Description
Emulsifying Wax NF — Reliable Oil-in-Water Emulsifier for Lotions, Creams & Conditioners
Emulsifying Wax NF is a reliable, easy-to-use emulsifier designed for formulators creating stable lotions, creams, conditioners, leave-ins, emulsified scrubs, and other oil-in-water cosmetic formulations.
A true workhorse in cosmetic formulation, Emulsifying Wax NF helps bind oil and water together to create smooth, creamy, stable emulsions with a professional finish. It is one of the most widely used emulsifiers for beginners and experienced formulators because it is versatile, dependable, and straightforward to formulate with.
Whether you are creating a light body lotion, a rich cream, a conditioning hair product, or an emulsified scrub, Emulsifying Wax NF helps improve texture, spreadability, consistency, and product stability.
At Skin Foodie, Emulsifying Wax NF is positioned as an essential formulation ingredient for makers who want dependable emulsion structure, smooth skin feel, and professional-looking lotions and creams without unnecessary formulation complexity.
Technical Specifications
INCI: Cetearyl Alcohol and Polysorbate 60
Common Names: Emulsifying Wax NF, E-Wax NF, Emulsifying Wax
Appearance: Solid white pellets or flakes
Odour: Low to no odour
Texture: Smooth, waxy, easy to melt and blend
Solubility: Oil-soluble
Emulsion Type: Oil-in-water emulsifier
HLB Value: Approximately 15
Recommended Usage: 2–25%
Typical Usage:
Lotions: 3–5%
Creams: 5–10%
Rich creams, butters, and emulsified scrubs: 8–15%
pH Stability Range: 4.5–8
Phase: Oil phase
Processing: Heat with the oil phase until fully melted
Melting / Processing Temperature: Heat to approximately 70–75°C
Compatibility: Works well with many oils, butters, waxes, humectants, thickeners, and common cosmetic actives
Formulation Note: May require a co-emulsifier or stabilizer depending on the oil phase size, viscosity target, and final product type
Why Formulators Love Emulsifying Wax NF
Reliable Emulsion Stability
Emulsifying Wax NF helps create stable oil-in-water emulsions, making it a dependable choice for lotions, creams, conditioners, and emulsified body products.
Beginner-Friendly Performance
It is one of the easiest emulsifiers to use, making it ideal for formulators who want predictable results when learning to make creams and lotions.
Smooth, Creamy Texture
Emulsifying Wax NF gives formulas a soft, creamy, elegant texture with improved spreadability and a comfortable skin feel.
Versatile Across Product Types
It can be used in facial creams, body lotions, rich moisturisers, hair conditioners, leave-ins, baby products, cleansing creams, and emulsified scrubs.
Helps Prevent Separation
Its primary function is to bind oil and water together, helping prevent the formula from splitting when correctly formulated.
Professional Finish
Emulsifying Wax NF helps transform simple oil and water systems into polished, market-ready products with a more refined texture.
Common Uses in Cosmetic Formulation
Emulsifying Wax NF is widely used in:
• Facial creams
• Body lotions
• Body creams
• Hand creams
• Foot creams
• Hair conditioners
• Leave-in conditioners
• Creamy cleansers
• Baby lotions
• Emulsified body butters
• Emulsified scrubs
• Body milks
• Massage creams
• Moisturising creams
• Rinse-off creams
• Beginner-friendly lotion formulations
Benefits
Skin Benefits
• Helps create smooth, comfortable creams and lotions
• Supports soft, moisturised skin feel
• Improves product spreadability
• Helps reduce greasy feel when properly balanced
• Suitable for everyday moisturising products
• Works well in formulas for dry, normal, and combination skin
• Helps create elegant textures customers enjoy using
Hair Benefits
• Helps create creamy conditioners and leave-in products
• Supports improved slip and softness in haircare formulas
• Helps distribute oils and conditioning ingredients evenly
• Useful in rinse-off and leave-in conditioning systems
• Works well in creamy hair masks and moisturising hair products
Formulation Benefits
• Creates stable oil-in-water emulsions
• Helps bind oil and water phases together
• Adds body, structure, and viscosity
• Improves texture and consistency
• Easy to melt and incorporate
• Suitable for hot-process emulsions
• Useful across skincare, body care, and haircare
• Helps reduce separation in properly designed formulas
• Beginner-friendly and dependable
• Excellent for professional cream and lotion development
Important Formulation Notes
Emulsifying Wax NF is reliable, but proper process and formula balance still matter.
