Paraffin is a mineral oil that’s used as a cheap and effective moisturizer. It creates a barrier on the skin to prevent the loss of moisture. It’s also more stable than plant based oils, because it does not oxide over time. 

Why we don’t use it: Parrafin is quite occlusive and can ‘suffocate’ the skin. Mineral oils like paraffin also do not contain any nutrients, like vitamins and fatty acids, to nourish the skin or support the skin barrier. And since petrolatum (the raw material where paraffin comes from) is non-renewable resource and not biodegradable, it has a negative longterm effect on the environment.