

[@zhannewilliams-chandler825]

@@TessieDobey rose water is the water in the recipe

[@bryantparadine641]

I can’t beeswax clogs my pores don’t trust it

[@bryantparadine641]

Do you use a preservative???

[@laralou4243]

Thank you for completely explaining the differences in waxes and the result that happens when you use them incorrectly. I have watched many many lotion videos and you are the first to actually explain the process. I am new at the process and could not figure out why my lotions would break down halfway through the process. So once again, thank you and great video. :)

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

No worries! I know this can be a really common pitfall for new makers and it's always so disappointing to have a recipe fail and not know why! Happy making :D

[@user-sw4et6fj5e]

your videos are absolutely priceless. you tell the whole truth you give so much detail that at first intimidates because nobody else talks about it. I respect your honesty and professionalism. after while now I stopped being afraid of the added preservatives. all thanks to you and to your explanations. ♡

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Thank you so much! Don't forget to check out my blog (humblebeeandme.com/)-I've been blogging for over 5 years while I haven't even been on KZbin for one, so there is TONS more content on the blog!

[@barsoapshop1306]

Hello. We've been making a beeswax lotion for years and people love it! You have to get the proportions right and add the oils to the water. You've added the water directly to the oil, which is wrong and does not work! Temperature is also very important while mixing the oil/water.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

I'm well aware it is possible; this is noted in the video and an emulsified beeswax lotion recipe of mine from 2011 is linked in the description box. This video is called "What happens if you use beeswax instead of emulsifying wax" and think it says "why you can never, ever make a stable emulsion with beeswax" 😐 I did not say it is not possible. I said you cannot use it INSTEAD of ewax in a recipe developed to work with ewax. I have made emulsions with beeswax before, but the recipes formulated to work with beeswax are so, SO different from recipes made to use e-wax. It's sort of like a cake recipe designed to be sweetened with sugar, vs one designed to be sweetened with honey. The second recipe will be different to account for all the extra liquid from the honey. Both can work, but you can't just use one for the other and expect good results.

[@elaine8152]

Do you have a recipe for your lotion. Just the basics

[@elaine8152]

Barsoap do you have a recipe to explain the right measure ments

[@lazyscorpion3889]

True

[@patriceboquet4995]

Mine has never done that ! Gross! When I use beeswax for the emulsifier I use my food processor and it works great 😊

[@limegreenlotus]

Just ordered your book , I can't wait for it to come in😊.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Woohoo! Thank you so much :D

[@IAmclara_N]

Pls whats the link for your e-book

[@jessicabaker1012]

I would love to buy the book where can i?

[@keirabrown8936]

A beeswax lotion can be made and can work if you know what you're doing and have your percentages right. As in, 35.380 grams beeswax, 0.9072 grams of borax---you absolutely need the borax when making a beeswax lotion or it won't work, and the last ingredient--- soy lecithin, with a proportion of 4.536 grams. Also, you have to use distilled water/hydrosol and these NEED to be heated to 170farenheit and be held at 170 for at least 15. The WATER should be POURED SLOWLY into the oil part WHILE MIXING and mixing should continue until lotion reaches 120 Fahrenheit.

[@keirabrown8936]

I calculate my lotions in percentages of 100% in order to create a stable mixture that holds. Beeswax mixtures can and will work and can hold, and are a much healthier alternative. Basically my water = 55%, my oil = 32% , emulsifier = 9% and my additives = 9% also I use Germall as a preservative at around 0.1-0.5% into my lotions. This my night cream recipes.

[@keirabrown8936]

*additive at 3%

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Yes, I'm aware. There are a couple links in the video and in the description box to my recipe from 2011 on how to do this. As you are clearly aware, your recipe is not very similar to a lotion recipe developed to work with e-wax.

[@MsJcmJcm]

Keira, thank you for your generosity in recipe and instructions. So u can make lotion w/beeswax, just don’t interchange ewax.

[@carolgayfagerhaugh1969]

Hi can you direct me to learning this process more precisely ? I know they used to do it even with out the Borax as well

[@fictionaddiction4706]

Thanks for being so helpful, and doing a failed recipe on purpose to show us the results. you saved me from buying natural beesewax.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

I'm glad you found it helpful! Beeswax is super useful for many projects, it just doesn't work well as an alternative to ewax :)

[@wandakowalski7063]

I just foundyournwonderful videos - they are great because you take the time to explain the characteristics if the ingredients ands that gives this viewer the infomI need to make informed choices in using the recipes. I started looking around for a hand and body cream because as I've gotten older, the skin on my legs has thinned and is scaly and no amount of commercial,products work - except petroleum jelly. I'm going to now visit your website for a she's butter because as you clearly explained in a previous video, this is really good for dry skin. I just want to thank you again for your generosity in taking the time to make these videos! Wanda

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Thanks so much, Wanda! It's always lovely when my attempts to be thorough are appreciated as more often than not people complain that I talk too much :P Happy making!