• Add Emulsifying Wax NF to the oil phase
• Heat the oil phase to approximately 70–75°C until fully melted
• Heat the water phase separately to a similar temperature
• Combine the oil and water phases while both are hot
• Mix thoroughly or homogenize to form the emulsion
• Continue mixing during cool down to support stable structure
• Add heat-sensitive ingredients, fragrance, preservative, and delicate actives during cool down
• Final viscosity may continue to build as the formula cools
• Larger oil phases may require additional emulsifier, fatty alcohol, wax, gum, or stabilizer
• Always conduct stability, pH, preservative efficacy, and compatibility testing before scaling
• When switching suppliers, always run a small test batch because performance can vary slightly
Pro Tips
• Use 3–5% for light lotions and body milks
• Use 5–10% for richer creams and moisturisers
• Pair with Cetyl Alcohol or Cetearyl Alcohol for extra body and improved texture
• Pair with Stearic Acid for thicker creams and more cushion
• Use with Glycerin or Propanediol to improve hydration and skin feel
• For a lighter lotion, keep the oil phase moderate and avoid excess waxes
• For a richer cream, combine with butters and fatty alcohols
• For conditioners, combine with conditioning agents for better hair feel
• Add fragrance and preservative at cool down phase
• Allow the formula to rest for 24 hours before judging final viscosity
For enhanced performance, combine with:
• Cetyl Alcohol — improves body, slip, and cream structure
• Cetearyl Alcohol— adds richness, thickness, and stability
• Stearic Acid — increases viscosity and cushion in richer creams
• Propanediol — humectancy and moisturising support
• Shea Butter — richer emollience and protective skin feel
• Olive Squalane — lightweight emollience and elegant glide
• Panthenol — soothing and moisture support
• Vitamin E — antioxidant support for the oil phase
Formulation Pairing — Multiple Intelligent Pathways
Beginner Lotion System
Emulsifying Wax NF + Glycerin + Sunflower Oil
→ Simple lotion structure + hydration + everyday moisturising feel
Rich Cream System
Emulsifying Wax NF + Shea Butter + Stearic Acid
→ Thicker cream texture + richer cushion + dry-skin moisturising support
Lightweight Facial Cream
Emulsifying Wax NF + Olive Squalane + Cetyl Alcohol
→ Elegant glide + stable emulsion + lighter facial moisturiser feel
Body Butter Cream
Emulsifying Wax NF + Cocoa Butter + Glycerin
→ Rich emollience + water-based hydration + creamy body product texture
Hair Conditioner System
Emulsifying Wax NF + Cetearyl Alcohol + Panthenol
→ Creamy conditioner base + improved softness + moisture support
Emulsified Scrub System
Emulsifying Wax NF + Oil Blend + Sugar
→ Rinse-off scrub texture + creamy slip + reduced oily residue
Ingredient Comparisons & Alternatives
Emulsifying Wax NF vs Olivem 1000
Emulsifying Wax NF is a dependable, beginner-friendly emulsifier for stable lotions, creams, and conditioners. Olivem 1000 gives a more natural-positioned, elegant skin feel and is often preferred in premium facial creams and moisturisers.
Emulsifying Wax NF vs Vegetal / Montanov 68
Vegetal / Montanov 68 is often chosen for more natural, lamellar-style emulsions with a refined skin feel. Emulsifying Wax NF is more straightforward, widely used, and practical for simple stable lotions and creams.
