Is Baby Oil Good for Your Face — or Bad? What You Need to Know Now

Human written by Dr. Heather Smith. Links are non-affiliate.

My husband and I both have childhood memories of baby oil. There's something about the scent of mineral oil that can take you back 40 years in an instant. For both of us, it reminds us of our dads. My husband's dad was a professional clown, and mineral oil was the only thing to get the thick, white face paint off his skin. My dad does woodworking and gunsmithing, and mineral oil is a mainstay in his world.

When it comes to skincare, there's a dizzying array of choices out there, and one that often comes up is baby oil. It's often seen as a gentle, affordable, go-to moisturizer — but is baby oil actually good for your face?

Or is baby oil secretly bad for your skin — and the planet?

These were the exact questions I asked when trying to manage my son's terrible newborn eczema. My mom-brain knew that purified petrolatum was considered safe, but my doctor-brain wanted something more natural, nourishing, and aligned with green beauty values.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• • The difference between baby oil and mineral oil (they’re not as different as you think)
  • Whether baby oil is actually good or bad for your face — and what science + green beauty experts say
  • Which plant-based oils offer better results for your skin, your values, and the environment

What's the Difference Between Baby Oil and Mineral Oil

Mineral oil and baby oil are essentially the same thing.

Mineral oil is a clear, odourless byproduct of distilling petroleum into gasoline. It is a common ingredient in various cosmetic and personal care products due to its properties as a moisturizer and a barrier to moisture loss. It is highly refined and purified for cosmetic use, which means that it doesn't contain the impurities that unrefined mineral oil, used in industrial applications, might contain (and which are known to be harmful and potentially carcinogenic).

Baby oil, on the other hand, is mineral oil with added fragrance to give it its signature scent. The mineral oil used in baby oil is the same highly refined and purified oil used in other cosmetic products. The name "baby oil" is more about marketing than the product being fundamentally different from other mineral oil products. 

When using either oil on your face, the results will essentially be the same. However, baby oil has the potential to trigger irritation if you are sensitive to fragrances.

How Baby Oil Works on Skin: What Science Says

Baby oil is a petroleum-based mineral oil that's been refined and fragranced. As an 'occlusive,' baby oil forms a barrier on your skin, preventing water loss. This function benefits dry skin, which can suffer from excessive moisture loss. This is a benefit seen when using any oils on your face, not specific to mineral oil.

The mineral oil used in skincare is highly purified, eliminating potentially harmful contaminants found in its unrefined form. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel, composed of independent scientists, has affirmed the safety of mineral oil in cosmetics. However, the proper purification steps are critical to ensuring this safety is maintained.

Is Baby Oil Bad for Skin? The Green Beauty Take

Despite being an effective moisturizer that is generally felt to be safe, baby oil may not meet everyone's skincare needs or personal values. From a green beauty standpoint, there are important aspects to consider.

First, baby oil is a byproduct of the petroleum industry, an industry linked to significant environmental issues like air and water pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change. As conscious consumers, we must all work to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels and their derivatives.

Second, many baby oils contain fragrances. While these can enhance user experience, they can also cause irritation or allergic reactions in some people. The lack of transparency regarding fragrance components—due to proprietary reasons—also raises concerns for those of us committed to knowing exactly what we're applying to our skin.

Most importantly, while baby oil may be a simple solution for preventing moisture loss, it lacks other skincare benefits. Unlike plant-based oils such as meadowfoam or jojoba, baby oil does not possess any benefits beyond simple moisturization.

If you use baby oil or mineral oil on your face, you're missing out on the opportunity to use nourishing oils that are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, and able to improve skin health, skin barrier function, and wound healing.

Better Than Baby Oil? Plant-Based Alternatives for Face Care

Because of its relationship with the petrochemical industry, mineral oil is on the bareLUXE list of worst oils for your face.

If the points above have led you to reconsider baby oil, there are plant-based alternatives that not only moisturize but also nourish your skin.

Oils derived from plants like jojoba and sunflower seed are rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids that can help repair and rejuvenate your skin. Not to mention, they are more environmentally friendly.

If you're specifically looking for a "baby" oil (to use on a baby), sunflower seed oil has been studied in the neonatal and premature birth scenarios in the developing world and is safe and helpful with newborn skin.

If I was going to make a DIY baby oil, I would choose 2 or 3 oils and 0 fragrance:

• Squalane is a saturated, plant-based hydrocarbon that is a perfect replacement for petrochemical mineral oil. It is essentially bioidentical to the squalene we produce on own skin, so reactions and allergies are almost unheard of.

• Sunflower seed oil (not high-oleic) is also excellent for the reason I mentioned above.

• Three others to consider would be meadowfoam, for it's gentleness, borage oil, for the GLA levels, and jojoba oil, for it's wax-like properties. 

FAQ

Can I put baby oil on my face?

Yes, you can put baby oil on your face, but whether you should depends on your skin type and values. Baby oil is highly refined mineral oil, often with fragrance. It’s generally safe—but there are more nourishing, plant-based oils that offer extra benefits for skin health. So why settle?

Is baby oil good for your face?

Baby oil can help lock in moisture, especially on dry skin. But it lacks nutrients, anti-oxidants, and the healing properties in natural oils like jojoba or rosehip. It’s not harmful for most, but it’s definitely not the best option.

Will baby oil clog pores?

Not usually. Mineral oil is considered non-comedogenic, meaning it doesn’t typically clog pores. However, baby oil often contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or acne-prone skin and possibly trigger breakouts.

Is baby oil safe for the environment?

Not really. While baby oil doesn’t bioaccumulate or act like microplastics, it’s still derived from petroleum—a major contributor to pollution and climate change. If you care about sustainability, it’s worth exploring greener options.

Is baby oil good for acne-prone skin?

No. Even though it’s not likely to clog pores, baby oil lacks all the phytochemicals that make plant oils so good for acne—like antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant components. Plus, fragrance can irritate inflamed skin. Oils like jojoba or manuka are better suited for acne-prone skin.

What are better alternatives to baby oil for your face?

Plant-based oils like jojoba, squalane, meadowfoam, and rosehip are excellent alternatives. They hydrate and nourish your skin with vitamins, fatty acids, and anti-oxidants—without the baggage of petroleum-derived ingredients.

Final Thoughts: Is Baby Oil Really Good for Your Face?

While baby oil isn't inherently bad for your skin and can function as a straightforward moisturizer, it's critical to consider both your skin's needs and personal values when deciding on your skincare routine.

Choosing skincare products is not merely about immediate effects but also long-term health and environmental impact. After all, a beautiful complexion is even more rewarding when it's achieved sustainably.

Chuberre B, Araviiskaia E, Bieber T, Barbaud A. Mineral oils and waxes in cosmetics: an overview mainly based on the current European regulations and the safety profile of these compounds. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2019 Nov;33 Suppl 7:5-14.