[@ahweilouis3046]

I experimented using beeswax and it works beautifully. Need to ensure oil and water phase ingredients are at room temperature (meaning the oil phase ingredients already solidly from beeswax) and whip both vigorously using powerful blender or food processor.

[@yanacshell]

Thank you so much! This was an extremely helpful video. So glad I watched it BEFORE attempting to make my lotions.☺

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Wahoo! Thanks for DIYing with me, and happy making :)

[@Leoprdgrl13]

Thank you for this video cause I was wanting to make some lotion of my own and I thought about beeswax. Love your videos!

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Thanks, Danielle! Hopefully your first lotion is a huge success 😊

[@audreyhamilton3502]

Wow!!! I did exactly this yesterday, and I cried, I couldn't understand why, but now I know. Bless you so much

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Before you comment to tell me I'm wrong/that you've made it work in the past, please note that the title of this video is "What happens if you use beeswax *instead* of emulsifying wax" and not "it is completely impossible to ever make an emulsion using beeswax". If you take a formulation designed to work with emulsifying wax, using beeswax instead of emulsifying wax will not work. That is what this video is showing. However, if you use a formulation designed to work with beeswax, that can work. Here's a lotion formulation I shared 2011 using beeswax: www.humblebeeandme.com/diy-lotion/. For a food metaphor, imagine you were making a chocolate cake recipe that called for 1 cup of milk chocolate, but you swapped that milk chocolate out for 1 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder. That would be a pretty gross cake! That's not because it is impossible to make a cake with cocoa powder, of course-it's because milk chocolate and cocoa powder are very different. The milk chocolate will contain fat and sugar that the cocoa powder won't, so a cake recipe designed to use cocoa powder will include different sources of fat and sugar, and will likely use far less cocoa powder than chocolate as it is much more concentrated. That's roughly what this video is about.

[@etienoakpan10]

How do I use a preservative?

[@StephanieJoRountree]

Lecithin works as an emulsifer and is more natural than the emulsifiers you listed.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

While lecithin definitely can work as an emulsifier in very specific formulas, it is a different type of emulsifier (water in oil vs oil in water) and produces dramatically different lotions. It wouldn't work in this formula, either.

[@xoxcxsxm]

Just gonna say another way to explain is is emulsify means binding water to oil. And emulsifier has the chemical property to attach to both oil and water. Beeswax don't have this property, chemically. However it may appear to work with little water in a thick cream but that's not true emulsion, its just forming some sort whipped cream effect , and over-time it will change texture as there was no emulation - tried it with aloe vera gel before, it's still a good body butter tho it can last for like a month and of course depends on the recipe.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

A great point, and if I was to make this video again today I would 100% include this info! There are SO many things I would've said if I hadn't made this video within my first few months on KZbin, ha. I had no idea this would be so controversial lol. Have you checked out the blog post from Formula Botanica linked in the bio? It's great!

[@RAJEESHMY]

Thank you for sharing this. I also end up with the same experience, water was coming out. You are very genuine person I would say....lot of thanks here from India

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Thanks for watching & happy making!

[@stephaniefritchley9022]

Hello, thank you so much for this information, it is really helpful. I have found a moisturiser recipe, in an old herb book of mine (which is what led me to find your channel!) that calls for equal quantities of emulsifying wax and beeswax. Do you think that would work? Also, are the emulsifying waxes likely to be available in any type of shop in France do you think - a pharmacy for example - or would I need to order on line?. Many thanks x

[@emilottephionah3933]

Thank you for clearly clarifying this humblebee. Very helpful

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Glad it was helpful!

[@angryoats896]

Hi Marie! Love the video and it was a good demo on why we can't use beeswax in lotions. I've been making lotions now (you got me inspired) for about a year now and I'm formulating my own recipes! I was speaking to another friend who makes her own natural products as well and she uses beeswax and xanthan gum as her emulsifier. Just curious to see what your input on that method is. I don't think it would work (especially without a preservative) but she makes it that way anyway. Would this method be similar to the beeswax and borax method? Thanks!

