Liquid Paraffin is a highly refined, petroleum-derived liquid hydrocarbon mixture used in cosmetic and personal care formulations as an emollient and skin-conditioning ingredient. It is valued for its smooth texture, lubricating properties, and ability to form a protective film on the skin surface that helps reduce moisture loss.
Liquid Paraffin is commonly associated with the INCI name Paraffinum Liquidum. It is also known as white mineral oil, paraffin oil, and liquid petrolatum in certain commercial and technical contexts. The exact naming convention, grade, and applicable identifiers should be confirmed against the supplied product's technical documentation.
In cosmetic applications, Liquid Paraffin can be incorporated into moisturising creams, lotions, body oils, cleansing products, balms, massage formulations, and selected haircare products. Different viscosity grades are available, and the appropriate grade depends on the required texture, spreadability, and performance of the finished formulation.
Swapnroop supports cosmetic ingredient sourcing requirements for manufacturers, formulators, and personal care businesses. Before selecting Liquid Paraffin for commercial production, buyers should verify the INCI identity, CAS number, viscosity grade, refining quality, and relevant technical documentation.
Liquid Paraffin is a refined mixture of liquid hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum through suitable refining and purification processes. It is not a single pure chemical compound and therefore does not have one universal molecular formula or molecular weight.
In cosmetic terminology, Liquid Paraffin is commonly identified by the INCI name Paraffinum Liquidum. It is primarily used as an emollient, helping improve skin softness, lubricity, and the sensory characteristics of finished products.
Liquid Paraffin is generally a clear, colourless oily liquid with a low or negligible odour when appropriately refined. It is insoluble in water and can be incorporated into the oil phase of emulsions or used directly in suitable anhydrous formulations.
Commercial grades differ in viscosity, refining characteristics, purity requirements, and intended applications. Cosmetic formulations should use a grade documented as suitable for the intended use rather than relying on the generic product name alone.
Liquid Paraffin is a mixture of refined hydrocarbons, principally saturated paraffinic and naphthenic components. Its precise composition depends on the feedstock, refining process, viscosity grade, and commercial specification.
Identity note: Liquid Paraffin and Mineral Oil are closely related naming terms, but commercial documents may use different names and CAS/EC identifiers according to the grade and reference system. Confirm the exact INCI name and identifiers using the current certificate of analysis (COA), technical data sheet (TDS), and relevant regulatory documentation.
Liquid Paraffin functions primarily as an emollient. It helps soften the skin surface and contributes to a smooth, lubricated feel in creams, lotions, body oils, and other cosmetic products.
Liquid Paraffin helps condition the skin surface by depositing a thin lipid film. This can improve the sensory feel of the skin and support the intended conditioning performance of a formulation.
Liquid Paraffin can form a protective surface film that helps reduce transepidermal water loss. The degree of this effect depends on the grade, concentration, formulation structure, and application conditions.
The oily character of Liquid Paraffin can improve slip and spreadability during application. These properties are relevant to massage oils, body lotions, cleansing creams, and other products requiring smooth application.
Liquid Paraffin can be incorporated into the oil phase of emulsions and into anhydrous products. It may be combined with suitable emulsifiers, waxes, esters, silicones, and other emollients according to the formulation design.
Selected grades may be considered for hair oils and other haircare formulations where lubrication and surface conditioning are desired. Finished-product testing should assess residue, sensory feel, compatibility, and overall performance.
Liquid Paraffin is composed of a distribution of refined liquid hydrocarbons rather than triglycerides or a single molecular species. Its properties vary with the hydrocarbon distribution and the refining and purification processes used.
Important characteristics include:
Unlike botanical fixed oils, Liquid Paraffin does not have a conventional fatty-acid profile. Fatty-acid percentages should therefore not be used as a defining specification for this ingredient.
Numerical physical properties should be taken from the actual commercial grade's COA or TDS rather than applied universally across all Liquid Paraffin products.
Liquid Paraffin may be incorporated into:
Liquid Paraffin can be considered for body oils, hand creams, foot-care products, body lotions, massage formulations, and other personal care products where emolliency and lubricity are required.
Depending on the viscosity grade and formulation objectives, Liquid Paraffin may be evaluated in hair oils, conditioning products, and selected hair treatments. The finished formulation should be tested for spreadability, residue, compatibility, and sensory performance.
