Cera alba is a product of natural origin obtained from the honeycomb of the bee. It consists mainly of cerotic acid, myricyl palmitate, paraffins and esters.

The name describes the structure of the molecule:

• "Cera" indicates a substance that is solid at room temperature and becomes liquid when heated.
• "Alba" means "white" in Latin and refers to the color of the wax.

Together, "Cera Alba" is the technical name for purified and bleached beeswax

Description of raw materials used in production.

• Honeycomb. Beeswax, or cera alba, is naturally produced by bees and harvested from their honeycombs.
• Myricyl palmitate. A natural ester that forms the main component of beeswax.
• Cerotic acid. A fatty acid present in small amounts in beeswax.
• Esters. Compounds derived from the reaction between an acid and an alcohol, found in beeswax.
• High-carbon paraffins. These hydrocarbon compounds are present in small amounts in beeswax.

Detailed summary of the production process.

• Honeycomb collection. Beehives are harvested for their honeycombs.
• Melting. The honeycombs are heated to separate the wax from the other honeycomb components.
• Purification. The melted wax is purified through various methods like filtration or settling to remove impurities and residues.
• Solidification. The purified wax is then cooled and solidified.

What it is for and where

Medical

Beeswax has several therapeutic properties; it is effective in healing bruises, inflammation, and burns and has antimicrobial properties (1).

Cosmetics

Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss.  Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.

Surfactant - Emulsifying agent. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable and are used to soothe or soften the skin and emulsify, so they need a specific, stabilising ingredient. This ingredient forms a film, lowers the surface tension and makes two immiscible liquids miscible. A very important factor affecting the stability of the emulsion is the amount of the emulsifying agent. Emulsifiers have the property of reducing the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improving the stability of the emulsion and also directly influencing the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating the filmometric performance.

Film-forming agent. It produces, upon application, a very thin continuous film with an optimal balance of cohesion, adhesion and stickiness on skin, hair or nails to counteract or limit damage from external phenomena such as chemicals, UV rays and pollution.

Perfuming. Unlike fragrance, which can also contain slightly less pleasant or characteristic odours, the term perfume indicates only very pleasant fragrances. Used for perfumes and aromatic raw materials.

CAS    8012-89-3

EC number    232-383-7

Commercial Applications

Cosmetics and Skin Care. Beeswax is used in many creams, lip balms, and lotions for its emollient properties (2) and the ability to create a protective barrier on the skin.

Hair Care Products. It can be found in some hair conditioner and cream formulations for its texturizing and moisturizing properties.

Candles. One of the most well-known traditional uses of beeswax is for candle-making.

Lubricants and Polishes. Used in furniture polishes and in some lubricants.

Medical Applications

Ointments and Plasters. Owing to its protective properties, beeswax is a common ingredient in medicinal ointments and plasters to protect and moisturize the skin.

Lip Treatments. Medicinal lip balms often contain beeswax to help prevent and treat chapped lips.

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Fratini F, Cilia G, Turchi B, Felicioli A. Beeswax: A minireview of its antimicrobial activity and its application in medicine. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2016 Sep;9(9):839-843. doi: 10.1016/j.apjtm.2016.07.003. 

(2) Nong Y, Maloh J, Natarelli N, Gunt HB, Tristani E, Sivamani RK. A review of the use of beeswax in skincare. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2023 Aug;22(8):2166-2173. doi: 10.1111/jocd.15718. Epub 2023 Mar 31. PMID: 36999457.