The Beauty of Wax

Beeswax

Beeswax is a natural wax that is produced by bees.

Benefits it can bring to a formulation:

• Creates a thin protective layer over the skin which helps prevent moisture loss, keeping the skin hydrated – It also doesn’t clog your pores!
• Due to its insolubility in water, it can provide smudge and waterproof properties to the product.
• Improves the products adhesion to skin.
• Beeswax is a natural exfoliator, helping to rejuvenating your skin by removing dead skin cells.
• It can help heal damaged skin – It has a high Vitamin A content that promotes cell regeneration.
• Non-greasy.
• Provide a soft, silky texture to the formulation
• Can thicken formulations without hardening.

Vegan beeswax substitutes are also available that have been developed to match beeswax in texture, colour and feel, therefore providing similar benefits.

Carnauba

Carnauba is a natural and vegan wax that comes from the carnauba palm trees in Brazil.

Benefits it can bring to a formulation:

• Excellent at raising the melt point of a solid formulation due to its harness.
• It can be used as a thickening agent for formulations.
• Its insolubility in water helps to provide smudge and waterproof properties to the product.
• It is a viscosity regulator and stabiliser for water-oil emulsions.
• Can help reduce stickiness of a formulation.
• Carnauba is very hard and shiny which can aid it in forming a glossy finish.
• Provides a soft, silky texture

Cost effective carnauba substitutes have also been developed to be used as a replacement for carnauba, offering similar benefits.

Candelilla

Candelilla is derived from the Euphorbia Cerifera plant in Northern Mexico.

Benefits it can bring to a formulation:

• Can be used to harden formulations without affecting the melting point.
• It has great film-forming properties which prevent moisture loss.
• Candelilla wax contracts whilst its cooling and so can help stop the product sticking to the sides of the mould.
• Its superior oil-binding properties help to prolong longevity.
• Candelilla wax can help when applying the product as it enables it to spread easier and is readily absorbed by the skin.
• Can help reduce the stickiness of the product.
• Can provide a soft and silky texture to the product

Rice Bran Wax

Rice Bran Wax comes from the grains of rice plant.

Benefits it can bring to a formulation:

• Strong thickening abilities.
• Can help prevent oxidation from occurring.
• Can help to reduce stickiness in the product.
• It contains squalene which can help restore the skins hydration – Highly moisturizing and easily absorbed, squalene is found naturally in our skin, helping to aid in cell regeneration for a fresh, radiant glow.
• Can form thin films which help protect from UV light.
• Helps to produce a smooth texture in the product.
• Can help to produce a shiny, glossy finish.

Sunflower Wax

Sunflower Wax is extracted from sunflower oil.

Benefits it can bring to a formulation:

• Increases the products stability due to its high oil binding capacity – by binding to oil, it can help prevent oil from ‘bleeding’ out of the product.
• It can reduce stickiness and greasiness in a formulation.
• It forms a strong network of wax crystals which helps boost the strength and thermal stability of the product.
• Can thicken formulations at low concentrations.
• Can help produce a high gloss finish.