How we scored it
Wax coating harvested from candelilla shrub stems; wholly plant-derived wax esters and hydrocarbons → 1.0.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.
Where it comes from
Extracted by boiling candelilla shrub stems, native to and sourced from Mexico and the southwestern US. No synthetic alternative exists.
In plain English
A firm wax extracted from the stems of the candelilla shrub, used to thicken and stabilise formulas. It comes directly from the plant's protective coating.
CosIng definition: Euphorbia Cerifera Wax is a wax obtained from Euphorbia cerifera. The accepted scientific name for Euphorbia cerifera is Euphorbia antisyphilitica.
References
- 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
- 2EUPHORBIA CERIFERA WAX. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
- 3EUPHORBIA CERIFERA WAX. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=EUPHORBIA%20CERIFERA%20WAX