Here’s why you should not use mineral oil, petroleum jelly or petrolatum on your skin and what you should be using instead.First, let’s look at what those ingredients commonly found in petrolatum are actually derived from. That alone may be enough to convince you to avoid them.
Petrolatum Discovered
Petroleum jelly was discovered on some of the first oil rigs in the United States. The gelatinous substance caused problems for the workers, but they said that it did help heal burns. It turns out that you should not use petroleum jelly on burns, because it traps the heat and causes blistering.
It may have promoted healing by repelling water and creating a barrier to keep germs out, but there are better solutions, including a simple bandage and a natural honey salve. Manuka honey is the best for that purpose, as it has the highest antibacterial activity.
Petrolatum is basically white petroleum jelly. It has been touted as a moisturizer for many years and you’ll find that it is an ingredient in the cheaper lotions on the market. Although some of the better companies include it, too.
Petrolatum is not actually moisturizing, because it does not penetrate. You can tell, because it leaves a greasy feeling and it is hard to “rub it in”. If you use baby oil on your body, the primary component is mineral oil. Hours later, your skin will still feel oily, because, again, it is not absorbed.
Plant oils or plant-based oils are better solutions, because they are more similar to your skin’s natural moisturizers. Those natural moisturizers are called sebum. Some are closer to sebum than others.
Cancer Connection?
I’ll get back to those plant-based oils in a moment, but first, let me give you one final reason to avoid petrolatum and other petroleum-based products. They may contain cancer-causing contaminants. Even some of the “natural” cleansers on the market have been found to contain cancer-causing Dioxane, because of the chemicals and the processes used during manufacturing. Cosmetic companies are not required to check the raw ingredients or the final batch for contaminants and most of them don’t.
The best company does test the plant oils that they use for contaminants, because of herbicides, pesticides and other hazardous chemicals that may be present. They also test the completed batch to be sure that there manufacturing processes are working correctly.
The plant-based oils that are similar to sebum include grape seed, avocado, Shea butter, jojoba, olive and palm oil. Shea butter is actually nearly identical to human sebum. It’s best for use at night, when its “healing quotient” is most effective. It is a little to heavy for most people to use during the day.
Best, Safest Moisturizer
You should be using a moisturizer containing plant oils after cleansing in the morning and before going to bed at night. Some “experts” suggest the use of cooking oils for this purpose, but emulsified plant-based oils are more effective. They are absorbed more quickly and don’t make the skin shiny. If you choose the right options, your skin will look better and your overall health will be protected. -Margaret Bell
Please visit for Margaret's recommended Skin Care Line of safe and effective products. A free Health Newsletter and Complete Skin Care Guide is available.
