MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX / CERA MICROCRISTALLINA / CIRE MICROCRI STALLINE ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a structuring and thickening agent that gives sticks, balms, ointments, and color cosmetics firmness, payoff control, and water-resistant film formation. It also helps suspend pigments and reduce oil bleed in anhydrous formulas.
What does MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX / CERA MICROCRISTALLINA / CIRE MICROCRI STALLINE do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a structuring and thickening agent that gives sticks, balms, ointments, and color cosmetics firmness, payoff control, and water-resistant film formation. It also helps suspend pigments and reduce oil bleed in anhydrous formulas.
Is MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX / CERA MICROCRISTALLINA / CIRE MICROCRI STALLINE clean?
It is generally low-irritation and non-sensitizing when highly refined, with quality concerns centered on residual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and documentation of purification. Clean-beauty standards often treat it unfavorably because it is petrochemical-derived rather than due to routine skin tolerance issues.
Is MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX / CERA MICROCRISTALLINA / CIRE MICROCRI STALLINE sustainable?
This material is sourced from petroleum refining, so it is non-renewable and tied to fossil feedstocks. It is not readily biodegradable and is environmentally persistent, although it is chemically inert in finished products.
Is MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX / CERA MICROCRISTALLINA / CIRE MICROCRI STALLINE COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards because it is a petrochemical derivative. From a Green Chemistry view, it scores poorly on renewable sourcing and biodegradability, despite being stable and requiring little reactive processing in formulation.
How does MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX / CERA MICROCRISTALLINA / CIRE MICROCRI STALLINE work chemically?
This material is a complex solid mixture of high-molecular-weight saturated hydrocarbons, especially branched and cyclic chains, with typical melting ranges around 60 to 90°C depending on grade. It is water-insoluble, pH-independent, and oxidation-resistant, and it is commonly used at low single digits for viscosity adjustment or higher levels in sticks and balms for structure.
Last updated 2026-05-14