The ingredient, explained

Mineral oils

Research examined Mineral oils under the stated study conditions.

Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Mineral oils are refined mixtures of hydrocarbons rather than one pure chemical. Different cosmetic mineral-oil materials are used as solvents, consistency modifiers and skin-protecting ingredients; the broad group name does not identify a particular grade.

About this ingredient: German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment: Mineral-oil identity and cosmetic functions ↗

A verified formulation role is not on file for this name.

Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.

A closer look

What the research shows

Human topical research

Both mineral oil and coconut oil improved skin hydration and surface lipid measures in the short xerosis trial.

What this does not tell us

34 patients selected after negative patch tests, 2 weeks, active comparison and no untreated vehicle. Exact oil refining grade is unverified. Results concern the evaluated mineral-oil preparation, not all petroleum mixtures or long-term safety; nonsignificant differences do not establish formal equivalence.

Sources for this summary. PubMed 15724344 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Review supplied candidate titles and available abstracts selectively for exact identity; targeted primary PubMed/publisher searches. This is not an exhaustive systematic review.