The more I discover about beauty, the more I realise much of what we read is rubbish. From combatting oily skin with alcohol-laden cleansers to piling volumising product on limp hair, beauty articles can be very unhelpful.
So, using my own beauty disasters as a cringe-inducing guide, I’m writing a series of posts that aim to bust beauty myths. And I’m starting with my own personal demon – Vaseline.
Back in the 90s, Vaseline was the It Girl of the beauty world. Celebs achieved glowing skin through a combination of soap, water and Vaseline. We put it on our elbows, eyebrows and – most importantly – our lips. That little blue pot was the must-have accessory in my high school and synchronised lip-glossing took place at least 10 times a day.
The thing about Vaseline is, it’s made of petroleum jelly. Which is also known as petrolatum, white petrolatum, soft paraffin or multi-hydrocarbon. Wikipedia tells me it’s a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons with carbon numbers mainly higher than 25. Mmmm, glossy.
I don’t know much about the scientific side of Vaseline, but I do know it’s an addictive product. After using it on your lips for a length of time, you can become dependent on it. Not only the process of opening the pot and slathering it on, but actually physically dependent.
After 7 years of using Vaseline as my sole lip balm, I began to develop a reaction to it. My lips got sore and red and using Vaseline only made it worse. So I went cold turkey and stopped applying. Almost immediately, my lips cracked, flaked and became very painful. I had a rash on my upper lip and it hurt to smile. It took all my beauty-based strength not to cave and go back to that little pot of evil.
After three weeks, my lips were almost back to normal. I haven’t used Vaseline since, but I have developed a sensitivity to many of the ingredients found in lip balms, like parabens, mineral oils and lanolin. I’m obviously prone to allergies in this area but I do think over-use of Vaseline triggered the problem.
These days I’m very careful about what I put on my face and steer clear of most commercial lip balms. Lots of people use lip balms on a daily basis which shouldn’t be necessary – especially in summer, lips should be balanced and moisturised naturally. If you find you’re reaching for your Vaseline way too often, here are some alternatives I’ve found really help:
– Lip Scrub by Lush – great for sloughing off dry skin after initially giving up lip balm
– Dream Cream by Lush – another great, natural product with no nasties. I use this at night to soothe dryness
– Baume Lèvres Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm by Nuxe – if you really can’t quit balms, this is a lovely one
– Moringa Balm by Emma Hardie – technically a cleanser, but actually quite the wonder product that can be used on dry patches and angry rashes. I dab this on my lips if they’re feeling tingly and it cures them overnight
Do you use Vaseline? Have you ever had a reaction to it?
If you have any Beauty Bullsh*t you’d like busted, let me know in the comments.
I think this is what started to happen to me with Burts Bees. My lips haven’t been the same since. I have been on the hunt for a lip balm to fix it. Thanks for the suggestions!
Burts Bees is another one I can’t use, one of the worst for causing a reaction with me. I started using None of Your Beeswax lip balm from Lush after reacting to BB and that really helped! 🙂
Hey,
My name is Chloe, your average 11 years old girl. my mum LOVES vaseline but ever since I started using it my lips are Sooo cracked and bleed regularly I don’t know what to do because every time I complain she forces me to use it. Even though I show her these articles I have some Eos coming in the mail but after that I am not allowed anything else. So my only options will be vaseline or Eos please reply saying if Eos is better or what I should tell my mum it’d really help me thank you
It is perfectly fine to use eos ! They are almost 100% organic and are actually good for your lips .
Except that EOS is known for growing mold in the tubes, so I do not recommend.
I had a really bad reaction to Eos. My lips swelled and turned red and chapped as did the skin around them where the Eos touched when applied. This occurred only w the fruit flavored Eos. The mint, vanilla and other non-fruit products did not cause this reaction. There was a class action suit based on these symptoms. Be careful w this product.
EOS is known to be fine for a few months anf then starts causing reactions on your lips…if you look it up there’s a lot of hate articles about EOS lip balms.
My daughter had a HORRID reaction to EOS. Can’t use Vaseline either. I have been trying things that are organic and that seems to work, though they seem to melt easily.
