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Whether you're a newbie or a veteran of the world of skincare, you may be already familiar with petroleum jelly. You've probably seen it in a place of honor on the shelves of your favorite beauty store or even in groceries. People love petroleum jelly for its moisturizing effect, relatively affordable price point, and the various ways you can use it in your beauty routine.
More recently, petroleum jelly had a comeback as a holy grail thanks to skincare slugging. The beauty trend posed benefits for those with dry skin and involved slathering occlusives, like petroleum jelly, on the skin to prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
ALSO READ: Slugging Is The Skincare Trend To Try For Smoother Skin
But did you know that petroleum jelly is good for your lips too? Unlike the rest of the skin on our face, our lips don't have any oil glands that produce sebum to keep them moisturized. The skin in this area is also pretty thin, which makes it harder to retain moisture. Combine that with extreme weather conditions, like too-hot or too-cold weather, it creates the perfect situation for developing chapped lips. If you don't want that to happen, then you'll need to pick up an occlusive lip product (don't worry, we'll explain what that is in a bit.)
So if you're tired of dealing with dry, chapped lips but don't want to splurge just yet on expensive lip treatments, we've laid down the skinny on how you can use petroleum jelly on your lips.
What is petroleum jelly?
Petroleum jelly, which is also known as petrolatum, is a jelly-like skincare ingredient made from mineral oils and waxes. It's derived from petroleum and is made by distilling, dewaxing, and filtrating crude oil. As an occlusive, petroleum jelly is highly moisturizing because it creates a thick layer that traps skin moisture and prevents it from evaporating.
Since it's a by-product of petroleum refining, it's not necessarily the most environmentally friendly skincare ingredient. Petroleum jelly also needs to be properly refined before it's considered safe to use topically. To be on the safe side, look for "white petrolatum" in the product's ingredient list.
Uses of petroleum jelly
- Petroleum jelly can be used for moisturizing dry skin. Dry skin is caused by a damaged skin barrier that can no longer retain moisture in the skin. Petroleum jelly creates a film that traps this moisture and helps it saturate the layers of your skin. The US National Eczema Association also recommends patients dealing with eczema flare-ups apply a layer of the product to deal with the symptoms of their skin condition.
- Petroleum jelly can prevent chafing. Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly between your thighs, heels, or any body part frequently exposed to friction.
- You can use petroleum jelly to soothe minor wounds. It prevents wounds from drying out and forming a scab, which takes longer to heal and often feels itchy (which can cause an infection if you give in!)
- Petroleum jelly can prevent stains on your skin. If you're dyeing your hair and are scared it will stain your skin, add a layer of petroleum jelly to your hairline and ears. The slick barrier prevents the hair dye from coming into contact with your skin and leaving residue behind.
- It can remove makeup. Since it's made from oils and waxes, you can use petroleum jelly to remove your makeup in a pinch! (P.S. It's still important to double cleanse after!)
Benefits of putting petroleum jelly on your lips
Petroleum jelly softens lips.
Since petroleum jelly is occlusive, it traps moisture in your lips and keeps them hydrated. But if you really want to maximize its effect, pair it with a product packed with humectants (moisture-adding agents) such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or ceramides. The humectants bring in the moisture while the petroleum jelly makes sure the moisture goes where it should a.k.a. the deeper layers of your skin.
ALSO READ: What Are Ceramides And Why Do They Make Your Skin Glow?
Petroleum jelly protects your lips.
Did you know that cold or humid weather can dry out your lips? Cold, dry air and harsh winds can strip the existing moisture in your lips. Exposure to the sun can do the same thing—hello, TEWL!—but petroleum jelly acts as a lifejacket for your precious pout.
SHOP: The best petroleum jelly products
For a sheer wash of color: Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips with Petroleum Jelly
If you don't want to dip your fingers into a tub of Vaseline, pick up the Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips stick instead. Aside from petroleum jelly, it's packed with nourishing ingredients such as sweet almond and rose oil. It leaves a v pretty rosy glow, so it doubles as a tinted lip product too.
Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips with Petroleum Jelly, P149, Watsons
For added relief: Apollo Lip Balm
This petroleum jelly-based product is a no-nonsense formula for relieving dry lips. It contains Vitamin E, a skincare ingredient that's also known to be moisturizing, soothing, and protective, so you get extra relief with every application.
Apollo Lip Balm, P72, Watsons
For extra moisture retention: Chapstick Classic Spearmint
ChapStick mixed petroleum jelly with other types of waxes like carnauba wax and paraffin to ensure max occlusiveness. This variant has a minty effect that can feel oh-so-refreshing during hot days.
Chapstick Classic Spearmint, P139, Watsons
For added SPF protection: Carmex Original Lip Balm Stick
Carmex is another classic lip balm that you may not know contains petroleum jelly. It pairs petroleum jelly with lanolin, an ingredient that's popularly used in products that treat minor skin irritations such as blisters, burns, dry skin, and diaper rash. (Read: The formula is super soothing!) It also contains salicylic acid to exfoliate dry skin and uncover the new, soft skin hiding underneath. Plus, it has SPF 15 to protect your pout from sun damage.
Carmex Original Lip Balm Stick, P184, Watsons
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