| What is it? | Cera bellina is a modified beeswax (“the free fatty acids have been converted to polyglycerols esters“) that thickens oils and butters into very cool, glide-y oil gels. |
| INCI | Polyglycerol-3 Beeswax |
| Appearance | Small off-white pellets/beads |
| Usage rate | This really depends on what you want to make. I did an experiment using it at different levels that you can review here. You aren’t likely to need more than 30% cera bellina in products. |
| Texture | Creates rich, slippy oil gels. |
| Scent | Nothing noticeable |
| Absorbency Speed | Quite slow |
| Approximate Melting Point | 63–73ºC (145–163°F) |
| Solubility | Oil |
| Why do we use it in formulations? | Cera bellina does a few very cool things! Its primary use is as a thickener/solidifier, creating very smooth, slippy oil gels. It also helps with pigment distribution, reduces sweating in solid balms, and can function as a co-emulsifier. I love using it to create ointments and lip glosses, where it thickens and gives a beautiful gel consistency that is really well suited to those types of products. |
| Do you need it? | No, but I would recommend it if you are especially fond of ointments or lip gloss. |
| Refined or unrefined? | It only exists as a refined product. |
| Strengths | Creates very cool, smooth oil gels. |
| Weaknesses | Not vegan, harder to acquire than most waxes. |
| Alternatives & Substitutions | Nothing really works the same way as cera bellina; you can try using beeswax instead, but you won’t get the oil gel effect. |
| How to Work with It | Include cera bellina in your heated oil phase; it must be melted to use. Products made with it can feel quite greasy, so I’d recommend shifting your oil balance towards faster absorbing oils. |
| Storage & Shelf Life | Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, cera bellina should last at least two years. |
| Tips, Tricks, and Quirks | The inclusion of cera bellina in your formulas can help prevent graininess in butters like shea butter. |
| Recommended starter amount | 100g (3.3oz) |
| Where to Buy it | Buy it from an online DIY ingredient supplier or Amazon. |
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