Latin Name: Euphorbia cerifera

Description: Candelilla wax, a ¼ inch light yellow hard, brittle flake is a natural vegetable wax, hand collected from the leaves of the small Candelilla shrub, native to the Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico. This wax is used in many vegan body care products as an animal-friendly substitute for beeswax.

Largest Producing Countries: Mexico, United States (Texas)

Scent: Flat

Properties: Candelilla wax is formed as an outer coating on the leaves of the Candelilla shrub and acts as a protecting agent to retain moisture and help keep the plant alive. Once separated from the plant, the wax is most often used along with other waxes to help harden them without raising their boiling points or as a food additive/glazing element. The melting point of candelilla wax is between 155 and 160 degrees F.

Products that Use Candelilla Wax: Vegan Butter Bar, Eco Baby Botanical’s Herbal Baby Bottom Balm

As cold weather settles in, protecting and nourishing your skin is important to keep it from becoming chapped and dry. One of my favorite products to use for deep moisturizing is our Butter Bar. In fact, this lotion bar is referred to as our ‘ultimate moisture therapy’. It’s a great product to prevent dryness and cracking , but it is just as good at restoring moisture and healing areas that need attention as the blend of cocoa, mango and shea butters penetrate and hydrate the skin.

Simply take the Butter Bar out of the tin and hold it in your hands. Your body heat will cause the bar to melt slightly. Rub the lotion into your skin. Be patient – it may take a little while to absorb, but it is worth it! I used this religiously during my last pregnancy and it protected my expanding belly -not a stretch mark to be found! Now my favorite way to use the Butter Bar is to pamper my feet and heels. Just before bed I slather on the Butter Bar and then put on a pair of socks. When I wake up, my feet are super smooth.

This month, all Butter Bars (even the vegan version that includes fair trade unrefined cocoa butter that has a heavenly natural chocolate scent) are on special for 20% off. Stock up on one or two to pamper your skin throughout the fall and winter and grab a few more for holiday gifts – they make great stocking stuffers!

What is your favorite way to use our Butter Bars? Leave your comments below.

I am often asked which Vintage Body Spa products are vegan, so I thought it’d be good to keep a running list here, and update it as new vegan products are added to the line. For those that don’t know, vegan products are made without any animal byproducts (beeswax, honey, milk, etc).

For our vegan customers, rest assured that all vegan products are made on separate equipment, so they do not come into contact with animal byproducts during the course of manufacturing.

Current vegan products include:
* African Black Soap
* Body Polish
* Butter Beans
* Handmade Soap
* Massage Oil
* Rhassoul Clay
* Salt Soak
* Shea Butter Lotion
*Vegan Butter Bar
* Whipped Sugar Scrub

Upcoming vegan products include more handmade soap, vegan lip balm, facial care line and mom/baby product line. Be sure to register for our newsletter here to be the first to know when new products are released! If you’d like another vegan product that you don’t see here, please leave a comment below or contact us and we’ll consider your request.