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Ozokerite

What Ozokerite is & what it does

A mineral wax used to thicken and harden formulas and stabilize emulsions. It gives body and a smooth, structured feel.

What is Ozokerite and what does it do in sunscreen?

Ozokerite is a mineral wax used to thicken and harden formulas and to stabilize emulsions. It gives a product body and a smooth, structured feel, which is why it is common in sun sticks and compact balms. In a sunscreen it shapes the texture and helps the formula hold together rather than contributing to UV protection.

Is Ozokerite safe?

Yes. It is an inert mineral wax that stays on the surface of the skin, and it is widely used in balms, sticks and color cosmetics with a good tolerance record. It is non-reactive for most people. There are no notable safety concerns at cosmetic levels.

Does Ozokerite clog pores?

Generally low risk. As a wax it is heavier than a watery ingredient, but it is refined and used to give structure, and it is not flagged as a notable pore-clogger in our data. People who are very breakout-prone sometimes prefer to limit thick waxes in leave-on products. For most skin it is well tolerated.

Is Ozokerite vegan?

Yes. Ozokerite is a naturally occurring mineral wax, not an animal product like beeswax, so it is suitable for vegan formulas. It is often chosen specifically as a plant-free and animal-free way to add wax structure to a stick or balm.

What else is Ozokerite called?

On a label it appears as Ozokerite, its INCI name. It is a mineral or earth wax, and a closely refined version is known as ceresin. It usually sits among the waxes and thickeners on an ingredient list.

Sunscreens with Ozokerite

We rate 115 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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