Petroleum jelly is an affordable, multipurpose product with a wide variety of uses from beauty to health and general DIY fixings around the home.
Beauty
Moisturize your face, lips, hands, feet
Petroleum jelly is an effective moisturizer because it forms a barrier on the skin, locking in the natural oils and moisture. Despite its heavy consistency, it does not clog your pores so it shouldn’t cause any breakouts. Use it after a shower not just on your face but also on cracked heels, ragged cuticles or dry elbows. Soak your feet in warm salty water, towel dry, apply petroleum jelly and wear clean cotton socks. Use as a substitute for lip balm for chapped lips. It can also get rid of the darker pigments on your lips.
Highlight your cheekbones
Are shimmery highlighters too heavy for you? Substitute it with a little petroleum jelly. Its shiny finish catches the light without chunky glitter so you get a more natural highlighting effect.
Longer eyelashes
This is a rather unbelievable miracle of petroleum. Apply some jelly to your eyelashes every night before going to bed. Your eyelashes will be thicker and longer within two weeks.
Fingernails
Apply Vaseline to your fingernails to keep them resilient. Rubbing some on painted fingernails also helps them look new and shiny.
Everlasting fragrance
It’s the nature of perfume to fade away over time but that doesn’t make it any less disappointing. Dab some petroleum jelly on your pulse points, neck and anywhere else that you normally apply perfume before spritzing on your perfume and the scent will last much longer.
Custom Lip Balm
Mix a bit of loose eyeshadow powder in with a small amount of jelly to make a custom-coloured lip balm.
Health
Heal minor scrapes, burns and cuts
It can be helpful in healing minor wounds. Moisture is important in speeding up healing and because the skin does not absorb petroleum jelly, it acts as a barrier keeping dirt out and preventing moisture loss. It may also prevent infection and reduce the risk of scarring.
It can also be applied to irritated skin before spending time outside in adverse weather like cold, dry, windy air. It can also be applied under the nose when you have a cold to prevent irritation due to a running nose or frequent nose wiping.
Prevent and treat diaper rash
Clean and towel-dry your baby’s skin properly before applying. It will form a protective barrier that will protect the skin from constant exposure to moisture. It can also soothe the skin and provide relief from existing diaper rashes.
Prevent peeling
When the skin is so dry that it peels, petroleum jelly can soothe irritation and help skin heal.
Managing eczema
Eczema is a chronic skin condition that causes irritation, itching and scaly patches. A 2017 study suggested that petroleum jelly might prevent eczema outbreaks. The study found that frequently moisturizing the skin of newborns at high risk of eczema could prevent outbreaks. It was particularly effective and more affordable than other options.
Home
Freshen up leather jackets
If there’s an area on your jacket that’s looking dry, rub some jelly onto it. Wipe off any excess jelly and you have a newer-looking jacket. The same works for leather purses and even shoes.
Remove gum and candle wax from wood
Apply jelly to the gum until the gum starts to disintegrate, then you’ll be able to remove the gum easily. Works just as well for candle wax.
Hide scuffs on wood furniture
Apply jelly to stains, rings, scratches and scuffs on your wood furniture and let it sit for 24 hours. Wipe away any excess and give it a good polish and the scratches and stains will be a problem of the past.
Use as lubricant
Use to lubricate drawers, windows, shower curtains and hinges to make them slide smoothly.
Use as flypaper
Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly onto a dish or the lid of a jar and leave it out where flies tend to congregate. The flies will get stuck in the jelly.
There are numerous uses of petroleum jelly. Here’s hoping you discovered a new use today.
