Myths about mineral oil - part 2
In part one of this series we looked at some of the things that are said about mineral oil and examined whether they were true or not. In part two we’ll propose a few reasons why companies would try to propagate myths about mineral oil.
1. They want you to buy from them instead of the big manufacturers. This is the primary explanation for mineral oil bashing. Little companies have to find a way to convince consumers to use their products instead of the less expensive, name brands produced by large manufacturers. They can’t possibly advertise as much as the big guys so they need other ways to motivate consumers. Spreading rumors, half truths, and lies about mineral oil (and a host of other ingredients) will scare a significant amount of people.
And most people don’t have the time or scientific background to question what they hear. They’ll just believe a myth about mineral oil causing cancer and avoid it at all costs. The lack of skepticism in our country is extremely troubling to this half of the Beauty Brains.
2. They need to have a reason why their products don’t work as well. The truth is mineral oil is one of the best functioning skin care ingredients available. Every cosmetic chemist who reads studies published in the Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists knows it. Other oils work too, but not as well as mineral oil.
When chemists are told they need to create a formula without mineral oil to satisfy a marketing story, they can’t produce the best functioning product out there. It’s a bit like trying to make omletes with egg beaters. Sure, it tastes like an omlete but it’s not nearly as good as on made with real eggs. That’s how it is with these “natural” type products.
3. They think natural things are inherently good. You find this notion throughout society but especially in the areas of cosmetics. In the US some people automatically believe that something taken directly from nature is better than something that is man-made or synthetic. Of course, there is no evidence supporting this notion and plenty of evidence to show that it is wrong. Natural is NOT necessarily better! Snake venom is natural. Cyanide is natural. Uranium is natural. Natural can be both good and bad. Similarly, synthetic things can be both good and bad.
The thing that is most amusing is that mineral oil is “natural”. It is pulled right out of Mother Earth and purified for use in your favorite cosmetic. There is no synthetic process, just simple distillation of naturally occurring oil. Even an ingredient like Panthenol requires some chemical modification. Not mineral oil. Just natural purification.
4. They believe all of the myths about mineral oil. Despite the fact that there are some companies that are just trying to scare and lie to you, there are some people that honestly believe all they’ve read about the evils of mineral oil. And who could blame them? We all lead busy lives and when you hear bits of information that sound plausible, you don’t have time to read the supporting research. Consequently, a manufacturer might believe they’ve found a much better product when they really haven’t. People want to believe they can solve other people’s problems. Even if their solution is based on a delusion.
The Beauty Brains bottom line. There are many reasons that myths about mineral oil continue. Chalk some up to naivete but others are downright fraud. You can believe whatever you want, just don’t accept everything you hear about chemicals. You could be buying in to someone else’s delusion. And that will cost you.
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thebeautybrains.com » The top 5 myths about mineral oil - Part 1 Says:
[...] years. Here are the top 5 Myths that companies tell people to make them afraid of mineral oil. In part 2 we look at why “natural” companies would be trying to scare [...]
James Says:
OK now you guys are just getting silly up on your science horse. “Natural is NOT necessarily better! Snake venom is natural. Cyanide is natural. Uranium is natural” you sound like a bunch of 5 year olds. In part one you tried to reason that mineral oil is safe and 100% fan frikintastic because it was natural. “snake bites are natural” plus follow that up with a ridiculous picture of a snake biting a man on the face and you have a perfect example of propaganda. “mineral oil is “naturalâ€. It is pulled right out of Mother Earth and purified for use in your favorite cosmetic” well while we are acting like children, Snakes jump straight out of mother earth and bite you on the nose with no synthetic purification what so ever.
When most truly natural companies enter the market they do so to make a difference to the current climate of BS cosmetics made by all your favorite cosmetic companies who keep creating products simply to generate profit.
“The truth is mineral oil is one of the best functioning skin care ingredients available” Ah actually the TRUTH is mineral oil is an unnecessary compound added to main stream cosmetics to help keep the profit margins high. the TRUTH is also that mineral oil is such a waste of time the EU banned it from all skin care and cosmetic products in 2004…..now where was that in the TRUTH about mineral oil. Still the Europe right and what do they now about skin care? God Bless the United Sates of Do What Your Told.
