Common Name(s): Cera alba (white),cera flava (yellow),apis mellifera wax

CAS Number: 8012-89-3

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides natural wax structure and emolliency for cosmetic texture and lip balm applications.

Why It's Used: The original cosmetic wax – provides natural, hard-texture structure for lip balms, sticks, and creams with emollient skin conditioning.

How It Works: Complex mixture of esters (wax esters), hydrocarbons (hentriacontane), and fatty acids provides semi-crystalline structure. melting point 62-65°c enables stable solid products. emulsifying capacity from free cerotic acid content.

Typically Found In: Lip balms,cosmetic sticks,creams,natural cosmetics

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – natural wax

Secondary Functions: Natural wax structure,occlusive conditioning

Application Areas:

Typical Concentration Range: 2%–30%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: No - animal-derived

Halal Status: Conditional - bee-derived; widely held permissible, confirm certifier stance

Source Notes: Plant-derived, synthetic or animal-derived. verify source. [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: 1/5 – low; formulation-dependent

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.

Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Beeswax's multi-component wax ester composition (myricyl palmitate as primary component) provides a unique crystalline structure that gives lip balms and cosmetic sticks their characteristic 'dragée' glide – different from synthetic wax esters that lack this crystalline lattice diversity.

Last Verified: 2026-03-12

Primary Sources: Cosing database,cir safety assessment