Common Name(s): Bee venom extract,bee venom extract,apitoxin anti-aging,melittin pla2 collagen stimulator
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Stimulates dermal fibroblast collagen synthesis through controlled melittin-mediated mild inflammatory signalling, activates skin renewal through pla2-stimulated membrane remodelling, and provides anti-wrinkle activity from the paradoxical pro-inflammatory anti-aging mechanism.
Why It's Used: Bee venom applies the 'hormesis' principle โ controlled sub-injury-threshold doses of melittin provide the same stimulus for fibroblast collagen synthesis as natural skin wounds, without causing tissue damage from the carefully controlled dilute concentration.
How It Works: Melittin (26 amino acid amphipathic helix) disrupts cell membranes in a concentration-dependent manner: at low cosmetic concentrations (<1 ฮผg/ml) โ non-lytic membrane perturbation โ transient caยฒโบ influx โ pkc โ col1a1/col3a1 upregulation. adolapin inhibits cox-1/2 providing paradoxical anti-inflammatory balance at application ph. pla2 โ arachidonic acid release โ controlled prostaglandin e2 โ camp โ anti-inflammatory resolution.
Typically Found In: Anti-aging,k-beauty premium,collagen stimulation
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ antioxidant
Secondary Functions: Free radical scavenging,anti-aging
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.001%โ0.1%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: No - animal-derived
Halal Status: Conditional - bee-derived; widely held permissible, confirm certifier stance
Source Notes: Plant-derived extract or synthetic. [audit 2026-07-29 rev2: bee-derived; permissibility widely accepted but fatwa varies by jurisdiction. determination requires shariah-panel sign-off.]
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; well-tolerated.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Vitamin c,vitamin e,ferulic acid,spf,other antioxidants
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Bee venom allergy risk: melittin is the primary component of bee sting anaphylaxis โ even at cosmetic trace concentrations, bee venom products should carry allergen advisory labelling for users with known bee venom allergy.
Last Verified: 2026-03-22
Primary Sources: Cosing database,bee venom apitoxin melittin anti-aging review