Beeswax

Beeswax is a natural substance produced by worker honeybees (Apis mellifera), which secrete it through abdominal glands to build the cells of the honeycomb. After harvesting the combs, the wax is extracted from empty cells, melted in hot water and filtered to remove impurities. Yellow wax is the raw form, while white wax is obtained after a bleaching process. Thanks to its composition — rich in fatty acid esters, hydrocarbons and free acids — beeswax displays excellent chemical stability and good skin tolerance. It is recognised for its emollient properties and forms a light protective layer on the surfaces it coats, which contributes to limiting moisture loss. In the field of supplementation, beeswax is primarily used as an excipient: a coating agent for tablets and capsules, and as an emulsifier and thickener in liquid or semi-solid formulas. It contributes to improving the stability of preparations, masking the taste of certain active ingredients and ensuring a controlled release of nutrients. Its natural origin and recognised status as a food additive (E901) make it a preferred excipient in high-quality dietary supplements.