Enhancing Skin Permeability and Moisturization Using Petroleum Nanoemulsion
2026 Volume 26 Issue 1 Pages 13-21
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2026 Volume 26 Issue 1 Pages 13-21
We have focused on petroleum (widely used as a moisturizer in creams and other products) as a novel approach to maintain the water-holding capacity of stratum corneum (SC), with the aim of developing ingredients that further enhance moisturization. Petroleum is an extremely low polarity compound that is water-insoluble and oily with very low skin permeability. Additionally, its moisturizing effect is exclusively achieved by covering the skin surface to prevent moisture loss. In contrast, petroleum is easily eliminated from the skin surface by contact or rubbing, and its effects are short-lived.
The newly developed nanoemulsion of petroleum (nano-petroleum) enhances penetration into the SC by reducing the particle size to approximately ≤ 80 nm. Additionally, it was confirmed that the product had post-penetration moisture retention and swelling effects on SC. The skin permeability of low-polarity molecules is thought to be extremely low.
However, nanosizing enhances the texture by stably dissolving them in an aqueous system, making it possible to combine the usefulness of the moisture retention effect with skin permeability. We believe that this research has uncovered novel potential applications for petroleum, enabling its use in various cosmetic formulations.
