When you pick up a bottle of lotion, you’re probably thinking about one thing: how it feels on your skin.
Does it absorb quickly? Does it leave your hands feeling soft? Does it really help when your skin feels dry?
You’re probably not always thinking about where every ingredient came from, how it was sourced, or why one ingredient was chosen over another.
And that makes sense. Ingredient lists can feel overwhelming. There are so many names, a multitude of claims, and so many opinions about what belongs in a skincare product.
But those details matter to us.
At Oonly Organic, we believe the story behind an ingredient matters just as much as what it does. That’s why you won’t find petroleum-derived ingredients like petrolatum, mineral oil, or paraffin in our Hand & Body Lotion.
Not because they’re unsafe. They’re not.
Petroleum-derived ingredients are some of the most studied and widely used ingredients in skincare. They’re effective, reliable, and excellent at helping skin hold on to moisture.
We simply chose a different approach, one built around renewable, plant-based ingredients with origins we can trace.
Is Petroleum Safe in Skincare?
Before we explain why we don’t use petroleum, it’s worth understanding why so many skincare products do.
Petroleum-derived ingredients have been part of skincare for more than a century because they solve a very specific problem: moisture loss.
Ingredients like petrolatum, mineral oil, and paraffin are known as occlusives. They create a protective layer on the skin that helps slow transepidermal water loss (TEWL) — the natural process where water leaves the skin’s surface.
In simple terms, they help your skin hold on to the moisture it already has.
That’s why petrolatum, in particular, is considered one of the most effective occlusive ingredients available. It’s often recommended for very dry skin, cracked areas, chapped lips, and situations where protecting the skin barrier is the main goal.
And that effectiveness is why petroleum ingredients have remained popular for generations.
So, is petroleum safe in skincare? Yes.
When manufacturers refine petroleum ingredients for cosmetic use, they remove impurities and create ingredients that are considered safe for skincare products. Petrolatum is also recognized by the FDA as an over-the-counter skin protectant.
For many people, petroleum-based products are a great choice. They provide dependable barrier protection and are backed by extensive clinical research.
Our decision to leave them out isn’t about avoiding something harmful. It’s about creating a lotion that reflects what matters most to us.
Why We Chose Not to Use Petroleum
When we created Oonly Organic Hand & Body Lotion, we started with a simple question:
Can we understand where our ingredients come from?
We know that might not be the first thing you think about when choosing a lotion. But for us, it’s an important part of making something we feel good about sharing with you.
We wanted a formula made with ingredients we could trace back to their origins, from the farms where they grow to the suppliers who help bring them into our finished product.
That level of transparency matters. Every ingredient has a journey.
Our certified organic, Fair Trade extra virgin coconut oil is sourced with care, and we work with trusted suppliers who share our commitment to quality and transparency.
We source ingredients from different parts of the world because different regions have different strengths when it comes to growing and producing high-quality botanical ingredients.
Petroleum-derived ingredients begin with crude oil, a finite resource. While they can be refined into safe and effective skincare ingredients, that sourcing pathway didn’t align with our goal of creating a lotion centered around renewable, plant-based ingredients.
So instead of building our formula around petroleum-derived occlusives, we looked to plants.
We weren’t trying to copy petroleum with a single replacement ingredient. We wanted to create a thoughtful blend of oils, butters, waxes, and naturally derived ingredients that could moisturize effectively while feeling comfortable enough for everyday use.
Creating Our Plant-Based Formula
Choosing not to use petroleum meant we had to think carefully about how every ingredient worked together.
Petrolatum performs one job exceptionally well: it creates a protective barrier. Plants can do that same work while doing more alongside it.
That’s what we were after – a hand and body lotion that moisturizes deeply, absorbs beautifully, and leaves skin feeling soft instead of covered or weighed down.
So we built a balanced formula where every ingredient has a purpose.
Organic Cocoa Butter
Organic cocoa butter helps create a protective layer on the skin while providing fatty acids that soften and condition.
It gives our lotion a rich, nourishing feel while staying true to our preference for plant-based ingredients.
Olive-Derived Ingredients and Squalane
Some ingredients are there to nourish. Others are there to make sure the lotion feels just right.
