How are Mineral Oil and Petroleum bad for your skincare?

Mineral oil has several names. Call it white mineral oil, liquid petroleum, or paraffin oil. It used to be a popular ingredient in hair and skincare products. However, adverse publicity about this substance generated plenty of debates lately. Petroleum comes from crude oil. It needs refinement.

Many manufacturers of cosmetics as well as personal care products use this cheap and low-grade oil. Mineral oil and petroleum may not be ideal options because of parabens, artificial coloring, phthalates for plasticizers, and PABA acids. Based on scientific research, consumers of skincare items should avoid these compounds.

The odorless and colorless mineral oil is a secondary product or extraction from petroleum. Companies have used this inexpensive by-product for decades in makeups, lotions,  creams, and ointments. It helps minimize water loss from our skin.

Petroleum jelly produces an illusion of moisturized and hydrated skin but suffocates the pores. Petroleum in water-repellant but not soluble. In short, the chemical blocks barriers to prevent moisture from leaving the skin. This jelly penetrates the lungs and capable of causing lipid pneumonia, a type of lung inflammation.

What are the problems with these two substances?

• Toxicity – Let’s look at mineral oil which come in various grades. According to the 14^th report from the National Toxicology Program (Department of Health and Human Services) in 2016, “untreated and mildly-treated mineral oils are classified as human carcinogens based on evidence of carcinogenicity from research studies.” The World Health organization (WHO) also stated the unpurified form includes contaminants associated with studies in increased cancer risks. According to researchers, mineral oil hydrocarbons remain as among the worst toxins in the human body possibly due to dermal absorption and cosmetics.
• Clogging of Pores – These compounds can congest or block our pores increasing the likelihood of acne and blackhead flare-up. People can never tell the level of distillation mineral oils as well as petroleum. The highest category that you will find in the market is known as USP-grade mineral oil or pharmaceutical-class. Even this variety can block ingredients in our skin.
• No Benefits – We must stay away from mineral oil because it contributes to body impurities. Mineral as well as petroleum oil do not infuse any nutrients and do not provide hydration at all. Why not try natural plant extracts or oils that supply fatty acids and antioxidants? These varieties plump up our skin and combat free radical damage respectively.
• Petroleum and mineral oils do not possess metabolic properties. One study from the Journal of Women’s Health disclosed the increase in mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons or MOSH concentrations in human fat tissues that accumulate progressively. Worse, mineral oils can remain in the body eternally.
• The Environmental Working Group (EWG) said 80% of all beauty products have the probability of trace contamination. One or more of around 24 known cosmetic adulteration are connected to cancers as well as other medical conditions. Mineral oil and petroleum-based products are not exempted. The worse of these toxins is 1.4 Dioxane found in 22% of all petroleum-based cosmetic items.
• Both compounds block airflow or close the skin preventing air, water, and any other substance from coming in or getting out. Mineral oil along with petroleum generate an unseen film on top that obstructs the pores and natural breathing process. Blocked pores trap oil and dirt produce that results in pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads. This occlusive quality also produces a warm and humid environment for fungus or yeast to develop.

Skin Nourishment or Irritation

Why choose petroleum or mineral oil if these compounds don’t have the capacity to nurture our skin? Emollients or non-cosmetic moisturizers, on the other hand, enable absorption of nutrients. Some recommendations from experts include olive, jojoba, and coconut oils, cocoa butter, or Vitamin E.

Before we end, it is important to know that mineral oil and petroleum are linked to the condition called Estrogen Dominance. Those who suffer from this syndrome have higher ratio of estrogen (main female sex hormone) and little or no progesterone (sex hormone in ovaries) that balance effects in the female bodies. Xenoestrogen chemicals or xenohormones (endocrine disruptors) that replicate estrogen in the environment were found to produce risks of different cancers, infertility, obesity, diabetes, and miscarriages. These xenoestrogens are said to be present in plastic containers and makeups.