Beeswax - Vegan substitute

My journey experimenting the properties of vegan waxes continues with a Vegan substitute to Beeswax. Beeswax is used widely in the cosmetic industry for its flexibility and film forming properties. Other plant based waxes tend to less pliable and more brittle. Having a number of friends who are looking for a vegan substitute to beeswax for a simple balm - I took up the challenge!

I found a wax that is touted by the supplier as a vegan friendly alternative to Beeswax with similar properties. It’s INCI is Helianthus Anuus Seed Wax, Oleo Europe Oil Unsaponifiables, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax and Shorea Rubusta resin. In common English, Sunflower and Berry wax, Shorea Rubusta resin and the unsaponifiable portion of Olive Oil.

For this experiment I used clear fractionated coconut oil to see if the different waxes made a difference to the finished look of the simple balms which was 80% fractionated oil and 20% Vegan Beeswax. The colour difference between the two waxes is quite noticeable. The bottom one is the raw beeswax. When it had set the difference was less noticeable but could still be picked out in a line up (says my son).

So how did it set up? I found the Vegan Beeswax set up a little less firm but still had a traditional wax feel on the skin. The Vegan beeswax alternative after setting had only what I could feel as a “cushiony” type texture. I really liked it!

By playing around with the quantity of the lipids and wax I believe you could get an almost identical texture and consistency. This has some promising opportunities for those looking for a vegan alternative to beeswax.

Next adventure is to use it in a lip balm or cream that usually contains beeswax as a viscosity enhancer. Watch this space!