I am the same! I cannot use anything that is oily, greasy or contains bees wax. I have tried sooooo many but found that if I drink upwards of 2 1/2 litres of water a day, my skin is hydrated and therefore my lips are soft 🙂
I HATE VASELINE! Love lush’s scrub!
http://talisatalksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/liz-earle-cleanse-polish-cleanser.html
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Never had a reaction! But I try to avoid petroleum based products. Try to use as many natural and organic products as I can! My skin definitely seems better for it. My pet hate is Clinique, this destroyed my skin when I first tried it. Never again!
I once wrote a post about the wonders of Clinique’s 3 Step… Never again! That stuff is HARSH.
Interesting facts Jen. I used to love Vaseline but seem to sway more towards Caudalie lip balm now. I found Vaseline wasn’t actually helping my lips – it still lingers at the bottom of my bag though. Maybe I should throw it out!
Sophie
x
Ha! Love the title to this post 🙂
I’ve heard Vaseline/petroleum jelly is actually drying in nature due to the chemicals. It has no moisturising materials in it and is in fact just a barrier to the outside elements. Yay for drying-out-non-breathing greasiness. Yup – not a fan.
If my lips are sore in the winter, Carmex all the way!
x
Carmex is made with petroleum jelly, so just as bad. Personally I have never had a problem with petroleum based products and I love Carmex, but if you do then you might want to ditch it!
Carmex is made with petroleum jelly, so just as bad. Personally I have never had a problem with petroleum based products and I love Carmex, but if you do then you might want to ditch it!
Like you I was completely addicted to lip balms at one stage & ‘had’ to use them or my lips would be so cracked & dry! It was like an addiction & very bad habit! I used mainly the little tubs from the Boots naturals range or the Body Shop (this is going back donkeys years now) but then one day I just stopped! I got over my over usage & habit & rarely use them now at all! This was so interesting to read & I look forward to more of your Beauty Busting! Andrea x
http://couscousandcorkwedges.blogspot.com/
I have always hated Vaseline products, I don’t like the smell or the texture (so I was the shunned one in high school), but I don’t like lip products at all really anyway. If my lips feel nasty in cold weather I reach for my Burts Bees. Best product I’ve found and I’ll keep using it because it works when I need it most.
Glad I’m not the only one opposed to Vaseline 🙂
I absolutely despise Vaseline; It’s oily, greasy, causes spots on my sensitive skin when applied anywhere other than my lips!!
I much prefer Carmex, in fact I swear by it! I’ve reviewed it here
http://robynsnestx.blogspot.co.uk/2013_05_01_archive.html
Robyn x
YES. I’ve always depended on Vaseline and earlier this winter, my lips suddenly were always red around the rims, dry, cracked and it hurt so much! I realized that it was the Vaseline and that I couldn’t use any other lib balms.. Now I use blistex and it’s working pretty well for me 🙂 Anyone should try it out if you have the same issues LOL
How long did it take for your lips to go back to normal after stopping the use of Vaseline? Having the same problem right now, so annoying xx
I think it took about 3 months for them to completely heal. Probably not what you want to hear – so sorry! They’ve never been as bad as they were that first time, though – the initial ‘purge’ took so long but they’ve been fine since then, even when accidentally using a product I’m allergic to. I have a slight reaction and then know to stop using!
It’s been about 3 months and bottom lip is no better. This is disappointing. It stings, it’s cracked, and has a wrinkly look to it. I don’t know what to do anymore. Any advice? It would be appreciated. I think petroleum destroyed the collagen in my bottom lip and there’s a coating of it deep within the lip that’s trapped.
Jen,
Thank you so much for the information you provided regarding Vaseline. I am experiencing a similar situation right now. I have been a “lip balm junkie” most of my life (in my late 40’s now). I have developed an alllergy to something which is causing my lips to be very dry, swell, and be very painful. I have stopped Vaseline after reading your post. Going to see if this resolves it. Quick question – when you went cold turkey from Vaseline, we you using an alternative as necessary to moisturizer your lips at all? Did you use any of the alternatives that you listed? I am using a little bit of Blistex when absolutely necessary. Thank you again for the information. Very helpful.
Exactly the same!!! My lips get so sore and cracked thtpat when I talk it’s actually REALLY painful. I went to the dentist the a few months ago and I had to reschedule because it hurt too much to open my mouth… I discoered blistex ( formerly blisteze ) and it was what I used all the time. I recently discovered that although it immediately makes it feel better, it was just numbing them and I don’t think its was doing much to actually heal my lips. I am now using a combination of ‘ La roche-posay cicaplast levres’ and a boots own brand strawberry lipbalm that has shea butter, beeswax and apricot kernal oil, which are all known to be great for skin. So far so good but I notice whenever my lips get really bad I am reaching back for my blistex relief cream. Any recommendations that aren’t too expensive? Thanks, Grace.
