Common Name(s): Royal jelly,bee milk
CAS Number: 8031-67-2
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides 10-hda and royalactin bioactive complex for collagen stimulation and anti-aging.
Why It's Used: Queen bee transformation ingredient — royalactin (the protein that transforms a worker larva into a queen) provides unique growth factor-like collagen stimulation and anti-aging activity.
How It Works: 10-hda (10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid) inhibits 5-lox for anti-inflammatory activity and stimulates collagen synthesis. royalactin activates egf-like receptor stimulating growth and differentiation. sterols and amino acids provide skin conditioning. antimicrobial activity from 10-hda fatty acid.
Typically Found In: Luxury anti-aging products,queen bee beauty
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient – queen bee secretion
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%–5%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: No - animal-derived
Halal Status: Conditional - bee-derived; widely held permissible, confirm certifier stance
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier. [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 – very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1–2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Royal jelly's transformation of worker bee larvae into queen bees via royalactin is one of biology's most dramatic examples of epigenetic determination by nutrition: genetically identical larvae become morphologically and physiologically distinct (worker vs queen) solely based on royal jelly feeding. the growth-promoting royalactin that drives this transformation provides the biological rationale for royal jelly's anti-aging and cell proliferation-stimulating cosmetic claims.
Last Verified: 2026-03-12
Primary Sources: Cosing database,fratini et al. royal jelly review