Cera Bellina Wax: Wonderful skin benefits
What is Cera Bellina Wax?
Cera Bellina is a hydrophilic beeswax derivative that has been heat and vacuum processed to convert free fatty acids to polyglycerol esters. By eliminating the free fatty acid functionalities, the ability of beeswax to gel and retain oil is improved.
What is it? | Cera bellina is a beeswax derivative that thickens oils and butters into very cool, glide-y oil gels. |
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INCI | Polyglycerol-3 Beeswax |
Appearance | Small off-white pellets/beads |
Texture | Creates rich, slippy oil gels. |
Recommended Usage | 2-20% |
Solubility | Oil soluble |
Melting point | 63–73ºC (145–163°F) |
Boiling point | NA |
pH | NA |
Aroma | Nothing noticeable |
Why do we include it in formulations? | Cera Bellina is a wax that resembles beeswax but has better oil-gelling capabilities. It prevents crystallisation in formulations and decreases oil syneresis. |
How to work with it? | Cera bellina must be melted before being used, therefore include it in your heated oil phase. |
Applications | Its main function is to thicken/solidify oil gels and make them exceedingly smooth and slippy. It also aids pigment distribution and lowers sweating in solid balms, as well as acting as a co-emulsifier. |
Absorption rate | Quite slow |
Strength | Creates very cool, smooth oil gels. |
Weaknesses | NA |
Substitution | Beeswax |
How to store it? | Stored in a cool, dark and dry place. |
Shelf life | Cera bellina wax should last at least two years. |
Fast Facts
Type of ingredient | Skin-soothing agent, thickening agent |
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Main benefits | Emulsion stabiliser, low HLB emulsifier, oil gelling agent, anhydrous product thickener, and pigment stabiliser |
Who should use it | In general all skin types |
How often can you use it? | Daily |
Works well with | Most of ingredients |
Doesn't work with | There are no known inactivators. |
How to use | Added to your formulation during the oil phase. |
Mechanisms of action
Cera Bellina is a natural beeswax derivative in which the free fatty acids have been transformed to polyglycerol esters, improving the molecule’s hydrophilicity. Eliminating these fatty acids enhances formula stability, oil gelling, and general uniformity.
Benefits of Cera Bellina Wax
- Cera Bellina Wax, like conventional beeswax, improves skin smoothness and texture, but due to its chemical structure, it also has some special characteristics.
- Oil syneresis is the separation of oils from a water-based gel. This can make it more difficult to use a skincare product. Cera bellina’s hydrophilic characteristic prevents water and oil separation, allowing the gel to remain stable and last longer.
- Cera bellina has the natural ability to prevent crystallisation in various skin care formulas, allowing them to last longer and maintain their original texture.
- Thickens and stabilised emulsions — As a thickener, this component keeps oil and water-based constituents in emulsions from splitting.
- One of the biggest cera bellina skin benefits is that it has a buttery, silky texture.
- It has a silky smooth texture that feels excellent on the skin and can assist supply additional moisturising and skin-repairing components as well as produce a protective humectant layer. This helps to keep the skin hydrated.
Side effects of Cera Bellina Wax
Is It Safe To Use Cera Bellina Skin? Cera Bellina Wax is safe to use in skincare and cosmetics because it hasn’t been linked to skin irritation or allergies. It’s suitable for even the most delicate skin. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel also considers Cera Bellina Wax to be safe for cosmetic usage.
How to use it in formulation?
Start by substituting 10-15% of the oils in existing formulas with Cera Bellina for its rheological properties.
Work well with other ingredients
Most of the ingredients are compatible with Cera Bellina Wax.