So glad I found this post! I have been using vaseline for YEARS – It’s like my lip drug. Strangely, I don’t use it at all during the day but only on a night time before bed. If I don’t apply any vaseline on my lips overnight, in the morning my lips are so sore & cracked. I always thought there was something wrong with me!
Will be going cold turkey on the vaseline i think – I was just about to buy another pot on ebay too…!! I think i’ll check out the Lush alternative.
Thank you 🙂
Wow, thank you for this post! I’m an definitely going to be staying away from Vaseline (I’ve never actually found it that great on my lips anyway) and skicking to my beloved Balmi, fantastic post, can’t wait for more in this series 🙂 x
http://theressomethingaboutalice.blogspot.co.uk
I have wondered whether Vaseline is bad for you. Whenever I put it on, I always seem to swallow some when I have a drink and its taste is one that doesn’t seem very healthy at all!! Going to find other uses for my mini collection of it now, I think. I like the idea of ‘beauty bullsh*t busted!’ xx
Never been a Vaseline user myself! Don’t think I ever will be!!! http://framecake.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/my-first-ever-giveaway-uk-only.html
haha! i’m liking the theme for this post. look forward to seeing some more beauty bullshit! especially volumizing shampoo.. I have bought so many and non work..
Hannah x
raisinheart.com
Oh, you KNOW I’ll be discussing volumising products AT LENGTH! 🙂
I agree with the vaseline thing. A lot of the hair products especially those targeted to black women have TONS of mineral oil and petroleum jelly that are absolutely terrible for the hair, so now when I buy hair products, I keep it really simple. I only use olive oil, or avocado oil in my hair as moisturizers, anything else that’s laden with ingredients I try to stay away from.
Yes, i think back to nature is the best. About 2 weeks ago, my lips started to become dry. but i ignore that condition till 3 days ago my lips were become really dry, blackened and peeled off. At first i want to use vaseline, but i cant find it in my country. So i grab what i have in my cosmetic bag, coconut oil. I scrub it on my lips 3times a day, and may lips back to normal in just 3 days!!
Couldn’t agree more about vaseline, there is no need for it to be a beauty product, but great for squeaky doors!
Vaseline has never worked for me. I once bought the pink tinted version and it took me a while to see a connection between it and what I thought was eczema on my lips. Nowadays I make sure that whatever I use on my lips has SPF in it, especially in the summer. x
It hasn’t worked for me either!!! nothing does, my lips are always dry, I’ve tried every lip balm except for balmi or eos ..I’m wondering whether or not i should try balmi? any suggestions x
This was so interesting, someone I know has said the same thing that she was having a reaction to vaseline and her lips are so much better without it. Since she told me that Ive stopped using it as well and I still feel the need to use a balm but my lips are much better and I dont use it nearly as often. I’m quite sensitive to lanolin as well, I dont know how people can smear it pure on themselves!
I didnt know that petroleum jelly was the same as soft paraffin, really interesting post! x
taupeandpearl.blogspot.com
I didn’t know I was sensitive to lanolin until I bought a tube of Lanolips (made from pure lanolin) and smeared it on… that was a bad, bad day!
I use Vaseline as a lip balm and have never had a problem with it. I only use it when I need it mind, not religiously every day. I started with Vaseline because I had a reaction to Boots Natural Collection Vanilla lip balm years back and have used the plain blue Vaseline ever since.
A boy at school once told me that vaseline was addictive but I never believed him! I did slowly wean myself of it but only to move onto other things – my current addiction is chapstick and if I stop using for even a few hours I feel my lips drying out. Definitely time to break the habit I think – thank you!
So true! Vaseline is good for around your nose when you have a cold though. It is just a barrier, not a moisturiser.
I personally don’t really use lip balm unless I have to and I’ve always steered clear of Vaseline – I think I read somewhere it was actually bad for you and never tried it again. I do however reach for Elizabeth Ardens 8hr Cream for those bad sore chapped lip days and that works a treat for me. And my hubs even asks for it when he suffers now.
