Carnauba Wax: Vegan Beeswax Alternative for Skincare Recipes!

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Carnauba Wax is a wonderful wax that can add gloss and shine to almost anything! It is an emollient, hypoallergenic, and helps thicken formulations.

It is a leaf extract and is a vegan-friendly alternative to Beeswax.

It is an emulsifier and is excellent with oil-binding; particularly for ester and mineral oils.

Carnauba Wax Quick Facts:

Carnauba INCI:

Copernicia cerifera wax

COSMOS and ECOCERT Standards:

Carnauba Wax meets COSMOS and ECOCERT standards.

Carnauba Wax Melting Point:

The melting point of Candelilla Wax  is 80-86 °C (176-186.8°F)

Carnauba Recommended Usage Levels:

The recommended usage level for Carnauba Wax is 1-20%

What is Carnauba Wax?  

Carnauba Wax is derived from the Brazillian plant called the Copernicia. The waxy substance that is exuded from the plant naturally that helps prevent the plant from dehydration.

It is an emulsifying wax that adds stability to formulations due to its high melting point.

Benefits of Carnauba Wax

Carnauba Wax is an excellent choice when emulsifying ester or mineral oils. This wax adds gloss and shine to a variety of products ranging from car waxes to lip glosses and lip gloss base recipes.

Carnauba Wax is an emollient and helps draw moisture to skin and lock it in. It can also help make products waterproof which is helpful in cosmetic and non-cosmetic products.

This wax has a particularly high melting point which increases the thermal stability of final formulations making it great for anything that needs to maintain a stiffer composition.

Carnauba Wax is also hypoallergenic and vegan-friendly; it also increases the staying power of products which makes it a popular choice in hair styling waxes.

Is Carnauba Wax Natural?

Carnauba Wax is an all-natural byproduct of the Copernicia plant. It meets COSMOS and ECOCERT standards; it is also a vegan alternative to other waxes such as Beeswax.

Is Carnauba Wax Vegan?

Carnauba wax, a natural substance created by the leaves of a palm tree in Brazil, is not only vegan-friendly but also biodegradable and recyclable.

Things to Make with Carnauba Wax:

Carnauba Wax can be used in many different formulations.  As a thickener, it can be used in balms and salves to help achieve a stiff composition.

It can also be used in lotion and soap bars. This wax can also be used to help waterproof and add shine to cosmetic products such as lip gloss, lipsticks, and lip balms.

Since Carnauba Wax is waterproofing and adds shine, it can be used in shining products like shoe and car wax. It can also be used in balms to help waterproof shoes and other clothing items.

In hair products Carnauba wax is great for increasing hold and stay and if often used in texturizing pastes and styling waxes.

It is also great for protecting hair.

How to Use Carnauba in Formulations

Carnauba Wax has a high melting point and should be melted into a liquid to incorporate into formulations.

It is also a stiffer wax that should be used in conjunction with other waxes and ingredients that contribute to a creamier texture.

The recommended usage level for Carnauba Wax is 1-20%; it should not be used alone in stick formulations and should be combined with another wax.

It is harder than more commonly used waxes such as Beeswax and if you are using it as a substitute, you may need to use less in your formulations. 

Carnauba Wax is also an emulsifier and should be added during the heated oil phases. It is particularly good at blending ester and mineral oils. 

Carnauba Alternatives 

If you are looking for an alternative to Carnauba Wax, we have a couple of wonderful options!

1. First up is another harder, vegan-friendly wax, Candelilla Wax. This wax is also protective and has a higher than average melting point. They have similar qualities and in many formulations, have similar mixing ratios. They are also both emulsifiers and can be used to mix water and oils.
2. Beeswax is another popular alternative to Carnauba Wax; it can be used in many formulations and has a softer, creamier texture. There are a few things to consider when thinking about substituting Beeswax for Carnauba Wax.
   1. You may need to use a larger amount of Beeswax in your recipes.
   2. Beeswax is also not an emulsifier and is not a vegan product.

Carnauba Wax Skincare Recipes

Now that you've learned all the amazing benefits of Carnauba Wax, how about some skincare recipes that you can try! Remember you can substitute carnauba wax for beeswax in the recipes, but you may need to use less as it is thicker.

Pin Carnauba Wax Benefits For Skin