Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum) vs Mayu (Horse Oil): which Korean skincare ingredient?
Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum) vs Mayu (Horse Oil): Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum) leans toward dryness & dehydration, while Mayu (Horse Oil) targets dryness & dehydration. Can you use both? Yes — they layer well together.
| Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum) | Mayu (Horse Oil) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The most effective occlusive in common cosmetic use, and the most unfairly maligned. Cosmetic-grade mineral oil is highly refined, chemically inert and rates as non-comedogenic in testing — the acne folklore comes from crude industrial grades, not from the ingredient in your cleansing oil. It hydrates nothing itself; it simply stops water leaving. | 마유 (mayu) is rendered horse fat, a Jeju souvenir-shop staple and a genuine folk remedy for chapped winter skin. Its fatty acid mix is unusually similar to human sebum, which is the usual explanation for why it absorbs so well. That similarity is documented; the leaping claims about regeneration are not. Not for vegans, obviously. |
| Best for | Dryness & dehydration, Damaged moisture barrier, Flaking & peeling | Dryness & dehydration, Damaged moisture barrier, Flaking & peeling |
| When to use | BOTH | PM |
Which should you choose?
Choose Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum) if your priority is Dryness & dehydration; choose Mayu (Horse Oil) for Dryness & dehydration. Many Korean routines use both — yes — they layer well together.
Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum) guide →Mayu (Horse Oil) guide →
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✍️ Written & reviewed by the KoreaPlus Editorial team — dermatologist-informed, cosmetic-science researched & source-cited. Last reviewed: 2026-08-23.
General educational information using cosmetic structure-function wording — not medical advice. Always patch-test new actives. © KoreaPlus.