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

From a forum I'm a member at: "When borax is dissolved in water it produces boric acid and sodium hydroxide. The sodium hydroxide interacts with cerotic acid in the beeswax - a free fatty acid that makes up about 13% of beeswax by weight - and forms an anionic emulsifier, while the boric acid buffers the system." So... that's my understanding of how beeswax can work as an emulsifier, making me think it would not work when combined with xanthan gum. It is possible that they're creating a mechanical emulsion that is further stabilized by the xanthan gum, but it's pretty hard to say without knowing exactly what she's doing. Hope that helps!

[@barbll000]

Very helpful. Found out as well that honey in lip balm has the same problem in that it won't combine with the beeswax and oils.

[@eveninglakegems9410]

Barbara Lindberg I also have this problem, but I just wait until the mix halfway sets up and is a gel and then stir it up and put it in my container. it doesn't look as pretty and smooth once set up but I'm the only one who uses it so I dont mind

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

If you watch my Cleopatra's Secret video you can see how I make honey work in an otherwise oil based concoction; it is hard to get the firm, glossy consistency people associate with lip balm, though :)

[@kathkwilts]

Barbara Lindberg glycerine in lip balm never works right, either...

[@annab7596]

Barbara Lindberg : you can mix it in after it’s cooked more and thickened enough for it to mix in 👍

[@seraphinamarini]

Thank you for saving me time and money!! I love that you actually made the "lotion" so we can all see why we can't use the natural waxes.

[@beverlyfrancis8433]

Very clear and concise. Thanks

[@FloryJohann]

What you are doing is NOT an emulsion, it is a mix. An emulsion is when you add incompatible materials slowly together while mixing constantly, like mayonnaise where you start with the egg and then real slow add the oil to it while mixing it.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

... that is quite literally the entire point of the video. I removed the emulsifier and replaced it with something that is not an emulsifier (a swap that people constantly ask me about making) to demonstrate that removing the emulsifier causes the emulsion to fail.

[@chelleweatherspoon2226]

Thank you for sharing. Your information is very helpful.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Thanks for watching! Don't forget to check out my blog (humblebeeandme.com/)-I've been blogging for over 7 years while I’ve only been on KZbin for about 2.5, so there is TONS more content on the blog!

[@mikehay9204]

Spot on Humblebee, I've had the same results using carnuba wax. It's almost bizzare how the water is sooo repelled by the wax. But quick question. I really want a wax cream for automotive polish. Would it work to use half emulsifier wax and then half carnuba?

[@Janepint]

Yes i did learn something you saved me from much grief. Someone told me to use Candelilla wax. but now I realize that was only to thicken an already emulsified product. I was thinking I'll use it to make cream too.I won't do that now! It takes awhile to study and understand the components of these additives, safe for your skin but not always for the product. Thanks very much!

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

You're so welcome! To learn how to use candelilla wax + get some recipes I highly recommend looking it up in the Humblebee & Me DIY Encyclopedia (www.humblebeeandme.com/diy-encyclopedia/) :) Happy making!

[@CielleMiller]

Thank you for pointing out that although you can not use beeswax in place of ewax that there are some recipes that do use beeswax as the emulsifier. In those recipes you have to be careful to not over beat the ingredients as you show here. It reminds me of whipping cream. If you over beat cream the liquids and fat start to separate out and you get butter. Same thing happened in your demo here. Over beating and the fat and liquid separated.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

What you're saying really doesn't mesh with my experience and knowledge of emulsifiers. This lotion split because it did not contain a proper emulsifier-the amount of beating had no impact. Feel free to try it yourself and see if you get a different result with different beating! I would be very interested to hear your results. In lotions that do use the beeswax/borax emulsifier (www.humblebeeandme.com/diy-lotion/) a large amount of powerful mixing is highly necessary; I have to use a full blender, not just a stick blender, and for much longer of a blending time than seen here. I've tried it with less and the emulsion didn't survive 24 hours!

[@luminariel3765]

Cielle Backstrom I've had several lotion recipes that use beeswax and they all say, in Capitol letters, "do not over beat" and "do not use hand mixers". They always say beat gently with wisk or spoon. The few times I tried with my hand mixer were total disasters.

