Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina ●
TL;DR. It acts as a structuring and viscosity-building agent, helping balms, sticks, ointments, and color cosmetics hold shape. It also improves slip, water resistance, and occlusive feel on skin or lips.
What does Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina do in a cosmetic formula?
It acts as a structuring and viscosity-building agent, helping balms, sticks, ointments, and color cosmetics hold shape. It also improves slip, water resistance, and occlusive feel on skin or lips.
Is Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina clean?
Clean-beauty frameworks often flag it because it is petroleum-derived and depends on high refining quality to control aromatic mineral-oil residues. It is generally low-irritation, but its sourcing and impurity profile create clean-standard friction.
Is Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina sustainable?
This material comes from non-renewable petroleum refining. Its saturated hydrocarbon structure is not readily biodegradable, so it has a weaker environmental profile than renewable plant-derived structuring agents.
Is Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS natural or organic standards because it is a petrochemical-derived hydrocarbon blend rather than an allowed natural-origin material. From a Green Chemistry view, it scores poorly on renewable feedstock and biodegradability, despite being chemically stable and typically low-reactivity in formulas.
How does Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina work chemically?
This material is a semi-solid mixture of high-molecular-weight, mostly saturated branched and cyclic hydrocarbons, which gives it a higher melting range and stronger oil-binding capacity than many softer hydrocarbon blends. It is commonly used in anhydrous systems and emulsions at low single-digit to higher structuring levels, with stability driven more by heat and oil compatibility than by pH.
Last updated 2026-05-13