Mineral oil and other petroleum derived products have been a target in the whole “natural vs organic” campaign that companies are using to sell their products.  And for some reason, they’re not on the natural side.  Companies are claiming mineral oil is harmful, and how you should avoid competitor’s products due to the fact it contains this material that is a natural component of the earth.

There have been a number of claims that mineral oil is a comedogenic product (please keep in mind there is no regulaton on what makes a product comedogenic or non-comedogenic, or even hypoallerginic.  This is definitely something to keep in mind when researching claims on a product — any product can boast such claims).  I myself use baby oil every night to remove my make up — baby oil is glorified mineral oil with added vitamins and on occassion fragrance to keep skin moisturized.

What is the purpose of mineral oil?

Mineral oil is a humectant — it binds moisture to the skin to keep it hydrated.

It is said that mineral oil suffocates the skin causing break-outs; but isn’t that what a good antioxident is supposed to do, keep air off skin?  Keeping air off skin is NOT suffocating it!  How does free-radical damage work?  Oxygen causes free-radical damage, and just because it’s protecting your skin does not mean you are suffocating it.  Actually, according to Cosmetics & Toiletries, January 2001, page 79; Cosmetic Dermatology, September 2000, pages 44–46, cosmetic grade mineral oil and petroleum are considered the safest, most non-irritating moisturizing ingredients ever found!

Mineral oil has many different properties that make it essential to using as a moisturizer, one of those being its anti-inflammatory properties.  It helps to reduce irritation and redness on your skin, making it an excellent moisturizer for those suffering from skin conditions such as eczema.

Mineral oil is found in many cosmetics (especially anti-aging and moisturizing foundations, as well as almost all baby products), as well as pretty much any make up remover you can find on the market today.  I highly recommend you look at your cosmetics.  Grab any make up removers especially, and just take a look.  Do you see propylene glycol on your list?  It is the scientific name for mineral oil.  And is found in concentrations of up to 50% in many skincare products, especially lotions!  I guarantee you have mineral oil in something that you own that is already working for you.

The biggest argument against mineral oil is that it is derived from petroleum (AKA crude oil).  They make it sound like we are taking gasoline straight from the pump and putting it on our face, stating that it may contain harmful components.  The fact of the matter is, is every cosmetic-grade ingredient is purified to certain expectations — mineral oil and other petroleum derived cosmetic-grade ingredients have little, if anything, in common with crude oil other than that is where it came from.  It happens to go through a similar purification process other natural components go through in order to be safe and suitable for either ingestion, or use on skin.

Only making it sillier, is the fact that even oils such as jojoba oil would be bad and dangerous for your skin until it is purified to make it cosmetic-grade.  In studies, these plant-derived oils also do not bind moisture to the skin as readily as mineral oil does.  No oil irritates skin less, or works as well as mineral oil.  Anyone who studies cosmetic chemistry and reads studies published in the Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists knows this to be true.

“Mineral oils are manufactured from crude oils by vacuum distillation to produce a residual oil that is further refined. The related petroleum jelly is a purified mixture of semi-solid, saturated hydrocarbons obtained from the residue of distillation left in the still after all the oil has been vaporised. Paraffin wax is a crystalline substance obtained by distillation and purified by sweating. Similar purification principles applicable to white oil apply to food/cosmetic grades of these items. Aromatic compounds, including alkylated heterocyclic and polycyclic hydrocarbons are the only seriously undesirable constituents of these crude oil petroleum products, based on their carcinogenic potential following chronic industrial exposure to poorly refined oils. ‘White mineral’ oils/paraffins, petrolatums/petroleum jellies and paraffin waxes produced from crude oils that have undergone appropriate treatment, are not toxic or carcinogenic to humans (Mineral Oils, IARC Monograph, Vol 33, 1984); (Mineral Oils, IARC Monograph, Suppl.7, 1987/1998).” (6)

Did you know next to other humectants in standard safety tests, less people have an allergic reaction to mineral oil over any other humectant?  Safest moisture-binding agent around!

There are loads of cosmetic ingredients that are derived from horrible sounding natural substances, but are perfectly safe for your skin.  The FDA does look at skin concerns, and if a specific ingredient is thought to be not-safe for use (such as those silly rumors that it causes cancer as a carcinogen), the FDA will, and has, banned ingredients that fit this bill.  (And to those who like to throw things out there, check cancer.gov, seeing as the Cancer Society of America will put the results to tests up and most of these things people are telling me cause cancer, actually have been proven time and time again to not do such a thing.)

Ah, “organic” companies slamming mineral oil, a natural (although un-renewing) resource.  I do have high hopes, however, that we may at least be able to re-create mineral oil in a chemical lab, though I don’t really see our dependency on petroleum to be eliminated any time in the very near future — much to my dismay.

Scientific Facts!: (these are always fun)

People think that because mineral oil is derived from petroleum that it is automatically bad, however more than 50% of cosmetics ingredients are as well!  As long as the mineral oil is purified (making it cosmetic-grade), it is safe for use.

Salt is an example of an ingredient that comes from a horrible source, yet makes a perfectly safe substance — to eat even! Table salt is sodium chloride (a compound of sodium and chloride), but salt doesn’t have the caustic properties of chloride (a form of chlorine) or the unstable explosiveness of sodium. It is a completely different compound with the harmful properties of neither of its components.  Thanks, Paula

Mineral oil does not keep collagen products from absorption.  The molecules in collagen moisturizers are too large to be absorbed anyway, regardless of whether or not you have mineral oil on  your face.

To everyone.  I highly recommend you read my sixth source, as it cites all information in the article.

1. http://www.cosmeticscop.com/skin-care-facts-mineral-oil-safety-nonirritating-moisturizer.aspx
2. http://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/Formulation-Science/Mineral-oil-will-not-cause-skin-outbreaks-report-claims
3. http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient_details.php?ingredient_id=922
4. http://futurederm.wordpress.com/2007/12/21/is-mineral-oil-really-bad-for-your-skin/
5. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/25025.php
6. http://www.gaiaresearch.co.za/mineralvsplantoil.html