I have saved the content of this 2 part series as i know not too long these articles will be looked back on a two of the stupidest arguments for continued use of a chemical in daily life ever.
keep up the great “Real Science”
thebeautybrains Says:
James, thanks for your comments. We welcome all viewpoints but we do require some sources for claims. The Beauty Brains are always open to changing our mind when we’re shown to be wrong about something. That’s what being a scientist is all about. You spend your entire life trying to prove yourself wrong.
What cosmetic companies aren’t in the business of making a profit? No company I know of gives away their products.
And who says the EU banned mineral oil? Could you please direct me to the some statement by the EU that says this is the case? I couldn’t find any official document that says people can’t use mineral oil in the EU.
Thanks again for your comments.
Lauri Says:
“We all lead busy lives and when you hear bits of information that sound plausible, you don’t have time to read the supporting research.” I think that is the main reason. It’s easier to read and understand copy (ads, promotions, labels), than to read and decipher the scientific research behind a product.
Education is the key. Learning what is a safe source and what is simply hype paid for by the company selling the product can make all the difference.
I am fond of telling people “poison ivy is all natural/organic, but you won’t see me rubbing it on my body.”
Dee Says:
Please explain the benefits of mineral oil on skin since it comes from black crude oil.
thebeautybrains Says:
Thanks for your comments and for being part of the Beauty Brains community. Mineral oil acts as a barrier on your skin to help prevent the loss of moisture and thereby moisturize your skin. In scientific studies it is one of the most effective occlusive mositurizing ingredients you can use.
I don’t understand how the fact that it comes from black crude oil is relevant, please explain. Does it bother you that your drinking water comes from the sewer?
Carol Clifton Says:
I couldn’t sum it up any better myself. Great article! This subject has been the source of quite a bit of controversy on my site. From now on I can just direct people to this post.
Kellerassel Says:
As I wrote on part1, I don’t think it’s convincing. This article has a pretty anti-scientific argumentation, which is really annoying. (I know, part of your appeal is your humor, but this time, it’s just childish.)
Please do better next time, because with better arguments you could convince people (me included). Without it it’s a waste of my time.
Maria Says:
I wrote in part 1 , better safe than sorry, the proof that mineral oil is dangerous again may be forthcoming but the fact that a natural oil is found harmful to skin is unlikely lol. Although I aviod mineral oil, I do not thonk its banned, I see it on British cream labels still.
thebeautybrains Says:
Kellerassel, I’m not sure I understand what you mean by “anti-scientific argumentation”. Please clarify.
Maria,
Mineral oil has been used for almost 100 years, so why hasn’t it been shown harmful yet?
There are plenty of natural oils that are harmful to skin. Poison Ivy produces an oil that causes skin rashes. Natural does not mean safe.
Nicola Says:
http://www.dld123.com/q&a/qandatemp.php?id=Q77
I am trying so hard to get some hard scientific facts. All I am running into is opinions. That is ok though. I figure that with the way that supply and demand works that if Mineral Oil was so effective and demanded, that everyone would be paying out the wazo for it. I don’t know though. I am an engineer, not a scientist. And I do agree with James on a lot of points. To me, saying that, “snake venom is natural” doesn’t convince me that Mineral Oil is good for me. As an adult, I know snake venom is natural and not good for me. That is quite obvious. What is not obvious is that Mineral Oil is good for me. Once I heard the supposed rumor that Mineral Oil was bad, my interest was sparked. I went home to see just how many lotions had Mineral Oil in it. I have a wide variety of lotions and creams. Wide in price and in types. It was pretty interesting to see that all my products that were less than 10 - 15 dollars had Mineral Oil listed in the first few ingredients. I also noticed that all those products listed on the advertisement boasted things like “With Aloe!, With vitamins A, D and E!, With Rosemary, With Calming Honey,etc.” Not ONE bosted, “With Mineral Oil!” Why is that? If it is SO good, then why NOT promote it on the front of a lotion, cream, etc.? All my high dollar wrinkle creams, lotions, creams don’t have Mineral Oil it in. Now, I don’t know if that is a coincident or not. Just thought it was interesting. I have sat here and read many articles, forums and studies that are FOR Mineral Oil and Against Mineral Oil. My eyes are tired. I can’t help but feel like it is an ingrediant that companies use as a “filler” type product to bulk up their “With Aloe” lotions. Just to be safe, I will use “common-sense” natural substances…but not Snake venom, Cyanide, Uranium or Poison Ivy.
