Amazing And Unexpected Uses For Vaseline
Life can be complicated, so why don't you make it easier by using a simple ingredient in your health and beauty regimen? Vaseline was invented nearly 150 years ago and became extremely popular shortly after its launch and for good reason. It can be used for a variety of things, particularly when it comes to the human body.
Have a cut on your hand? A problem with dry feet? Difficulty removing makeup? Reach for some petroleum jelly. There are so many handy uses for the product, it's a wonder that more people don't carry a jar with them wherever they go.
Soothe, Protect, And Heal Your Skin
Vaseline is a wonderful product to use all over your skin. It can soothe, soften, and moisture your face, hands, elbows, and other parts. It also protects your skin by preventing chafing and friction. If you have athlete's foot, simply put on some Vaseline to heal it.
Petroleum jelly is mild enough for infants and babies and can prevent and heal diaper rash. It's also okay to use on animals. In addition, Vaseline can be used to treat minor skin abrasions.
Treat Cracked Cuticles
If your hands are prone to dryness or you work in a profession where they're constantly exposed to moisture, you may need a product to treat cracked cuticles. No one likes having pieces of their skin hanging off their fingernails — it's unsightly and it's uncomfortable.
Solve the problem by gently rubbing some Vaseline on your cuticles on a regular basis. This will promote healing and make them feel a little better. Over time, they'll get back to normal and be nice and soft.
Eliminate Cracked Feet (On Your Pets Too!)
Our feet take a lot of abuse. We use them everyday when we walk, run, and exercise. It's not uncommon to get dry and cracked heels over time. To combat this problem, rub some Vaseline on your feet, and then put some socks on. This will help your skin absorb the product.
In addition to helping human feet, Vaseline can also be used on your pet's paws. Man's best friend can also have feet issues, particularly in wintertime.
Get Softer Eyelashes And Skip The Mascara
One of the facial features that we often overlook in our beauty routine is our eyelashes. It may seem hard to believe, but petroleum jelly is a great product to use on your eyelashes. All you need to do is put a drop on your lashes each night.
When you wake up in the morning, your lashes will be much softer. Vaseline is also a good substitute for mascara. It makes them slightly moist so your lashes look longer and darker.
Disguise Split Ends
You only need a tiny bit of Vaseline to disguise those pesky split ends. Simply dab a little bit of the product on the tips of your hair to hold you over until you can get to the beautician for a trim.
This gives your hair the same benefits as expensive conditioning products. And as an added bonus, using it on healthy hair can help prevent split ends from occurring!
Eradicate Chapped Lips
Chapped lips can be really uncomfortable, but if you have a bit of Vaseline on hand you can take care of the problem in no time. Simply dab a little bit on and pucker up!
The company has its own line of Vaseline lip products, but you can get creative and make your own lip therapy. Simply take some Vaseline and add a little essential oil or Vitamin E for extra protection. Then use food coloring, eye shadow, or even lipstick to add some color. Voila! Instant lip balm.
Make Homemade Slime
Anyone who's ever had to keep a houseful of kids (or even just one!) entertained on a rainy day knows what a challenge it can be. Bet you never considered getting out the petroleum jelly in these situations!
Turns out that you can make homemade slime with the help of Vaseline. It's easy and fun. Just mix together some water, Vaseline, some liquid glue, and activator and stir as it thickens. A little food coloring makes it colorful!
Prevent Your Bottled Tan From Streaking
If you know what's good for you, stay out of the sun. Avoid suntanning and go for a bottled look instead. Unfortunately, self tanners can be a bit tricky to apply. To avoid streaks and orange patches of skin look no further than petroleum jelly.
Rub the Vaseline on trouble spots such as the ankles, hands, and behind the knees. The product will ensure that you get a more even tan. No one likes to have weird looking, orange streaks on their arms and legs.
Relieve An Itchy Scalp
There are many things that can cause an itchy scalp. You may have a skin condition or dandruff that makes it feel dry and prickly. Or perhaps you didn't have time to shampoo it, and you're starting to feel the adverse effects. The good news is that petroleum jelly can make it feel better.
All you need to do is massage the product into the dry areas on you scalp. This will eliminate any itching and irritation. It's a simple and quick solution to make your head feel much more comfortable.
Create A Homemade Body Scrub
If you like making your own beauty products, look no further than Vaseline. It's one of the key ingredients for a homemade body scrub. Simply mix two tablespoons of the product with one tablespoon of rock or sea salt.