[@pear1ycur1y83]

So does that mean that you need separate, specific emulsifying waxes for creams and lotions? If that's the case, what emulsifying waxes are suitably used for creams and what's suitable for lotions? I love your content. Thank you so much :)

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

No, not usually. You can drastically impact the consistency of your emulsion by altering the size of the oil phase, so if you make something with a 15% oil phase it will be thinner, and something with a 25% oil phase will be much heavier/thicker. Most emulsifying waxes can handle that range of oil phase sizes. Some don't do well with an oil phase above 30%, but be sure to check with your suppliers for your specific ewax :)

[@monasaeed3976]

Thanks for clearing this point I made a Lotion with beeswax and it failed I was gonna give up I appreciate it

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Happy to help!

[@lollyaguilar9230]

What a great experiment. Thanks bunches.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Happy to help!

[@imari2305]

Thank you for clarifying the difference between beewax and emulsifying wax for lotion making. Now I know what to use when I want to make lotion. Thanks for sharing :-)

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Thanks for watching & happy making!

[@farisiqbal3317]

thank you for this info, would save soo much time

[@Roxy222uk]

I am *so* confused by this video. I keep reading the advice, from people I trust, that beeswax is not an emulsifier and will not work. Yet I was taught to make make creams etc by someone that used beeswax and it works for me. I don't get the result you do, lumps plus a liquid, I get a lovely cream. I have several creams we're using at present made with beeswax plus a decent preservative, no borax. I'm not advising anyone else to use beeswax or anything, I'm just really confused.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

You might find this more in-depth blog post from Formula Botanica helpful: formulabotanica.com/beeswax-is-not-an-emulsifier/ :)

[@giftyaidoo5303]

Am about to start my own hair line and more than months and i have been doing research watching videos to know what which one is right and the differences but i think u have really made my day thanks a lot dear God bless you ❤❤😊

[@kuroyokki7700]

As far as I know, e-wax is something that is used to tie the oil molecule and water molecule

[@andrejastojanovic6318]

I loved your video. I have just one question. I have an emulsifier named Olivem 900. Would it work for the lotion ? Thanks

[@RevSue1]

People keep putting up recipes, I suppose, doing the same thing as this, and, it's not lotion-its cream and it doesn't absorb well. Thanks for explaining. Videos like yours, where you explain, is very helpful.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Thanks for watching!

[@MrsNumy]

Hi :3 i'm a little confused... i made a lotion with aloe vera (natural) beeswax, almond oil, shea butter, coconut oil, i just blend the oils and added slowly the aloe while blending and it turned out just perfect (you are suppose to start blending the oils when they are at room temperature and start adding the water based part slowly while mixing). Now i'm scared to try something else.. i don't really know where to buy emulsifying wax, cant' find it anywhere. but i did get cetyl alcohol, is that (+beeswax) enough to emulsify a lotion?

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Hey! I'm sorry your first lotion was a fail, but you can rest assured it was 100% the recipe and not you-I wouldn't be able to make that recipe a success! You will need a true emulsifying wax-cetyl alcohol is just a thickener. I've got a huge list of places to shop all over the world here: www.humblebeeandme.com/resources/. That should be a good place to start :)

[@diannewagman7313]

Humblebee & Me how did you get the remaining bees wax off your stick blender? I had the same result and now can't get the blade and blender 100% clean of the beeswax. ? Any ideas? Thanks!

[@celesteelijah2515]

Interesting...I just saw this video from 2016. Thanks for keeping it up. Does using bees wax do the same in a mix for body butter?

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

No, it's a great ingredient as long as you aren't trying to use it as an emulsifying wax!

[@DoubleDe001]

Thanks for this very informational video.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

You're welcome!

[@hardlife1217]

you literally saved my life. Finally found out why nothing turned out fine except lip balms

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Ha! Happy to help :)

[@chewincovers7265]

Hi! Thanks for the great videos! Do you have any info all about different emulsifying waxes and when to use different varieties? Thanks!

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

I do-in the Humblebee & Me Encyclopedia at www.humblebeeandme.com/diy-encyclopedia! Simply look up the ingredient(s) in question to learn about why they're used in formulas, substitutions, what they do, usage rates, and more. Happy making!

[@theasianwitch]

Thank you, was just about to make this mistake and you saved me :)

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Glad I could help! ❤️ Happy making!

