Petrolatum/Paraffin/Mineral Oil (Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons – PAHs) are mixtures derived from petroleum that can be found in moisturizers + lip balms. These ingredients are unsustainable and PAHs are linked to cancer.
Petrolatum, petroleum jelly, paraffin, mineral oil, and other PAHs are used in moisturizers, hand and body products, lip treatments, barrier creams, and many other personal care products. Petrolatum is derived from petroleum, from which gasoline is also derived. Petrochemicals are linked to cancer and wreak havoc on the environment.
These ingredients have been banned and/or highly regulated by The ASEAN Cosmetics Directive of 2015. [1]
[1] ASEAN (Association for Southeast Asian Nations). Annex II Part 1 – List of substances which must not form part of the composition of cosmetic products. Updated (2019). https://www.hsa.gov.sg/docs/default-source/hprg-cosmetics/annexes-of-the-asean-cosmetic-directive-(updated-july-2019).pdf
[2] Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). Breast Cancer Prevention Partners. (2015). https://www.bcpp.org/resource/polycyclic-aromatic-hydrocarbons
[3] CDC. EPA. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). (2009). https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-03/documents/pahs_factsheet_cdc_2013.pdf
[4] Society for Endocrinology. Endocrine-Related Cancer. (2014). https://erc.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/erc/21/2/T33.xml
[5] NIH. NCBI. Review of the estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: relationship to carcinogenicity. (1997). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9569946