Paraffinum Liquidum

Paraffinum Liquidum (mineral oil) is an inert, highly refined occlusive emollient typically used at moderate-to-high concentrations to reduce transepidermal water loss and support barrier repair. Clinical experience and patch-test data show very low rates of irritation and sensitization, with most reactions attributable to impurities or product occlusion effects rather than the ingredient itself. For severely reactive or compromised skin, it remains one of the most consistently well-tolerated moisturization bases, so I score it as exceptionally gentle rather than completely irritation-free. Safety Notes: In commercial skincare, Paraffinum Liquidum (mineral oil) appears at very low levels (~0.1–1%) as a slip/emolliency aid or makeup remover booster in lotions and cleansers, often secondary to esters/silicones. At the high end, it is sold directly to consumers as mineral oil (essentially neat) and is also used at very high levels (~50–95%+) in petrolatum/mineral-oil-based occlusive ointments, baby oils, and bath/cleansing oils; rinse-off oils can be similarly high prior to dilution. There is no specific EU/FDA cosmetic concentration cap for mineral oil in finished products (aside from purity/safety requirements), so the observed market maximum is effectively the near-neat raw material used as an OTC consumer product.

Suitability