Yashendwirh says…I’ve read here and several other blogs that mineral oil, vitamin-E and a few other very inexpensive products are both hydrating and non-comedogenic. Would that make them effective every day go-to moisturizers? That said, what is the benefit of spending anything more than the couple bucks it costs for these products on expensive moisturizer formulas? Even inexpensive ones that are $10-$20 seem expensive compared to the $3 it costs for an absolutely enormous bottle of mineral oil? We know it works, why would we throw our money at anything else? Would I be doing my skin a massive disservice by forgoing my current moisturizer (clinique gel) in favor of using mineral oil long term?
The Right Brain replies
You certainly won’t be hurting your skin by using mineral oil but you may be missing out on some of the benefits of a fully formulated product. Here are three examples:
1. Balanced moisture
Fully formulated lotions contain water and ingredients that can attract water to your skin like glycerin. You won’t get that with just mineral oil.
2. Non-greasy feel
Compared to modern lotion formulas which feel nice and soft on the skin mineral oil can leave you feeling a bit, well, oily.
3. Special function ingredients
Creams and lotions can deliver sunscreens and retin-A which are both important anti-aging ingredients that you won’t get from just mineral oil.
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Thanks for this information because marketing always confused if the products are truly committed to customer needs or if the companies are just looking for a financial benefit…
I don’t think mineral oil could be a replacement for suncream or tretinoin products. But won’t it work as simple moisturizer? I think this is what author of question wanted to ask.
Pukute, I agree: where’s the harm in layering separate products, each of which fulfils a different task? E.g. water-based humectant serum layer with any actives–vitamin C, antioxidants, acids, etc.– then moisturiser, sunscreen, and whatever makeup on top?
Probably / may well be better than using a product that is supposed to do it all but doesn’t perform each of the individual tasks as well as a separate product would: ex. tinted moisturiser with SPF.
Though one item that really truly does it all, applies itself, and does all the housework too would obviously be ideal. A lovely dream.
Thanks for answering BBs :> Ginger and Pukute expounded a bit more and I think I’m better for it. I already have a nice SPF 30 I use on my face and now that I know a bit more, I don’t think I’ll be shelling out for a small tube of Clinique’s City Block if I can “get the job done” as it were.
Thanks be to everyone for contributing :3
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