Library
All Topics
Carnauba plant wax
Commonly known as:
Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax (I.N.C.I.), Carnauba palm wax, Brazil wax.
Botanical name:
Copernicia Cerifera
Extraction process:
Drying of the young leaves a few days in the sun, then beating of the withered leaves. The raw wax is then refined by distillation to remove impurities. It is a process which consists in separating the various components of a liquid mixture according to their temperature of fusion.
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 chips ; Color : Light yellow to dark amber (depends on the age of the leaves used) ; Odor : Neutral.
Physical characteristics:
Density : 0,85-1,05 g/cm3 ; Insoluble in water ; Melting temperature : From 82 to 86°C ; Comedogenicity index : 1.
Benefits:
Emollient, film-forming, softening, antioxidant, thickening, soothing, nourishing.
Concerns:
All skin types; All hair types, especially dull and damaged hair.
Details
Properties
Film-forming, protective: deposits a resistant film on the skin.
Use
Face care (lip balms, moisturizing creams, face masks, sun care);
Body care (body balms/creams, hand creams/baumes) ;
Hygiene (shower creams, soaps, deodorants) ;
Make-up (mascaras/serums, lipsticks, lip pencils, foundations, eye shadows, eye pencils, kohl, eyebrow pencils).
Preservation
Store in a dry place at a maximum temperature of 40°C. Keep away from heat sources and direct sunlight.
Contra-Indications and Precautions
Carnauba wax does not cause any undesirable effects. 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).