Jody Byrne Says:
All of what you say about mineral oil is true. What you don’t say is the mineral oil is not a sustainable ingredient. You can’t grow it. There are equally good substitutes — such as castor oil — which are sustainable and deliver more benefit. There is more to “green” than natural and/or organic … for me sustainability is an critical part of ingredient selection.
thebeautybrains Says:
Nicola,
Mineral oil isn’t promoted on the front of products because it’s too “chemical” sounding for consumers. (At least that’s what cosmetic marketing people tell us). No one wants to think cosmetics are chemicals. They’d rather think they are bathing themselves in Aloe or Shea Butter or something else that sounds friendly. It’s the same reason companies don’t put “with Surfactant” on the front of a body wash bottle.
Mineral oil is not an ingredient used as a filler. It is used specifically because it increases the moisture level in the outer layers of your skin (through occlusion) and makes skin feel better.
The only “fillers” in cosmetic products are things like Aloe, Vitamins, and Proteins. They are put in at minuscule levels just so companies can advertise them on the front labels. The ingredients that actually make the formulas work (like mineral oil) just don’t sound as good.
If you really want to read the “science” behind mineral oil, then search Pubmed.com which is an indexing service of nearly all peer-reviewed medical research.
For example, you can find a summary of the animal tests that were done to show that mineral oil has no toxic effects.
Scientific data on the effectiveness of mineral oil is a little harder to come by because this work is generally done by cosmetic companies who keep this information private and unpublished. However, you can find a number of articles in trade magazines like Cosmetics & Toiletries or Happi which indicates the skin benefits of mineral oil.
If something else worked better and was more economical, cosmetic companies would quickly switch. That would be the more profitable thing to do. And that is why companies continue to use mineral oil…it is the most effective at the lowest cost.
Jody,
You are correct. Mineral oil is not sustainable. On the other hand, if the cosmetic industry stopped using mineral oil that wouldn’t effect the world’s supply of the resource. It is a by-product of petroleum production and would just go to waste otherwise. Unless you and (millions of others) stop driving cars, we’ll eventually run out of mineral oil.
Nicola Says:
If something else worked better and was more economical companies would switch? Please…the ONLY reason why they DON’T switch is BECAUSE it wouldn’t behoove then financially…or as you put it, it wouldn’t be “economical.” As you put it before, companies are out to make money, not to waste their money to make sure they find something that is good for us. I’d rather pay more money for a sustainable, organic matter. I am sorry, Aloe is not a filler. It is more expensive to put that in a product than Mineral Oil. I guarantee when I go in my back yard and break off a piece of my Aloe plant and apply it to my sunburn, it will soothe my skin 20X more than Mineral Oil. Mineral Oil is cheap and CLOGS pores. Occlusion? LOL…case and point. If you look that word up in the dictionary you will see this:
noun
1. closure or blockage
2. an obstruction in a pipe or tube; “we had to call a plumber to clear out the blockage in the drainpipe”
3. the act of blocking
Thank you for providing me all the info I needed to convince me and my family that we should throw away all products containing Mineral Oil.
And I spent about an hour reading through Pubmed.com. It absolutely did not go into great detail about ANY BENEFITS to use MO. It merely compared Mineral Oil to Coconut Oil. That does not tell me a thing. I expect it to not have toxic affects. I want to know that it is GOOD for me. And that my friend, was NOT proven on Pubmed.com. Then you go into saying that, “Scientific data on the effectiveness of mineral oil is a little harder to come by because this work is generally done by cosmetic companies who keep this information private and unpublished. However, you can find a number of articles in trade magazines like Cosmetics & Toiletries or Happi which indicates the skin benefits of mineral oil.” Please do not insult my intelligence. I am not an idiotic consumer nor do I believe in petty articles written by paid journalists. That is why I tried to find accurate, un-biased FACTS. You have proven my theory. I was convinced the moment you used the word “occlusion”.