[@quintonwilson8565]

Here's the real answer, as one wasn't provided in the video (no one gives you answers): You need a high-HLB surfactant at 10-20% of total (wax+surfactant) content. The high-HLB surfactant ("detergent," which is water-soluble) helps out the free fatty acids or alcohols interact with the water. Emulsifying Wax NF is ~25% polysorbate 60 (HLB: 15) and ~75% cetearyl alcohol--notice how they've done the work for you. BTMS-50 uses behentrimonium methosulfate (cationic) as the system's high "HLB" surfactant. Ritamulse SCG uses stearoyl lactylate (anionic) as the surfactant, which requires higher pH's to stay anionic and functional. Often, the thickening system will use two or more different fatty acids/alcohols for improved stability/efficiency: Ritamulse SCG uses glyceryl stearate AND cetearyl alcohol. Adding more fats/surfactant will thicken more, the ratio of fat to surfactant will also affect "thickness." Thus, use whatever wax you want: just add detergent at 10-18% of total wax+detergent content. Depending on your detergent concentration and cooling rate, you may end up with crystal hydrates (almost pure fatty alcohol, which precipitate) or swollen crystalline lammellar gels (which take up a lot of water and thicken and stabilize nicely). Ethoxylated detergents (e.g., polysorbate 60) can be annoying to use because they slowly swell/hydrate and your formula can thicken additionally after it stands around a few days.

[@yawmanu8633]

Thank you for this video. Just s quick question, are there any all natural organic recipes for making lotions? (I'm not sure if the emulsiers are natural are synthetic) Thank you

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Definitely! There are many natural emulsifiers and preservatives to choose from. This one would be considered pretty natural: www.humblebeeandme.com/pemberley-hand-lotion/. I'd also encourage you to read these posts: www.humblebeeandme.com/natural-efficacy-fallacy-natural-shaming/ www.humblebeeandme.com/lets-talk-natural/ Happy making!

[@godsun316]

Thank you for the tutorial. Very educational

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Thank you so much!

[@MZAnimalRescue]

not sure if you are still taking questions on this but i want a palm free emulsifying wax. even olivem(whatever number) are not confirmed to be according to their manufacturer- which i was hoping was my salvation. any ideas about palm free emulsifying wax?

[@kalynnkallweit7940]

really cool that you made a poitn of makign a deliberate fail video so people can see why NOT to waste their time with ingredients that more experienced makers suggest won't work. Very interesting to literally see the results.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Thanks! It's funny how many people don't realize this is a deliberate fail (how could they not!?) and proceed to righteously school me on what I've done wrong 😂

[@stealingsunshine376]

Hi Marie. I really dont know if you will read this. I am making a magnesium balm. magnesium oil is actually a brine so i know i need emulsifying wax. do i skip the beeswax? or do i keep it? will emulsifying wax make the product hard like beeswax does?

[@gnomebeard407]

I have a question about shea butter. I have been making balms for about 2 months now and I notice that my balms get that grainy texture. I have read that you need to get the butters at 175 degrees (Fahrenheit) and held at that temperature for about twenty minutes. After pouring the melted oils and butters in a tin container you need to put it in the fridge. This helps stop any crystallization forming in the butters. Is this true? Do you have any tips to get that perfect pasty buttery texture? Thanks so much for everything, you rock!

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

I have read the same thing, though I haven't tried it myself. If you like shea butter you should buy LisaLise's ebook on it! www.lisaliseblog.com/ You may find her recent post on clays in balms helpful as well :)

[@rashmib.k.2707]

That was super awesome explanation... practical...

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Happy to help!

[@ephitania]

If you use an added emulsifier (sodium borate) the beeswax should work just as well.

[@e.a.4926]

Yes but this video is about how beeswax is not a complete emulsifier. Plus, borax is terrible for the skin.

[@rebeccabeebe1]

Great video... and understand the difference between the two but what about substitutes for beeswax? Would soy wax, or any of the other waxes work?

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

I've done a bunch of different experiments here that you can review: www.humblebeeandme.com/faqs/can-use-_______-wax-instead-wax-called-recipe/ :)

[@eveninglakegems9410]

I used to make lotion from beesewax but I had to use emulsifying wax still in order for it to come together properly. I used this for a while before I ended up scratching that recipe because it is pretty heavy and leaves a sort of heavy residue on my skin. I found using stearic acid and emulsifying wax makes a super light weight lotion that melts into skin with no residue.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Thanks for watching! Stearic acid is a great thickener and stabilizer for lotions without the tackiness that waxes tend to add-you can also try playing with cetyl alcohol for a slightly different thickening experience :)

[@kthrall]

What happens if you add borax with the beeswax? I've been reading that it's a natural emulsifier when added together

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

It will still fail. Beeswax, when combined with borax, will create a stable emulsion under fairly particular conditions in quite particular formulas-of which this is definitely not one! I linked to a recipe that does work with the beeswax/borax combo in the video; click that link and compare the recipes to see how they differ :)

[@iyesis]

so educational!

