WAHM Forums

I know many of our @ consultants talk about how bad mineral oil is and how it is derived from petroleum. I personally don't like mineral oil myself, but as I was looking at some of the ingredients in various products I noticed "butylene glycol" which actually is a petroleum product. In fact, anything with "butyl" or "propyl" in the name means it was derived from petroleum. I am trying to look at all of the ingredients of the products to see what else is actually in them, but it looks like the product knowledge guide is not out there in its complete form.
Anyone know where it went?
Maureen

Hi Maureen~
I don't know about the product knowledge guide...I'd call @ about it. However, as far as mineral oil/petroleum products.....in my research, I learned that mineral oil has different "grades" in the sense that some mineral oil is a lot worse for you than others. For example, if you go to WalMart and buy their mineral oil for $4.99 or whatever, you are getting alow-grade oil. However, there are mineral oils that are a more "premium grade." Think gasoline.
Now that I've written that, I don't know what it really helps you question...so, just take it as an FYI.

cindi :D

It appears that they are reformatting the product knowledge information on the website and have not yet posted the product knowledgemanual in its entirety.

I do have the 2006 version of the product knowledge manual; if you'd like me to email it to you send me a pm with your email address.

Cindi is correct about the different grades of mineral oil. My husband uses mineral oil in his break lines on his motorcycle. I doubt it is the same grade as mineral oil in cosmetics, but who knows! http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif There is so much controversy out there regarding mineral oil. For me, if the product works on my face and does what is says it is supposed to do, then that is all I really care about, mineral oil or not. However, it has been my experience that the products that do not contain it work best for me. Edited by: Dbacksmom

Hi -
I am aware that cosmetic-grade mineral oil is different from motor oil. I personally don't like mineral oil because it makes me break out - it has since I was a baby. My mother said she could never use mineral oil on me.
The reason I am surprised is that I see so many consultants using the information that @ does not use petroleum products in any of their formulationsas a selling point when, in fact, this is not true. Google "@" and "petroleum" and see what comes up....

... In fact, anything with "butyl" or "propyl" in the name means it was derived from petroleum.

Maureen--I think it's very important to consider the source when you are researching and basing your opinions on such research. And especially when you are posting these "findings"in this forum and influencing others.

I found no credible evidence supporting this particularstatement during my own research. I did however find this exact claim on a non-US skincare company's website in the interest of pushing their own products. I found other outlandish claims concerning ingredients on their website as well as otherwebsiteswhichare direclty addressed and refuted by the US FDA, US EPA, and Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA).

In the future, why don't you ask @ directly before you post such allegations here? I am sure they would be happy to address your issues. In fact, there is a very convenient, accessible linkwithin the product knowledge sectionwhich allows you to submitinquiries directly tofield support in which "a field support representative will contact youwithin 24 hours." After all, if what you are saying is hurtful to the company, isn't it only fair that you first give them a chance to respond?

Actually, I was on a chemistry website and also on the NIH website.I was not looking at other beauty products or any other product websites. I would love it if someone couldgive me any information showing that these ingredients come from a botanical source. So far all I can find is that they are petroleum based.
Also, I wasn't referring to anything @said, I was referring to what consultants are saying regarding the products. The reason I am concerned about this is that I am an ER+++ breast cancer survivor and the "butyl" and "propyl" stuff can mimic estrogen, which would be a bad thing in my case. I signed up with this company because I thought that I was getting something different. I do like the products, it's just that I am finding out that they contain some of the things I was trying to avoid.
Any chemistry whizzes out there?

I think your best bet would be to contact the company & find out what their official response is. They would know better than any consultants or others outside the company as they are privy to the actual formulations, etc. This company is not known for making false claims. Please let us know what they have to say when you get your respone from them. Edited by: Kiana's Mom

Hi Maureen,
The product information on the Canadian website is working and there is a list of products that do contain butylene glycol. I was also under the impression that our products do not contain petroleum by-products and have contacted @ about it. (I went through their website so it may take awhile).

If you hear anything from them please let us all know!

The company website doesn't say anything about not usingpetroleum based products, just that they don't use mineral oil. Click_here (http://arbonne.com/products/skincare/).


I think (if I remember right) butylene glycol is how extracts from herbs are extracted.

This just reminds me why I love this company! http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gif


This was the response from @

We appreciate the time you have taken to e-mail us.

Thank you for asking about Butylene Glycol.

Butylene Glycol is used as a method of extracting botanicals from plants; to get the most potency, it is best to use a solvent. There are two primary solvents used: propylene glycol and butylene glycol; butylene is the more mild form of the two. Please know that we use butylene glycol only in the extraction process and it is not actually an ingredient in the final product. We simply list it as a courtesy to our customers.

We hope that this information is helpful.

This company rocks!!