Saturday, 14 January 2012

Mineral Oil - a rant

I go on and on about mineral oil all the time and am always asked what I have against it. 

Here's the thing.

It has no benefit to your skin. Whatsoever. Companies use it because it's cheap - it's not even cheap - the big oil companies pay people to take it off their hands.

Plant-based oils are far more beneficial to the skin - but they are more expensive. That is the only reason more companies don't switch from mineral oil to BETTER options. 
Honestly, when I see pots of cream that cost hundreds of pounds/dollars and the first listed ingredient is 'Petrolatum/Mineral Oil' I could LITERALLY headbutt the counter.

Yes, you get brands saying 'But it's refined medical-grade mineral oil!'. 

Well Whoopie-DO. *jazz hands*

I suppose that means an omelette isn't really an egg. 

You all have a choice - and each to their own. I haven't used mineral oil on my face for over 20 years. And I've never put it on my kids faces.

That's all.


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28 comments:

  1. Computergirl14 January 2012 at 19:30

    So true. Agreed! xx

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  2. Unknown14 January 2012 at 21:31

    I might have had a small accident laughing at your jazz hands! Adding rubbish ingredients just because they're cheap gets on my bosoms.

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  3. Anonymous14 January 2012 at 21:44

    Hear, HEAR! x

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  4. KeLLy aNN15 January 2012 at 04:13

    Your post really made me laugh! jazz hands.....that's funny.

    I prefer just good old almond oil.

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  5. PeachBellini15 January 2012 at 11:45

    Amen! All it does is clog the skin - for years I wondered why I was getting breakouts and then I realized why. Ditching mineral oil has made a huge difference. It infuriates me that super expensive products contain bucketloads of the stuff.

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  6. MissMathful16 January 2012 at 12:13

    I love you, that is all :D

    www.missmathful.blogspot.com

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  7. My Favourite Obsession16 January 2012 at 23:35

    Thank you! One of the reasons I love your blog is because you keep bringing this up. It amazes me how many people have no idea what mineral oil is and how it differs from plant oils, and yes, I cringe every time I see it on top of the ingredients list in the most expensive creams. I wonder how many people would use it if they knew where it comes from and what it does to their skin.

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  8. Julie17 January 2012 at 23:30

    This blog is wonderful. That's all I can think of to say! My father-in-law worked in the textile industry and used to have a lot of fun reminding me that the stinky oil from wool was stripped off and used in cosmetics, which at first glance seems not very glamorous but is a dream come true compared to the mineral oil gunk. Thanks for reminding me.

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  9. Eva18 January 2012 at 12:58

    Was looking at the cult beauty website and they have the Eve Lom Cleanser available now. 80 pounds for a cleanser and what's topping the list of ingredients? Mineral Oil..

    The only reason I noticed is because your post reminded me of this issue again, so thank you (:

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    Replies
    1. Nicolavc8620 January 2012 at 15:40

      The main argument i used in my review agains eve lom was the mineral oil & some 'anonymous' person had the actual cheek to say it wasnt the main ingredient! obviously someone who sells the shit hasnt worked out the 1st ingredient is the main one! idiot!!!

      Delete
    2. Unknown26 January 2012 at 19:08

      *Beauty Mouth promises to make it up to Cult Beauty. And Eve.* :)

      Delete
  10. Kate26 January 2012 at 18:57

    Why thank you! You just saved me 25 quid! I was queuing up to purchase Elizabeth Ardens 8 Hour Cream when I suddenly remembered your enlightening post on mineral oil. I checked the ingredients and of course it was one of the first on the list. I put it down and swiftly exited the shop. So thanks again, I have to say, I was completely ignorant about mineral oil until I read this post. Good work!

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    Replies
    1. Unknown26 January 2012 at 19:06

      *Beauty Mouth extends its apologies to Elizabeth Arden* :)

      Delete
  11. Anonymous28 March 2012 at 10:00

    Hi there! Firstly, I love you and your blog, and thanks so much for telling me to ditch C&P and use a cleansing balm. My skin is in a state of zen-like calm compared to its agitated days of yore, and I have you to thank, so thanks very much. Secondly, I've got a blog in a (very) fledgling stage, and I wanted to put together some posts about some common controversial ingredients (parabens, mineral oil, silicones etc) - not in a sort of advice capacity, but just as an objective presentation of some widely held opinions and basic facts. Would it be okay if I credit this blog as source material?
    Thanks for being such a fantastic blogger/advisor, and my username is a link in case you wanted to check it out before deciding.

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    Replies
    1. Unknown28 March 2012 at 17:33

      Hi Jess, Yes of course - that's fine. :)

      Delete
  12. Cagney & Lace7 November 2012 at 22:42

    Hi Caroline,

    Would you say this is why my Eve Lom cleanser breaks me out? I find it makes my skin a little red too. Should I switch to the Emma Hardie balm or will this break out my sensitive skin?

    I would love your advise, Hannah x

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  13. Anonymous3 December 2012 at 23:29

    I love the way you put this!! I was just curious about straightht cheap mineral oil cosmetically, I had to read no further!! Thank You!!!!

    It is good for conditioning wood though!!

    TCZ

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  14. Ria 2 October 2013 at 22:51

    If mineral oil is so bad then explain to me why my hair was actively breaking before my eyes just months ago and mineral oil stopped it. Now I cannot even find a split end to save my life. It is the only thing that allows me to get a comb thru without breakage.

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    Replies
    1. Unknown3 October 2013 at 11:04

      Hi Charlotte, because it coats your strands. That's what it does. Ditto silicones.
      Your hair is dead so it makes no difference.
      I'm talking about the face. :)

      Delete
  15. Anonymous16 October 2013 at 00:59

    Mineral oil isn't meant to be used as a moisturizer. People mistakenly believe that you can use it in place of a good moisturizer and are left with severely dry skin, but mineral oil rich products are meant to be used sparingly on top of your regular moisturizer to lock in moisture.

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  16. Unknown17 February 2014 at 13:45

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  17. Unknown17 February 2014 at 13:48

    Hi Caroline! I just love your blog. I was wondering if the new formulation of Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ was bad for you (it has mineral oil as an ingredient, but also ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid)?

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  18. Anonymous12 January 2015 at 04:54

    is vitamin e a mineral oil

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  19. Unknown19 July 2015 at 11:51

    No, it's not!

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  20. Shivangi5 January 2016 at 19:11

    This has me really concerned!! I've been using The Avene TriXera Emollient Cream to help my super sensitive skin and one of the ingredients is Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum)! Should I seize use??

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  21. Unknown16 November 2016 at 10:28

    Hi Caroline,

    I want to follow your advice and avoid mineral oil, but am not sure how to recognize it. I think I've figured out that "paraffinum liquidum" is a mineral oil, but does it have other names it can go by?

    Also, would you avoid mineral oil in ALL skincare, or just facial skincare? I noticed 3 of my hand lotions have "paraffinum liquidum" in the top 3 ingredients, so just checking :-)

    Thanks in advance!

    ReplyDelete

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