Ca
Carnauba Wax
Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax · Copernicia Cerifera Cera · Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax / Copernicia Cerifera Cera / Cire De Carnauba · Copernicia Cerifera WaxBarrier
The hardest natural wax — it keeps sticks and balms solid in warm weather.
What it does
It holds sticks in shape, like mascaras, lipsticks and deodorants, and has the highest melting point of the natural waxes used in cosmetics.
The EU’s ingredient database lists it as an emollient (gives skin a soft, smooth look) and a film former (leaves a film on skin).European Commission, CosIng (© European Union, CC BY 4.0) · uses put in plain words by Drop ↗
The evidence, graded
expert consensusUS safety reviewers judged candelilla, carnauba, Japan wax and beeswax safe as used in 1984, and kept that verdict in 2005 and 2025. Newer allergy reports they read were linked to propolis, a bee resin they say can turn up in these waxes. In one clinic, 2 of 22 people with a relevant lip-rash allergy reacted to candelilla wax. They asked makers to keep heavy metals and pesticides low.Expert 2025 · Cosmetic Ingredient Review ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Also known as
cire de carnauba
Pairs worth knowing
Browse all 1238 ingredients — grouped by what they do, each with whatever evidence we can cite.
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