Isoparaffin
Also known as: Paraffin, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum
Saturated white wax derived from petroleum | Highly purified for use in cosmetics
Addresses
EWG Safety Score
What Is Isoparaffin?
Paraffin is a type of white wax that helps smooth and soften skin as well as provide occlusive properties. It forms a flexible film on skin that prevents moisture loss, which is why you’ll see it in many products meant for dry skin and dry, chapped lips. Derived from petroleum and highly purified for use in cosmetics, paraffin is supplied as a solid (saturated) mixture of hydrocarbons, which are chemicals made up of only hydrogen and carbon (hence, “hydrocarbon”). A broad range of cosmetic ingredients are hydrocarbons, including the alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, natural waxes such as beeswax and plant oils such as those from palm, sunflower and coconut. In no way are any of these dangerous or bad ingredients for skin. Although its starting point is natural, paraffin is considered synthetic due to the processing it undergoes prior to its use in cosmetics. Paraffin is available with various melting points, so formulators can choose the degree to which this happens, a decision that impacts a cosmetic’s texture, spread and wear. Paraffin is considered safe and non-toxic as used in cosmetics, including products such as those for lips where some ingestion is possible. This ingredient has an extraordinarily wide use range, from 0.001%–90% depending on the type of product and its intended purpose. Note: newer research has shown that paraffin isn’t good at restoring skin’s barrier, which makes sense given it sits on skin’s surface due to its large size and, unlike ceramides and cholesterol, isn’t naturally found in skin. Other research on hand eczema has shown paraffin baths (extremely dry hands dipped in warm liquid paraffin) produced a significant improvement in dryness compared with placebo.
Benefits for Your Skin
Clinical Evidence & References
Published Research
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Clinical Experiments in Dermatology, June 2022, pages 1,154–1,164 [https://academic.oup.com/ced/article-abstract/47/6/1154/6693106]
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Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, December 2020, pages 1,144–1,150 [https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2020.0356]
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Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, November 2019, pages 5–14 [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31588613/]
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Toxicology Letters, October 2017, pages 70–78 [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378427417311542]
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International Journal of Toxicology, November-December 2012, pages 269S–295S [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1091581812463087]
Related Ingredients
Acrylates/Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer
A synthetic polymer that blends steareth-20 with one or more forms of methacrylic acid | Used as a thickening agent in skin care and hair care products
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
Synthetic polymer and film-forming agent | Serves to thicken cosmetic formulas
Ammonium Glycyrrhizate
Compound isolated from licorice plants | Used as a soothing, skin-conditioning agent in personal care products
Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder
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