When it comes to beauty, no one loves to talk makeup, hair and skin care more than your ESSENCE beauty team. If you’re in need of get-glam tips and tricks, help is here. Each week Corynne, Tasha, Marcia and Nicole will answer your most pressing questions, share expert advice and recommend must-have products.Email your questions to BeautyEditors@essence.com.
Q. I’ve heard that soy candles are supposedly good for the skin. Is that true and what makes them different from regular candles?A. I absolutely adore soy candles! On any given evening you can find me burning one in every room of my apartment. The wax in soy candles is made from the oil of soybeans rather than the typical paraffin wax in most candles. After you burn a soy candle and let it cool a bit, you can use the softened wax as a moisturizer. I caught up with Bernetta Waller, the founder of A Proud Mother Candle Company, to tell share three more benefits of soy candles.
1. Burning soy candles is safer for your skin than burning petroleum and paraffin based wax candles as soy candles produce little to no soot. Soot is no friend of the skin! According to the Skin Cancer Survivor website, soot also contains PAHs (polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons) which have been linked to lung cancer. While some soot exposure is unavoidable, it should be avoided whenever possible.
2. Soy wax is a natural moisturizer. Soy candles burn at 102 degrees, slightly higher than normal body temperature. This allows you to use the melted wax as cuticle oil for hands and feet, to soften dry spots like elbows and knees and lastly as a massage oil. Some candles have no dye while others have skin-safe dye.
3. Soy is rich in Vitamin E, reported benefits include help in the relief of skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, dry skin, cracked skin, cracked heels and rough cuticles.
In addition to the candles at A Proud Mother Candle Co, we’re totally smitten by No 9. Candle Company. Both brands are owned by Black women and offer handcrafted soy candles that smell aaaah-mazing and are great for the skin.
Happy Candle Burning! —Nicole
