A lot of cosmetics, especially moisturizers and lotions contain mineral oil in their ingredients. "Mineral oil is a clear, colorless, odorless, petroleum derivative. It's chemically similar to petroleum jelly and is produced in heavy and light grades, or viscosities. There are three further classifications — paraffinic, aromatic, and naphthenic — based on what type of alkanes the oil is made from, and they have slightly different chemical makeups and properties. Inexpensive and easy to make, it's used in many different products, including cooling systems, lubricants, cosmetics, and medicine."(www.wisegeek.com)
Cosmetic companies use it to give that smooth, slippery feel to their products but it can be harmful to your skin and while it feels great going on, it actually sucks out the moisture in your skin. There have been cases of babies who die from accidentally inhaling it because it blocks the skin's ability to breathe. So if a child inhales it into their lungs, it can actually suffocate them. If you use it on your skin, it is drawing out moisture not replenishing it. Try this experiment if you want proof. Take a saltine cracker and place it in a cup of mineral oil. You can leave it there for hours and when you pull it out, you can crack it in half and see that nothing penetrated the inside of the cracker. Put the 2 halves back in and leave them and again they will simply break in half, no sogginess, no breaking apart that would be expected if the oil were actually penetrating or soaking in. The same thing happens on your skin. Mineral oil is not penetrating and provides no moisturizing effect.
Be careful when reading labels to look for mineral oil, petrolatum, and parabens as they are all petroleum based ingredients. They are derived from the same crude oil that makes gasoline and other machine lubricants. Also be careful of glycerin products as they can irritate the skin and cause rashes. "Glycerin is a thick liquid that is colorless and sweet tasting. It has a high boiling point and freezes to a paste. Glycerin's most common use is in soap and other beauty products like lotions, though it is also used, in the form of nitroglycerin, to create dynamite. A small amount placed on the tongue would cause blistering, because it is dehydrating. This liquid is popular in beauty products because it is a humectant — it absorbs ambient water. This means that it can help seal in moisture." (www.wisegeek.com)
In conclusion, if you are looking for natural ingredients in your lotions and soaps, read the label. Although your lotion or soap may not have that slippery feel you're used to, your skin will thank you for not suffocating it with mineral oil or irritating it with glycerin.
