Very Disliked
Synthetic Wax
Exfoliant
Exfoliants help remove dead skin cells and may aid in unclogging pores, smoothing rough skin, and help to increase hydration of skin.
Can worsen Oily Skin
Some ingredients are known to potentially contribute to excess oil or shine, but they don't affect everyone the same way. Skin can be oily for many reasons, so it's always a good idea to consider your unique skin needs when choosing products.
Explained
Synthetic Wax is a manufactured hydrocarbon wax. In formulas, it works as an occlusive emollient that helps reduce water loss and improves the spreadability of products.
Research comparing synthetic wax to traditional mineral-derived products found that formulas containing it perform as well for skin hydration.
It is considered non-comedogenic and vegan-friendly.
This ingredient has a well-established safety record by the CIR Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety.
Fungal acne
Synthetic Waxes are straight/branched-chain hydrocarbons with no ester bond or fatty acids. That means there is nothing for the Malassezia yeast to feed on.
See all 5,461 products with Synthetic Wax
Users who like it
7%
Users who avoid it
93%
What it does
Emulsion Stabilising
Stabiliziing emulsion, making two non-mixable ingredients stable
Masking
Obscuring or blocking
Abrasive
An agent used to wear away the surface of skin
Prevalence
Uncommon
Percentage of products that contain it
4.2%
Top categories
Makeup
Lip Care
Cleansers
Position
Predominant list placement
Top 25%
References
CosIng Data
CosIng ID
80523
INCI Name
SYNTHETIC WAX
INN Name
â—¦Paraffin wax (RIFM)
EC #
 232-315-6
All Functions
Abrasive, Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Viscosity Controlling
