Applications
In 1941, Nature Magazine published an article by John Whitaker, in which it was stated that wax from the Candelilla plant was probably the material with the greatest number of commercial applications of all the substances extracted from non-cultivated plants growing on the American continent.
Certainly, Candelilla wax offers a wide diversity of applications and it is currently being used in more than 20 distinct industries worldwide – principally in the U.S., the E.U. and Japan. Its distinctive properties make it an essential raw material in the production of cosmetics, dyes, adhesives, coatings, shines and polishes, among others.
Candelilla wax is recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a safe natural substance – GRAS, Generally Recognized As Safe – for applications in the food industry. For this reason, it is widely used in a diversity of sectors in this industry.
In the cosmetics industry, due to its protective properties, Candelilla wax is indispensable in an important range of formulas used in the production of lipsticks, body lotions and hair preparations.
Cosmetics Formulated with Candelilla Wax
- Lipsticks.
- Lip Glosses/Creams.
- Body Creams.
- Hair Preparations.
- Eyelash Masques.
- Body Lotion.
For its plastic properties, Candelilla wax is used in the production of chewing gum. Additionally, its properties of oils retention helps it to better conserve flavors, for which this wax has demonstrated its advantages over the majority of synthetic waxes used in this particular application.
A specialty application can be found in the precision foundry and mold industry where, because of the extraordinary molding properties of Candelilla wax, it permits the precise reproduction of every detail required in these strict manufacturing processes.
Its chemical stability, high melting point, impermeability and low electrical resistance make it highly useful in the manufacture of a diversity of products for the electrical and electronic industries.
Candelilla wax is also used to improve the hardness of other softer waxes, as well as a complement to beeswax and carnauba wax.
There are many other applications where Candelilla wax is currently being used, including cardboard coating, crayon manufacture, paints, dyes, candles, lubricants, adhesives, paper, waterproofing, anti-corrosives and fireworks.
Applications Candelilla Wax
