Cera Carnauba/Copernicia Cerifera Wax/Cire De Carnauba ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a hard structuring agent that raises melting point, firmness, and gloss in sticks, balms, mascaras, and color cosmetics. It also helps form a light protective film and improves payoff in anhydrous formulas.
What does Cera Carnauba/Copernicia Cerifera Wax/Cire De Carnauba do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a hard structuring agent that raises melting point, firmness, and gloss in sticks, balms, mascaras, and color cosmetics. It also helps form a light protective film and improves payoff in anhydrous formulas.
Is Cera Carnauba/Copernicia Cerifera Wax/Cire De Carnauba clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is generally well tolerated, low in sensitization concerns, and not a common restricted-list issue. Friction is mainly about sourcing documentation rather than skin compatibility.
Is Cera Carnauba/Copernicia Cerifera Wax/Cire De Carnauba sustainable?
This material is plant-derived, harvested from the leaves of a Brazilian palm, and is generally considered biodegradable. The main sustainability questions are traceability, harvest practices, and labor conditions in the supply chain.
Is Cera Carnauba/Copernicia Cerifera Wax/Cire De Carnauba COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS-natural and can be used in COSMOS-organic formulas when the specific grade and sourcing documentation meet certification requirements. It aligns well with Green Chemistry principles because it is renewable, minimally processed, and not associated with persistence concerns.
How does Cera Carnauba/Copernicia Cerifera Wax/Cire De Carnauba work chemically?
The molecule profile is a complex mixture dominated by long-chain aliphatic esters, along with fatty alcohols, fatty acids, hydrocarbons, and resin-like components. It has a high melting range, typically about 80 to 86°C, and is often used around 0.5 to 10% depending on the firmness and thermal stability needed.
Last updated 2026-05-13