Cited skincare — every flag names its source, no upsell.
Pr

Propolis

Propolis Extract · PropolisSoothing

The bee resin in Korean essences. It may calm skin and fight germs a little, but evidence is thin. It’s also a known allergen.

What it does

It’s the sticky resin bees use to seal their hives. It carries plant compounds that fight germs and mildly calm skin, mostly shown in lab work and a few small studies. Quality varies.

The EU’s ingredient database lists it as a skin conditioner, its general term for an ingredient that keeps skin in good condition.European Commission, CosIng (© European Union, CC BY 4.0) · uses put in plain words by Drop ↗

The evidence, graded

expert consensusPropolis is a documented contact allergen: 1.2% to 6.6% of people patch-tested for dermatitis are sensitive to it. It turns up in 'natural' products such as lip balms, lotions, ointments, shampoos and toothpastes.Walgrave 2005 · Dermatitis ↗
moderatePropolis, a bee product used in cosmetics for its reputed antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, is also a known contact allergen: 1.2 to 6.6% of people patch-tested for dermatitis react to it. Its anti-inflammatory reputation comes mostly from lab and animal studies of the immune system. No source Drop has read tested it on skin alongside other actives.Sforcin 2007 · Journal of Ethnopharmacology ↗

Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.

Also known as

bee glue

Pairs worth knowing

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) · works together ↗Centella Asiatica (Cica) · works together ↗Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5) · works together ↗

Browse all 1238 ingredients — grouped by what they do, each with whatever evidence we can cite.

This page is public so a shared ingredient card always has its sources behind it — and so you can check them without an account.
Want more like this?
Every evidence-based flag cites its source, Drop tells you when your routine is complete, and it helps you simplify — instead of selling you more. The app launches on iOS and Android in October 2026. Rate my routine works today at /rate — no sign-in.
See what Drop doesHow Drop works