Do you use Vaseline? Or are you a purist who refuses to use any petrol-type product or anything with mineral oil? I love making my own products anyway, so my answer was a no-brainer. Anything that I can make with my own ingredients is A+++’s over anything store-bought, but for those that don’t mind read on.
Vaseline (also know as petroleum jelly) has been in use since the 1860’s. A chemist from New York, who upon visiting an oil rig, noticed the raw material of petrolatum (a gooey substance known as “rod wax”) stuck to the drilling rigs. After much experimentation, he developed a process to distill the rod wax into petrolatum.
What is petroleum jelly?
Also called petrolatum or soft paraffin, petroleum jelly is a mix of mineral oils, paraffin, and microcrystalline waxes. With a melting point of just above 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, it literally melts on the skin, in the process, filling the gaps in the lipid barrier. It doesn’t really add any moisture to skin, but keeps it from naturally losing moisture to evaporation (for instance, in extremely dry weather) and also serves as a protective barrier, keeping harsh cold weather and wind out. It is a by-product of oil production.
However, petrolatum is also highly associated with carcinogens, i.e. studies have shown it can cause cancer.
It is refined into petroleum jelly that you buy in the Vaseline tub through very specific processes. This refining is done by a number of sources.
This refining is also the key to the carcinogenic classification by the European Union in its ‘Dangerous Substance Directive.’ Since petrolatum is derived from oil, it needs to be refined. Some of the methods for this refining and some methods of petrolatum production, have been shown to contain hazardous, toxic or carcinogenic components. One of the most notable contaminants, PHAs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), have been linked to cancer.
Yet, these contaminants are removed in the refining process. Thus, the product Vaseline itself is NOT carcinogenic, never has been, and never will be, if handled and refined properly.
Everyone has their own opinion of petroleum jelly, and some consider it unsafe; such as DR. OZ.
the dangers of Petroleum Jelly from Dr. Oz:
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
Ok, so no matter how you feel about it, I have a great recipe for a perfect unpetroleum jelly that works just as well as Vaseline and you ask…how do we get the great benefits of this wonder product without harming our bodies?
Here’s a great all purpose recipe for the best UNpetroleum jelly, and the only one you’ll ever need. Plus, read on for more than 50 uses for this all-around must have item.
UN-petroleum jelly recipe
1/4 cup oil (any oil will do) I like to use organic coconut oil for its extended shelf life, but you can use more than one oil if you choose (like olive and coconut, or sweet almond and hazelnut, or any oils you like!)
1 tablespoon vitamin e oil
1/2 oz beeswax or even candililla wax (vegan alternative) or Carnauba Wax Natural-Vegan- hardest wax
Directions:
Warm oils and waxes to melt together (over double boiler) or use pyrex glass measuring cup in microwave in short bursts so the oils and waxes don’t burn. Pour into 2 oz. container, cool, and use within 6-8 months. This recipe can be doubled, tripled, or even halved for your convenience. If you like a harder product; use less oil and more wax, and for softer spread, use more oil and less wax.
Use just like Vaseline or petroleum jelly!
50 beauty tips and ways to use your un-petroleum jelly
or if you must, the original Vaseline (Courtesy of Christina Loves)
1. Put a coat on your eyelashes before you go to bed. Lots of people swear by this – and say it will make your lashes grow longer and thicker over time.
2. Put a coat of Vaseline on your feet at night, cover them with socks and wake up to softer feet – every day!
3. Put Vaseline on your elbows every day – they will stay soft!
4. Put Vaseline on your cuticles several times a day for softer and better looking cuticles every day.
5. Put Vaseline on chapped lips
6. Use Vaseline as lip gloss
7. Mix a little Vaseline with a little Kool-Aid powder and make a colored and flavored lip gloss!
8. Melt Vaseline and one chocolate chip in the microwave, mix and let re solidify for chocolate lip gloss!
9. Maintains perfume scent longer when applied at perfume points before spritzing the perfume.
10. Can be used as a moisturizer for acne sufferers (it is a misconception that it clogs pores)
11. Moisturizes severe dry skin
12. Use Vaseline on your knees to prevent that dry, ashy look
13. Mix with sea salts to make a scrub!
14. Applying Vaseline on your teeth prevents lips from sticking to teeth for celebrities and contestants in beauty pageants who smile a lot
