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Mineral oil

Mineral oil in skincare: Emollient, occlusive. What it does on skin, how strong the evidence behind the claim actually is, the concentrations in normal use, who reacts to it, and where it stands in pregnancy and sunlight. On a label it appears as Paraffinum Liquidum, Mineral Oil.

Hydration, emollients and barrier repairEmollient, occlusiveEvidence: Strong

On the label: Paraffinum Liquidum, Mineral Oil. Also called: Liquid paraffin, baby oil (usually mineral oil plus fragrance).

This is an ingredient reference, not a diagnosis and not a treatment plan. It describes what substances are and what the published evidence supports; it does not tell you what your skin has or what to put on it. A rash that spreads, hurts, weeps, does not settle, or comes with feeling unwell is a reason to see a doctor or pharmacist, not to change serum.

What it is

The liquid relative of petrolatum: a highly refined mixture of saturated hydrocarbons from petroleum, cleared of the aromatic compounds present in the crude material. Pharmacopoeia grades are used in bath oils, in preparations for cradle cap and dry scalp, and in ear drops for softening wax. Chemically it does nothing; physically it does a great deal.

What it does on skin

It sits on and between the surface cells, smoothing and slowing water loss. It is less occlusive than petrolatum and much easier to spread, which is why it dominates body oils and cleansing balms. It also dissolves other oils, which is why oil cleansers built on it remove sunscreen and long-wear makeup better than a water-based wash does.

What the evidence is worth

Evidence: Strong

Strong for emollience and for reducing water loss, with a long record in dermatological preparations. Its bad reputation online is not matched by clinical evidence: human studies of finished products have not shown it to induce acne, and the "comedogenic" ratings that circulate come largely from an old rabbit-ear assay that predicts human behaviour poorly.

How it is used

As a body oil on damp skin after a shower, as a cleansing oil, or as the base of a simple moisturiser. On a dry Nordic winter body it is cheap, effective and unglamorous. On the face it suits some people and not others, and two weeks on one cheek is a faster answer than any ingredient rating.

Typical concentration in normal use: Up to 100%. That is a description of the market, not a recommendation, and it is not a dose.

Who reacts to it

Very low irritation and allergy rates. The realistic downsides are feel and, for a minority, aggravation of acne on the face. Baby oil is usually mineral oil plus fragrance, and the fragrance is the part that causes reactions.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Generally considered fine

No pregnancy concerns.

Sunlight

No change

No effect on light sensitivity, and no sun protection.

Rules and labelling

As with petrolatum, EU rules permit these petroleum-derived substances in cosmetics only where the refining history is known and the source can be shown not to be carcinogenic. The analytical concern the industry monitors is contamination with aromatic hydrocarbons, which refining and purity specifications are designed to control.

What it goes with, and what it does not

Good over a humectant, good as a cleansing first step before a gentle wash. Poor as a carrier for an active you want absorbed, since it tends to keep water-soluble ingredients out rather than carry them in.

One thing people get wrong

The myth is that it is a cheap filler that clogs pores and does nothing. It is cheap; the rest is wrong. It is an effective emollient with a longer safety record than most botanical oils, and the aromatic-hydrocarbon concern that gets quoted applies to unrefined material, not to the pharmacopoeia grades used in cosmetics.

Sources: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and its annexes, as published in the European Commission's CosIng database, for every statement about what is permitted, restricted or banned · opinions of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) and safety assessments of the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) for the concentration positions · standard dermatology reference material for mechanism, tolerability and contact-allergy patterns · checked 2026-09-06. Deep links are deliberately omitted where a stable public URL could not be confirmed.

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