When using candelilla wax as an alternative in your recipe, make sure to adjust the amount downwards as you will not need as much candelilla wax as beeswax. Try substituting 80% of the suggested beeswax amount with candelilla wax and see if you're happy with the results. Is candelilla wax an emulsifier?

Candelilla is a popular wax among vegans, as beeswax is secreted by honey bees. In addition, Candelilla is an ideal wax to use if you have an allergy to bees, pollen or honey. But that’s not the only way beeswax and Candelilla wax vary from one another.There is a difference in texture in both waxes; which one to use depends on your aim and goal for the end product. Berry wax creates more gel-cream-feeling textures, while myrica wax creates more cream-cream-feeling textures.

They risk getting sulfuric acid in their eyes or on their skin which could cause burns, severe injury, and even blindness. Provide smoothness and hardness to products that require a high melting point and a stiff consistency Sometimes they travel as much as 100 miles, so it can take as much as 5 days to harvest the plants, which they do by hand.

Lipsticks & Balms

Endangered plant species such as the ones that produce candelilla wax can be collected in other areas of Texas that aren’t part of the national park, but a separate Texas law has regulations in place for that as well. Candelilla wax is a wax derived from the leaves of the small Candelilla shrub native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, Euphorbia antisyphilitica, from the family Euphorbiaceae. It is yellowish-brown, hard, brittle, aromatic, and opaque to translucent. Candelilla wax is also known to function as a barrier agent which avoids the loss of moisture, making it an ideal ingredient in creating hair care products, such as hair conditioners and treatments. Technical documents In the intermediate part of the vessel, just on top of the aqueous phase, a fine layer of yellow-colored cream is formed. This is the Candelilla wax, known also as “cerote”. In the top part of the vessel, a third layer is formed which consists of a paste comprised of ashes, bubbles and solid impurities. The plants, scalded by the boiling process, are used as fuel for the cauldrons, once they have been put out to by sun-dried.

Candelilla wax is derived from the leaves of the Candelilla shrub (Euphorbia cerifera or Euphorbia antisyphilitica), which is native to northern Mexico and the southwestern US. The wax is extracted by boiling the leaves and stems with dilute sulfuric acid and skimming it from the surface of the liquid, prior to further refining. Properties Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction that occurs under the presence of a catalyst, reducing double carbon bonds to single bonds in vegetable oils. The goal is to increase the melting point of the oil (solidify the liquid oil) and to increase its shelf life. The oils are usually refined which means that they are stripped of their unsaponifiables (the good stuff in your oils!) before they undergo hydrogenation. Pseudo-Waxes: Blends of Oils and Hydrogenated Oils

An Overview of the 6 Vegan Waxes

You can try using it instead of beeswax at about 80%, but the consistency differences will impact the feel of the final product. Carnauba wax is derived from the leaves of a the Brazilian palm known as Copernicia cerifera (wax making). The wax is a kind of leaf exudate to prevent the leaves from dehydration. It is available from very dark intensive yellow to light beige colour and is available as flakes, pellets or powder.It is a high melting point and hard wax. Melt wax in double boiler over low heat. When melted add in shea butter and allow to melt before adding jojoba oil and stir to mix. Pour mixture into a container and allow to cool slightly before adding essential oil. Candelilla Wax – Candelilla Cera – Euphorbia Cerifera Wax – Euphorbia Cerifera Cera European Union Approved Food Additive: E902 – Wax – Glazing Agent Direct Food Substance Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS): 21 CFR 184.1976 Suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans, Halal and Kosher. CAS Number: 8006-44-8 EINECS Number: 232-347-0 Source Provide excellent glide/slip to cosmetics formulations for easy spreadability as well as easy removability

The “Candelilleros” work long, hard hours. They generally take more than five days to harvest the plants and work becomes more complicated when the plants are located on other ranches or private property. The distances from gathering points to the collection centers can range from 25 to 150 km (15 – 100 miles). According to the Candelilla Institute, the process for extracting candelilla wax is extensive. Here is a brief synopsis: A product that is ethically sourced implies that the people who are involved in harvesting and processing the product are working under fair and safe conditions. Seeing all of the uses of this type of wax helps to paint a picture as to why the sustainability of it is important.

Introducing Vegan Waxes

Candelilla Wax has a high melting point of 68-73°C (154.4 -163.4°F). You should melt the wax prior to incorporating it into your formulations. Candelilla wax is great to use in cosmetics as it creates a barrier for your skin , protecting it and keeping in moisture. But it’s actually the processing methods that cause the most concern. Processing the plants uses very few chemicals.