A lot of ingredients were relegated out of skincare because of a careless remark here and there by “beauty gurus” who are not the same as scientists.
What is it: Called by different names:
Mineral Oil or Liquid Petroleum, Paraffin Oil, Mineral Paraffins, White Mineral Oil
What does it look like?
It looks like a harmless oil, it is colorless and odorless. It is a by-product of petroleum and even though is an emollient like petroleum is not same as petroleum jelly.
What is it used for:
It used in automobile industry as an lubricant. In personal care products it is used as an effective emollient.
Despite mineral oil’s association with petroleum and the hype that it’s bad for or ages skin, we should keep in mind that petroleum is a natural ingredient that occurs naturally and is mined from the earth. Post its purification and conversion to pharmaceutical-grade mineral oil it is completely safe and bears no resemblance to the original crude form. The purification method ensures that it is safe from and isn’t a source of contaminants.
Mineral oil and petrolatum are are considered the safest, most non-sensitizing moisturizing ingredients that are highly efficacious in replenishing the skins moisture.
Why we are featuring it:
There as been a lot of bad press extended to Mineral oil and petrolatum. And its wrongly placed. It has been found to be present in tissues, over a period of time. It is bio-accumulative. I have not found any supporting material on this though I have had people tell me that it is completely safe for consumption too since its prescribed for constipation to children.
There are enough bloggers, skin gurus who believe that mineral oil is completely safe and the brouhaha around it is unwarranted. I believe that this ingredient if found in small quantities is safe since its not known to cause any adverse impact on health.
It is an approved food additive though!
References:
- Concin, N., Hofstetter, G., Plattner, B., Tomovski, C., Fiselier, K., Gerritzen, K., … & Rieger, K. (2011). Evidence for cosmetics as a source of mineral oil contamination in women. Journal of Women’s Health, 20(11), 1713-1719.
- Toxicology Letters, October 2017, pages 70-78
