Ingredient
CERESIN
Name / description
Ceresin, a complex combination of hydrocarbons produced by the purification of ozocerite
Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products
ANTISTATIC
Reduces electrostatic charges (eg of the hair)
BINDING
Ensures the cohesion of powdered products
EMULSION STABILISING
Supports emulsion formation and improves product stability
HAIR CONDITIONING
Leaves the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and / or imparts volume
OPACIFYING
Reduces transparency and translucency by clouding the product
VISCOSITY CONTROLLING
Increases or decreases the viscosity of cosmetic products
Origin
synthetic/plant mineral/synthetic
Occurrence in cosmetics
Consistency enhancer for compact creams, balms and stick products
Background information on use in cosmetics
Ceresin is part of the mineral waxes. The term wax is used in many cases as a technological generic term for a series of chemically very different substances which are generally kneadable at ambient temperature. They are a mixture of higher, solid paraffin hydrocarbons and occur from an amorphous to a microcrystalline form. In chemical terms waxes are esters from a long-chain monohydric alcohol (fatty alcohol) with a fatty acid. The German Society for Fat Science defines waxes according to their physical properties: at 20 °C kneadable, solid to brittly hard, rough to finely crystalline, melt at over 40 °C, are then very thin and not ropey. Ceresine is a naturally occurring solid paraffin (natural wax) with solid, saturated, high-molecular hydrocarbons. It is an ozokerite purified from admixtures. Mineral waxes have film-forming as well as hydrophobic (water-repellent) properties in cosmetic products and promote gloss formation on the skin (eg in lipsticks). They also serve as consistency enhancer in creams and protect the skin against moisture loss. The paraffins used in cosmetics are highly purified, very well tolerated and do not cause any skin irritations.
Information on safe use
Why are we talking about it?
Mineral oils are accused of forming an impermeable film on the surface of the skin. Consumer associations have raised the question of the potential presence of undesirable compounds in mineral oils. The facts: Mineral oils are known in cosmetics as occlusive. This does not mean that they suffocate the skin (which does not breathe), but that the film they form on the skin's surface limits insensible water loss, which puts them in the category of moisturisers. They do not clog pores or cause imperfections. The term mineral oil covers a wide range of ingredients, whose characteristics (structure, viscosity etc.) vary, but which are all composed of hydrocarbons known as “saturated”. Mineral oils used in cosmetics are refined to a high, pharmaceutical grade of purity (1). Mineral oils used in lip products are safe enough to be ingested (2). Mineral oils do not penetrate the skin barrier; they are moreover inert and perfectly tolerated, which makes them a good ally to fragilized skin. Key points to take away: Mineral oils are very well known cosmetic ingredients and are very safe to use (1), both on the skin and on the lips. The purity criteria required in cosmetics limit the presence of undesirable compounds to a minimum, without any health risk (2). The fact that they do not penetrate the skin barrier as well as their occlusive nature are assets in the care of the most fragile skins. They are even used in medical environments in the management of damaged skin (burns, wounds). Sources: (1) Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BFR): Highly refined mineral oils in cosmetics: Health risks are not to be expected according to current knowledge, 2018: https://mobil.bfr.bund.de/cm/349/highly-refined-mineral-oils-in-cosmetics-health-risks-are-not-to-be-expected-according-to-current-knowledge.pdf (2) COSMETICS EUROPE: Mineral hydrocarbons in cosmetic lip care products, 2018: https://cosmeticseurope.eu/download/N08vNnB0TUhMbWpwQmlqVk9UZzdwZz09
Further information
See also under the INCI names PARAFFIN and OZOKERITE
Belongs to the following substance groups
Regulating cosmetics
Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.
Database
Cosmetics matter to people and play an important role in our everyday life. On average European consumers use over seven different cosmetics daily. You too? It’s only natural that you want to know more about the ingredients in those products.
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This database will help you understand why certain ingredients are in your cosmetic products; which properties they have and much more. The database is currently available in fourteen languages with more to come.
