Is Mineral Oil Really Bad For Your Skin?
Visit your local drugstore, and you are bound to find a plethora of lotions with mineral oil as one of the main ingredients. Hailed for its emollient properties, but believed by many women to clog pores, is this inexpensive ingredient good or bad for your skin?
What is mineral oil?
Mineral oil is a colorless, odorless substance that is derived from petrolatum. It is widely used in cosmetics because it rarely causes allergic reactions and provides a barrier of moisture on the skin and promotes wound healing.
What are some benefits of mineral oil?
According to Cosmetics Cop Paula Begoun, “Cosmetics-grade mineral oil is [among those] considered the safest, most nonirritating, and effective moisturizing ingredients ever found.” In fact, this 1989 study in the journal Dermatitis found that mineral oil was more effective in preventing water loss from the skin than a solution with 15% linoleic acid, a fatty acid. Mineral oil has also been shown to be effective in wound healing, according to Begoun.
Is mineral oil really comedogenic or pore-clogging?
According to Rebecca James Gadberry, chairman and co-CEO of YG Laboratories, mineral oil is not as offensive as many women believe. On a rating of zero-to-five, with five being highly pore-clogging, Gadberry says that tests of the cosmetic grade of mineral oil usually grant a one or two rating, depending upon the methodology of the test.
Further, mineral oil is an occlusive agent, which, according to the textbook Cosmetic Dermatology “functions by filling the spaces between desquamating corneocytes to create a smooth surface.” When filling those spaces, unfortunately, mineral oil traps other ingredients into the skin. If the other ingredients are comedogenic (pore-clogging), mineral oil can exacerbate their negative effect, as Gadberry notes, “Caution should be used when mineral oil is included in leave-on products containing pore-clogging ingredients — at least when these products are applied to clog-prone skin.” A list of comedogenic ingredients may be found here, from Natural Beauty Care.
Why does mineral oil have such a bad reputation?
Mineral oil is derived from petroleum. However, as Gadberry notes, many people do not realize “more than 50% of the ingredients used in cosmetics are.” In addition, mineral oil comes in different grades, ranging from technical grade mineral oil, used to lubricate engines and equipment, to cosmetics grade mineral oil, which has undergone purification. Contaminants that are not removed in the purification of mineral oil have been shown to clog pores; however, Gadberry notes that most manufacturers of cosmetics purify their mineral oil. Further, if patients use leave-in products containing mineral oil and comedogenic ingredients, the occlusive mineral oil would trap the comedogenic ingredients in the skin, resulting in more rapidly clogged pores.
As a result, should I use products containing mineral oil?
In a moisturizer, mineral oil appears to have high moisturizing ability combined with low irritation rates and a low price tag. However, care needs to be taken not to use a mineral oil-based moisturizer in conjunction with any products containing comedogenic (pore-clogging) ingredients, as the mineral oil would tend to trap the pore-clogging ingredients into the skin. For this reason, mineral oil should also not be used in leave-on treatments containing comedogenic (pore-clogging) ingredients. However, as long as care is taken to exclude comedogenic (pore-clogging) ingredients from the skin care regime, based on the science, mineral oil makes an inexpensive moisturizer that will hydrate your skin. Don’t expect the results of niacinamide; just expect hydration from mineral oil. (For this reason, rating for Johnson’s 24 Hour Moisturizer: 6/10, will hydrate your skin, but don’t expect anything else!)
All in all, a solid hydrating ingredient (much better than I previously thought!), just don’t expect anything but hydration, and be careful of what you use in conjunction with it. 
Ingredients in Johnson’s 24 Hour Moisturizer
Water, Mineral Oil, Glycerin, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth 6, Methylparaben, Sodium Citrate, Fragrance, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Glyceryl Oleate, Squalane
I did use Gohnson’s 24 hrs Lotion. It smelled great but doesn’t hydrate well, actually may be good for summer time, but for winter, It’s nothing. I’ve just tested it on the back of my hand again. Yeah, it disappears without feeling of being moisture on my hand.
