Ingredient
PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM
Name / description
Paraffinum Liquidum; Paraffin oils, Liquid hydrocarbons from petroleum
Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products
ANTISTATIC
Reduces electrostatic charges (eg of the hair)
FRAGRANCE FUNCTIONAL
Functional ingredient (excipient) of perfume oils and / or flavours
SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT
Softens and smoothens the skin
SKIN PROTECTING
Protects the skin from external influences
SOLVENT
Dissolves other substances
Origin
mineral/synthetic
Occurrence in cosmetics
Creams, ointments, emulsions and stick products
Background information on use in cosmetics
The term paraffins or mineral oils includes a large number of many different raw materials with different consistency, eg liquid oils or solid waxes. They have been used for decades in a large number of end consumer products. Cosmetic products like creams and lotions etc can also contain these substances. Paraffins are saturated, branched and non-branched hydrocarbons which are obtained from petroleum or can be produced synthetically. They are lipophilic (oil-receptive), hydrophobic (water-repellent) and are characterised by their high stability. All paraffins are insoluble in water, difficultly soluble in 100 % alcohol, mixable with fats, fatty oils and waxes. The liquid paraffins are also summed up under the designation “paraffin oil”. These are clear, colourless, odourless and tasteless viscous liquids. Mineral oils have film forming as well as hydrophobic (water repellent) properties in cosmetic products and support shine formation on the skin (eg in the event of lipsticks). Furthermore, they serve as consistency enhancers in creams and protect the skin against moisture loss. The paraffins used in cosmetics are highly purified, with a good tolerance and do not cause any skin irritations. The most frequently used hydrocarbons in cosmetics are paraffin oil (INCI: paraffinum liquidum) and Vaseline (INCI: petrolatum). On the basis of their consistency and origin it is distinguished between the following paraffins: Liquid paraffin, paraffin oil, mineral oil (INCI: paraffinum liquidum) contains many branched and also cyclical hydrocarbons. Hard paraffin (INCI: paraffin) is a solid mixture of saturated hydrocarbons. Microcrystalline wax (INCI: cera microcristallina) is a purified, solid paraffin with crystalline structures. Ozokerite (INCI: ozokerite) is a naturally occurring solid paraffin (natural wax) with solid, saturated, highly molecular hydrocarbons with admixtures of isoparaffins and aromatics. It can be used as consistency enhancer. Ceresin (INCI: ceresin) is an ozokerite purified by removal of the admixtures and is used as the latter. Vaseline (INCI: petrolatum) is the purified residue of the petroleum distillation consisting of n-paraffins and iso-paraffins. The paraffin fractions are solid and liquid and constitute a constant lipogel. Fragrances or mixtures of fragrances are often referred to in the cosmetics area as "perfuming agents" or "perfume oils" or "parfum oils". On the cosmetic products they are declared with the INCI name "PARFUM". These are undiluted individual substances or their mixtures which originate from natural raw materials or can be produced (semi-) synthetically. They are starting materials for the production of perfume, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne and other perfumed cosmetic products. The average content of fragrances amounts in perfume to 15-30 %, in eau de parfum to 10-14 %, in eau de toilette to 6-9 %, in eau de cologne to 3-5 % as well as in skin creams, shampoos, hair and deodorant sprays to approximately 0.2-1 % and approximately 1-3 in deodorant sticks. The perfume oils include essential oils, resinoids and absolutes. The sources are, amongst others, flowers, leaves and stems, fruits and fruit peels or roots of plants; woods, grasses or herbs, needles, resins and balsams. Moreover, only compounds isolated from natural products such as aldehydes, ketones, esters, alcohols etc. are used (geraniol, citronellal, citral, eugenol, menthol) as well as semi-synthetic (citronellol, geranyl acetate, jonone) and synthetic scents (eg phenylethyl alcohol and linalool) are used. Scents of animal origin such as musk and ambra are only rarely used.
Information on safe use
Why are we talking about it?
Mineral oils are accused of forming an impermeable film on the surface of the skin. Consumer associations have raised the question of the potential presence of undesirable compounds in mineral oils. The facts: Mineral oils are known in cosmetics as occlusive. This does not mean that they suffocate the skin (which does not breathe), but that the film they form on the skin's surface limits insensible water loss, which puts them in the category of moisturisers. They do not clog pores or cause imperfections. The term mineral oil covers a wide range of ingredients, whose characteristics (structure, viscosity etc.) vary, but which are all composed of hydrocarbons known as “saturated”. Mineral oils used in cosmetics are refined to a high, pharmaceutical grade of purity (1). Mineral oils used in lip products are safe enough to be ingested (2). Mineral oils do not penetrate the skin barrier; they are moreover inert and perfectly tolerated, which makes them a good ally to fragilized skin. Key points to take away: Mineral oils are very well known cosmetic ingredients and are very safe to use (1), both on the skin and on the lips. The purity criteria required in cosmetics limit the presence of undesirable compounds to a minimum, without any health risk (2). The fact that they do not penetrate the skin barrier as well as their occlusive nature are assets in the care of the most fragile skins. They are even used in medical environments in the management of damaged skin (burns, wounds). Sources: (1) Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BFR): Highly refined mineral oils in cosmetics: Health risks are not to be expected according to current knowledge, 2018: https://mobil.bfr.bund.de/cm/349/highly-refined-mineral-oils-in-cosmetics-health-risks-are-not-to-be-expected-according-to-current-knowledge.pdf (2) COSMETICS EUROPE: Mineral hydrocarbons in cosmetic lip care products, 2018: https://cosmeticseurope.eu/download/N08vNnB0TUhMbWpwQmlqVk9UZzdwZz09
Belongs to the following substance groups
Regulating cosmetics
Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.
Database
Cosmetics matter to people and play an important role in our everyday life. On average European consumers use over seven different cosmetics daily. You too? It’s only natural that you want to know more about the ingredients in those products.
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