Ciao~
Nicola
thebeautybrains Says:
Nicola,
Thanks so much for your response. It’s good to see that you at least looked through Pubmed. Unfortunately, you’ve clearly made up your mind and nothing that I, or anyone else, can say will change it.
This is not how a scientist would approach knowledge, but is more typical of an average consumer. Scientists remain skeptical and open minded about the possibility that everything they think is wrong. Since you think you know everything, you collect data that only supports what you already believe.
However, if you could imagine for a moment that you don’t know everything about the subject and there’s a possibility that your initial hunches are mistaken, consider the following.
1. While I can’t claim to know why all companies don’t switch (perhaps you have some knowledge of the inner-workings and motivation of all cosmetic companies)I do know why cosmetic chemists (of which I’m one) create products with mineral oil and not with other ingredients. The formulas with mineral oil work better than ones without.
2. Your dictionary definition of “occlusion” is a misunderstanding of how cosmetic scientists use the term. It’s not surprising since you aren’t involved directly in the industry and are subject to persuasion by “natural”/green cosmetic marketing propaganda. Incidentally, cosmetic grade mineral oil has been shown specifically not to cause acne.
3. No lotion or any cosmetic for that matter is “good” for you. People can live perfectly healthy lives WITHOUT any cosmetics. Soap may reduce bacterial infections but no other cosmetic is “good” for you. That’s just marketing bunk to convince you to buy products you don’t really need. Stop looking for what’s “good” for you. No cosmetic is. Incidentally, that doesn’t mean they are bad for you either.
4. While Aloe might make you feel better, this isn’t proof that it works or is even good for you. In this recent review of traditional cosmeceuticals the scientists concluded that the use of “Very few of these products (like Aloe) are supported by evidence-based science.” And this wasn’t a corporate shill publishing something in a trade journal. It was a scientist at Oregon Health Sciences University writing in a peer reviewed journal.
Anecdotal evidence like the story you provided is not proof that Aloe has any positive effect. In double-blinded studies, no positive effects were demonstrated. Ergo, until more proof is provided, putting aloe on your skin is not worthwhile.
5. I wasn’t insulting your intelligence by suggesting you look at trade journals for information. Not everyone is paid to write. There is some marketing, paid-for articles, but there are also good articles written by legitimate scientists. An open minded person would consider this possibility.
While you may believe you are trying to find accurate and un-biased FACTS, you’ve demonstrated that you’re not. If you want to really learn and really figure out the truth then do what a scientist would do.
Create a theory and find a way to prove that it is WRONG! If you can’t prove that it is WRONG then you may have learned something.
Creating a theory and then proving it is RIGHT is not science. That’s what lawyers do. And unfortunately, lawyers are more concerned with winning arguments than they are with finding the truth. They don’t let disagreeable facts get in the way of proving themselves right.
It seems that you’ve proven your “lawyerly” theory that mineral oil isn’t good for you and you don’t seem interested in what’s true.
But thanks again for your comments.
Angel Says:
Some of you are so terribly humorous. “It’s been used for a hundred years.” Just because something has been around for a long time doesn’t make it ‘good’ by default.
In response to that pathetic snake venom example: snake venom is one of the keys to asthma treatment research. http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/187_11_031207/hob111201_fm.html This guy won the 1982 Nobel Prize for his research too. But who cares, right? Let’s kill all the snakes. They’re nothing but trouble.
But on to the real issue!
What’s so horrible about petroleum based products such as: petroleum jelly, mineral oil, baby oil, and paraffin?
Petroleum is based on crude oil. It is simply ultra refined crude oil. The very same crude oil that is refined to go into your vehicle and the very same crude oil which has seen so much violence in the Middle East. Politics aside, crude oil when refined and made into petroleum based products are marketed correctly when they are labeled as a “protective coating, barrier, or lubricant” but not when they are labeled as “moisturizing.” The term “moisturizing” implies that it is adding moisture. But that is not what it is doing at all.