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Thanks for watching!

[@valeriekoochin3569]

I love your videos and recipes! You are an amazing teacher! Now at the risk of coming off as a student who just didn’t learn😊....have read adding a very small amount of borax will emulsify beeswax, oil, and a small amount of water, for a cream rather than a lotion mind you. Is this an option? I still worry it may separate if it gets warm, and I don’t want to keep in the fridge. Val

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

It is possible, but not with a recipe that looks like this :) Here's one: www.humblebeeandme.com/diy-lotion.

[@popscratchie3985]

Hi I am just wondering how is carnauba cream made? I am a leather worker and have often thought about making some myself (I use loads of it). Do you happen to know how it would be made, if you do I would love to know how.

[@2dept]

I just did that thing I should not have done, then I found this video.

[@dahabizizy]

how about if i dont want lotion and want to make cream like hard cream can i use wax if it yes which one is good im trying

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Check out the "Body Butter"" section on my website: www.humblebeeandme.com/make-body-butter/

[@gnomebeard407]

I am planning on getting emulsifying wax particularly btms 50. Do you know if this wax has an odor? Which E Wax doesn't give off a bad smell? I just purchased btms 50 from brambleberry and this is their note about it. "Note: This product has a distinct odor that can be a bit surprising if you've never smelled it before. We've found that the odor isn't noticeable in finished products when used at 15% or less." Kinda weird..hmmm

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

The smell from BTMS 50 is similar to that of all cationic/conditioning ingredients I've worked with, and is unique to that category of ingredients. It sort of smells like old ocean/beach :P Polawax, e-wax NF, and emulsimulse don't have that smell, but they also aren't conditioning.

[@timothybaron4132]

Eddfrree

[@tammymichel2836]

Dang... You go girl!!

[@fireflies15]

girl thats a lot I was so curious to know what would happen if I put beeswax

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Happy to share my messes 😄 Thanks for watching!

[@MrManchesterqueen]

Could u use the remnants as a thick body cream instead? Love your lotion video 😍😍😍😍

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

The skin feel is pretty gross & sticky, so I wouldn't :/ Thanks for watching!

[@fatimamohammad6358]

the comments bar here is informative at it self beside the video i learnt alot from your answers here you r such an expert in this field 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Thank you so much! Happy making :)

[@Asadjaved501]

hi humblebee if I put emulsifying wax straight to water without,would it turn out to be a good cream and how many % emulsifying wax should I use in 100% because I don't want to add oil to my cream and I want it thick

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

I'm sorry, I'm really not sure what you're trying to do..? Have you checked out any of my actual lotion videos to see how those turn out? You can't make a lotion without adding oil/fatty acids of some sort, even emulsifying waxes contain fatty acids. A lotion is a blend of an oil part and a water part, if you get rid of the oil part, you don't have lotion!

[@caissa6187]

Great video! Thank you sooo much!

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

You are so welcome! Don't forget to check out my blog (humblebeeandme.com)-I've been blogging for over 8.5 years while I’ve only been on KZbin for about 4, so there is TONS more content on the blog!

[@humailjamal8992]

Thanks for sharing such valued information. I'm new to this field of study and it's really interesting for me to learn about products and their usage. Regards. Love from Pakistan

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Thanks for watching!

[@gnomebeard407]

Have you ever tried using both e-wax AND beeswax? Funny because most water based pomade recipes call for water, e-wax AND beeswax. It's just like making a simple lotion only adding beeswax. I believe the beeswax keeps it firm. I've been doing a ton of research this weekend and will be testing this tonight...hmmm maybe I should film it. 🤔

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Yup-it can create a fairly sticky/tacky finish as well as a thicker final product. www.humblebeeandme.com/crazy-hair-pudding/

[@gnomebeard407]

Oh wow...this is so similar to a pomade recipe. Awesome thanks!

[@SL-ph4hf]

Wow! I was wondering if Beeswax can be substituted for Olivem1000....thanks Marie, this is an awesome video!!! So now I am wondering, is there any good DIY that can be made from Beeswax? thanks!

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Beeswax for any sort of ewax, Olivem1000 included, will fail just as seen in this vide. There are tons of things you can do with beeswax, though! Look in up in the Humblebee & Me DIY Encyclopedia (www.humblebeeandme.com/diy-encyclopedia/) and scroll to the bottom of the entry for some linked formulations :) Happy making!

