FRIGHTFUL 15: #9 PETROLEUM / PETROLATUM / MINERAL OIL
David Thielen | Upsplash
What Is It and Why in Skincare and Personal Care Products?
It’s used as a barrier to lock moisture in the skin in a variety of moisturizers and also in hair care products to make your hair shine. You can expect to find petroleum and petroleum byproducts in everything from shampoos and conditioners to anti-aging creams, body lotions, mascaras, perfumes, lipsticks, lip balms, foundations, hair relaxers, conditioners, eye shadows, and nail polishes. Common product names include Vaseline or petroleum jelly.
So What’s So Bad?
Petroleum, petrolatum and mineral oil can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Studies suggest that exposure to PAHs — including skin contact over extended periods of time — is associated with cancer.
Often petroleum is listed on the label under cleverly disguised names, such as mineral oil or words ending in “eth,” which indicates it required a petrochemical to produce it. Here’s a list of cosmetic and health product petrochemicals to look for on ingredient labels:
· Ethanolamine
· Ethanol and words with “ethyl,” such as ethyl alcohol, ethylene oxide, ethylene dichloride, ethylene-diamine-tetracetatic acid (EDTA), ethylene glycol
· Fragrance or parfum, as chemicals used in fragrances are derived from petroleum
· Methanol and words with “methyl,” such as methyl alcohol, methylparaben, and methylcellulose
· Parabens (e.g., propylparaben, methylparaben, butylparaben, benzylparaben)
· Paraffin wax
· Phenoxyethanol
· Propyl-containing substances such as isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, cocamidopropyl betaine
· Toluene
· Words ending in “eth” (e.g., ceteareth, laureth, myreth, oleth)
These petroleum products suffocate your skin and clog pores increasing risk for acne and blackheads. Skin absorbs the chemicals (some of which are potentially carcinogenic), which then get into your bloodstream. This is dangerous for everyone, but especially children, women who are pregnant, and the developing fetus.
VERDAUD does not contain any petroleum products.
(Source: https://theskincareedit.com/2014/10/16/petroleum-mineral-oil-skin-products