Is mineral oil bad for your skin?

Mineral oil provides excellent protection by tightly covering the skin with oil. It is larger than skin cells and therefore does not penetrate the body. Therefore, it is unlikely to have any adverse effects on the human body.

Disadvantages of mineral oil

Mineral oil is an oil that easily sticks to other oils. Therefore, when it is mixed into a cleansing oil, it adheres strongly to the oils that are essential to the skin, and removes them together. By stripping away the sebum that is necessary for skin moisture, it can cause dry skin.

In addition, mineral oil may remain on the skin when it is mixed with the oils in the skin. This can cause skin problems for people with sticky skin and prone to acne or breakouts.

Moreover, mineral oil is an oil, so you need a strong cleanser to wash it off. As a result, excessive cleansing can cause stress on the skin and dry it out.

Is it true that it is carcinogenic?

You may be told that mineral oil is bad because it is carcinogenic.

It certainly seems that this was the case in the past. In the days when refining technology for cosmetics was immature, impurities were often mixed in, causing many allergies and skin problems.

In addition, since it has been pointed out that they may contain carcinogenic substances called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) , more people are choosing to avoid mineral oil and petrolatum.

However, nowadays, the technology of cosmetic manufacturing has improved dramatically. Especially in Europe and Japan, highly refined mineral oil is used. This means that substances of concern as carcinogens have been removed. The possibility of residual PAHs is low, so in most cases it is safe.

Mineral oil regulations in the United States

In most cases, it is safe. However, in the United States, there are no regulations regarding the safety of mineral oils in cosmetics. Therefore, there is a possibility that raw materials with a low degree of refinement are used, so it is important to be a little careful.

Impurities in mineral oils are unlikely to be absorbed through the skin. Mineral oil is also the main ingredient in baby oil, so safety is a concern.
Just to be on the safe side, you may want to be aware of the following points when using products manufactured in the United States:

• Does it contain mineral oil?
• If it is included, does the label state that it is as refined as white petrolatum?

Why you should avoid mineral oil

Mineral oil can cause allergic reactions in some people, but if it's properly refined, there doesn't appear to be any other major safety concerns.

So why do so many cosmetic products advertise themselves as being "mineral oil free" or "mineral oil free"?

The reason for this is that mineral oil is mostly derived from petroleum, and using petroleum, a limited resource, is not sustainable.

There are also vegetable oils, such as shea butter, that are gentle on the skin and provide protection. They may be a little more expensive than mineral oils, but it's a nice, gentler choice for your skin, your health, and the planet.