[@jude7321]

thanks for the information. Where did you get those spatulas?

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

www.humblebeeandme.com/diy-equipment-use-time/ :)

[@dlmcder]

can you tell me the difference between BTMS 50 and BTMS 25? Thank you for taking the time to answer this question. I have used both I’m not quite sure what is the difference

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

I've got encyclopedia posts on both-give those a read to learn more :) I have previously stated in the past that BTMS-25 cannot be used as a complete emulsifying wax, though, and that is wrong-it can! www.humblebeeandme.com/diy-encyclopedia/

[@ciarawilson3505]

If you use bees wax you don't need any water or emulsifier wax it will thicken it up on it's own

[@lcwisdom1]

Can you use a microwave instead of a double boiler?

[@thavylor]

Thank you. I have question about preservative. Do you use any preservative since your lotion contains water? Do you have any suggestion of which preservative to use? Is there a formula to calculate how much preservative to use?

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Hey! You'll find the answer to your question in my FAQ on my website at humblebeeandme.com/faq/ 😊There's an entire section on preservatives, including a calculator. Happy making!

[@gnomebeard407]

I might be going off topic here but do you ever experience unrefined beeswax clashing with essential oils? No matter what I do or what kind of essential oils I use this yellow unrefined beeswax always overpowers my beard balm. I think I might just go with it but don't know what essential oils will blend well with this unrefined yellow beeswax.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

A little, I suppose, but I love the scent so I think of it more as complimenting than clashing :P You may want to get some refined beeswax if you're finding it too strong for your tastes :)

[@gnomebeard407]

Humblebee & Me where do you get your unrefined beeswax?

[@317BIGred4238]

That was A LOT of beeswax to use for that small amount of oils 😬. When i pour my beeswax/oil mixture into hot water it does have that milky look you want. The wax cooled off so fast because there was so much.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

As the title of the video says, this is "What happens if you use beeswax instead of emulsifying wax". That is, by weight, the amount of ewax that would work. The whole point is that I'm demonstrating why this doesn't work as a one-to-one swap ;)

[@317BIGred4238]

@@HumblebeeAndMe oooohhhh. i was a little confused because i make lotion with beeswax quite often. A beginner would not understand the weight should be adjusted, rather than say beeswax will absolutely not work.

[@sharkweek44]

Thankyou for this video very informative

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Thanks for watching!

[@sofiwer]

What about using caranauba wax? or is there a way to making your own emulsifying wax? Its not a product that is available in my country.

[@fulfillment4026]

How about adding an emulsifier separately? Is beeswax still a good choice for anhydrous products?

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

You can definitely do that, as I have here: www.humblebeeandme.com/happy-hemp-hand-cream/. And it is lovely in all kinds of things, just not as an emulsifier. Learn more here: www.humblebeeandme.com/10-recipes-make-beeswax/. Happy making!

[@lcurley23]

That's more a body butter instead of a lotion

[@naffiedibba2792]

Can I use emulsifier without water in shea butter?

[@fludrbywest3886]

Why? The bees wax can be used for a lotion bar and not your lotion? Is it because of the water Part? Do you have a recipe for a lotion bar? Thank you so much for the information 💖👍🏻

[@GearCave]

Beeswax works fine, I've discovered a method to keep it all together properly. I heat everything up together mix it into a nice liquid, then pour into my tins, then as it cools I stir it, this keeps everything together and creamy as it reaches a certain point where the wax starts to hold it all into place. Works like a dream, however I would like to try this E-Wax, never have before.

[@TessieDobey]

I am certain you do not add water?

[@GearCave]

@@TessieDobey no water but I use Aloe which has water content, same deal though, the mixing will hold it together so long as you don't put too much water in it.

[@thisiskristin]

Hopefully not a dumb question but why do you even need the water part? I've never used water in any of my lotion/salve recipes.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

The whole point of this product is that it's an emulsion, which requires a water part. 100% anhydrous products don't require emulsifiers, but they're also quite different sensory experiences and play different roles in skin care :)

[@michaelpatole9335]

Nice.!..well explained...Thanx...

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Thanks for watching!