Apply the solution to your bath scrubby, wipe it across your arms and legs, and you will have smooth skin in no time. This is a great way to save a little money, and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you created the body wash by yourself.
Make Bowel Movements Easier
If you suffer from hemorrhoids or other backside-related health issues, petroleum jelly is a great product to relieve some of the problems associated with these conditions. If you massage a little bit of the jelly around your tush it can help facilitate the evacuation of waste by providing a smoother path.
While Vaseline won't take away any of the pain, it will help make the process move a little more efficiently. And let's face it — any bit of help in this sensitive area will make you feel a little bit better.
Stick Earrings In Effortlessly
You know the feeling you have when you haven't worn earrings in a while and you try to stick that tiny metal post into your earlobe? It can be a challenge to get that earring in without causing a little bit of pain.
Fortunately, Vaseline can come to your rescue. If your ear holes are slightly closed, just put a bit of petroleum jelly onto your lobes. It will aid inserting the earring post and won't cause as much pain.
Control Pesky Eyebrows
If you have problems with your eyebrows and don't have time to pluck out the stray hairs or get them professionally threaded, one way to control the unruly hairs is by dabbing a tiny bit of Vaseline on them.
It's a quick and easy way to smooth them down, so they don't look wild. If you have a tiny tin of Carmex you can also use that to get the same effect. And since Carmex is so portable, you can do a touch up wherever and whenever you need to.
Moisturize Your Dry Face
If you're prone to dry skin, you may have a nighttime moisturizing routine to keep it supple. Vaseline is great because it won't clog your pores. This may sound surprising because it appears very greasy; however, the product won't cause pimples.
Vaseline is non-comedogenic and is actually a really effective moisturizer. It doesn't soak into your skin like other facial products, so it's best to use at night so you can wipe it off in the a.m.
Although It's Not Flammable, You Can Use Vaseline To Start A Fire
If you're ever in a bind and need a fire starter for some reason, such as if you're camping in the rain, Vaseline can help with that. Although the product and other petroleum jelly items are safe and not flammable, you can soak a cotton ball in Vaseline to make a safe and handy fire starter.
When you light the cotton, it starts wicking the petroleum just like a candle does with melted wax. As the Vaseline gets to the end of the cotton fibers, it boils and emits a gas that burns in a controlled and sustained flame. It's not the petroleum burning; just the gas. And Vaseline also prevents the cotton ball from burning up too quickly, making it great for starting fires.
Protect Cuts And Other Minor Injuries From Germs
Vaseline is a byproduct of oil drilling. In 1859, British chemist Robert Augustus Chesebrough discovered that the jelly had skin-healing properties. He observed oilmen using the jelly to treat cuts and burns and realized the potential of the product to help a lot of people.
Vaseline can be applied to your cuts, bruises, and other abrasions to prevent infection and ward off dirt and germs. It also helps you heal faster. The one thing it doesn't have is antiseptic properties.
Ward Off Chafing During Sporting Activities
Men in particular have a big problem with chafing when it comes to playing sports, but it can be bothersome for women as well. If you play soccer, basketball, go cycling, or take part in numerous other physical activities, you may need a lubricant to counter all the rubbing you may experience.
Use the petroleum jelly on areas such as your thighs, groin, and armpits before you go on the field or take a run around your neighborhood. Your body will thank you for it.
Make Things Shiny
Petroleum jelly truly is a miracle product to keep around the house. You can use it on so many different things. It's great to use on items that you want to make shiny -- everything from leather, shoes, wood, and more will positively gleam after you treat them to a thin coat of Vaseline.
Keep in mind that it's always good to do a spot test first, especially on something like wood floors that will be costly to replace if any discoloration does occur.
A Surefire Way To Clarify Your Nose
If you have unwanted bumps and blackheads on your nose, a great way to clarify them was shared by YouTuber heyirsfeiii.
She swears she just lathers petroleum jelly on her nose, seals it with plastic wrap, and then sleeps with it on her face. In the morning, the spots should be easy to squeeze out.
Keep Slugs Away With Vaseline
Vaseline's amazing benefits extend all the way to the garden. If you mix a bit of petroleum jelly with some salt, you can apply it to the edges of your flower pots. This will keep pesky slugs and snails away.
You can use this technique anywhere that you don't want slugs, such as the borders of walkways and patios. People who have tried many other methods to keep slugs away swear that this way works the best.