15. Applied on teeth before applying lipstick prevents lipstick from sticking on them
16. Massage, baby!
17. Warmed up can be used as a night cream
18. Makeup remover
19. Protects skin exposed to adverse weather
20. Applied under eye shadow it can create a shiny effect
21. Applied on cheeks for a dewy look
22. Can be used to smooth and soothe skin after shaving
23. Used in manicures under cuticles
24. Gets rid of dry skin lines which can arise from washing
25. Lubricates ear lobes and helps to make earring insertion easy and painless
26. Keeps fingernails pliable and resilient
27. Use with your lipstick to create a cream blusher for your cheeks
28. Helps to ease off stuck on rings
29. Tames unruly eyebrows
30. Defines eyelashes and leaves them with a glossy and waterproof look
31. Conditions scalp pre-shampooing
32. Can help prevent chaffing
33. Aids with healing after cosmetic surgery procedures
34. Reduces scaling and itching associated with dandruff
35. Theraputic when applied to lesions caused by poison ivy
36. Can help improve condition of those with atopic eczema
37. Helps heal and protect new tattoos
38. Can protect against harmful hair dyeing, perming and straightening chemicals when used as a mask around the hairline
39. Use a tiny dab to put a quick shine on your shoes and bags
40. Smear a tiny bit on your hands and scrunch through your hair for a choppy look
41. Use just a touch on the ends of your hair to hide dry and split ends
42. Remove makeup stains from clothing
43. Rub Vaseline on the neck of your nail polish bottles and they won’t get stuck to the caps
44. Make your week old nail polish look new again – rub a small dab over the polish.
45. Use a touch of Vaseline mixed with powder eyeshadow pigment to make new colors, or a more solid eyeshadow that won’t get all over your face when you put it on.
46. Stretch your favorite lotion by mixing it with Vaseline.
47. Put Vaseline on your lips, leave it a few minutes, then scrub your lips with a toothbrush to exfoliate and leave them SO smooth
48. Remove false eyelash glue from your lash line
49. Apply a small amount on dry spots on your body before fake tanning lotions are applied, and prevent uneven tanning!
50. Generously apply Vaseline all over before taking flights to combat associated dryness
Also is great for pumpkin carvings:
Once you carve your Halloween pumpkin, rub Vaseline on the exposed edges. it keeps it from rotting or going dry.
OTHER USES :
Keep an outdoor light bulb from sticking
Have you ever unscrewed a light bulb and found yourself holding the glass while the metal base remains in the socket? It won’t happen again if you remember to apply petroleum jelly to the base of the bulb before screwing it into the fixture. This is an especially good idea for light bulbs used outdoors.
Remove watermarks on wood
Your most recent party left lots of watermark rings on your wood furniture. To make them disappear, apply petroleum jelly and let it sit overnight. In the morning, wipe the watermark away with the jelly.
Around the House
Take out lipstick stains
You set the table at that lovely dinner party with your favorite cloth napkins, but your girlfriends left their mark all over them. Now dotted with lipstick stains, those napkins may be headed for the trash. But try this first. Before you wash them, blot petroleum jelly on the stain. Launder as usual and hopefully you will kiss the stains good-bye.
Eject wax from candlesticks
The long red tapers you used at last night’s candlelit dinner were a beautiful sight until you saw the candle wax drippings left in the candle holders. Next time apply petroleum jelly to the insides of the holders before you put the candles in. The wax will pop out for easy cleaning.
Remove chewing gum from wood
Did you discover bubble gum stuck under the dining room table or behind the headboard of Junior’s bed? Trouble yourself about it no further. Squeeze some petroleum jelly on the offending wad, rub it in until the gum starts to disintegrate, then remove.
Keep a bottle lid from sticking
If you’re having a hard time unscrewing that bottle of glue or nail polish, remember this tip for when you finally do get it open. Rub a little petroleum jelly along the rim of the bottle. Next time, the top won’t stick.
For Personal Grooming
Moisturize your lips and more
If you don’t want to pay a lot for expensive lip balm, makeup remover, or even facial moisturizer, then your answer is a tube of petroleum jelly. It can soothe lips; take off foundation, eye shadow, mascara, and more. It will even act as a moisturizer on your face.
Make emergency makeup
Oh no! You’ve run out of your favorite shade of eye shadow. What do you do now? It’s easy — make your own. Add a bit of food coloring to petroleum jelly and apply as usual. This is a quick way to make stopgap blush, lipstick, or eye shadow.
Lengthen the life of perfume
You’ve picked out a great scent to wear on your night out, but it’s got to last. Worry not. Dab a bit of petroleum jelly on your pulse points. Then spray on the perfume. Now you can dance the night away and not worry about your perfume turning in early.
Soften chapped hands
If you’re constantly applying hand lotion to your tired, chapped hands, but then taking it off again so you can get more work done, try this tip. Apply a liberal amount of petroleum jelly to your hands just before you go to bed. By morning, they’ll be soft and smooth.
Smooth wild eyebrow hairs
If you have runaway eyebrows — the ones where the hairs won’t lie flat but curl up instead, control the wildness with some petroleum jelly. Rub a dab into your brows. They’ll calm down and behave.
Heal wind burned skin
You’ve just had a glorious hike through the countryside in autumn. And as much as you enjoyed the changing colors of the season, the hike has left you with an unpleasant souvenir: windburn. Grab a jar of petroleum jelly and apply it liberally to your face or wherever you’ve been chapped. The jelly helps relieve the pain.
Use as a lube
Of course you crafty fags from the 1970′s have been using Vaseline as a lubricant. Hence that is why all these 70 year old queens have the face of an shriveled apple but the cocks of a fifteen year old. LOL!!!!!!!!!! I would not recommend using them with condoms, but as a gel to masturbate with it is extremely handy. (Courtesy of Hedda Lettuce; http://heddalettuce.com/?p=4063)
Thanks for reading!
