Why “Virgin” Beeswax Is So Important

Virgin beeswax is a byproduct of honey extraction. Prior to capping each individual cell that contains ripened honey, a worker bee secretes fresh wax from her abdominal gland to seal it. After manually uncapping the frames of honey, the pristine cappings are collected and strained to remove any residual honey. The cappings are then arduously, hand rendered, which yields a velvety block of all natural, beeswax. Most (if not all) of the other commercially available beard balms ARE NOT produced by beekeepers. Although these companies may offer quality products that smell nice, they are at the mercy of whomever they are sourcing their beeswax from, and they CAN NOT be certain as to the possible chemical contamination that lies within the wax in their product.

Honey bees are biological indicators whom pick up chemicals and other pollutants from their environment. Recent findings suggest that one of the underlying commonalities in the rapid declines of honey bee health worldwide can be directly linked to pesticide exposure. Additionally, developmental exposure of honey bee larva to pesticide contaminated brood comb (beeswax) may appear subtle and indirect, but can lead to sub-lethal effects that actually have serious consequences to the colony.

Pesticides In Beeswax – A Sobering Reality ☹

Numerous studies have revealed high levels of pesticide residues within honey bee comb (beeswax). Honey bee comb is often referred to as the colony’s “liver” as it helps to filter out many of the noxious chemicals that the bees come in to contact with on a daily basis. Adult bees can be exposed to pesticides as they visit countless sources of pollen and nectar during foraging flights. Upon returning to the hive, they track across these combs, leaving behind pathogens such as fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and metabolites. These pathogens are absorbed by the comb and within a few years, can build to levels that are detrimental to the colony and its overall health. Studies have shown that the average number of different pesticide residues detected in any one honey bee colony is ten (10). Fluvalinate, a pyrethroid pesticide, was detected in combs at levels as high as 24,340 ppb and averaged 6,712 ppb.

For economic reasons, beekeepers typically reuse wax foundation year to year, however, the pesticide residues that accumulate within the wax may persist for upwards of 18 to 20 years. Because of this, responsible beekeepers have begun to cycle out their brood combs every 4-5 years. The spent wax is then rendered and offered for resale to producers of cosmetic and wellness products. Unbeknownst to them, these blocks of potentially (likely), pathogen laden beeswax is incorporated into their products. Being one of the primary ingredients in most beard and lip balms, hand salves, and body butters, we think this is unacceptable. When companies incorporate popular taglines such as “organic” and “all- natural” into their products, it is important to know the source of the beeswax they are using. Wouldn’t you agree?

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”

― John Muir, The Mountains of California

Although he is no longer with us, we think ole’ “John of the Mountains” would have been a fan of Necessary Wildness and its proprietary blend of natural ingredients and botanicals. The primary ingredients (organic, cold pressed Argan oil & virgin beeswax) are masterfully blended with organic seed butters and plant oils that aid in strengthening damaged and unruly hairs. In addition to providing nourishment and luster to that luscious, facial muff, the core ingredient (organic, cold pressed Argan oil) also penetrates beyond your beard, to moisturize the delicate facial skin underneath. This added layer of protection assists in preventing dry skin that is associated with undesirable beard dandruff.

What Is Argan Oil?

Argan oil (also referred to as Moroccan oil) is a rare oil that is high in both oleic (omega 9) and linoleic (omega 6) essential fatty acids. Depending on the source, Argan oil contains roughly 35-40% linoleic acid and 42-48% oleic acid. While linoleic acid reduces inflammation & acne, and increases skin moisture, oleic acid helps to improve your skin’s permeability, thus allowing the other ingredients to penetrate the skin more easily. Its additional compounds include both vitamin’s A & E, as well as antioxidants.

Argan oil is produced from the kernels of the argan tree (Argania spinosa), which is native to Morocco. The locals have revered the benefits of Argan oil for thousands of years, using it to treat a wide variety of skin, hair, and medical conditions. Today, it’s used worldwide by men and women alike who are seeking an effective, all-natural moisturizer for their skin and hair.

Modern research has shown that when applied regularly, Argan oil helps to ease inflammation while moisturizing the skin. In addition, the vitamin E helps to boost cell production and promotes healthy skin and hair. For these reasons, cosmetic companies have begun including Argan oil in their higher-end, anti-aging, skin and hair care products, however, due to its cost, is used minimally. Argan oil is the predominant ingredient in our beard balm!

Ingredients List:

Argania spinosa (argan) oil*, virgin beeswax+, Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil*, Oryza sativa (rice bran) oil*, Theobroma cacoa (cocoa) seed butter*, Mangifera indica (mango) seed butter*, Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter*, essential oil blend (fragrance), Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil*, and vitamin E oil*.

* = Organic

+ = Sustainably Sourced

Usage Tips

Being comprised of all-natural ingredients, separation can occur when exposed to extreme temperatures. This will be of no detriment to the product itself and the balm will resettle once it attains a normal, ambient temperature. Through the years one of our biggest complaints when purchasing other, commercially available beard balms was how overly “oily” they all were. When formulating the recipe for Necessary Wildness, we wanted to ensure that the final product wasn’t overly oily, yet still provided the conditioning and styling elements that our customers demanded. Necessary Wildness is a perfect, balancing act of all of these elements and oh yeah…. it smells AMAZING!

If you are someone that prefers a “butterier” texture for application, we suggest storing your balm in a warmer area as this will keep the balm in a “looser” state thus enabling you to remove a generous portion with little effort. For typical use, we suggest rubbing your fingers back and forth on the balm, allowing the friction to heat and loosen it. A little goes a long way, so to keep from wasting product, ease in and increase the amount as needed for your respective facial growth. For those with a larger beard necessitating more balm per application, we recommend running the back of your fingernail across the surface until you attain the desired amount. Additionally, this method ensures that product won’t be wasted getting stuck underneath your fingernail.

Personal Ethics, Fair-Trade Sourcing & Respecting the Land

We take great pride in our land ethos and personal ethics. We are a small, family ran operation and not some mega company with investors. Necessary Wildness is hand-crafted in Kentucky (USA) and packaged in a 100% biodegradable, paperboard tub. The ingredients are either grown/produced by our farm or are sourced from other ethical, fair-trade operations that have a mutual respect for their employees and the land. If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase for any reason, please contact us so that we can remedy your situation or provide a full refund.