Beeswax
A prized ingredient in cosmetics for millenia, most creams, lotions and lip balms contain only a small amount of beeswax because it is costly. Given that we have an "in" with the manufacturers, we use lots of beeswax in all our products, as well as other fine ingredients, such as shea and cocoa butters.
Hand-crafted Soaps
If you've never experienced the luxury of a fine handmade soap, DON'T buy any of ours! They're liable to spoil you for life. You'll never again be able to bring yourself to buy a bar of Dove or Ivory again. Handmade cold-process soap is naturally one-third glycerin. Commercial manufacturers remove the glycerin, a powerful humectant (moisturizer), for use in other cosmetics. Our soap has all its glycerin intact. It REALLY doesn't dry your skin. Adding a generous dose of beeswax makes our soaps even milder, and has the added effect of rendering them very hard so a bar lasts a long time - much longer than transparent soaps. And, they lather and clean beautifully.
All our soaps are colored, if at all, with natural mineral pigments. We do not skimp on scenting them, either. In fact, we have many customers who put a bar in their linen drawer or a closet, just for the fragrance.. All our soaps are made from saponified oils of palm, coconut, soy, castor bean, and beeswax. When fully cured, we wrap them attractively in handmade paper so they make lovely gifts.
Our handmade soaps have taken first place in the NJ Beekeepers Association Annual Honey Show in the Beeswax Soap Class every time we have entered, since the class was begun as a separate competitive category. The most recent blue ribbon was for our Mango Flambé Beeswax Soap.
Creams, Lotions, and Lotion Bars
We think our creams, lotion, lotion bars (which are solid cream) and lip balms are pretty special, too. Handmade in small batches with only the finest ingredients, they pack a powerful moisturizing punch for dry skin. Absolutely no alcohol is used in our creams. (Alcohol makes it feel like a cream is being absorbed faster, but is in fact very drying to the skin.)
We're very proud of our "Best in Division" ribbon in the Beeswax Cosmetics Division of the NJ Beekeepers Association Honey Show in 2008 for our blue ribbon-winning Honey Lemon Facial Mousse! And we took a blue ribbon in 2018 for our hand cream as well - a variation on an old beekeeping recipe that probably dates back more than 100 years.
Lip Balm
Our lip balm formula is neither waxy nor greasy, just perfectly moisturizing. And it tastes great, too! Our propolis lip balm contains pure propolis, a substance collected by honey bees from tree resins. Propolis is known to have very powerful antibacterial and antiviral properties. In fact, Dr. Marla Spivak of the University of Minnesota discovered that propolis kills the HIV virus that causes AIDS. If you have cracked, chapped lips, a little propolis can help speed the healing process. Propolis lip balm contains no flavor oil. It is lightly scented with natural peppermint essential oil.