Liquid Paraffin can be used as an oil-phase component in cleansing creams and selected oil-based cleansing products. Formulators should assess its compatibility with the surfactant or emulsifier system and evaluate the rinsing and after-feel characteristics of the finished product.
Liquid Paraffin may be incorporated into suitable balms, massage blends, protective creams, and other anhydrous products. It can be combined with waxes and other emollients to achieve the desired consistency.
Liquid Paraffin can be included in the oil phase of emulsions. The choice of emulsifier, processing conditions, viscosity grade, and oil-phase concentration can influence stability, texture, and spreadability.
Liquid Paraffin may be considered for other cosmetic and personal care formulations where a suitably refined liquid hydrocarbon emollient meets the intended product requirements.
Before incorporating Liquid Paraffin into a cosmetic formulation, manufacturers should consider the following factors:
The recommended concentration should be determined through formulation development and testing. There is no single universal use level for all Liquid Paraffin applications.
Liquid Paraffin and Mineral Oil are closely related terms and may be used interchangeably in some cosmetic and commercial references. The INCI name commonly associated with Liquid Paraffin is Paraffinum Liquidum, while the term Mineral Oil is also widely used for refined petroleum-derived hydrocarbon mixtures.
However, the commercial name alone does not establish the precise viscosity, refining grade, or quality profile. Buyers should confirm the product identity and specifications through the supplier's documentation.
For product-page and regulatory purposes, use the INCI name and CAS/EC identifiers that match the actual supplied grade.
Liquid Paraffin and Petrolatum are related petroleum-derived materials, but they have different physical characteristics.
Liquid Paraffin is a liquid hydrocarbon mixture. Petrolatum is a semi-solid material with a different consistency and hydrocarbon distribution. Consequently, their viscosity, texture, spreadability, and contribution to the finished product can differ.
They should be specified as separate ingredients. Substituting one for the other may affect processing, product texture, stability, and sensory performance.
Swapnroop supports cosmetic ingredient sourcing requirements for manufacturers, formulators, and personal care businesses.
Product availability, grade, packaging, and specifications should be confirmed for the actual material offered before commercial or formulation commitments.
Businesses sourcing Liquid Paraffin in India should identify the intended viscosity grade and confirm that the material is suitably refined for cosmetic use. Different grades can have different physical properties, quality limits, and intended applications.
Before purchase, request the INCI designation, CAS and EC identifiers, viscosity grade, certificate of analysis, technical data sheet, relevant purity documentation, packaging details, shelf-life information, and storage recommendations.
Swapnroop can be contacted to discuss cosmetic ingredient requirements, intended applications, quantities, and technical documentation for evaluation. Any manufacturing or supply claim should accurately reflect the sourcing and production arrangements for the specific commercial grade.
Liquid Paraffin is a refined petroleum-derived mixture of liquid hydrocarbons used in cosmetic formulations mainly as an emollient and skin-conditioning ingredient.
The commonly used INCI name is Paraffinum Liquidum. Confirm the designation against the documentation for the supplied grade.
CAS 8012-95-1 and 8042-47-5 are commonly referenced for liquid paraffin and white mineral oil identities. The correct identifier should be confirmed against the commercial grade's technical documentation.
No. Liquid Paraffin is insoluble in water. It is used in oil-based formulations or incorporated into suitable emulsion systems.
It may be used in creams, lotions, body oils, cleansing products, massage formulations, balms, and selected haircare products where emolliency and skin conditioning are desired.
The terms are often used for closely related refined hydrocarbon oils. The precise commercial identity, INCI designation, and grade should be verified through supplier documentation.
No. Liquid Paraffin is a liquid oil, while Petrolatum is a semi-solid petroleum-derived material. They have different physical properties and are not automatically interchangeable.
No. Liquid Paraffin is a mixture of hydrocarbons, so one molecular formula does not represent the complete commercial material.
Relevant parameters include appearance, colour, viscosity, density, refractive index, and applicable purity-related quality controls. The precise limits depend on the grade and should be confirmed through the current COA and TDS.
Selected grades may be evaluated in hair oils and conditioning products. Suitability depends on the formulation objective, viscosity, residue, compatibility, and sensory characteristics.
No. The grade must be appropriate for the intended application and meet applicable purity and quality requirements. Industrial-grade material should not automatically be treated as cosmetic-grade material.
Availability, viscosity grade, packaging, minimum order quantity, and lead time should be confirmed with Swapnroop for the required material.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless to light-yellow liquid or oily liquid |