Every so often the Nivea cream from the blue can comes back into fashion for one reason or another. On this occasion it is the chemist Vladimir Sánchez who, through his Instagram account, @aboratoriodevlad, gives us his opinion about this cream, or rather, about one of its most famous and controversial ingredients: paraffin.
The chemist points out that “it must be clarified that liquid paraffin is not dangerous because it is a petroleum derivative. In fact, the one used in cosmetics is highly purified so that it does not have any kind of impurities that could cause problems,” he explains.
However, he does want to clarify the function that liquid paraffin has in cosmetics, which is precisely to “form a protective layer that prevents moisture from escaping and preventing the skin from drying out.” This functionality is perfect for preventing the skin from becoming dehydrated and rough. Now, Sánchez also clarifies that the problem lies in the fact that this barrier that forms on the skin also prevents it from perspiring. “And also since it is a hydrocarbon, it could be retained in the pores and cause problems for people who are especially sensitive to acne formation.”
Having clarified this point, the chemist does not consider that it is a dangerous cream but in reality we must take into account whether this cream is suitable for our needs. “These formulations, especially those that have been on the market for so many years, have been highly optimized over time to avoid all these types of problems, so they cause fewer and fewer interactions.” In any case, Vladimir's last advice is to go to a dermatologist before applying products that are not going to be beneficial for our skin.
