Is Beeswax safe in cosmetics?
Beeswax has a safety rating of "EXCELLENT" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted.
Excellent
Emollient
Beeswax
Also known as: Animal wax, beeswax, Aquacer 560, AR 100, BWS 30, Bee, wax of (+13 more)
INCI: CERA ALBA
Beeswax (CAS 8012-89-3) is a cosmetic emollient functioning as Wax; viscosity modifier; film-former. EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in food safety data.
View industrial chemical safety profile for CAS 8012-89-3 →
Auto-generated CPSR Part A draft with source citations
Function
Wax; viscosity modifier; film-former
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
GRAS status under 21 CFR 184.1973 (direct food additive). Permitted as OTC drug ingredient under 21 CFR 310.545 (skin protectants, ophthalmic products); permitted up to 5% in ophthalmic preparations with emollients per 21 CFR 349.13. For cosmetics, permitted without restrictions under FD&C Act and maintains compliance under MoCRA (Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act, 2022). Not classified as an active sunscreen ingredient. Registered in >8,800 cosmetic formulations per 2024 FDA Voluntary Cosmetic Reporting Program (VCRP) data.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Beeswax.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
Additional Jurisdictional Restrictions (1)
| Jurisdiction | Status | Max % | Product Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| GCC | halal_restricted | - | All cosmetics |
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lipstick | 10–30 | 40 | CIR Safety Assessment |
| Lip Balm | 10–25 | 35 | CIR Safety Assessment |
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Binder
Deodorizer
Depilatory
Emulsifier
Film former
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
Humectant
Lubricating agent
No specific technical function
Regulatory List Membership (5)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Expert Verdict
Expert safety assessment and concern-level summary for Beeswax.
Regulatory Flags
eu-unrestricted
cir-approved
no-sccs-opinion
gras-fda
natural-origin
animal-derived
allergen
eu_children_restricted
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
jecfa_safe
Known Synonyms
Animal wax, beeswax
Aquacer 560
AR 100
BWS 30
Bee, wax of
Beeswax CO 100
Beeswax S
Beeswax bleached (white), synthetic 619
Beeswax, white
Beeswaxes
Beewax
Bee's wax
Bee's waxes
Bleached beeswax, synthetic 776
Bleached yellow wax
Botaniwax BW 100
Yellow beeswax (Cera flava)
EINECS No.: 232-383-7
Chemical Function
Softener and conditioner
Film former
Deodorizer
Emulsifier
Fragrance
Viscosity modifier
Binder
Regulatory Lists
inert_ingredient; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; Pesticides
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
Cleaning products and household care - shoes; Europe
Cleaning products and household care - shoes; Europe
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
Europe; Personal care - make-up and related
Europe; Personal care - make-up and related
Australia; Food and drug - smoking-related products
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
SCIL (9/2019)
Canada; pharmaceutical
IFRA Transparency
IFRA Transparency
IFRA Transparency
IFRA Transparency
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
Europe; Personal care
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in food safety data.
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
Beeswax
E Number
E901
ADI
NOT SPECIFIED mg/kg bw
Food Category
preservative
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beeswax allowed in the EU?
Beeswax EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Beeswax do in cosmetics?
Beeswax functions as: Wax; viscosity modifier; film-former. It is classified as a Emollient in our database. CAS number: 8012-89-3.
Is Beeswax used outside cosmetics?
Beeswax also appears in food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Beeswax compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
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