Cetearyl olivate and sorbitan olivate are naturally derived emulsifiers made from olive oil. They help keep oil and water blended together, creating a smooth and stable lotion.
We also use olive-derived squalane, a lightweight ingredient that closely resembles the skin’s own natural lipids. It helps support the moisture barrier while giving the lotion a silky, comfortable finish.
Organic Coconut Oil and Grape Seed Oil
Certified organic, Fair Trade extra virgin coconut oil is one of the foundation ingredients in our formula.
We love it not only because of what it does for skin, but because we can trace its journey — from where it is grown to how it is processed before reaching our lotion.
It helps moisturize and condition the skin while naturally containing mixed tocopherols, a form of vitamin E.
Organic grape seed oil adds balance with its lighter texture. It helps nourish and soften the skin without making the formula feel overly rich.
Organic Arrowroot Powder
A lotion should feel good the moment you apply it.
Organic arrowroot powder helps create that experience by absorbing excess surface oil and giving the lotion a smooth, fast-absorbing finish.
It’s a small ingredient with an important role: helping your skin feel moisturized, never greasy.
Petroleum vs. Plant-Based Ingredients: Choosing What Works for You
The best choice depends on what you’re looking for in a lotion.
Petroleum-based ingredients and plant-based ingredients both have a place in skincare.
If your main goal is maximum barrier protection for extremely dry or compromised skin, petrolatum is one of the best-performing ingredients available.
If your priority is a lotion made with renewable, traceable, plant-based ingredients that feels lightweight enough for daily use — and that conditions skin while it protects — a botanical formula may be a better fit. That’s especially true if you’re washing your hands constantly throughout the day — our formula was made for exactly that.
Neither approach is automatically right or wrong.
At Oonly Organic, we chose the approach that reflects our values and the kind of products we want to make.
Knowing how to read a label makes that choice easier. Ingredient lists are arranged by concentration, with ingredients used in the highest amounts appearing first.
If ingredients like petrolatum, mineral oil, or paraffin appear near the top of the list, they make up a larger portion of the formula. Ingredients listed near the end are present in smaller amounts.
Reading labels doesn’t mean you need to memorize every ingredient. It simply helps you understand what you’re choosing and whether a product matches your priorities.
Thoughtfully Made, From Ingredient to Bottle
Leaving petroleum-derived ingredients out of our lotion was one choice within a much bigger commitment.
You also won’t find parabens, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, or animal-derived ingredients in our formula.
What you will find is a non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free lotion made with food-grade quality ingredients that’s clean and safe for all ages.
We believe skincare should feel good, not just when you apply it, but when you understand what went into making it.
Petroleum-derived ingredients work well, have been studied extensively, and remain safe when properly refined.
We chose a different path: one built around renewable ingredients, thoughtful sourcing, and a lotion we’re proud to share with you.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is petroleum in lotion bad for your skin?
No. Cosmetic-grade petroleum ingredients like petrolatum are highly refined, extensively studied, and considered safe for skincare use. They are effective because they create a barrier that helps reduce moisture loss. But that’s the extent of what they do. Plant-based oils and butters can do the same sealing work while also bringing fatty acids, antioxidants, and naturally occurring vitamin E along with them.
Why doesn’t Oonly Organic use petroleum?
We chose not to use petroleum because we wanted our lotion to be made with renewable, plant-based ingredients with sourcing we can better understand and trace.
Is a petroleum-free lotion less effective?
Not necessarily. Petrolatum is highly effective at sealing, but sealing is a single function. Botanical alternatives do that same work and more — they form a protective layer while softening and conditioning the skin underneath it, which is why a well-built plant-based formula can keep skin comfortable through a full day rather than only sitting on the surface.
Is petroleum jelly the same as petroleum?
No. Petroleum is crude oil in its raw form. Petroleum jelly, or petrolatum, is a highly refined ingredient made from petroleum and used in skincare because of its ability to protect skin and reduce moisture loss.
Oonly Organic was created for that moment — for the conscious, caring, question-asking part of you. Every formula is intentional. Every bottle is an invitation to care for your skin without compromise.