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Synthetic Wax

What Synthetic Wax is & what it does

A purified wax used to thicken, structure, and stabilize formulas and give a smooth, protective film. It adds body to balms and sticks.

What is Synthetic Wax and what does it do in sunscreen?

Synthetic Wax is a purified, lab-made wax used to thicken, structure, and stabilize a formula. In sunscreen it gives a smooth, protective film and adds body to balms and sticks, which is why it turns up in stick-format products like sun sticks and tinted balms. It helps the product hold its shape and spread evenly on skin.

Is Synthetic Wax safe?

Yes. Synthetic Wax is a chemically inert, non-reactive ingredient that simply sits on the surface of the skin as a film. It is widely used in lip balms, sticks, and creams, and is generally non-irritating and non-sensitizing for most people. It is not flagged as an allergen in our data.

Does Synthetic Wax clog pores?

Generally no. Synthetic Wax is not flagged as comedogenic in our data, and it is a structured film-former rather than a heavy oil. As with any rich, occlusive stick formula, very acne-prone skin may prefer a lighter lotion, but the wax itself is an unlikely pore-clogging culprit. The richer oils and butters elsewhere in a balm are more likely to matter.

Is Synthetic Wax natural or synthetic?

It is synthetic, as the name says. It is manufactured to a consistent, purified standard rather than harvested like beeswax or carnauba, which makes its melting point and texture more predictable batch to batch. That consistency is the main reason formulators choose it for sticks and balms.

What is Synthetic Wax on an ingredient list (INCI)?

"Synthetic Wax" is the INCI name printed on the label. It is an umbrella term for purified, lab-made hydrocarbon waxes, so it does not point to one single molecule. You will usually see it among the structuring agents in stick and balm formulas.

Sunscreens with Synthetic Wax

We rate 109 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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