Lotions, creams, ointments, and cosmetics.
Despite mineral oil’s association with petroleum and the hype that it’s bad for or ages skin, keep in mind that petroleum is a natural ingredient derived from the earth. Mineral oil is not an ingredient to avoid unless you have oily skin, in which case the somewhat greasy texture of mineral oil won’t feel good. But again, mineral oil doesn’t clog pores, cause acne, or suffocate skin. The name mineral oil by itself is imprecise, having been used for many specific oils over the past few centuries. Other names, similarly imprecise, include white oil, liquid paraffin, pariffinum liquidum (Latin), and liquid petroleum. Baby oil is a perfumed mineral oil. Most often, mineral oil is a liquid by-product of refining crude oil to make gasoline and other petroleum products. This type of mineral oil is a transparent, colorless oil composed mainly of alkanes and cycloalkanes, related to petroleum jelly. It has a density of around 0.8 g/cm 3. 4 Reviews. The mineral oil that's used as medicine is a very refined, clear liquid distilled from petroleum. It's available over-the-counter (OTC) to treat a variety of ailments, including constipation, minor skin irritations, scalp conditions, ear-wax buildup, and others. A liquid form of mineral oil is taken by mouth, applied to the skin or scalp, and used in the ears. Mineral Oil for Constipation. Mineral oil is commonly used as a laxative. For this purpose, the oil can be taken by mouth or applied in the rectum in an enema, although there are different products for each. Mineral oil works as a laxative in two ways: It helps your stool retain water, and it acts as a lubricant. Mineral oil is used to treat constipation. It is known as a lubricant laxative. It works by keeping water in the stool and intestines. This helps to soften the stool and also makes it easier for stool to pass through the intestines.  Some people argue against the use of mineral oil, citing concerns that process it takes to extract it is damaging to the environment, and that it is a non-renewable resource. First, mineral oil is not a resource. It’s a byproduct of the petroleum industry. No one is drilling for oil to use for moisturizers. Mineral oil is extracted and purified from the petroleum refining process that occurs within other industries.  Mineral oil is one of the most commonly used oils in skin care products, but it often gets a bad rap. Here's what's fact and what's fiction when it comes to this frequently used moisturizer. 1  Rumor: Mineral oil dries the skin and causes premature aging.  Mineral oil is a colorless and odorless oil that’s made from petroleum—as a by-product of the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline. It’s long been used as a common ingredient in lotions, creams, ointments, and cosmetics. It’s lightweight and inexpensive, and helps reduce water loss from the skin. Tweet. Also called “liquid petroleum,” “paraffin oil,” and “white mineral oil,” mineral oil has long been used in a number of industries, including biomedicine, veterinary medicine, mechanical, electrical, and industrial. Nowhere is its use more debated, however, than in the cosmetics industry The mineral oil in skincare products is certified as either USP (United States Pharmacopeia) or BP (British Pharmacopeia). It’s completely safe, soothing, non-irritating, and perfectly healthy for skin. [1,3,4,5,6]. References Cited: 1  Rawlings A, Lombard K. A review on the extensive skin benefits of mineral oil. Mineral oil is not an ingredient to avoid unless you have oily skin, in which case the somewhat greasy texture of mineral oil won’t feel good. But again, mineral oil doesn’t clog pores, cause acne, or suffocate skin. Scientific Facts: Mineral Oil is a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons produced from the distillation of petroleum. It is refined to meet specifications appropriate for its use in cosmetics and personal care products, pharmaceuticals and food. It is sometimes used as a laxative. 
http://www.paulaschoice.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/definition/mineral-oil https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_oil http://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/mineral-oil http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-153865/mineral-oil-laxative-oral/details http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/acne/_/Is-Mineral-Oil-Bad-For-Skin http://www.self.com/flash/beauty-blog/2012/05/beauty-myth-or-fact-mineral-oi http://www.drfranklipman.com/3-key-reasons-to-avoid-mineral-oil/ http://www.paulaschoice.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/definition/mineral-oil http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient/mineral-oil-0
why are mineral oils used