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Microcrystalline Wax
Cera Microcristallina · Microcrystalline Wax · Cera Microcristallina/Microcrystalline Wax/Cire MicrocristallineBarrier
A flexible petroleum wax — structures balms and sticks, binds oils together, and leaves a smooth sealing film.
What it does
A petroleum wax with very fine crystals, which makes it more flexible and better at holding oils than ordinary paraffin. It thickens and structures balms and sticks and leaves a smooth film that seals moisture in.
The EU’s ingredient database lists it as a thickener (controls how thick the product is), an opacifier (makes the product less see-through) and a stabilizer (helps oil and water stay mixed).European Commission, CosIng (© European Union, CC BY 4.0) · uses put in plain words by Drop ↗
The evidence, graded
expert consensusUS safety reviewers judged eight fossil and synthetic waxes safe as used in 1984. Ozokerite, paraffin, microcrystalline wax and synthetic beeswax are among them. They kept that verdict in 2026 after looking at newer data and today’s uses. They had too little data to judge any cosmetic ingredient sprayed on with an airbrush.Expert 2026 · 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 microcristalline
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