Your skin is the largest organ in our body and has specific, essential functions. The excretion of substances (sebum, sweat, toxins) and the absorption of substances (vitamins, fats, minerals and even a little oxygen) are, together with the protection function of the skin, the most important.
Mineral oils are extracted from the petroleum industry
Mineral oil is processed in most regular creams and oils. Mineral oil is a waste product from the petroleum industry and often the basis for a (non-or-semi-natural) cream. Unfortunately, because mineral oils close your skin with a watertight layer, so that your skin can no longer perform its essential functions (recording, excretion, breathing). Your skin also gets the signal that the fat is enough and your own sebum production becomes a little less. While skinny sebum is about the very best anti-aging Cream is that you can find!
Mineral oils lead to paraffin addiction
The use of mineral oil, or also paraffin (see at the bottom of this blog the different names it can have) therefore means that your skin becomes out of balance. Your skin feels increasingly drier, tight or burning and you get the need to start lubricating more cream. This effect is also called a "paraffin addiction". It is a well -known effect when using lip balms, but therefore works the same on other parts of your skin, such as your face, or your legs (recognizable if you are a large consumer of Body Lotions?). Instead of solving the drought problem, mineral oils only make the problem worse.
What is added is that in two types of mineral oil certain hydrocarbons occur, mosh (mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons) and Moah (mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons). Moahs are possible carcinogenic. MOSH can accumulate in the fatty tissue of the body and thus cause growths (good and malignant) in liver, spleen or lymph nodes. This is especially important with lip balms, where you also "eat" grams per year and these mineral oils come into your body.
Why are mineral oils being used?
Then why is it used so often in skin care products? Because it is the cheapest fat raw material that you can get. For less than a few cents you already have a game of fat. Add water and a (synthetic) emulsifier, an (artificial) perfume and you can conquer the world with your cream.
Chicory Skincare stays far from the use of mineral oil. We prefer to use vegetable oils with skin identical fatty acids that feed and protect, keep your skin supple and soft. These also give the necessary vitamins and antioxidants. Your skin can perform its functions as an organ well (these are even supported) and will stay in balance and shine. Because healthy skin is a radiant skin!
And how do you get rid of that paraffin addiction? Do a skin detox! You can find more about that here.
The different names
How are the different types of mineral oil stated on the packaging of a product? Below a list:
Mineral Oil
Petrolatum
Petroleum Jelly
Vaseline
Paraffinum Liquidum
Paraffinum Subluquidum
Cera MicroCristallina
(Eucerit) Microcrystalline wax
Ozokerit
Ceresin
Liquid Paraffin
Liquid petrolatum
Paraffin Oil
Petrolatum Liquid
Petroleum Oil
White Mineral Oil
White Oil
Eucerin
Isoparaffin
