Ingredient decoder

Beeswax: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Beeswax

Acne verdict Low clog risk

Not a known pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic0-2 / 5
  • Irritancy0 / 5

What it does

Natural wax that thickens and forms a protective layer.

  • Beeswax absolute (rifm)
  • Beeswax concrete (rifm)
  • Beeswax
  • White (apis mellifera l.) (rifm)
  • Bleached beeswax
  • Cera alba (eu)
  • White beeswax
  • White wax
  • Yellow wax

Beeswax in plain English

Beeswax is a natural wax that thickens balms and sticks and forms a light protective film on skin. It rates low on most comedogenic lists, but it is occlusive, so heavy layers can trap oil on acne-prone skin. Comedogenic ratings like this come from old rabbit-ear tests of raw ingredients, so treat them as a rough guide.

Is beeswax bad for acne?

Not based on the evidence we have. Beeswax is not a known pore-clogger: it scored 0 to 2 out of 5 in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test of the raw ingredient. Our checker rates it as fine for acne-prone skin, so judge by how your own skin reacts.

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Also called

  • Beeswax
  • Cera alba
  • Cera flava
  • White beeswax
  • Yellow beeswax
  • Cera alba (beeswax)

Frequently asked questions

Is beeswax comedogenic?

Beeswax scored 0 to 2 out of 5 for comedogenicity in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear study, where 0 means no clogging and 5 means severe. That is a low to moderate rating. The test used the raw ingredient, so a finished product may behave differently.

What does beeswax do in skincare?

In short: natural wax that thickens and forms a protective layer. In formulas it is used for beeswax absolute (rifm), beeswax concrete (rifm), beeswax, white (apis mellifera l.) (rifm), bleached beeswax, cera alba (eu), white beeswax, white wax and yellow wax.

What else is beeswax called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, beeswax can also appear as Cera alba, Cera flava, White beeswax or Yellow beeswax.

Sources