Why should I avoid Petrolatum based products in my dermocosmetics?
Reaffirming our commitment to clean beauty and the clean beauty movement, which values products free of potentially toxic ingredients for health, in today’s blog we discuss one of the most commonly used components in the industry: petrolatum. With the information in this text, we hope to raise awareness so people can make better and more conscious choices about what we use for our self-care.
What is it? Petrolatum is a byproduct of petroleum, with a gelatinous and colorless or yellowish consistency, that undergoes a series of refining processes to remove paraffin, as well as all heavy oils, for use by the industry. Petrolatum can be used for various purposes and is found in the formulations of medicines, cosmetics, and hair products due to its low cost.
Petroleum derivatives do not provide benefits for skin hydration per se, but the cosmetic industry uses petrolatum in its products because it acts by occlusion, that is, it prevents water loss by forming a protective film on the skin to retain moisture.
Why avoid it? Firstly, petroleum is not a renewable raw material! Additionally, this component is not biodegradable and can accumulate in aquatic organisms, causing imbalances in marine life. In our bodies, the impacts are related to the health of hair follicles and skin pores, as it is a comedogenic and impermeable agent.
How to identify it? To avoid using products with petrolatum in the formula, always check if any of these components are present in the formula before purchasing a cosmetic or medicine. Below are the most common forms in which this compound appears on packaging:
- Paraffinum liquidum
- Paraffin
- Isoparaffin
- Synthetic wax
- Microcrystalline wax and hydrogenated microcrystalline wax
- Cera microcrystalline
- Petrolatum
- Ceresin
- Ozokerite
- Mineral Oil
- Vaseline
- C12-20 Isoparaffin
- C13-14 Isoparaffin
- Isododecane
- Isododecene
- Dodecene
- Dodecane
- Alkane
Commitment to Clean Beauty Looking for dermocosmetics free of potentially toxic ingredients? At Ozoncare, we adhere to the principles of clean beauty. With our products, you can be sure that you are taking care of your beauty safely and with quality, from the inside out. Make this conscious choice and start taking care of your beauty with love and responsibility!
