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Emulsifying Wax

What Emulsifying Wax is & what it does

Emulsifying Wax is a blend of fatty alcohols and emulsifiers used to bind oil and water into a stable cream or lotion. It is one of the most common workhorse ingredients in moisturizers and sunscreens, giving them a smooth, uniform texture and a thick, creamy body. Its exact composition can vary by supplier, but its role is always to emulsify and thicken.

What does Emulsifying Wax do in skincare?

Emulsifying Wax is a blend of fatty alcohols and emulsifiers that binds oil and water into a stable cream or lotion. It is one of the most common ingredients in moisturizers and sunscreens, giving them a smooth, creamy texture. Its job is to keep the formula from separating while adding body and thickness.

Is Emulsifying Wax comedogenic?

Emulsifying Wax is widely used in lotions and creams and is not broadly classed as a strongly pore-clogging ingredient, though its exact composition can vary by supplier. How any emollient behaves differs from person to person and depends on the whole formula. If you are acne-prone, patch testing a new product is a sensible step.

Is Emulsifying Wax natural or synthetic?

Emulsifying Wax is usually best described as derived or semi-synthetic. It often combines plant or naturally sourced fatty alcohols with processed emulsifiers, so the exact mix depends on the supplier. It is typically plant-based rather than animal-derived, which generally makes it suitable for vegan formulas.

Sunscreens with Emulsifying Wax

We rate 26 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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