Petrolatum is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons derived from the distillation of petroleum. The hydrocarbons that make up petrolatum belong to the methane family. Petrolatum is often used in personal care products as a moisturizing and skin protecting agent. Though it has been deemed generally safe in the US, EU countries have classified it as a carcinogen and have restricted its use in cosmetics. Petrolatum is sometimes not fully refined, which means it can be contaminated with toxic chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.Many PAHs have toxic, mutagenic and/or carcinogenic properties