Written by: Harati Adhikari
You may have heard of Vaseline in many settings. When you tell someone your skin has been feeling dry or rough, most people would tell you to apply some Vaseline on it. What is so great about Vaseline and why is it used by many people? Today, we’ll be covering the basic outline of what Vaseline is and how you can use it as a part of your skincare routine.
1. What is Vaseline?
Vaseline is made up of 100% petroleum Jelly, a substance that contains a mix of oils and waxes.
Vaseline was founded in 1859 by Robert Augustus Chesebaugh after he saw how his oil workers would use a type of gooey substance to heal their wounds. He later decided to package it as Vaseline.
Promoted to be a topical ointment for healing purposes.
Seals your skin with a water-protective barrier, helping your skin to heal and retain moisture.
This product is primarily oil-based.
2. Skin Care Uses:
Heal minor cuts or scraps: A study saw that petroleum jelly is effective in keeping skin moist during post-surgery healing. Vaseline forms a protective layer that seals the area of your skin where you apply it. This would then lock in moisture to prevent the wound from dryness and/ or scars. To use correctly, your skin should be thoroughly cleaned, otherwise, bacteria can get trapped in the wound, ultimately delaying the healing process.
Moisturizer: For the most part, Vaseline is used to seal in the moisture that is already existing in the skin. Compared to other oil-based products, Vaseline is very effective in preventing water loss on the outer layer of the skin. This water loss prevented is called transepidermal water loss (TWEL). This can lead to many unwanted skin conditions, including a more noticeable appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s recommended to apply a small amount of Vaseline to slightly damp skin to help seal in moisture, especially if it's prone to dryness. It also works as a great chapstick as well!
Make-up remover: Oil is great for makeup removal, and it’s no surprise Vaseline works great for this. In a study based on eye ultrasounds, Vaseline is safe around the eyes compared to other makeup removers that may lead to side effects, especially in sensitive areas of the skin.
Eye cream: Personally, my skin feels very rough when I wake up in the morning, even after applying a nighttime moisturizer. For the last couple of months, I’ve been applying Vaseline on my under eyelids to see if it would make my skin feel smoother after a dermatologist on TikTok (@dermdoctor) recommended it as a cheaper Vaseline product. From my experience, though it doesn’t necessarily help with eye bags, it works as a great eye cream if you have dry skin and would like to try another method of making your skin feel smoother.
This product is meant to be used by all skin types. However, those with oily skin may not be fond of Vaseline’s gooey and oily substance.
3. Cons of the product:
Just like with anything that works perfectly, it always comes with a few downsides as well
Though it is known to be non-comedogenic, meaning that it won’t clog pores, some studies have suggested that it may cause even more breakouts for those that have acne-prone skin.
This mostly comes from those who have oily skin, which tends to be people who also have acne-prone skin.
Some people may experience milia after applying it to the under eyes (It comes from clogged pores, which lead to tiny cysts.)
Overall, Vaseline is a great product to add to your skincare routine due to its moisturizing and healing properties. However, it's also important to understand the effects of the product once you apply it. Remember, just because so many people use a certain product doesn’t necessarily mean you will see the same results of the product as well. Always do your research first to see if your skin type would suit it. If you’re not sure about Vaseline, try to avoid using the product or talk to a licensed professional.
Sources:
Firman, Tehrene. “Does Vaseline (Aka Petroleum Jelly) Help Dry Skin? We Asked For Advice from Derms.” Well+Good, 5 Mar. 2021, https://www.wellandgood.com/petroleum-jelly/. Accessed 27 Sept. 2022.
Ginta, Daniela. “Everything You Need to Know About Petroleum Jelly.” Healthline Media, 17 Mar. 2017, https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/petroleum-jelly#uses. Accessed 27 Sept. 2022.
Nall, Rachel. “Should People Use Vaseline on Their Face?” Medical News Today, 20 Apr. 2020, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/vaseline-on-face#uses. Accessed 27 Sept. 2022.
Watson, Kathryn. “The Benefits and Limits of Using Vaseline on Your Face.” Healthline Media, 24 June 2019, https://www.healthline.com/health/vaseline-on-face#dry-skin. Accessed 27 Sept. 2022.
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