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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Fair

Mineral Oil

SEARCH PRODUCTS

Other Concerns

Persistence and bioaccumulation (low_moderate) and Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low_moderate)

SYNONYMS

● PETROLEUM WHITE MINERAL OIL
● MINERAL OIL HYDROCARBON SOLVENT (PETROLEUM); MINERAL OIL (SATURATED PARRAFIN OIL)
● PARAFFIN OIL
● PARAFFINIC OIL
● PETROLATUM
● PHYTOBLEND PARAFFINIC OIL
● PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS
● PETROLEUM OIL, PARAFFIN BASED (PREVIOUSLY CHEMICAL CODE 2045)
● MINERAL SEAL OIL
● MINERAL OIL

Restricted

Restricted: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation

Mineral Oil is a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • MODERATE
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • LOW
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

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diaper cream58 products
styling gel/lotion118 products
after shave14 products
facial moisturizer/treatment159 products
hand cream114 products
anti-aging14 products
moisturizer654 products
conditioner200 products
facial cleanser46 products
foot moisturizer38 products
skin fading/lightener11 products
styling mousse/foam8 products
hair styling aid168 products
hair color and bleaching136 products
hair removal waxes21 products
baby lotion43 products
depilatory48 products
sunless tanning34 products
bath oil/salts/soak19 products
foundation156 products
facial powder83 products
bronzer/highlighter167 products
blush81 products
eye shadow368 products
concealer87 products
eye liner115 products
lip gloss676 products
baby oil68 products
antiperspirant/deodorant269 products
hair treatment/serum163 products
lip balm593 products
hair-loss treatment6 products
tanning oil19 products
body firming lotion152 products
makeup remover23 products
toners/astringents1 products
nail treatment11 products
eyelash glue7 products
lipstick378 products
hair relaxer32 products
detangler6 products
Putties, Puddings & Clays2 products
body spray6 products
tooth whitening2 products
body wash/cleanser59 products
mascara15 products
eye makeup remover8 products
cuticle treatment15 products
body oil58 products
mask79 products
oil controller4 products
toothpaste3 products
Eye Shadow Primers2 products
brow liner48 products
glitter38 products
body art4 products
after sun product15 products
Oils & Serums7 products
fragrance for women7 products
hair spray21 products
bar soap33 products
exfoliant/scrub56 products
serums & essences13 products
shampoo10 products
shaving cream19 products
muscle/joint soreness6 products
Other Hair Care Preparations3 products
depilatory (men's)2 products
Preshave Preparations1 products
mouthwash3 products
shaving cream (men's)5 products
Moisturizing Socks2 products
makeup primer9 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)105 products
damaged skin treatment11 products
lip balm with SPF23 products
around-eye cream10 products
recreational sunscreen73 products
foot odor control6 products
BB cream10 products
lip plumper64 products
setting powder/spray13 products
Fragrance Lotion or Cream2 products
baby sunscreen8 products
Under Eye Concealers5 products
baby soap3 products
bubble bath5 products
foot cleansing2 products
lip liner19 products
pore strips2 products
beard care10 products
liquid hand soap7 products
beard oil2 products
daily use with SPF8 products
Facial Sun Care5 products
Hair Styling Gel4 products
baby bubble bath1 products
hand sanitizer2 products
nail glue2 products
hair perm1 products
Wipes1 products
baby powder1 products
Denture Care1 products
Decollete and Neck Creams1 products
Baby Bath Treatments, Tablets and Powders1 products
other eye makeup1 products
baby shampoo1 products
nail polish1 products
Tanning Sprays1 products
baby wipes1 products
Exfoliants2 products

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Ingredient is suspected or measured to accumulate in peopleMineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) in female Fischer 344 rats; accumulation of wax components; implications for risk assessment(2017-04-01)
Ingredient is suspected or measured to accumulate in peopleMineral oil in human tissues, part II: characterization of the accumulated hydrocarbons by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography(2015-02-01)
Not suspected to be persistentEnvironment Canada
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada

Multiple, additive exposure sources

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in foodUS Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as expected to be toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada
Classified as medium human health priorityEnvironment Canada

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada

Allergies/immunotoxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Possible human immune system toxicant or allergenUS National Library of Medicine,
Human immune and respiratory toxicant or allergen - strong evidenceAssociation of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC)
  • Mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) in female Fischer 344 rats; accumulation of wax components; implications for risk assessment(2017-04-01)
  • Mineral oil in human tissues, part II: characterization of the accumulated hydrocarbons by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography(2015-02-01)
  • Environment Canada
  • US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • US National Library of Medicine,
  • Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC)

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

Can’t find your product?

Enter the ingredients in EWG’s Build Your Own Report tool to get an approximate score for that product.

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