Ingredient decoder

Mineral oil: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Paraffinum Liquidum

Acne verdict Low clog risk

Not a known pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic0-2 / 5
  • Irritancy0 / 5

What it does

Occlusive oil that softens skin and slows water loss.

  • Antistatic
  • Emollient
  • Skin protecting
  • Solvent

Mineral oil in plain English

Mineral oil is a purified, odorless oil that softens skin and slows water loss. It is often blamed for breakouts, but cosmetic-grade mineral oil rates low in testing. It is still occlusive, so some acne-prone skin prefers lighter textures.

Is mineral oil bad for acne?

Not based on the evidence we have. Mineral oil is not a known pore-clogger: it scored 0 to 2 out of 5 in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test of the raw ingredient. Our checker rates it as fine for acne-prone skin, so judge by how your own skin reacts.

Clean routine and still breaking out? The cause may be internal. See what is driving it

Also called

  • Paraffinum Liquidum
  • Liquid paraffin
  • White mineral oil
  • Paraffin oil

Related ingredients

Browse all ingredients A to Z

Frequently asked questions

Is mineral oil comedogenic?

Mineral oil scored 0 to 2 out of 5 for comedogenicity in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear study, where 0 means no clogging and 5 means severe. That is a low to moderate rating. The test used the raw ingredient, so a finished product may behave differently.

What does mineral oil do in skincare?

In short: occlusive oil that softens skin and slows water loss. In formulas it is used for antistatic, emollient, skin protecting and solvent.

What else is mineral oil called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, mineral oil can also appear as Paraffinum Liquidum, Liquid paraffin, White mineral oil or Paraffin oil.

Sources