Petrolatum 46.5% ●
TL;DR. This ingredient functions primarily as an occlusive skin protectant and film-former, reducing transepidermal water loss and giving balms, ointments, and barrier creams their dense slip and seal.
What does Petrolatum 46.5% do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient functions primarily as an occlusive skin protectant and film-former, reducing transepidermal water loss and giving balms, ointments, and barrier creams their dense slip and seal.
Is Petrolatum 46.5% clean?
From a clean beauty perspective, this ingredient has notable restricted-list friction because it is fossil-derived and depends on high refinement to control polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon impurities. Highly refined cosmetic and pharmacopeial grades are generally well tolerated on skin, with low sensitization potential.
Is Petrolatum 46.5% sustainable?
This material comes from nonrenewable fossil feedstocks and is not considered readily biodegradable. Its environmental profile is driven more by sourcing and persistence than by acute skin irritation concerns.
Is Petrolatum 46.5% COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS natural or organic standards because it is fossil-derived and outside the allowed feedstock and processing framework. It has limited Green Chemistry alignment due to nonrenewable sourcing and poor biodegradability, even though it is chemically stable and typically used without reactive solvents.
How does Petrolatum 46.5% work chemically?
This material is a purified semi-solid blend of mostly saturated, branched, and cyclic hydrocarbons, often centered roughly in the C20 to C50 range. It is used from low single digits to very high levels, and at 46.5% it acts as a major occlusive phase, with strong oxidation stability, broad pH compatibility, and best performance in anhydrous or water-in-oil systems.
Last updated 2026-05-13