Petroleum jelly, liquid paraffin, petrolatum and baby oil are all names for mineral oil and are a by product of the process of refining petrol from crude oil. Just have a look on the label of one of your commercial beauty products and you will see that it is usually one of the first ingredients on the list, as it is very cheap and will maximise profits.
Mineral oil creates a seal on the skin preventing nutrients being absorbed and preventing toxins from escaping and so preventing the natural function of the body's largest organ. It's basically like wrapping yourself in cling film and whilst it will feel like you're moisturised while it is on your skin, it actually draws moisture to itself and away from the skin, meaning that you will need to use more of it, and more often to achieve the feeling of being moisturised. It is an eye and skin irritant, and therefore misplaced in products for sensitive skin and conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, and can cause aspirational pneumonia if inhaled. According to the International Agency for Research into Cancer in Geneva, mineral oils are probably carcinogenic as testing has revealed the presence of several carcinogenic hydrocarbons. It has also been shown to slow down the normal development of skin cells, which can cause the skin to age prematurely. The truth is that if you use a gentle soap, your skin contains plenty of it's own oils and if necessary, you would be far better off using a natural vegetable oil such as Sweet Almond, Olive, Coconut or Grapeseed.
I follow the motto "if I can't eat it, I won't put it on my skin", and personally, I would rather put the petrol in my car than on my face or body...
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