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Carnauba vegetable wax
Commonly known as:
Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax (INCI), Carnauba Palm Wax, Brazil Wax.
Botanical name:
Copernicia Cerifera.
Extraction process:
The young leaves are dried in the sun for a few days, then the withered leaves are threshed. The raw wax is then refined by distillation to get rid of impurities. This is a process that consists of separating the different components of a liquid mixture according to their melting point.
Family:
Arecaceae.
Part of the plant extracted:
Young leaves.
Location:
Native to Central and South America.
Flowering:
In summer, from October to March.
Provenance, origin:
Brazil.
Phytochemical composition:
Aliphatic esters, fatty acid alcohols, ω-hydroxycarboxylic acids, 4-hydroxycinnamic acids, resins.
Sensorial properties:
Appearance: Waxy flakes; Colour: Light yellow to dark amber (depending on age of leaves used); Smell : Neutral.
Physical characteristics:
Density: 0.85-1.05g/cm3; Insoluble in water; Melting point: 82 to 86°C; Comedogenicity index: 1.
Benefits:
Emollient, film-forming, softening, antioxidant, thickening, softening, nourishing.
Concerns:
All skin types; All hair types, especially dull and damaged hair.
Details
Properties
Film-forming, protective:Leaves a resistant film on the skin.
Uses
Facial skincare(lip balms, moisturizers, face masks, sun care);
Body skincare(baumes/body creams,crèmes/ hand balms);
Hygiene(shower creams, soaps, deodorants);
Tinted care(mascaras/mascara serums, lipsticks, lip pencils, foundations, eye shadows, eye pencils, kohl, eyebrow pencils).
How to store
Store in a dry place at a maximum temperature of 40°C. Keep away from heat sources and direct sunlight.
Contraindications and precautions for use
Carnauba wax has noadverse effects on health. However, rare cases of allergic reactions have been observed.
Find out more
Carnauba wax is a cosmetic ingredient derived from the leaves of a palm tree native to northeastern Brazil. It should not be mistaken for palm oil. Its name Copernicia was given in honor of the Polish astronomer Copernicus. The leaves secrete a waxy powder that protects them from dehydration and heat. Collected by scraping the sun-dried leaves, each leaf contains an average of 2 grams of wax. It is considered the hardest and most resistant of the vegetable waxes. Indeed, it has a particularly high melting point. Moreover, with its composition rich in fatty acid esters and fatty alcohols, it has a strong film-forming power and thus effectively protects the epidermis. The film it leaves on the skin is protective, water-resistant yet lightweight and non-comedogenic. It is also registered as a food additive (E903).