The Clean Sheet™
Ingredient Directory
Low ConcernVegan

Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax

Carnauba wax; Brazil wax; wax obtained from leaves of Copernicia cerifera (carnauba palm, Brazil)

Safety Flags
Allergen: None identified
Safety Notes

Hardest of natural waxes; very high melting point (~82-86°C); composed mainly of esters of C24-C28 fatty acids and C30-C32 alcohols; provides high gloss and hardness in lip products; excellent binding in pressed powders; vegan; COSMOS and Ecocert approved; sustainably harvested from wild carnauba palms in Northeast Brazil; widely used in food and cosmetic industries; very low sensitisation risk

Function & Common Use

Function

Viscosity controlling / Film forming / Gloss agent / Emollient

Category

Wax

Common In

Lip products, nail polishes, pressed powders, mascaras, hair waxes, confectionery coatings

Origin

Plant derived

Concentration Limits

India (CDSCO)

No limit

EU Cosmetics Reg.

No limit

US FDA (21 CFR)

No limit

Korea (MFDS)

No limit

Pregnancy: No specific restriction identified

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax safe to use in skincare?

Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax has a Low concern rating from The Clean Sheet. Hardest of natural waxes; very high melting point (~82-86°C); composed mainly of esters of C24-C28 fatty acids and C30-C32 alcohols; provides high gloss and hardness in lip products; excellent binding in pressed powders; vegan; COSMOS and Ecocert approved; sustainably harvested from wild carnauba palms in Northeast Brazil; widely used in food and cosmetic industries; very low sensitisation risk

Is Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax allowed in India?

Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax is currently classified as "Permitted cosmetic ingredient under Cosmetics Rules 2020" under Indian cosmetics regulations. No concentration limit is specified for India.

What is Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax used for in cosmetics?

Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax functions as: Viscosity controlling / Film forming / Gloss agent / Emollient. It is commonly found in: Lip products, nail polishes, pressed powders, mascaras, hair waxes, confectionery coatings.

Can Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax cause an allergic reaction?

Yes. Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax has an allergen flag (None identified). If you have sensitive skin or known fragrance/contact allergies, patch-test products containing this ingredient before full use.

TCS Assessment
Low Concern
Data Confidence
High
Based on peer-reviewed safety data, regulatory status, and expert review by The Clean Sheet panel.

Regulatory Status

India (CDSCO)
Permitted cosmetic ingredient under Cosmetics Rules 2020
EU
Permitted (listed in EU CosIng inventory; no Annex restriction; EU food additive E903)
US FDA
Permitted cosmetic ingredient; FDA approved food additive 21 CFR 184.1978 (GRAS); no cosmetic restriction
Korea (MFDS)
Permitted cosmetic ingredient
Australia (TGA)
Permitted cosmetic ingredient; standard TGA cosmetic framework applies; no restriction identified
Canada (NHPID)
Permitted cosmetic ingredient; no restriction identified under Health Canada cosmetic notification framework

EU Annex: None

Identifiers

CAS8015-86-9
EC232-399-4

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