Thread: Mineral Oil as an aftershave?

Evoo works if you want to use olive oil. Light olive oil isn't good for youe skin.

Originally Posted by Disburden

Evoo works if you want to use olive oil. Light olive oil isn't good for youe skin.

And why not?

Try some in your shaving soap after you have it whipped up.
Works pretty good for me.

Sometimes after a shave my skin is especially dry so i use a bit of my PlanetOne pre-shave oil. But that's after a cold water splash and a dash of aqua. I wouldn't use mineral oil though, use olive oil instead.

Originally Posted by BYUTexan

I haven't seen it discussed but I'd be curious to know if it would work as an aftershave.

No, no, no...if you ask me. Stay away from mineral oil on your skin. Main reason is that mineral oil is considered an emollient. As such, it tend to fill in the spaces between the cells in the skin, helping replace lipids and thus smoothing and lubricating rough skin. Now, since mineral oil is NOT water soluble and likes fatty substances like lipids, it will stay there and trap essential "things" (e.g., toxins, moisture, etc...) from "effectively" getting in or out of the fluid cell membranes of a cell.

There's also anecdotal evidence suggesting that it clogs pores. I think this is true...As Jhenry suggested, if you use it long enough (1-2 weeks, maybe sooner), you'll start seeing black heads from trapped dead cells and bacteria.

What you want to do after a good shave is to keep your skin clean (breathing), moisturize, sooth and reduce inflammation (from teh very act of shaving) in your skin. Most "good" balms will have NO alcohol in them...although alcohol tends to cool skin, it does add to the inflammatory response...you don't want that. Use something that has Glycerin in it with essential fatty acids and oils (not mineral). Something with Aloe will also reduce inflammation. There's tons of good choices.

I use Woody's post-shave, Trumper's skin food, T&H balms, and I am thinking about getting myself one of NancyBoy's replenishing aftershave balms

My 2 cents

Cheers,
-Robert

Respectfully, some of this just does not make any sense.

Though mineral oil is indeed an emollient, so are all other oils and microwaxes that one might use including jojoba oil, lanolin, and all vegetable oils. All oils and micro waxes are not water soluable, and all oils and micro waxes like fatty substances, vegetable oils are in fact fatty substances themselves (mineral oil is not, but it will mix with these). All oils seal the skin keeping water and other polar sustances in/out.

Mineral oil is not readily adsorbed onto the surface of your skin so it tends to retain a greasy feel. Some (but not all) vegetable oils are more easily absorbed and do not leave this residue.

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

No, no, no...if you ask me. Stay away from mineral oil on your skin. Main reason is that mineral oil is considered an emollient. As such, it tend to fill in the spaces between the cells in the skin, helping replace lipids and thus smoothing and lubricating rough skin. Now, since mineral oil is NOT water soluble and likes fatty substances like lipids, it will stay there and trap essential "things" (e.g., toxins, moisture, etc...) from "effectively" getting in or out of the fluid cell membranes of a cell.

There's also anecdotal evidence suggesting that it clogs pores. I think this is true...As Jhenry suggested, if you use it long enough (1-2 weeks, maybe sooner), you'll start seeing black heads from trapped dead cells and bacteria.

What you want to do after a good shave is to keep your skin clean (breathing), moisturize, sooth and reduce inflammation (from teh very act of shaving) in your skin. Most "good" balms will have NO alcohol in them...although alcohol tends to cool skin, it does add to the inflammatory response...you don't want that. Use something that has Glycerin in it with essential fatty acids and oils (not mineral). Something with Aloe will also reduce inflammation. There's tons of good choices.

I use Woody's post-shave, Trumper's skin food, T&H balms, and I am thinking about getting myself one of NancyBoy's replenishing aftershave balms

My 2 cents

Cheers,
-Robert

Originally Posted by MasterRolf

Respectfully, some of this just does not make any sense.

Though mineral oil is indeed an emollient, so are all other oils and microwaxes that one might use including jojoba oil, lanolin, and all vegetable oils. All oils and micro waxes are not water soluable, and all oils and micro waxes like fatty substances, vegetable oils are in fact fatty substances themselves (mineral oil is not, but it will mix with these). All oils seal the skin keeping water and other polar sustances in/out.

Mineral oil is not readily adsorbed onto the surface of your skin so it tends to retain a greasy feel. Some (but not all) vegetable oils are more easily absorbed and do not leave this residue.

Fats and fatty acids are not to be confused.
Olive oil (and other oils), or vitamins E, A, K and the like are fat soluble too...but, in right amounts are necessary and bio-degradable (they get metabolized by your body).


The part that has to make sense is the "biodegradability" of the oil/fat.

1. Just because something is fatty doesn't mean it's bad for you. For example, olive oil is composed of triglycerols (free fatty acid + glycerin). Both of which the body uses and as such are biodegradable. Besides most of these oils are fatty acids (Fatty acids are produced by the hydrolysis of the ester linkages in a fat or biological oil (both of which are triglycerides), with the removal of glycerol...which, BTW, most of us here like o use as a moisturizer )...Also, not all fatty acids are usable by the body.

2. On the other hand, Mineral oil (known as "Rock oil" because it is distilled from petroleum products underground) is NOT bio degradable...It sticks around. Even though it likes lipids (like it's fatty acid cousin), it will not get utilized by the body in anyway. it will stick around unless "washed" away. Even Jojoba oil in your example is a mixture of wax esters, 36 to 46 carbon atoms in length. Each molecule consists of a fatty acid and a fatty alcohol joined by an ester bond...although not metabolized by the human body, it is used for skin protection, but it is not an occlusive like lanolin, mineral oil and petrolatum, which can cause inflammation and anaerobic microbial growth in and around pores.


