Why do some manufacturers promote the benefits of oils
to the exclusion of mineral
oil? |
Marketing.
And these marketers never address the fact
that dermatologists and cosmetologists universally
recommend over-the-counter mineral oil products
(such as Vaseline®) for a variety of topical
applications.
|
Why
do some marketers claim
mineral oils are unsuitable
for skincare? |
Unfortunately,
in marketing perception trumps fact. So,
one reason may be that by promoting more expensive,
less effective oils, they are able to increase
the price point of otherwise unremarkable
products.
|
| Is mineral oil safe? |
Food
grade mineral oil can be taken orally for its
laxative benefits. (If it can be ingested,
how safe do you suppose it is for your skin?)
Pharmaceutical-grade mineral oil is considered the
safest, most nonirritating moisturizing ingredients
ever found, which is why it is used in prescriptions to treat very dry skin conditions. (Sources: Cosmetics & Toiletries,
January 2001, page 79; Cosmetic Dermatology,
September 2000, pages 44–46). Mineral
oil is especially effective as a moisturizer,
which is what a good antioxidant is supposed
to do.
|
Do
mineral oils keep so
much
air off the skin that
skin “suffocates”? |
No. Mineral
oil is recognized by dermatologists as extremely
effective for wound healing specifically
because it protects the skin while allowing
it to heal. (Source: Cosmetics & Toiletries,
February 1998, pages 33–40).
|
Are
there any other reasons
why a cosmetic
would choose mineral oil as
an emollient? |
Yes.
Shelf life. Mineral oil does not go rancid. While it is possible to use vegetable oils and botanicals in stable and effective ways, many manufacturers promote their advantages without stabalizing their use. Go
to your beauty cabinet, find a skincare product
you haven’t used for a while, open it, and smell it. Then
decide if you want to put it on your skin.
|
When is it appropriate to use mineral oil, and when is it better
to use other moisturizers? |
The most important thing is to seek the best agent for the specific use for which it is intended. Generally speaking, mineral oil is used when Heavy Duty moisturizing is required, whereas vegetable oils and botanicals are more often used for the delicate moisturizing of the facial tissues and around eyes. |
