My Crayola product has a white powder on it. What is this and is it safe?

The powdery deposit you may see on the surface of your Crayola product is called bloom. This occurs naturally and is perfectly safe.

 

Bloom appears on Crayola wax-based products, such as crayons and colored pencils. It occurs when oil contained in the paraffin wax used in these products seeps to the surface and re-crystallizes into a milky powder. You may also see this with sculptures made with Crayola Air-Dry Clay as the product ages or is exposed to varying temperatures and humidity. Rest assured, the crystallization is harmless and can be removed by gently wiping it away with a dry cloth.