Correct that all oils will mix with lipids, but those that can get metabolized (like vegetable oils) will be preferred rather than those that don't (mineral oil).

-Robert

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

Fats and fatty acids are not to be confused.
Olive oil (and other oils), or vitamins E, A, K and the like are fat soluble too...but, in right amounts are necessary and bio-degradable (they get metabolized by your body).


The part that has to make sense is the "biodegradability" of the oil/fat.

1. Just because something is fatty doesn't mean it's bad for you. For example, olive oil is composed of triglycerols (free fatty acid + glycerin). Both of which the body uses and as such are biodegradable. Besides most of these oils are fatty acids (Fatty acids are produced by the hydrolysis of the ester linkages in a fat or biological oil (both of which are triglycerides), with the removal of glycerol...which, BTW, most of us here like o use as a moisturizer )...Also, not all fatty acids are usable by the body.

2. On the other hand, Mineral oil (known as "Rock oil" because it is distilled from petroleum products underground) is NOT bio degradable...It sticks around. Even though it likes lipids (like it's fatty acid cousin), it will not get utilized by the body in anyway. it will stick around unless "washed" away. Even Jojoba oil in your example is a mixture of wax esters, 36 to 46 carbon atoms in length. Each molecule consists of a fatty acid and a fatty alcohol joined by an ester bond...although not metabolized by the human body, it is used for skin protection, but it is not an occlusive like lanolin, mineral oil and petrolatum, which can cause inflammation and anaerobic microbial growth in and around pores.


Correct that all oils will mix with lipids, but those that can get metabolized (like vegetable oils) will be preferred rather than those that don't (mineral oil).

-Robert

Mineral oil is in fact biodegradable as there are a number of microbes that will digest it.

Nothing you put on your skin will be metabolized by you, it may or may not be metabolized by microorganisms on your skin.

Olive oil is a fat, not a mixture of free fatty acids and glycerol. It is actually a triglyceride, an ester formed by the combination of three fatty acids and a single glycerine molecule. As with all fats, there are trace amounts of free fatty acids present, but the bulk of the oil is the single tryglyceride compound.

If by biodegradable you mean digestible by humans, then you are right, olive oil is and mineral oil is not. Many fats are disgestible, but some are not (castor oil for example is a fat that is not digestible). As mentioned before, nothing you put on your skin is going to be digested by you so this really does not matter (jojoba oil by the way is not digestible either, but it's not a fat).

Most fats have a low pH (ie, they are acidic) due to the presence of free fatty acids. Mineral oil is essentially neutral (pH close to 7.0). Your skin is naturally acidic. Everyone can form their own conclusions as to what, if anything, this means.

Food and cosmetic grade mineral oils (aka as white oils) are highly refined and are essentially pure paraffins.

I'm not sure what you mean by occlusive. No fat, wax or oil is absorbed into your skin, some are adsorbed onto its surface, and some are not. Those that are adsorbed tend to feel less greasy after application, but all remain on the surface. If they did not, they would have no benefits as an emollient.

Originally Posted by MasterRolf

Mineral oil is in fact biodegradable as there are a number of microbes that will digest it.

Nothing you put on your skin will be metabolized by you, it may or may not be metabolized by microorganisms on your skin.

Olive oil is a fat, not a mixture of free fatty acids and glycerol. It is actually a triglyceride, an ester formed by the combination of three fatty acids and a single glycerine molecule. As with all fats, there are trace amounts of free fatty acids present, but the bulk of the oil is the single tryglyceride compound.

If by biodegradable you mean digestible by humans, then you are right, olive oil is and mineral oil is not. Many fats are disgestible, but some are not (castor oil for example is a fat that is not digestible). As mentioned before, nothing you put on your skin is going to be digested by you so this really does not matter (jojoba oil by the way is not digestible either, but it's not a fat).

Most fats have a low pH (ie, they are acidic) due to the presence of free fatty acids. Mineral oil is essentially neutral (pH close to 7.0). Your skin is naturally acidic. Everyone can form their own conclusions as to what, if anything, this means.

Food and cosmetic grade mineral oils (aka as white oils) are highly refined and are essentially pure paraffins.

I'm not sure what you mean by occlusive. No fat, wax or oil is absorbed into your skin, some are adsorbed onto its surface, and some are not. Those that are adsorbed tend to feel less greasy after application, but all remain on the surface. If they did not, they would have no benefits as an emollient.

Actually, the human skin (including the face) contains aerobic bacteria that produce esterases and lipases that can digest these triglycerides. Sure...there are bugs that can eat away petroleum and engineered to make rubber and degrade that too...but, you still won't see me put mineral oil (even refined) on my skin...I choose my fats and fatty acids carefully. I prefer something I can wash easily. Not that vegetable oil is something I would use, but given the choice, I would use it over mineral oil ,any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

But, as I always say (and so did you)...to each his own.

Cheers,
-Robert

Ok… so how about glycerin. I read the UBER LATHER thread and am just too lazy or time deprived to make UBER lather most days.

I build lather on my face but admit I was intrigued. I bought some glycerin at Walgreens, saw it at Wall Mart as well and dribbled 4 drops into my palm, applied to a wet face, rubbing it in well. Strop my razor, dab my brush in to the soap and rub briskly on to my face.

This does result into a some what nicer, finer lather… Uber? I don’t know, it does seem richer, thicker and the shave seems smoother.

I finish up with a couple of drops in my palm and onto a wet face after shaving.

So far, good results.

I am going to try the EVOO with the same proceedure.

Your thoughts?

Marty