By Liane Scior
Director of Education
Propolis, often called "bee glue," is a fascinating resinous substance that delivers antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and healing benefits for virtually every skin type. For professional beauty therapists, it's a powerhouse ingredient that treats ageing, sensitivity, acne, and more in one treatment.
How Propolis Is Made and Why Bees Create It
Honeybees create propolis by gathering natural sap and resin from trees and plants. When a bee's corbicula (pollen basket) is full, she returns to the hive where older bees process the resin, enriching it with special enzymes. This transformed material is then blended with beeswax to form the final propolis product.
Bees make propolis because it serves as the hive's immune system. They use it to seal gaps, coat internal surfaces, and protect the hive against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens, essentially warding off disease before it enters.
Natural Antibiotics in Propolis and Their Skin Benefits
Propolis contains powerful natural antibiotics due to its rich composition of flavonoids like kaempferide, phenolic compounds, and enzymes. Research demonstrates that propolis extracts show effective inhibitory effects against skin fungi and bacteria, with some extracts proving particularly potent against Candida albicans and other pathogens.
These natural antibiotics benefit skin in several ways. The antimicrobial protection neutralises harmful bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Cutibacterium acnes. For acne control, propolis destroys C. acnes biofilms that generate inflammation. It also supports wound healing by maintaining a calmer environment around damaged areas, reducing scarring. And it helps manage minor infections through antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Benefits Across Different Skin Types
For ageing skin, propolis delivers potent antioxidant activity that neutralises free radicals and supports resilience during environmental exposure. It helps prevent premature ageing, protects against photodamage, and stimulates skin tissue growth for a more youthful appearance.
When it comes to sensitive skin, studies show propolis eases redness and swelling in irritated areas, helping restore comfort during flare-ups. It helps skin retain moisture, easing tightness and supporting comfort on sensitive or reactive skin. Propolis calms inflamed skin and supports the skin's natural barrier, which is essential for maintaining hydration and protecting against environmental irritants.
Propolis is perfect for acne-prone skin needing gentle treatment. Its natural antimicrobial properties protect from harmful bacteria while its anti-inflammatory action reduces breakouts. Recent research confirms bee propolis stimulates skin tissue growth and helps extinguish acne, especially for acne-prone skin.
Propolis also works well for eczema by calming inflamed skin and accelerating healing, gives dull skin a glow boost through antioxidant protection, and is ideal for post-procedure skin recovering from breakouts or treatments.
Why It Helps the Skin Therapist
Propolis stands out as an exceptional professional ingredient because it treats a multitude of skin conditions simultaneously. It works on ageing, sensitive, acne-prone, eczema, and post-procedure skin. It provides antimicrobial action without harsh ingredients that irritate sensitive skin. It strengthens skin's natural barrier for long-term resilience. Multiple studies confirm its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties. And clients love it because it soothes, defends, and restores while maintaining daily comfort.
For beauty therapists building treatment protocols, propolis offers a single ingredient that can be incorporated into cleansers, masks, serums, and moisturisers. This makes it economically efficient while delivering consistent results across diverse client needs.
Propolis is liquid gold for professional skincare. Its natural antibiotic properties, combined with anti-inflammatory and healing benefits, make it one of the most versatile cosmeceutical ingredients available for treating everything from acne to ageing to sensitivity in a single treatment.
Professional Strength Propolis by Pevonia
The Pevonia Plantomer Lift-Off Mask Treatment is a professional-strength facial that delivers instant hydration, soothing relief, and powerful healing benefits for sensitive or irritated skin. This calming and cooling treatment features desensitising propolis extract that strengthens weak capillaries, reduces redness, and helps with microcirculation problems. The treatment also reduces emotional stress, relieves fatigue, increases blood circulation, and boosts skin oxygenation for a revitalised glow.
For home care, Pevonia's propolis extract products continue these benefits, allowing clients to maintain propolis's antimicrobial protection, anti-inflammatory action, and barrier-strengthening effects between professional treatments.
Professional strength propolis extract is so effective because it contains higher concentrations of the active flavonoids and phenolic compounds that give propolis its natural antibiotic properties, while home care formulations provide the perfect balance for daily use without overloading the skin. Together, they create a complete treatment protocol that addresses sensitivity, acne, ageing, and inflammation in one versatile ingredient.