One of my friends works in the beauty industry and she told me vaseline is one of the worst possible things you can use on your lips, as the ingredients actually dry your lips out. x
I have a tin of Vaseline in my desk drawer but I don’t use it every day. I much prefer Carmex for it’s tingly sensation or Burts Bees. Again I don’t even use these every day, just when I feel a bit dry.
This was so interesting, I never knew vaseline could cause that much trouble!!
http://www.beblacknblue.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.beblacknblue.blogspot.co.uk
Glad I found this site. I have been wearing invisalines for almost a yr. now, and been using Vaseline on my lips all the time, cause they felt dry. I just thought the invisaline was making them dry. Well my lips went swollen and red and chapped and they feel fake. I went to my Dr. And he gave me Prednisone for the swollen Lips, and now I have appointment for a allergy Dr. Next week. My Orthodontist doesn’t think it’s the invisaline But he did say it could be the Vaseline, And to stop using it.. it’s been a few days, without Vaseline and they do feel a bit better. So we shall see what happens when I go to the allergy Dr. Next week. But for now, I Stay away from the Vaseline!
I’m liking the bulls**t busting! One of my BIGGEST peeves is the fact that the beauty industry seems to have convinced everyone that SPF in face cream prevents skin aging caused by sun damage. Wronnnnng! Only UVA & UVB (mainly UVB) will protect you from the sort of sun damage that causes aging of the skin, though SPF does stop you burning if used properly. Also, most of the sun protection lotions etc we are sold aren’t photostable, meaning they degrade quickly when exposed to sunlight & are basically worthless/not fit for purpose. It drives me crazy. It’s near impossible to buy a decent moisturiser that contains UVA, UVB and SPF protection above factor 15 – I need factor 50 on dermatologist advice. The beauty industry are letting us receive skin damage via wrong information, whilst conning us out of loads of money!
Ah. Rant over 🙂
Ahhh! Oh my gosh! Really!?! Yikes…I want to know more about this! I have really sensitive fair skin and prone to allergic reactions from sunscreen. Have been using oil of olay face lotion which has SPF15. Any recommendations?
I’ve just discovered Sunsense, they do a daily face sunscreen suitable for use on sensitive skin, under makeup that is UVA/UVB/SPF 50+. Might be worth a try? They are an australian brand & don’t test on animals.
Interesting that you find the chemical composition to be so abhorrent. Most modern cosmetics cheap and expensive are derived from petrochemicals. ‘Natural’ products, indeed the whole world, is made up of chemicals joined together either by mans wit or natures quirks. Anybody that sells you anything cheap or expensive, natural or chemical is trying to make a profit. They will market their product appropriately. Everybody’s skin is different. To brand one product as ‘evil’ is a bit dramatic, don’t you think?
Hi Anon,
I’m not quite sure of your point… my point is putting petroleum jelly on your lips is a bad, bad thing. This is a post based on my personal experience, and my personal opinion is Vaseline is an evil product that can be very damaging. Of course, people can and will disagree!
Did the title not give you a clue that this post may be just a little dramatic? 😉
I used to swear by Vaseline, and then one day a makeup artist friend told me much what you’ve said, and told me to switch to Carmex. I’ve sworn by it ever since – I rarely get cracked lips now, but also don’t need to apply every five minutes like I did with Vaseline. I believe the thing with Vaseline is that it creates a barrier on your lips, so it’s not letting badness in, but it’s also not doing your lips any good in the meantime – no moisturising, nothing. Its popularity is kind of baffling.
So timely for me – I read recently that Petroleum Jelly was bad for you and I have been having to use it more an dmore often – the article I read said Shea Butter was better and I have just bought Dr Organics from Holland & Barrett (I went for the one with Aloe Vera) and so far so good. I have only used it twice a day max so Vaseline is going in the bin – so sad to get rid of Rosy though as I love the natural lips look it gives – any alternatives anyone? Great Blog – Lea X
I love this post- I remember the time when the green (aloe vera?) vaseline came out and it was THE must have to be kept in a school blazer pocket. Teenage fads truly are bizarre!
PS- thanks for a fab talk at Blognix
Hi Jen,
Interesting post! It sounds like you may have developed an allergy to Vaseline, which is weird I know considering you used it for so long but they can develop at any time.
I’m not sure it’s appropriate to warn other people off the product though just because it doesn’t suit you?
