beeswax cosmetic products

[psafloyd]

I have read a number of times that to sell beeswax cosmetics, you must have your recipe certified or use a certified recipe.

I have heard there are courses available that once you have attended you are given licence to use their certified recipe(s).

Does anyone know if this is the case or where I might find one, as my missus would be interested in one.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[itma]

My understanding, from a couple of classes, is that you can't be "certified to use their recipes".
However, if you make application to someone that already knows the recipe, because they have encountered it often before, because it is a standard recipe from a well-known author/trainer, THEN the approval should be cheaper.

But you need to get the rubber stamp for yourself, even if that exact recipe has been rubber stamped a thousand times before. It should however only cost you £100 or so. For each recipe ... ... and that's according to Dr Sara Robb.

If anyone knows of anyone offering a cheaper authorisation, naturally, I'd be interested in hearing about it.

Otherwise, the practical advice is to stick to polishes!

 

[VEG]

Plus you have to keep a lot of paperwork for several years for each batch made. I looked into it. I have put it on hold as its expensive to get it tested and passed, you have to sell a lot of product to get your money back. The recipe has to be passed by a certified pharmacist who has indemnity insurance for certifying the products safe.

 

[pargyle]

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=25937&highlight=beeswax+cosmetics&page=3

#27 onwards ...

 

[psafloyd]

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=25937&highlight=beeswax+cosmetics&page=3

#27 onwards ...

Muchas gracias, pargyle. I knew there was something around but couldn't find it.

 

[psafloyd]

My understanding, from a couple of classes, is that you can't be "certified to use their recipes".
However, if you make application to someone that already knows the recipe, because they have encountered it often before, because it is a standard recipe from a well-known author/trainer, THEN the approval should be cheaper.

But you need to get the rubber stamp for yourself, even if that exact recipe has been rubber stamped a thousand times before. It should however only cost you £100 or so. For each recipe ... ... and that's according to Dr Sara Robb.

If anyone knows of anyone offering a cheaper authorisation, naturally, I'd be interested in hearing about it.

Otherwise, the practical advice is to stick to polishes!

Thanks for the advice. Do you know where you got the info on from Sara Robb?

 

[psafloyd]

Plus you have to keep a lot of paperwork for several years for each batch made. I looked into it. I have put it on hold as its expensive to get it tested and passed, you have to sell a lot of product to get your money back. The recipe has to be passed by a certified pharmacist who has indemnity insurance for certifying the products safe.

I don't mind keeping a bit of paperwork –-I log all my honey batches as it is. But my missus isn't interested in the beekeeping side, but she loves crafts and she seemed interested in making balms, etc.

Now, I am thinking of selling the excess, but she wants a course just to learn the basics.

 

[itma]

... Do you know where you got the info on from Sara Robb?

Yes.

One of her classes.



One can contact her via her website http://www.bathpotions.com
I note that she has a product/page awaiting updating but tantalisingly headed "Beekeepers Safety Assessments" - no details whatsoever, as yet.

 

[itma]

... she wants a course just to learn the basics.

KSRC, Sittingbourne, 31st May. £28
Note - this is specialising in creams - ie products containing water, which therefore need some form of preservative for microbiological control.)
The course last year (on zero-water products - polishes and balms) involved nothing more complicated than measuring, heating and stirring.

The course will touch on recent changes in cosmetic legislation and will cover the production of face creams and other beeswax based cosmetics, and furniture cream. It would be suited to people who took Jennifer’s course at KSRC in 2013, or have other relevant experience.

We will discuss some basic chemistry to enable participants to adapt recipes or develop their own. We will also talk about labelling, health and safety and the types of equipment and materials needed. Participants will make their own products to take home with them and handouts will be provided.

http://ksrcbees.org.uk/?page_id=4

 

[psafloyd]

Yes.

One of her classes.



One can contact her via her website http://www.bathpotions.com
I note that she has a product/page awaiting updating but tantalisingly headed "Beekeepers Safety Assessments" - no details whatsoever, as yet.

It's that man again! Many thanks, ITMA.

 

[pargyle]

Muchas gracias, pargyle. I knew there was something around but couldn't find it.

