Why Holiko Doesn’t Use Mineral Oils

Beatrix Förster
2020-08-05T17:40:00+02:00

Mineral oils offer temporary comfort, but they don’t support your skin’s long-term health. Learn why Holiko avoids them — and how natural oils help your skin rebuild balance from within.

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When testing our Colostrum Hydrofluid, many people with sensitive or dry skin tell us the same thing: they’re used to using products that contain mineral oil — ingredients like Paraffinum Liquidum, Petrolatum, or Cera Microcristallina.

These ingredients are common in barrier care products — but they come with some important trade-offs.

What Mineral Oils Do in Cosmetics

Mineral oils are often used in skincare because they’re inert (non-reactive) and form a smooth, occlusive layer over the skin. This layer:

Reduces moisture loss

Softens dry patches

Makes fine lines look temporarily smoother

Gives the feeling of comfort and protection

So far, so good — especially if your skin is very dry or inflamed.

But here’s the problem: mineral oils don’t actually feed or support the skin. They act like a temporary blanket, masking dryness rather than addressing its root causes.

The Downside of Mineral Oils

While they feel soothing in the short term, mineral oils:

Prevent external signals (like humidity and temperature changes) from reaching the skin — this can slow down natural regulation

Inhibit the production of your skin’s own lipids and moisture-binding factors

Don’t offer physiological building blocks for the skin to absorb or use

Can cause a cycle where skin feels dry underneath the film, but appears smooth on the surface

In other words, the skin becomes passive — dependent on the product — rather than supported to strengthen itself.

Why We Choose Natural Oils Instead

At Holiko, we take a different approach. We don’t use mineral oils in our products. Instead, we formulate with plant-based oils and active ingredients that nourish, support, and strengthen the skin — especially when it’s fragile or out of balance.

Natural oils are structurally similar to your skin’s own lipids

They’re broken down by skin enzymes and incorporated into the barrier

They help stimulate the skin’s ability to regulate and regenerate on its own

Tip: Think of natural oils as building blocks for the skin, not just surface-level moisturizers.

Transitioning Away From Mineral Oils

If you’ve been using mineral oil-based products, your skin may go through an adjustment period when switching to natural cosmetics. This is totally normal.

You might experience:

A brief phase of dryness or tightness

A few small impurities as the skin detoxes

A sensation of “restlessness” while your barrier re-learns how to regulate itself

Tip: Be gentle and consistent. Your skin is rebuilding resilience — and that takes time.

The Long-Term Benefit

Once your skin adjusts, the difference is noticeable. Skin feels more balanced, less reactive, and more self-sufficient. It no longer relies on artificial films to feel “normal.” It learns to be healthy — on its own terms.

And to us, that’s worth every step of the journey.