Natural waxes belong to the bigger group of lipids. They are a blend of hydrocarbons and fatty esters (an ester of a fatty alcohol and a fatty acid). Natural cosmetic waxes are considered an important ingredient in the manufacturing of personal and cosmetic products. Beeswax is probably one of the oldest and most natural ingredients used in cosmetics and is often the first wax that most formulators go to when making balms. Cosmetic waxes are very resistant to moisture, oxidation and microbial degradation. Although waxes are popular in candle making, they are also used to create emulsifying bases for the preparation of oil-in-water and water-in-oil suspensions in cosmetic and pharmaceutical balms, creams and lotions.