Extract Gum From Your Hair
Maybe you've fallen asleep with gum in your mouth. Or perhaps you have a child who's accidentally (or purposefully) gotten gum in his or her hair. It's a really sticky situation that can result in a lot of tears. But instead of cutting off the offending gum and hair, use petroleum jelly.
All you have to do is rub the Vaseline around the gum, and slowly pull it out. Petroleum jelly is also a good product to help remove other sticky substances such as tree sap and syrup.
Remove Fake Eyelash Glue
If you wear eyelash extensions, i.e., fake eyelashes, you know how troublesome the glue can be sometimes. To avoid yanking out your actual eyelashes, all you need to do is dab on a bit of petroleum jelly. The product helps counter the affects of the glue.
Put a little bit of Vaseline between your finger and thumb and rub the jelly on the lashes until they and the glue comes off. It's much more pleasant than pulling out the lashes.
Enhance The Effects Of Your Perfume Or Cologne
Sometimes your perfume or cologne can wear off rather quickly, particularly if you sweat. That's no fun if you're going out for the night and want to smell really nice for your date. To extend the life of your sweet-smelling perfume or cologne, mix it with Vaseline.
The trick? Dab a bit of Vaseline on your wrists and/or neck before spritzing your favorite scent on your body. This will give your perfume and cologne a bit more staying power.
Easily Remove Makeup
If you wear a lot of makeup, you know how trying it can be to remove it at the end of the night before you jump into bed. Rather than simply washing it off with a face cloth (and staining the cloth with lipstick and eye shadow), use some petroleum jelly.
Just put a bit of Vaseline on a cotton swab or Q-tip and gently wipe it across your eyelids to remove the makeup. This will make it a lot easier to rinse it all off when you wash your face.
Seamlessly Apply Nail Polish
Unless you're a professional manicurist, polishing your fingernails and toes can be a slightly messy activity. But you can avoid some of the drips and excess nail polish with just a little bit of Vaseline.
Put some petroleum jelly on a cotton swab or Q-tip, and rub it around your cuticles. Then apply the polish. Any polish that goes outside of the nail will be easy to wipe off. And as a bonus the Vaseline will act as a moisturizer for your cuticles.
Prevent Lip Color From Sticking To Teeth
If you've ever worn lipstick, then you've probably experienced the embarrassment that comes when you realize that your gorgeous red lip color has made its way to your teeth during a conversation. You can prevent that unfortunate situation from happening again with petroleum jelly.
You just want to apply a very thin layer of the Vaseline to your teeth before putting on your lipstick. This is a trick that beauty pageant contestants have used for years.
Unstick Drawers
Nothing is quite as frustrating as a stuck drawer when you need to get something out of it quickly. Luckily, petroleum jelly can help with that problem, too! Just apply a small amount of it to the drawer bottom. It will lubricate the surface and just like magic, the drawer should slide right open.
Vaseline also works with other things that get stuck, such as hinges, lids, rings, and more.
Protect Your Skin From Hair Dye
Petroleum jelly also comes in handy when you're dying your hair. To keep the dye away from your hairline, wipe some Vaseline across your forehead so the dye doesn't drip down your face and into your eyes. And don't forget to get the tops and undersides of your ears, which are also areas the dye will touch.
Just be sure you don't put Vaseline in your actual hair because then the dye won't stick.
Use It As A Highlighter
People who enjoy wearing makeup are well aware of the wonders of highlighting. A good highlighting job can completely transform your face and make your skin absolutely luminous!
There's no need to shell out big bucks for an expensive highlighter, though. A small dab of Vaseline in the right places does the trick for a fraction of the cost. Even professional makeup artists swear by this cheap but effective beauty hack.
Prevent Batteries From Eroding
Car batteries are expensive to replace, but there's an inexpensive way to keep yours in good condition. You can use petroleum jelly to stop corrosive buildup on your car's battery terminals.
SImply apply a tablespoon of the petroleum jelly to both the positive and the negative posts after you've removed the battery cables. Be sure to use gloves for this task, and remember that the positive cable is red and the negative one is the black one.
Turn Boring Eye Shadows Into Fun Cream Shadows
For special nights out, some people enjoy wearing more dramatic makeup than usual. An easy way to amp up the sex appeal of your eye makeup is to use a shiny, creamy shadow instead of a matte one.
But you don't need to purchase a whole slew of new cream shadows. Just mix a little dab of Vaseline in your everyday matte shadow and voilà! Now you have a custom creamy color to wow everyone with.
