ALL THAT ZAZZ

By Mary N. DiZazzo

Beeswax-for the love of honey!

The Romans sent messages written on tablets coated with beeswax which could then be easily erased and a response written over.

Ciao bella,

The natural protectants of Mother Nature are God’s gift to mankind. Another gift featured here is beeswax, created by honey bees. They secrete wax flakes from glands in their abdomens that they use to build their honeycomb. When all the nectar is collected and miraculously turns into honey the bees seal each small comb with wax.

The bee keeper cuts off these seals to separate the honey. Then this wax is melted down into molds and is made to be purchased.

It is a tough wax with a high melting point. At some time the wax can be combined with olive oil or mineral oil and is used as a paste. This combination is a soothing protectant to the skin. This wax mixture provides a water-resistant coating on skin and can be removed with the use of soap.

You can find beeswax in moisturizing skin products. You can also find beeswax in make-up, soaps, lip balms, hair pomades, lubricants and candles. In fact a candle made from beeswax is a cleaner burn.

Beeswax is also used to polish furniture, wax surfboards, and coat screws and nails.

Other popular uses are a waterproofer for leather and wood and as a coating for cheese.

Today is the day to celebrate the bee! Buona giornata and God bless the United States of America!

--Mary N. DiZazzo-Trumbull

Read prior weeks' "All That Zazz" columns at www.mary4nails.com. Mary is a third-generation cosmetologist and a Massachusetts distributor of Kosmea brand rose hip oil products. She may be contacted at (978) 470-8183 or mary@mary4nails.com