What is Candelilla Wax?

What is Candelilla Wax?

Candelilla wax is a yellowish-brown, opaque to translucent wax that is scented and quite hard and brittle to the touch. Candelilla wax is derived from the leaves and stems of the Euphorbia Cerifera plant, also known as the “Candelilla shrub.” This plant can be found in northern Mexico and the southern United States.

What is Candelilla Wax Made of?

Candelilla wax is typically made from leaves, and/or the stems, of the Candelilla shrub from northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. The candelilla wax is typically collected from this shrub by boiling the full-grown plant in a water and Sulfuric Acid solution.

Is Candelilla Wax Safe for Skin?

Candelilla wax is safe for skin! It is a great vegan alternative to beeswax that may be used in DIY skincare. This wax has a high melting point and acts as a great emulsifier for skincare products. Not only is candelilla wax safe for skin, but it has even been found to soothe and soften the skin, too.

Candelilla wax is non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog pores – something that is important in a topical salve! It also hydrates and nourishes the skin, providing many benefits to a high-quality salve.

Related: Is Pectin Vegan?

What is Candelilla Used for?

Candelilla wax is widely utilized in the culinary and cosmetic industries, most notably as a binder in chewing gums, lip balms, and lotion bars. This plant-based wax can also replace beeswax and carnauba wax. In the personal care and cosmetic field, candelilla wax is used in many lotions, salves & balms, and creams. It can also be used for making varnish – a transparent, hard protective coating or film primarily used as a wood finish.

Though it isn’t as often used for this anymore, candelilla wax was first used in candle making, which is where its name comes from, as it means “little candle.”

Candelilla Wax Benefits

Candelilla wax, unlike beeswax, is a vegan alternative wax that is also fragrance-free and hypoallergenic. Candelilla wax is an excellent emulsifier, emollient, and humectant. It possesses texturizing effects and may protect the skin from severe external stresses, which makes it useful in skincare products such as a balm.

Candelilla wax can be used as a skin protector, nourishing conditioner, fast-absorbing moisturizer, hardening and thickening agent, lubricant, and other things. It can add a lovely sheen and shine to lip products like gloss, improve a product’s absorption rate into the skin, produce a protective film on the skin’s surface to resist water, and make barrier products like balms.

Try Candelilla Wax With Our Full Spectrum CBG Salve

While CBD salve is often made with castor oil, Hunger Mountain Hemp uses candelilla wax in our CBD and CBG salves. This nutrient-dense wax can be readily absorbed into the skin, allowing it to serve as a moisture-retaining shield. If you have any questions, contact us or take a look at our salves with candelilla wax to learn more.