Hi Anon,
Yes, I definitely have an allergy to Vaseline (and most other lip balms), which I mention in the post. I did try to be a bit more balanced when it came to recommending what others do – this was supposed to be more of a ‘here’s my experience, do with it what you will’ post although I do realise it’s quite dramatic (gotta make it interesting somehow!).
If you read through the comments here, however, you’ll see lots of people have had very similar experiences with Vaseline and it’s widely regarded as BAD in the beauty world. So I think I’m maybe just repeating what other people have heard, with a personal spin.
Thanks for your feedback – will bear it in mind for the next post in this series 🙂
Hi Jen,
Ah after reading the other comments I see what you mean! I’m enjoying your posts so look forward to the others 🙂
Thanks Anon! I always like to hear opinions on my posts so thank you again for expressing yours. I think you had a point that I need to be careful what I recommend – I’m in no way an expert. It’ll be at the front of my mind when I write the next one in this series 🙂 x
Very interesting post! My friend used to work in Lush, and in their training they are told just how bad vaseline is for your lips and skin. So many people swear by it, but really as you pointed out, it’s all a lie! I loved your talk at Blognix by the way, I wish I hadn’t been too shy to say hello! x
Oh yes please! I NEED this! Fantastic post. I’m really looking forward to future ones. I would love to know which is the best eye cream to use to mask dark circles. Oh and lip stains. Keep it coming 🙂
Not just me then!
My reaction wasn’t to Vaseline but to whatever lip balm I used to use. I would never go anywhere without it and would apply umpteen times a day. My lips weren’t great and I lost the definition of my lip line. And then I had a total reaction, it was hideous. I hid for a weekend using olive oil when I felt I really had to.
Now I can’t use anything with lanolin.
I do occasionally need to use something – when out in real cold and wind climbing mountains – and I use little tubes of Body Shop Vit E eye cream. Can’t remember how but I discovered that doesn’t make me react, and does the job.
I’ve been addicted to lip balms all my life, for the past couple of years I’ve been using Dr Lipp (from Space NK or zuneta) which is a lanolin product but doesn’t make my lips feel all funny which other lip balms tend to do. Bit expensive at £11 but SO worth it.
Last night I applied Vaseline Petroleum jelly (Aloe vera one), and today morning I awoke with sore, sensitive and pouty lips. I am surprised that a simple healing product made it so. I think plain petroleum jelly (in whose ingredients you only find petrolatum) must be good.
My lips have recently been extremely red, chapped, and painful. I thought it was the new chapstick I bought, so I threw that away and only used Vaseline for a week. My lips were worse than ever. I have only been using coconut oil for the past few days, and my lips are STILL extremely chapped and painful. I have been applying coconut oil liberally- like every few minutes- because otherwise my lips are so dry and hurt so much!
I don’t know what to do! I stopped using the coconut oil for about an hour, and wanted to cry at how dry they were.
Stay the course, Katie. You’ll just have to be patient and ride it out. They will get worse before they get better. Dab them with water when you feel them get dry. And you can use coconut, jojoba, olive oil if necessary. But do NOT go back to balms. I just stopped several weeks ago and they’re getting better. It takes time…
This is an old thread, but I felt the need to add that petroleum jelly works by sealing in moisture – mostly by sealing in sweat. Lips don’t have sweat glands. Do the math.
Do the math on what???
My lips have drove me crazy using this! Definately going to try Lushes lip scrub!
http://www.shanneeooo.blogspot.com
I have been using coconut oil. Or a mix of coconut oil and a drop of extra virgin olive oil. I made it in my kitchen after reading the damaging effects of beauty products.
I love how soft and smooth my lips are.
The more research I did, the more I find that if it’s good for you internally, it’s good on your skin, also. 😊
Ty for the article!
I have the exact same problem, I’ve been using Vaseline everyday for nearly a week now and my upper lip is sore, dry and red.
I can totally rule out using any of the ‘flavoured’ Vaseline’s – my lips develop blisters that eventually turn into sores. Which is not good…
I only bought the Vaseline on impulse due to its cute, vintage anniversary design. Oh the joys of having sensitive skin!
I have blisters all over my upper lip from using Vaseline Rosy Lip Therapy! Bought it on Thursday and used it until Sunday when the blisters appeared…and it hurts! Shocked as I never had a reaction to plain old Vaseline. This is awful.