My pleasure ...it was one of the things I was (initially) interested in as I had worked in the cosmetics and fragrance industry in a past life but that thread and a long discussion I had with a very nice husband and wife team, who market a range of creams and lotions, at the Hampton Court Flower show put me right off.

There are so many hurdles, once you start to offer products that are to be used on human skin, that I realised there were easier ways to use hive products !!

If you find a legit way around the regs I'd be interested to know ... I still have a hankering after Pargyle hive snake oil .... or at this rate Pargyle Propolis Products ... mine seem intent on cornering the market on propolis ...

 

[psafloyd]

My pleasure ...it was one of the things I was (initially) interested in as I had worked in the cosmetics and fragrance industry in a past life but that thread and a long discussion I had with a very nice husband and wife team, who market a range of creams and lotions, at the Hampton Court Flower show put me right off.

There are so many hurdles, once you start to offer products that are to be used on human skin, that I realised there were easier ways to use hive products !!

If you find a legit way around the regs I'd be interested to know ... I still have a hankering after Pargyle hive snake oil .... or at this rate Pargyle Propolis Products ... mine seem intent on cornering the market on propolis ...

Could be they were trying to put you off to dampen down any competition...

So you still have a hankering for taking the old carpetbag out, eh? I'd have thought propolis was one way to go.

I save all mine, because I use it (and so does my mum), though I wish I could get a bit more and also find ethanol to make dissolving it easier.

There's a guy on YouTube (The FatBeeMan) who recovers what seems an unfeasible amount of propolis from refining his wax. He says after it has been filtered once or twice, the slum glum isn't dirt, but propolis.

He calls it his number 2 propolis as it is not the high grade you may scrape off the boxes and frames, but that there is a market for it, with a block of it going for US$100-150.

http://youtu.be/M2Idl9pk28s

 

[pargyle]

Could be they were trying to put you off to dampen down any competition...

So you still have a hankering for taking the old carpetbag out, eh? I'd have thought propolis was one way to go.

I save all mine, because I use it (and so does my mum), though I wish I could get a bit more and also find ethanol to make dissolving it easier.

There's a guy on YouTube (The FatBeeMan) who recovers what seems an unfeasible amount of propolis from refining his wax. He says after it has been filtered once or twice, the slum glum isn't dirt, but propolis.

He calls it his number 2 propolis as it is not the high grade you may scrape off the boxes and frames, but that there is a market for it, with a block of it going for US$100-150.

http://youtu.be/M2Idl9pk28s

I dissolve frame scrapings and hive cleanings in plain old surgical spirits ... I've even used meths (which is the same except for the purple dye to stop people drinking it !) .. I use the solution for 'varnishing' the inside of my hives and I've even tried it as a finish on some of my woodturnings. Apparently Stradivarius used propolis as the basis for the varnish for his violins ... took the recipe to the grave though !

A fellow beekeeper sells his propolis to a lady who makes up a 'snake oil' which is, apparently, brilliant for the relief of Rheumatoid Arthritis ...

I did a bit of Googling:

"Propolis has inhibitory effects on mieloperoxidase activity, NADPH-oxidase (41,133), ornithine decarboxilase, tirosine-protein-kinase, and hyaluronidase from guinea pig mast cells (82). This anti-inflammatory activity can be explained by the presence of active flavonoids and cinnamic acid derivatives (9,65,107,133). The former includes acacetin, (43) quercetin, and naringenin (65,81) (terpenoid constituents may exert an addictive effect (58)); the latter includes caffeic acid phenyl ester (CAPE) and caffeic acid (CA) (41,81)."

Apparently certain flavonoids from the propolis are why it works. Propolis is also an anti-inflammatory and fights bacteria so there's a bit of potential for some real smoke and mirrors there ..

Oddly, there appears to be less regulations about potions you can put down your throat than there are about those things you rub on your skin. As long as you don't claim any 'medicinal' properties or miracle cures... perhaps you are right and Propolis is the way forward to an early retirement !

 

[psafloyd]

I have found propolis dissolved in vodka to be good for sore throats, mouth ulcers, an inflamed gum, cuts, scrapes and my mum used some on a burn she got and was most impressed.