Ingrédient · Ingrédient
Paraffinum liquidum
Highly refined mineral oil used as a skin-softening ingredient; safe on skin when properly refined.
Paraffinum liquidum is the INCI name for liquid paraffin, a refined mineral oil used in creams, lotions and balms to seal in moisture. Cosmetic-grade material is purified to remove impurities linked to cancer risk in crude mineral oil, so it's considered safe for skin at normal use levels, though it can clog pores in acne-prone people and isn't meant to be inhaled or swallowed in bulk.
Affiché en anglais — la traduction arrive.
Why it matters
Paraffinum liquidum is a purified liquid mineral oil derived from petroleum. In cosmetics it works as an emollient and occlusive: it sits on the skin's surface, slows water loss, and makes products feel smooth. It's chemically inert - it doesn't react with skin or absorb into the bloodstream in meaningful amounts. Most people can use it without any problem. People with acne-prone or very oily skin sometimes find it comedogenic (pore-clogging), and it offers no real skincare 'benefit' beyond a physical barrier - it's not a nutrient or active ingredient.
Sources (3)
- 1.Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, Annex III(eur-lex.europa.eu)
- 2.CosIng - Paraffinum Liquidum
- 3.IARC Monograph on Mineral Oils