But its interesting, vaseline was popular a decade ago & till today most people r buying it & would still be buying. If i’m true vaseline is d most cheapest cream in d world.
Personally speaking, I don’t like Vaseline. It’s greasy feeling and ability to smear all over my face when I have applied it only to my lips just doesn’t appeal to me. When my lips are extra dry I apply a dab of sudocrem before bed. This usually does the trick for me. If I need something during the day I will use carmen or blistex depending on what I have to hand. This is just my personal preference.
The key to vaseline is not sticking your fingers in the tub. The chances are that you simply picked something up on your finger, turned your vaseline into an agar jelly infestation and reacted to it. You need to jet use a cotton bud to apply it.
*you need to just use (sorry for the typo :D)
The problem was not really with Vaseline itself, but a lack of it – after years of use my lips became dependent on it and when I stopped using it, they reacted very badly. Now I can’t use any lip balms that contain petroleum, lanolin or beeswax – no matter if they’re applied with my finger, a cotton bud or straight from the tube. It’s definitely not a bacterial problem.
[…] like Vaseline, without any of the nasty bits (Jen has a great post on the side-effects of Vaseline here). Just smother it on any dry bits and await skin as smooth as a baby’s bottom […]
So iv been on roaccutane for 6 months, just finished my course. Had seriously dry cracked lips. First I used blistex, was OKAY but not moisturizinge enough. Then my dermatologist recommended nipple cream which worked wonders
I have been having a reaction on my lips for a few weeks now and I’m just realizing that it’s due to my petroleum-based product that I’ve been using for 7 year. Like you, my lips became dependent on it and I was using it several times during the day, and even had some by my bedside that I would re-apply during the night. Now that I’ve done the research I can’t believe I used it that long – or that this ingredient is even allowed by the FDA.
My mantra is ‘If you wouldn’t eat it don’t put it on your skin’
About 7 months ago I got a bacterial infection on my lip. I looked like a botched plastic surgery patient. To clear the infection I had to use antibiotics, a warm compress every 20 minutes, and globs of Vaseline. It took sometime for my lips to really heal and I needed to keep them from drying out. I kept using Vaseline the whole time. I started to get an angry rash around the edge of my lips. I went to dermatologists, allergists, and general doctors. Everyone kept giving me different steroids that made it go away but it would always come back. I thought maybe I had developed a sensitivity to petroleum and I kept trying to find other lip balms that didn’t irritate my extremely sensitive lips. Tons of ingredients in balms are very irritating to my lips. I feel like I have tried SO many products and probably have spend over $200 in lip balms. I’m pretty sure I am reacting to the petroleum, fragrance, and mineral oils. I’ve tried using straight shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, etc. and even though they don’t irritate my lips they do nothing for hydrating them. I’ve started acupuncture and drinking 2 liters of alkaline water a day. It has helped but not brought my lips back to normal. 🙁 Maybe it’s time to just try nothing at all?!
Are you still having this problem? Sounds similar to what I have. What are you using now if any?
I still can’t use anything with petroleum, lanolin or beeswax… I use Lush’s Dream Cream overnight and then just stick to moisturising lipsticks during the day. I like Korres Lip Butters too!
I have been using my avene cleanser on my lips for years now and it works wonders, then one of my friends recommended Vaso for my lips. I gave it a try for 1 WEEK. BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE. My lips sting all the time, they are badly damaged and blistered. My lips used to be amazingly moisturised until I used Vaso. Don’t do it.
If you can believe it, petroleum jelly is the only thing that moisturizes my lips! I’ve tried various organic lip balms, I even used Burt’s Bees for the longest time. Absolutely refused to purchase petroleum jelly because I really wanted a more natural product. The time came when my lips were cracked (I live in a tropical country!) and my friend eventually convinced me to try petroleum jelly. It was the only thing that worked, and I’ve been using it for the last four years. I’m not too fond of it but it’s the only thing that works now.
I’ve done some research online and it looks like Vaseline itself is not harmful, besides not being eco-friendly. However, there may have been a combination of factors that led to the reaction you experienced (overuse, sensitivity, chance). Everyone knows that too much of anything can be bad. So my advice is moderation. I have tried multiple chapsticks and they all had the same effect over the long run, they stopped working. Same thing happens with shampoo, certain moisturizers, and even stomach pills. Think of antibiotics as an example: just like bacteria, our body becomes resistant and used to certain products, making them no longer effective. So switch it up!