Yes, it’s just a lotion.
Anything that is a petroleum by-product should be avoided when using on your skin. Yes, it is pore clogging. Yes, it gives a feeling of temporary softness. Yes, it draws moisture FROM your skin instead of putting it into your skin. Therefore, you keep using it to make your skin feel soft. It is a Temporary feeling of softness. Using natural oils on your skin works as a humectant. They pull moisture from the air into your skin.
99, drugstore.
jjade
Is Mineral Oil Really Bad For Your Skin? « FutureDerm.WordPress.com
johnson’s 24 hour moisturizer contains a high concentration of mineral oil
I’ve been using mineral oil on my skin despite what I have heard about it being bad for your skin. I really appreciate your post because it was very informative and eye opening.
Knowing that mineral oil is basically crude oil pumped out of the ground and refined to become mineral oil – I refuse to use products on my skin that contain it. Our skin is the largest organ of the human body – HELLO!? It’s cancer causing!!
according to some studies, many or all in fact, mineral oil has this Potential Health Effects
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Inhalation:
Causes irritation to the respiratory tract. Symptoms may include coughing, shortness of breath. Inhalation of mist or vapor may produce aspiration pneumonia.
Ingestion:
Material is a cathartic and can cause serious diarrhea. Nausea and vomiting may also occur and possibly abdominal cramping. Aspiration of mineral oil into the lungs can cause chemical pneumonia.
Skin Contact:
Prolonged contact may cause irritation; occasionally dermatitis due to hypersensitivity occurs.
Eye Contact:
Mists or fumes can irritate the eyes. Can cause discomfort similar to motor oil.
Chronic Exposure:
Prolonged or repeated skin exposure may cause dermatitis. Highly refined mineral oils are not classified as human carcinogens. However, related forms (untreated and mildly-treated oils) are listed as human carcinogens by both NTP and IARC.
Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions:
Persons with pre-existing skin disorders or impaired respiratory function may be more susceptible to the effects of the substance.
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I guess it´s time to use natural cosmetics… yes those ones not altered by humans … as much as possible..
I find this very curious… I’ve had people quote to me what is allegedly recent research at Johns Hopkins University in which mineral oil is said to be avoided as well as second only to the sun in its skin aging properties.
For those interested, I have macadamia nut oil from macadamia trees that I cultivate without chemicals nor pesticides. Then I process the oil without chemicals processes. It is cold press.It is bright,cristal clear, non comedogenic, deep mosturizer for all of your body. If pregnancy, the baby does not absorbe any chemicals and prevents stretch marks because gives elasticity to your skin. It does not leave oily residue because the molecular structure is extremely fine.
Well now I’m really confused. The articles I just read all say that mineral oil is not bad for the skin. But after reading all of the comments I’m not so sure. Although it is pretty hard to find inexpensive products without mineral oil, I think I will try to avoid them the best I can!!
The myths and facts about Mineral Oil are cleared once for all. Now it’s up to them to go with it or not. The very fact that it may cause Cancer is really alarming. Thanks for the info.
did you know that pine oil has healing properties and is a pest repellent and floor cleaner? did you know that corn is used as food and clothing, oil and gas? did know that walnut hulls will kill internal parasites and tan the hide to make your boots? did you know that mistletoe has healing properties but can poison you to death? did you know that red dye used to come from insects but there were health issues with that too for some people so artificial dyes were invented, same thing?
all of these things are natural just like petroleum. petroleum is not gas. gas is a by-product of petroleum.
remember, everything in moderation. if you use mineral oil with no ill effects then don’t worry about it. and who is going to coat themselves in oil everday anyway, that’s just plain dumb. your skin needs to breathe sometime. but we all need to moisturize every now and then.
I like squalane oil over mineral oil for a moisturizer and have been recommending it for years. It gently removes eye make-up and residue can be left on overnight to improve fine lines aroud the eye area.