re: Antique Buffet

My daughter has recently started reacting to Burts Bees lip balm.  Her lips swell up like a Kardashian when she uses it now.  I wonder if somewhere a long the way there was some bees wax applied?  Using some denatured alcohol may remove it but if it is finished with shellac and maybe even lacquer, it may remove that as well. 

I have refinished several mid century modern pieces which are generally finished with a dyed lacquer.  The finish was in really bad shape on some of them and because the veneer on them is usually pretty thin, it is risky sanding the finish off so I use lacquer thinner with an abrasive pad to strip off the old finish, followed by a light sanding to get any bad spots and raised grain.  It is usually less work than sanding off an old finish.  Lacquer thinner is smelly stuff so work outside or at least use a VOC rated respirator.