As for mineral oil, though some people try to avoid it because untreated or lightly-treated mineral oil is a carcinogen, and could be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane. However, there isn't evidence that the amounts present in the ultra-refined mineral oil used in beauty products is particularly harmful. "The biggest unknown is: What level of 1,4-dioxane is safe?," Ni'Kita Wilson, a cosmetic chemist based in the New York City area previously told Allure. "The studies so far have involved giving the raw material to animals; that's not the same as applying a diluted version to the skin." Some beauty consumers still choose to steer clear of it, though. Clean" beauty can be a loaded term, as we know, and many ingredients that have been deemed "bad" aren't as harmful as they're hyped up to be. Sulfates, for example, get an extremely bad wrap when in reality, in most cases they're really not that terrible for your hair.