Emulsifying Wax NF vs BTMS-50
BTMS-50 is a cationic conditioning emulsifier, especially useful in hair conditioners and leave-ins. Emulsifying Wax NF is non-cationic and better suited for general lotions, creams, and oil-in-water emulsions.
Emulsifying Wax NF vs Cetyl Alcohol
Cetyl Alcohol is not a complete emulsifier. It is a fatty alcohol used to improve thickness, slip, and stability. Emulsifying Wax NF is the primary emulsifier that helps bind oil and water together.
Emulsifying Wax NF vs Beeswax
Beeswax is not a true emulsifier for oil-in-water lotions. It can add structure to balms and anhydrous products, but it does not reliably emulsify water and oil like Emulsifying Wax NF.
Emulsifying Wax NF Pairs Well With
• Cetyl Alcohol
• Cetearyl Alcohol
• Stearic Acid
• Propanediol
• Shea Butter
• Cocoa Butter
• Sunflower Oil
• Olive Squalane
• Panthenol
Formulation Inspiration
Classic Moisturising Body Lotion
Distilled Water — 68%
Glycerin — 4%
Sunflower Oil — 10%
Shea Butter — 5%
Emulsifying Wax NF — 6%
Cetyl Alcohol — 2%
Panthenol — 2%
Vitamin E — 0.5%
Preservative — 1%
Fragrance — 0.5%
Lactic Acid / Sodium Hydroxide — q.s. to pH 5–5.5
FAQs
- What is Emulsifying Wax NF used for?
Emulsifying Wax NF is used to create stable oil-in-water emulsions such as lotions, creams, conditioners, body milks, emulsified scrubs, and creamy cosmetic products.
- Is Emulsifying Wax NF a complete emulsifier?
Yes. Emulsifying Wax NF is designed to emulsify oil and water, but some formulas may still benefit from co-emulsifiers or stabilizers depending on the oil phase and texture target.
- Can Emulsifying Wax NF be used in lotions?
Yes. It is commonly used at 3–5% in lotions.
- Can Emulsifying Wax NF be used in creams?
Yes. It is commonly used at 5–10% in creams, depending on richness and viscosity goals.
- What phase should Emulsifying Wax NF be added to?
Add Emulsifying Wax NF to the oil phase and heat until fully melted before combining with the heated water phase.
- Does Emulsifying Wax NF need heat?
Yes. It should be heated to approximately 70–75°C until fully melted.
- Can Emulsifying Wax NF be used in hair conditioners?
Yes. It can be used in conditioners, but for stronger conditioning performance, it may be paired with conditioning agents or replaced with a cationic emulsifier such as BTMS-50 depending on the formula goal.
- Can Emulsifying Wax NF be used in natural formulations?
Emulsifying Wax NF is widely used in cosmetic formulation, but if natural certification or a more natural positioning is required, formulators may prefer alternatives such as Olivem 1000 or Vegetal / Montanov 68.
- Why did my lotion separate?
Separation may occur if the emulsifier level is too low, the oil phase is too large, the phases were not heated properly, mixing was insufficient, or the formula lacks stabilizers. Always run stability testing.
- Can Emulsifying Wax NF be applied directly to skin?
No. It should be used as part of a properly formulated cosmetic product.
Shelf Life & Storage
Store tightly sealed in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, direct sunlight, and contamination.
Keep the container closed when not in use.
Avoid introducing water or dirty utensils into the container.
Use clean, dry utensils when dispensing.
The Skin Foodie Formulation Standard
At Skin Foodie, we believe exceptional skincare begins with exceptional ingredients and thoughtful formulation design. Our ingredients are carefully sourced to help formulators create products that are effective, stable, and beautifully balanced.
Because in cosmetic science, selecting the right ingredient is only the beginning, how ingredients are combined is what transforms a formula into a high-performance product.
Disclaimer
For cosmetic formulation use only. Not intended for ingestion or internal use.
All formulators are responsible for conducting proper research, compatibility testing, pH testing, preservative efficacy testing, and stability testing when developing cosmetic products.
The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice.
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