The many uses of petroleum jelly like Vaseline in your beauty regimen, from viral slugging to hair and eyelash care and maintaining your razors
- Petroleum jelly has many uses in your beauty routine, from locking in moisture to soothing cracked skin, and can be used by almost anyone – it has no irritants
- We examine some of the ways petroleum jelly such as Vaseline can be applied, such as on your hair and eyelashes, and how it can keep your razor blades rust-free
Many would consider Vaseline, the petroleum jelly patented in 1865, the OG moisturiser – but the world has found out that it can do so much more than that.
Petroleum jelly was discovered in the 1800s by American chemist Robert Chesebrough, who was travelling in the United States when he learned oil workers were using rod wax – residue from the oil drill pumps they were using – to heal burns and wounds.
This wax was an unrefined form of petroleum jelly and contained carcinogenic compounds, which it would lose in its refined state.
However, even though this blend of mineral oils and waxes has proven safe for human use, many still wonder if it is still potentially dangerous.
Unless you have an allergy or sensitivity to petrolatum, it is pretty universally well tolerated
Dr Marina Peredo, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York, says that although fears remain that Vaseline could be considered a carcinogen even in its refined state, “there are no clinical studies that demonstrate that the use of petrolatum promotes cancer”, using another name for petroleum jelly.
“Today’s formulas have been purified and tested, and are cleaner and healthier than ever before,” she says.
