No, cosmetics paraffin is not toxic or dangerous and does not mean "oil"

You have asked us about this Facebook post that exposes the supposed effects and negative properties of paraffin, one of the most common components in the cosmetic products of our usual supermarket.

The first thing is to clarify that in cosmetics liquid paraffin (Paraffinum liquidum) is used and not dried paraffin, and it is from that substance that we are going to talk about in this article.It is a very common compound and can be found in the labeling of gels, colonies and children's body oils.

Despite the concerns that awakens, it is important to be clear* that liquid paraffin is safe in any amount.The legislation imposes a limit to the percentage of impurities that it can possess (less than 0.005% or 3% of the total, depending on the substance) since these possible impurities can be a health risk.

Where does the fear of a compound so used in the composition of these articles come from?Part of the concern arises from its origin: paraffin is a mineral oil that is extracted from oil.But it must be clear that this does not determine your safety or toxicity.

"Chemically no matter what the origin of the compound, that is not going to do better or worse," he explains to damn science Deborah García Bello, chemistry and scientific disseminator.

Paraffin is one of the cheapest emollients that exist.These substances soften, soften or restore the fatty content of the most superficial layer of our skin.According to García Bello, it allows to formulate good products at very affordable prices and that "have not given problems in more than 100 years".

Nideshydrate or cause irritations

The paraffin used in cosmetics works mainly due to occlusiveness, that is, it remains a transparent layer at the top of the skin and hinders water loss.This is the main function of moisturizing creams: they do not provide water, but prevent it from being lost, something that is usually understood upside down.So no, cosmetics with paraffin do not dehydrate.

via Giphy

In addition, it is inert and does not go through the epidermis, the first layer of the skin.That is why there is no evidence that it is capable of causing either allergies, or irritations, much less other problems such as dizziness, headaches, cough, dark spots or loss of concentration, such as alert the Facebook post.

Strict Security Professor before reaching the market

There are many safety and quality evaluation tests of a product of these characteristics must be overcome to manage on the shelves of our supermarket.

Suregulation is collected in the Regulation1223/2009 of the Parliament and the Council of November 30, 2009, in the cosmetic products, which entered into force on July 11, 2013.

The document compiles substances permitted and prohibited at European level in the composition of the most common items in our bathroom: facial creams, shampoos, gels, deodorants, perfumes, makeup and products for offspring, etc..How much to use, in what concentration, what cannot be mixed and what themetic can contain it are some of the data that includes.

Comply with this regulation is mandatory and you can not sell a product that does not do so, either because it contains an unpropated substance or by poor labeling.

"Paraffin is among the ingredients that can be used," explains García Bello."It even appears in the regulation with specifications on its purity, so you have to comply with these parameters to pass these controls," he concludes.

Paraffin is within the legal standards as long as it respects the maximum amount of impurities* allowed by regulation 1223/2009, which must be less than 0.005% of the total in the case of benzo (a) Pyrene and less than 3% in the case of dimethylsulfoxide, which are the two impurities that may appear in paraffin.

The conclusion is clear: we will not find insecure cosmetics if they are labeled correctly, since this assures us that they have overcome quality controls.If so, they would not have reached the store.

Holy hand?Either

However, that cosmetics are safe and comply.Nor is it beneficial or harmless to consumers with special needs, such as some type of allergy or intolerance.

*Update: We have modified this article to correct some errors.In the first version we said that paraffin can be used in a cosmetic as long as it meant less than 0.005% of the total product, below which is considered safe.Actually, there is no limit on the amount of paraffin that a product can contain because they are safe in any amount.The 0.005% limit refers to the amount of impurities that the product can contain.