Would you let a bee sting you on purpose? Probably not, but apparently bee venom can have a positive impact on your skin — and a new line of skin care products are bringing those benefits to you without all the nasty stings.
The buzz
on bee venom
We’re a little skeptical about putting venom on our faces, so we asked Rodial founder Maria Hatzistefanis to give us the lowdown on why she thinks it’s an ideal ingredient for skin care.
“The bee venom itself increases blood circulation, gently plumping out and firming the skin, filling and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles,” Hatzistefanis told SheKnows.
She added that the venom causes a rush of blood to the area and stimulates the production of natural collagen and elastin.
“Collagen strengthens body tissue, while elastin is the protein that helps the skin to remain taut and bounce back into shape after being pressed or pinched.”
The Rodial Bee Venom skincare line is comprised of three main products:
Bee Venom Super Serum (Nordstrom, $200)
A concentrated skin-perfecting serum designed to illuminate and revitalize skin, it also claims to correct skin tone and plump and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Bee Venom Moisturiser (Nordstrom, $190)
Bee Venom Moisturiser is an advanced formula that uses bee venom, plant stem cells and hyaluronic acid to help improve skin tone and elasticity.
Bee Venom Eye
(Nordstrom, $140)
Bee venom works in synergy with plant stem cells to help visibly improve skin tone and elasticity, while Cyclopeptide-5 smoothes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the delicate eye area. Haloxyl diminishes the appearance of dark circles for a brighter, wide-awake look.
Our biggest question: Can bee venom really do all of that?
To be safe, Rodial recommends that those with allergies stay away from products containing bee venom.
“While the venom levels are very low, someone with severe allergies could be affected,” Hatzistefanis says.
We asked Dr. Debra Jaliman, dermatologist and author of Skin Rules, to clue us in.
“I’ve never seen clinical studies on bee venom,” Jaliman said. “I really think it’s another expensive fad.”
However, bees do produce a very helpful product: honey!
“Honey, on the other hand, is beneficial to skin,” she added. “It helps heal the skin. I’ve used medical-grade Manuka honey in my practice to heal skin.”
The Bee Venom products might be worth an (expensive) try since no bees are harmed in making them, according to Hatzistefanis.
“No bees are harmed or killed during this process!” she says. “A metal apparatus is created that the bees perceive as a threat. When the bee stings the apparatus, there is a catcher in there that collects the venom.”
Tell us
Have you tried skin products formulated with bee venom? How did they work? Sound off below!
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