Ingredient Index

Is Mineral Oil banned in Europe?

Restricted in EU

No: properly refined mineral oil is legal in EU cosmetics; EU law requires proof of the full refining history so carcinogenic impurities (PAHs) are absent, a documentation standard the US does not impose.

CAS: 8042-47-5 Also seen as: Paraffinum Liquidum, Liquid paraffin

What the EU does

Legal when refined, prohibited when not, and the difference is documentation. Untreated and mildly treated mineral oils are Annex II substances because they can contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), genuine carcinogens. Cosmetic-grade paraffinum liquidum is permitted specifically when the full refining history is known and the starting material/finished oil can be shown non-carcinogenic, the standard European pharmacopoeia-grade oils meet.

So European baby oil, Nivea Creme, and countless French pharmacy staples contain mineral oil legally. The EU rule is a supply-chain purity gate, not an ingredient verdict. (Mineral oil residues in food, via packaging, the "MOSH/MOAH" debate, is a separate EFSA workstream often mashed into this topic.)

Citation Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex II entries for unrefined petroleum derivatives (refining-history condition)

What the US does

Legal with no refining-history documentation requirement, though in practice US cosmetic and pharmaceutical mineral oil is USP-grade, which imposes its own purity testing. The FDA also approves mineral oil as an OTC skin protectant and laxative.

The "mineral oil is toxic" claim that circulates in clean-beauty marketing conflates cosmetic-grade oil with industrial lubricants. Dermatology's assessment is almost embarrassingly positive: highly refined mineral oil is non-comedogenic in modern testing, essentially non-allergenic, and one of the best-tolerated occlusives available.

Citation FDA OTC skin protectant monograph (21 CFR 347); USP purity standards

Products that commonly contain it

Mineral oil is the quiet base of classic skincare:

Baby oil (it's ~98% mineral oil plus fragrance)
Facial moisturizers and cold creams
Makeup removers and cleansing balms
Lip products
Ointment bases (often blended with petrolatum)

What to look for on a label

Names and non-issues:

"Paraffinum liquidum" (EU labels) = "mineral oil" (US labels): same ingredient
"Cera microcristallina"/"microcrystalline wax" and "paraffin" are related refined petroleum waxes, same purity logic
Cosmetic-grade is pharmacopoeia-tested in both markets; the EU adds the refining-history paper trail
"Mineral oil-free" is a texture/marketing preference, not a safety distinction

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Frequently asked questions

Is mineral oil banned in Europe?

No. Refined mineral oil with a documented refining history is legal and ubiquitous in EU cosmetics. Only unrefined or insufficiently refined grades, which can carry PAH impurities, are prohibited.

Is mineral oil legal in the United States?

Yes, with no refining-documentation requirement; USP-grade purity standards apply in practice, and the FDA approves it as an OTC skin protectant.

Does mineral oil clog pores?

Cosmetic-grade mineral oil scores low in modern comedogenicity testing; the old reputation came from crude industrial-grade oils in mid-century studies. It is one of the least allergenic moisturizing ingredients known.

What about mineral oil in food and lip products?

That is the separate MOSH/MOAH debate: EFSA has flagged certain aromatic mineral-oil fractions (MOAH) in food as a potential concern, mostly from packaging migration, and the EU is tightening food-contact standards. Cosmetic-grade oil on skin is a different exposure question.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed June 10, 2026 · How we assign statuses