Let’s just break this down into a more basic concept, shall we? Water + metal + air = rust. Right? I’m sure we can all agree on that much. Ok, so all the while that petroleum/mineral oil/and the like have been used in engines, movable joints, etc- logically, those parts would have rusted. Because if you’re saying that petroleum moisturizes then…. you’re saying that it imparts moisture.
The entire concept of mineral oil in skin care is based on that ONE LIE! It does NOT moisturize!
Petroleum is not water soluble. It does not import moisture into the skin in any way, shape or form. It’s the equivalent of wrapping your skin in plastic wrap. So when we look at the characteristics of petroleum, one has to wonder just why some people still swear that it is moisturizing to the skin. When one coats the human(or animal) skin with petroleum jelly, we are counting on the fact that this creature will still be eating and drinking while they expect their skin to heal, yes? While we eat and drink we are refurbishing our bodies with moisture and this makes it way to the collagen skin cells which plump up to push moisture out into the outer layers of skin. Simply put, WE are moisturizing our skin by doing what we naturally do! Not the petroleum jelly or mineral oil.
Plant based butters and oils when used in place of such petroleum based products do the opposite. They do in fact soak into the skin because they are organic like we are. Our skin cells recognize this similarity and readily accept it and allow it to bind with the collagen to help repair fissures and cracks which may be present. Combining beneficial herbs which have been shown to heal with such plant based butters and oils means that your skin will be accepting ‘outside help’ and not just relying on how you are fueling/hydrating your body(like with petroleum products).
Long story short: petroleum based products will lock in whatever microbes exist in the wound while plant based butters/oils and herbs have the ability to truly hydrate and heal. Petroleum products are never recommended for burns because it literally seals in the heat while organic based products like aloe vera, which is a humectant, is perfectly suited to draw out the heat. Plant based butters and oils can be used after the heat is dissipated to allow the skin to re-hydrate and heal faster.
Angel Says:
As an addition to my last post:
Olive, almond, avocado, and sunflower oils all contain nice concentrations of Vitamin E, which aids in skin repair. Coconut oil contains lauric acid which has antimicrobial “sudsy” properties. All of these contain either monounsaturated or saturated fats which ‘moisturize’ (there’s that keyword again!) the skin.
What exactly does mineral oil impart? What vitamins and minerals does it leave on the skin to make the skin so supposedly ‘better’? Does it have Vitamin A or C? Does it contain fats which plump up the skin in any way? If it’s not a filler, tell me why it’s there. Tell me what vitamins or minerals it is putting into the skin. And by default- if it NOT putting any kind of vitamins, minerals, or fats of any kind into the skin then logically we have to call it what it is: a filler.
thebeautybrains Says:
Angel,
And snake venom will kill you. The point is that there are plenty of natural materials that are not “good” for you.
Most of your comments are just a rehashing of things others have said. If you could include some proof to back up your opinions it would be nice.
Your car example…the parts exposed to oil do not rust. Not all the parts are exposed to oil all the time.
You’re trying to create a straw man logical fallacy. I never said mineral oil imparts moisture. It doesn’t. Go back and read through the comments. This has already been discussed.
What is your proof that plant based oils soak into your skin? The fact that they are organic is irrelevant. They don’t soak in any different than mineral oil.
Where is your proof that petroleum based products will lock microbes in your wounds? More unproven propaganda.
Finally, mineral oil doesn’t add vitamin A or C to your skin. And what exactly do vitamins, mineral or fats do when applied to your skin?
Either/Or Logical fallacy…
“And by default- if it NOT putting any kind of vitamins, minerals, or fats of any kind into the skin then logically we have to call it what it is: a filler.”
It’s an occlusive agent put in products to increase the level of moisture in your skin. This is proven by the fact that when skin moisture levels are measured with a device like a corneometer, they are higher when mineral oil based creams are used.
thebeautybrains Says:
Do you have something to add to the Mineral Oil debate?
Go to the Beauty Brains Forum and leave your mineral oil comments there.
Prove to the world that you know the facts about mineral oil!
Not signed up for the Beauty Brains Forum yet?? Go sign up right here!