What products contain propolis?

Which skincare products contain propolis?

COSRX also sells a Propolis Full Care Trio and a Propolis Glow Trio, so the propolis shelf has both individual products and a committee. These are bundle names rather than additional product types. If you are shopping for one particular format, distinguish the individual toner, ampoule, cream or mask from the sets.1

Is propolis the same as honey or beeswax?

No. Propolis, also called bee glue, is a resinous substance bees collect from tree buds, shrubs and green plants. Honey is made from nectar and honeydew, while beeswax is produced by glands in bees. They are separate ingredients, even though all three come with bee related branding. A honey or beeswax ingredient alone does not tell you that a product contains propolis, because the hive is not an ingredient list.2

How do you check a product?

1. 1Read the full ingredient list on the product label or packaging, rather than relying only on the product name.
2. 2If the ingredients are unclear or incomplete, contact the manufacturer before choosing the product.
3. 3If you are checking because of a confirmed contact allergy, avoid products without a complete ingredient list.

This is general ingredient checking advice for contact allergy. It applies to all products you come into contact with, not just the one you suspect caused a reaction. The named COSRX products are useful examples for finding propolis skincare; identifying every possible exposure requires checking the products you actually use.3

What if you are avoiding propolis because of allergy?

Propolis can cause allergic contact dermatitis, an allergic skin reaction after contact. In someone already sensitised through skin exposure, later exposure through routes such as ingestion can also trigger dermatitis. If you have a confirmed propolis allergy, avoidance needs to cover more than products applied to your face, including medicines or natural health remedies containing the allergen.4

Propolis, fragrance and colophony can cross react, meaning allergy to one can be associated with reactions to another. Colophony is also called rosin. If you already have a fragrance or rosin allergy, discuss propolis with your dermatologist before choosing a product containing it.3

Seek medical assessment for recurring dermatitis or a suspected contact allergy. A dermatologist can use patch testing, a specialist skin allergy test, to identify the trigger and guide avoidance. Do not deliberately swallow a suspected allergen to test your reaction; oral allergy challenges require a hospital setting because severe reactions can occur.4