INGREDIENT · HYDROCARBONS
Mineral oil and petrolatum in skincare: safety explained
Mineral oil and petrolatum are among the most used and the most criticised ingredients in skincare. Most of the criticism comes down to one question: how refined is it? This page walks through what the research says.
You may see it written as
- Mineral Oil
- Paraffinum Liquidum
- Petrolatum
- Petroleum Jelly
What mineral oil and petrolatum are
Mineral oils and waxes are mixtures of mostly saturated hydrocarbons, made of straight-chain, branched and ring structures. A 2019 overview says they have been used for many decades in skin and lip care.1 Petrolatum, also called petroleum jelly, is a related petroleum-derived substance.2
Most of what is applied stays in the outermost layer of the skin.3 That does not make it inert. A 2016 study in 36 healthy volunteers and 13 people with atopic dermatitis found that petrolatum modulated antimicrobial proteins and measures of the skin barrier, and the authors concluded that the changes were beneficial in barrier-defective skin.4
Does mineral oil absorb into your skin?
A 2017 review of 13 studies found that most of the substance stayed in the outer layer of the skin and only a minor fraction reached deeper layers. It found no evidence that mineral oils and waxes were absorbed through the skin to become available in the body.3
The 2019 overview reaches the same conclusion, adding that no significant skin changes and no effects on internal organs have been attributed to topical refined mineral oil.1
Both reviews have industry links. The 2019 overview has one author from a cosmetics company, which funded it, alongside three academic dermatologists. The 2017 review was funded by a German cosmetics trade association, and its authors work for that association, a toxicology consultancy and several cosmetics and consumer-goods companies.1,3 So the conclusion is well supported but not independent of industry.
Why “highly refined” is the real question
Mineral Oil
The EU requires proof that mineral oil is highly refined and non-carcinogenic. India permits mineral oil without an equivalent refining-history requirement.
Petrolatum
The EU permits petrolatum only when its refining history shows it is non-carcinogenic. India has no equivalent refining-history requirement.
The worry about mineral oil is about its aromatic fractions, which are the ones with carcinogenic potential. The 2019 overview says the refining process is designed to exclude such substances and to minimise the aromatic fraction, and that in Europe mineral oils are permitted in cosmetics only if they meet purity specifications for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.1 A 2019 toxicology review found no indication of carcinogenic effects in animals dermally exposed to highly refined mineral oils and waxes.5
That is the context for Snifff’s summaries above. The EU requires proof of refinement; India does not set an equivalent refining-history requirement. The key word is “cosmetic grade”: the evidence supports highly refined oil, not any mineral oil.
In the Cosmetics Regulation, Annex II lists petrolatum and related petroleum-derived substances as prohibited unless the full refining history is known and shows the starting material is not a carcinogen.2
Does it clog pores?
We did not find a clinical trial in people showing that cosmetic mineral oil or petrolatum causes acne.
If you are acne-prone and a heavy balm breaks you out, that is a reason to stop using that product, whatever the label says.
Mineral oil and petrolatum in pregnancy and breastfeeding
Mineral Oil, Petrolatum
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
No pregnancy-specific evidence is not the same as safe, or as unsafe.
Evidence on cosmetic products in pregnancy is limited overall, so ask your doctor or midwife about the specific product you use.6
What you will see on the label
Mineral oil appears as Mineral Oil or Paraffinum Liquidum. Petrolatum may appear as Petrolatum or Petroleum Jelly. Snifff has an entry for each and shows both as Low risk. For the rest of the formula, see what the score means and how to read the list.
If you want to avoid these ingredients, our guide to reading an ingredient list shows where to look.
As Snifff shows itMineral oil and petrolatum
Mineral Oil
Low riskPregnancy and nursing
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
Regulatory gap
The EU requires proof that mineral oil is highly refined and non-carcinogenic. India permits mineral oil without an equivalent refining-history requirement.
Petrolatum
Low riskPregnancy and nursing
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
Regulatory gap
The EU permits petrolatum only when its refining history shows it is non-carcinogenic. India has no equivalent refining-history requirement.
Wording as it appears in the extension, which can change between releases.
A FEW MORE ANSWERS
Common questions about mineral oil and petrolatum
Is mineral oil safe for skin?
Reviews of the evidence find no sign that cosmetic-grade, highly refined mineral oil is absorbed into the body or harms skin,1,3 but both have authors from the cosmetics industry and industry funding.
Does mineral oil absorb into the skin?
A review of 13 studies found most of it stays in the outer layer of the skin, and it found no evidence of absorption into the body.3
Is petrolatum the same as mineral oil?
They are related. Mineral oils are refined petroleum-derived hydrocarbons,1 and the EU Cosmetics Regulation controls petrolatum alongside other petroleum-derived substances.2 Snifff has a separate entry for each.
Is petroleum jelly good for dry skin?
A study in healthy people and people with atopic dermatitis found that petrolatum had beneficial effects on skin barrier measures.4
Is mineral oil safe in pregnancy?
Snifff found no pregnancy-specific evidence for Mineral oil and petrolatum. Ask your doctor or midwife about the product you use.
WHERE THIS COMES FROM
Sources
- Mineral oils and waxes in cosmetics: an overview mainly based on the current European regulations and the safety profile of these compoundsChuberre B, Araviiskaia E, Bieber T, Barbaud A · Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology · 2019
- Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products (consolidated text, version of 1 September 2025)European Union · 2009
- Review of data on the dermal penetration of mineral oils and waxes used in cosmetic applicationsPetry T, et al. · Toxicology Letters · 2017
- Petrolatum: barrier repair and antimicrobial responses underlying this “inert” moisturizerCzarnowicki T, et al. · Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology · 2016
- Mineral oil in food, cosmetic products, and in products regulated by other legislationsPirow R, et al. · Critical Reviews in Toxicology · 2019
- Cosmetic dermatology in pregnancy and lactation: a risk-benefit framework for clinical practiceKovacs T, et al. · International Journal of Dermatology · 2026
This page explains an ingredient. It is not medical advice, and it is not an assessment of any product. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a skin condition, ask your doctor or pharmacist.