Stop Shampoo From Running Into Eyes
Shampoo is a great thing! It cleans our hair and scalp and smells really good. Unfortunately, it's a huge irritant for our eyes -- which happen to be very close to our hair.
To prevent shampoo from getting into sensitive eyes, our handy product Vaseline comes to the rescue yet again. You'll just want to smear a thin line of it right above your brows. Now, the shampoo and soapy water will run down the sides of your face instead of straight down into your eyes.
Keep Those Elbows Soft
Why are our elbows so dry? There are a bunch of different reasons for dryness in the elbows. These include outdoor temperature and humidity levels, genes, diet, neglect, and many others.
Don't neglect your elbows! Use the magic of petroleum jelly to keep yours moisturized and supple. Bedtime is the perfect opportunity to treat your dry and cracked elbows to a dollop of Vaseline. They'll be nice and soft when you wake up.
Make It Easier To Open Nail Polish Bottles
We've already seen how a dab of Vaseline can help with nail polish application, but did you know that the product can be used to make your bottles easier to open?
It's easy. After you've finished using a bottle of nail polish, just wipe a small amount of petroleum jelly around the thread before putting the lid back on. This works for all sorts of bottles and jars, not just nail polish.
Keep Your Halloween Jack-O-Lantern Looking Fresh For Longer
Nothing puts a damper on Halloween like when your Jack-o-Lantern gets rotten well before the holiday even arrives. You can prevent this from happening to your next masterpiece, though. What's the trick? You guessed it -- Vaseline.
Thomas Andres is a pumpkin expert at the New York Botanical Garden. He recommends this tip for preserving your creation. Just rub the petroleum jelly on it after you're done carving it up.
Keep Paint Off Windows
Although some of us perfectionists prefer to tape our window panes before painting the sills, there's another way to keep the glass clean if you don't have any tape handy. You can just apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the panes before painting.
Any stray flecks of paint that land on the Vaseline will just wipe right off when you're cleaning up. No more time spent scraping the glass clean!
Create A "Distressed" Paint Look
Furniture with distressed paint is very popular these days. People even "flip" old furniture they find at thrift stores by painting it, distressing the finish with sanding, and reselling it for big bucks.
There's an easier way to distress paint, though. Just apply a little smear of Vaseline anywhere you want the distressed look, such as corners and edges. The paint won't adhere to those areas and you'll be left with that coveted "distressed" look, minus the distress of sanding for hours.
Remove Makeup Stains
Similar to how we've learned that Vaseline can help keep lipstick off your teeth, it can also remove lipstick stains from clothing and other fabrics. Just blot the petroleum jelly onto the offending stain before putting it into the washing machine as you usually would.
Vaseline also helps to take care of other stains, such as oil or wax. Be sure to test it in an inconspicuous spot before applying to a large area to be safe.
Treat Athlete's Foot
By now, you've learned about so many great uses for Vaseline that you probably plan to keep several jars of it around the house. Here's another use: it cures Athlete's Foot. It works by suffocating the fungus that causes the uncomfortable condition.
Just coat the affected foot (or feet) with a thick layer of petroleum jelly and let it go to work. As an extra bonus, your tootsies will feel really soft afterward too!
Prevent Diaper Rash
Petroleum jelly is great for preventing diaper rash by keeping moisture away from a baby's sensitive skin. If your baby already has diaper rash, Vaseline can help with that too. After a bath, dry your baby thoroughly and apply a generous amount of the petroleum jelly before putting on a new diaper.
The Vaseline acts as a barrier between the rash and any wetness, which will allow the rash to heal.
Get Wax Off Your Skin
If waxing is your go-to method of hair removal, then you're probably familiar with the unpleasantness of having bits of the wax stuck to you after the process is over. A little bit of petroleum jelly can take care of the problem.
Simply put some Vaseline on a cotton ball or pad and apply it anyplace there's still wax on the skin. And it will give you a nice moisturizing benefit, too!
Repair Water Marks And Minor Scratches On Wood
Home repair expert Bob Vila recommends this technique for fixing minor scratches, stains, or water marks on wood. Just cover the area with a thick layer of petroleum jelly and let it sit for about 24 hours.
The next day, wipe the jelly away, rub the reside into the wood, and apply your regular furniture polish to the entire area so everything looks blended together. Just like that, your furniture will look new again.