[@GDKLockout]

I know im a year late tk the conversation but I also make my own stuff with only bees wax. Here is one of my healing balm recipies. 1 part bees wax to 6 parts calendula oil. Heated together, double boiler style. Make strong chamomile tea, measure out 12 parts tea and add 1 part vegetable glycerine (while keeping oil on heat, and with still very hot tea) mix tea into the oil slowly while stirring, best to add a little and combine, then add more, each addition can get larger as you go. Only take off the heat once fullly combined. Keep stirring while cooling. Add scent. Id probably get a blender for the job but i only make 100ml once a year.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Hey! PLEASE make sure you are including a proper broad spectrum preservative at the required rate or this will be downright unsafe to use in a matter of days. You can learn more here: makingskincare.com/preservatives/

[@serious7179]

@@HumblebeeAndMe It will be unsafe even if you refrigerate?

[@MrYoubet]

have two large glass measuring cups with expensive oils and bees wax,shea butter,coconut oil etc. and hyaluronic acid and water ,not mixing at all ,,i bought glycerol monostearate for an emulsifier,,is there a chance to make my face cream,please help?

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

I'm sorry, but no-glycerol monostearate is not a complete emulsifier. You'd need to re-develop the recipe to include an appropriate amount of a complete emulsifying wax; I cover how to do that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4q9nJmkbJaceJI. Good luck!

[@ghettocountry8678]

I was wondering the basic paraffin can it be used? Like what you use to can with if graded down? Just wondering because the way it was at the store they had the paraffin in pellets and then in block form for canning but yeah just wondering. The label on the package I got says (gulf wax)- it says common household wax for crafts, canning, candle making, soap making, with others and this is what my grandmother used but i haven't experimented with it yet and wanted to double-check if I got the correct stuff.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Paraffin will not emulsify, either, if that's what you're asking?

[@amandathode4540]

I don’t make lotion at least not yet, but I do make a whipped body butter which doesn’t have water in it. I use a small amount of beeswax along with ewax. In the winter It gets too hard and crumbs. Should I not use beeswax at all if I want to keep it fluffy?

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Hey Amanda! I'd recommend watching the video I shared today-it details how to make a whipped body butter that stays nice and soft :) Read the blog post, too!

[@catherinegiguere1211]

Thank you for doing this so I don't lol 😅 I be messing up stuff like "mmmhhh idk ill try it anyway" so thank you.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Happy to help 😄

[@shalugupta1491]

You saved me, I am about to make face cream with bees wax 🐝 now going to buy emulsify wax.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Happy making & thanks for watching :)

[@golubovic974]

Can I use Lannete N or Galenol, instead e wax? I probably can not use Cera alba. I need a link to order your book. TX.

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Ask your supplier if they are complete emulsifying waxes; that's all I mean by "e-wax", it isn't a specific product. And you're right, you definitely cannot use cera alba to make emulsions! I've got a big list of places to order my book here: www.humblebeeandme.com/make-it-up-preorder/ :)

[@jamaicanqueen539]

any advice that you could give me please

[@user-jf7ej5py1u]

I know this is a weird question but Is it possible to soften wax without oil?

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Yes, you can soften a wax with anything that's softer than the wax and will blend with it. Water will not work, but a butter or ester could. Happy making!

[@militarywife100]

I've seen a lot of people hawing beeswax for bath melts though. Would it not work for bath melts?

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Eh... I guess it would be sort of like a carrot. Sure, you could put it in your bath, but it likely won't melt, and you will be cleaning it out of your tub afterwards... but you COULD :P Check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e56saoKOh7CriKc. I took great care to keep these melts as soft as possible while still being solid and they still need pretty darn hot water to melt-using beeswax would mean they definitely wouldn't melt, and they wouldn't emulsify, either. So they'd be more like... bath pucks. Or bath lumps :P

[@militarywife100]

Humblebee & Me thank you! 😀

[@arekb1074]

Very good video. Thank you

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Thanks for watching!

[@AlanReaper]

Hello greetings from mexico!! I have been through a pain trying to find emulsifying wax nf here in mexico, the only thing I found was span 60, I'm trying to make a pomade with oil and water as ingredients , do you think span 60 could work? thanks for your help!!

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

Span 60 sounds like a liquid emulisifer like polysorbate 80, in which case, no-they do very different things and are unsuited for solid emulsions. www.humblebeeandme.com/faqs/can-use-emulsifying-wax-instead-solubilizer-solubilizer-instead-emulsifying-wax/

[@abigailtetteh5604]

Thanks for your videos, do you make hair leave in?

[@HumblebeeAndMe]

I've made many hair products! You can find many on my blog (humblebeeandme.com)-I've been blogging for over 8 years while I’ve only been on KZbin for about 3.5, so there is TONS more content on the blog!

[@michaelp9238]

What was the point of the vegetable glycerin here?