September 30, 2020

Exploring Natural Substitutes for Petroleum

Petroleum is often found in personal care products, like lotion and cosmetics. But much research has shown that certain components of mineral oil are toxic, even carcinogenic. As such, many consumers are looking for natural ingredient substitutes for petrolatum in their personal care products.

Petroleum Concerns

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found that 22 percent of all conventional personal care products contain unsafe levels of 1,4-dioxane. “These trace contaminants in petroleum-based ingredients often readily penetrate the skin…and their presence in products is not restricted by government safety standards.”

According to Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, “Petrolatum, or petroleum jelly, derived from petroleum, is often used in personal care products as a moisturizing agent. When properly refined, petrolatum has no known health concerns. However, petrolatum is often not fully refined in the US, which means it can be contaminated with toxic chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).”

Read more about vegan petroleum jelly alternatives and plant-based petroleum jelly innovations on our blog: WHY ARE VEGAN PETROLEUM JELLY ALTERNATIVES TAKING CENTER STAGE?

3 Alternatives for Petroleum Based Ingredients for Personal Care Brands

Also known as Petrolatum, Petroleum Jelly, Paraffin Oil, Mineral Oil and White Petrolatum, Petroleum is odorless and colorless, and it has an inherently long shelf life which makes it a popular ingredient in skincare product formulations.

But, as we established above, petroleum-based ingredients can pose concerns for consumers, which is why it’s important for natural personal care brands to formulate with natural alternatives to conventional petroleum jelly.

Here are three of our favorites:

KahlJelly 7036Plus MB Vego from KahlWax

KahlJelly 7036Plus MB Vego from KahlWax (INCI: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil) is a vegan and natural alternative to conventional petroleum jelly based on berry wax. It is a multifunctional blend that can be used in all kinds of color cosmetics, skin and hair care applications. With a positive influence on TEWL, this natural ingredient provides formulations with a super soft, silky lip and skin feel and improves pay-off.

KahlJelly 7037 Berry from KahlWax

KahlJelly 7037 Berry from KahlWax (INCI: Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Wax, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil) is a vegan and natural alternative to conventional petroleum jelly based on berry wax without ascorbyl palmitate. This multifunctional blend can also be used in a variety of color cosmetics, skin and hair care applications.

Sucrabase SF BIO by Alchemy Ingredients

Sucrabase SF BIO by Alchemy Ingredients (INCI: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Sucrose Laurate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Water, Sucrose Stearate) is a “100% natural,” ready-to-use gel base and alternative for petroleum. This safe, mild, and preservative-free ingredient is very simple to use and acts as a fantastic base for an exfoliator.

Sucrabase SF BIO has an EWG rating of 1 and is 97.8% organically certified, making it one of the best petroleum substitutes used in personal care and cosmetic formulations.

Find Out More About Natural Substitutes for Petroleum Jelly

Want to learn more? Read our series on natural ingredient substitutes for cosmetic and personal care products:

Kinetik is an innovative raw materials supplier to the personal care, cosmetic and beauty industries. Our professionals will provide the guidance you need to innovate an effective cosmetic formulation with natural ingredients. Contact us at (732) 335-5775 to speak with one of our sales representatives today; we work with clients and represent suppliers worldwide.

Top 3 Natural Substitutes for Petroleum