Product snobbery aside, who doesn’t love Vaseline? It is an amazing lip balm, soothes dry, cracked skin and even removes eye make up. It has so many uses! There’s an old commercial where they refer to Vaseline as the “wonder jelly” and claims Vaseline will take the squeak out of doors, shine your shoes and even condition leather. At the end of the commercial they call it “100% pure”. Well, technically it is-if you don’t mind slathering on a waste product of the oil industry!
What is Vaseline?
Vaseline is a mixture of natural waxes and mineral oils that together lock moisture in skin, moisturizing it to repair and relieve dryness. It acts as a barrier keeping moisture in the skin which makes it a multipurpose jelly like substance. This is why one of the main uses of vaseline is to heal dry, cracked skin.
The Many Uses For Vaseline:
- Heal red chapped winter ravaged cheeks.
- Remove eye makeup.
- Soothe dry skin.
- Moisturize chapped and cracked lips.
- Soften cuticles.
- Heal and protect burns.
- Swipe it across your teeth to keep lipstick from rubbing off.
- Use as a brightening mask by adding a teaspoon of lemon juice to 1 tbsp. and leave on the skin for 10 minutes.
- Add sugar or salt to 1/4 cup to create a scrub.
- Makes a great lip gloss.
- Protect, soothe and heal new tattoos!
- Apply after shaving to ease burning or itchiness and replenish moisture.
- Soothe a cracked, raw nose during a cold.
- Use on the ends of hair to condition dry, split hair.
- Apply to nail polish to restore shine.
- Soothe sunburns.
- Heal cracked pet paws.
- Soothe and prevent diaper rash
- Prevent staining the skin from hair dye.
What’s Wrong with Regular Vaseline?
Vaselineis the original, name brand forpetroleum jelly and is highly comedogenic (will clog pores) due to mineral oil being one of the main ingredients. I wanted to show you a quote from Dr. Oz about the dangers of petroleum jelly.
Petroleum jelly is a byproduct of oil drilling, and when you spread it on your lips, you end up eating it, which is essentially the same as drinking gasoline. Add up the amount of lip-gloss the average woman uses (and consumes) over a decade, and it equals 7 pounds. The European Union has banned many petroleum jelly products, and experts are concerned they could be linked to cancer. Women with breast cancer have twice the levels of hydrocarbons (substances found in petroleum jelly) in their breasts than women who haven’t had breast cancer. Steer clear of any products that list petroleum jelly or mineral oil on the ingredient list. ~~~Dr. Oz
According to Safe Cosmetics,Petrolatum, or petroleum jelly, derived from petroleum, is often used in personal care products as a moisturizing agent.When properly refined, petrolatum has no known health concerns. However, petrolatum is often not fully refined in the US, which means it can be contaminated with toxic chemicals calledpolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs are carcinogens and known to cause cancer.
Vaseline is extremely refined and processed-really not my style. So you know what’s coming—–You guessed it-an all natural DIY Vaseline recipe via yours truly! Seriously though, making a Vaseline alternative could not be easier and more multifunctional. You only need 2-3 ingredients, that’s it!
More Homemade Balms You Might Like:
- Hormone Balancing Balm
- Calendula Tamanu Lemon Healing Balm
- 3 in 1 Multipurpose Beauty Balm
- Vitamin C Boosting Sea Buckthorn Balm
- Green Tea Balm
What You’ll Need to Make DIY Vaseline Recipe
- 1/4 cup Olive oil (find it HERE)
- 1/4 cup Coconut oil (find it HERE)
- 2 TBSP Beeswax (find it HERE)
- 4 ounce glass container (find it HERE)
- Glass Pyrex Measuring Cup (find it HERE)
- Medium Sized Pot
- Stir Stick
**You can use 1/2 cup of either olive oil or coconut oil if you don’t have both. Coconut oil will be antibacterial and healing. Olive oil will be antioxidant rich and nourishing.**
How to Make Your Own Vaseline
Yield: 4 ounces
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Materials
- 1/4 cup Olive oil
- 1/4 cup Coconut oil
- 2 TBSP Beeswax
Tools
- 4 ounce glass container
- "Double Boiler"-glass measuring Pyrex cup and medium sized pot
- Stir Stick
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
Instructions
- Fill a medium sized pot with water and add a glass pyres bowl with a spout.
- Turn stove top to medium heat.
- Add oils and wax.
- Allow the ingredients to melt completely.
- Pour into container.
- Once cool (after about 30 minutes) stir to make a creamer, soft petroleum jelly consistency. See pic below!
Notes
- You can use 1/2 cup of either olive oil or coconut oil if you don't have both. Coconut oil will be antibacterial and healing. Olive oil will be antioxidant rich and nourishing.
- If you experience a grainy balm after time, remelt the balm and cool in the fridge.
Did you make this product?
Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook
Check out my Homemade Neosporin and Vapor Rub recipes. They both use this vaseline recipe as their base.
Feel free to add essential oils to amp up whatever you are trying to accomplish with your DIY Vaseline!
- Lavender-healing and moisturizing
- Peppermint-anti inflammatory and pain relieving
- Myrrh– heals and soothes dry and chapped skin
- Eucalyptus– decongests and soothes raw nose
Enjoy your new DIY Vaseline! There are so many uses for it! Feel good about ditching the mineral oil and petroleum-your body deserves better! If you’d prefer to keep your vaseline vegan and ditch the beeswax, I’ve got you covered. I created a vegan vaseline recipe using candelilla wax.
xx, Jenni
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