Candelilla wax is a secretion of wild Euphorbia cerifera, which is native to the northern Mexican desert. The wax is obtained from the above ground parts of the plant. The plant is dried, boiled in water and the wax is then skimmed off by decanting. Crude candelilla wax is dark brown and then refined to a pale yellow wax. Candelilla wax is remarkably hard but exhibits low crystallinity and a degree of tackiness at higher temperatures. Its melting point of about 72°C lies between that of beeswax and carnauba wax. The resin and sitosterol it contains combine with esters to give candelilla wax its excellent capacity for binding ester oils. It provides high surface gloss when applied in lipsticks and exhibits satisfactory contraction properties – important for demolding lipsticks.

Source: Cosmetic Formulation Principles and Practice - Heather A.E. Benson, Michael S. Roberts, Vânia Rodrigues Leite-Silva, Kenneth A. Walters

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