This happened to me too. I have been using Vaseline ever since. But lately, I developed rash and itchiness around my lips. I use honey to ease off the itch and swellings. I am still looking for the right lip balm because my lips tend to get dry T_T
I am most definitely allergic to vasoline. The edge of my moth is so very sore right now. Any suggestions on at home treatments to do while waiting for my Luxe stuff to come in the mail? Aquaphor was working at first, but now it turns to liquid as soon as I put it around my lips, so I’m at a loss as to what I can use.
I’m currently on a course of accurate and have awful lip issues.
Because of the meds my lips and the surrounding skin became very raw and started to flake with skin if I didn’t keep them constantly moisturised.
Out of sheer vanity I would exfoliate the dead skin around my lips and then conceal the redness with makeup.
After a few painful weeks of this routine I had unsurprisingly angered my lips even further, and was literally red raw around my mouth.
I’ve tried pretty much every balm and moisturiser since this episode to quel the redness, but it still remains after almost 3 months.
I’m starting to think that petroleum jelly may be part of the problem as I only started using it when the drugs made my lips dry out.
I would love to get to the bottom of this – am I reacting, or is it just the remnants of trauma from aggravating my skin.
I hate to sound over dramatic, but this is ruining my life!
That should read *accutane
Oh god Laura. I read your comment and thought I had written it myself!
I’m at a loss whether the redness is an allergy, or just a (semi) permanent reminder of the trauma I put them through whilst on accutane.
Whilst it’s certainly better and less irritating than it was when it first occurred, its still very obvious and often sensitive and tight.
Have you had any luck since you posted?
I’ve had this issue for around 7 months!
Vaseline, which is essentially petrolatum/petroleum jelly is in fact as natural as it comes if you want to get technical about it, and due to the extreme refinement process utilised in manufacturing petroleum jelly, the skin safety profile is excellent. In terms of providing excellent moisturisation to the skin, very few materials come close and there is a lot of science to back this up. In fact, your average natural oil lags way behind in its ability to provide moisture to the skin in the excellent way petroleum jelly can. Unfortunately, petrolatum/petroleum jelly has two things that don’t work in its favour, the first is that it isn,t biodegradable and the second it that it is completely occlusive on the skin, essentially meaning that once its on its on, and it will trapped essential added moisture so well that it won,t get out. This brings us to the incredible properties of sheep sebum, lanolin. Lanolin is an absolutely incredible miracle of nature, not just in its function in sheeps wool, but what it can do for moisturising human skin at a deep level. Lanolin has unfortunately been given a bad rap over the years for being a significant allergen, but this in fact couldnt be further from the truth. Misinterpreted studies and a plethora of misinformation have plagued lanolin to the point of some cosmetic/skincare brands stating on their labels that their product is lanolin free, implying lanolin being a harmful ingredient…far from it! Lanolin’s deep moisturising effect on human skin is equal to if not superior to petrolatum, and it is also semi-occlusive so compared with petrolatum you get a two way street. It is also biodegradable. The complexities of lanolin’s structure are as such that its properties have not been able to be replicated by scientists. Lanolin in its higher refined grades, is used as a significant component in moist wound healing pharmaceutical preparations. It really is a wonder material.
I am suffering from the same situation.I read somewhere to apply on lips as well.But now my lips are now in worse condition.I can not smile even.It’s really a bullsh*t to apply on lips.
After having used Vaseline for years I just recently was sent to the emergency room because I developed a very dangerous allergy to it. My lips were very puffy and red, extremely uncomfortable. Since this incident, I’ve not yet come across a product that healed my lips. I find it best to switch to products without petroleum, as they are less addictive, just as you said, but still haven’t found something to quickly heal my chapped and blistered lips.
Whe i was 16 year old i used vaseline for 1year regularly and now i m not using vaseline from last 2-3years but my lips becme dry every second day, what to do please recommend me another lip balm
Happened to me. I had dry, chapped lips as I always get in the winter. My mum told me to use Vaseline and it made everything worse, my lips got red and the skin around my lips was flaky and splitting making my lips bleed. Still haven’t found anything that helps my dry lips without making them worse.
Your lips cannot naturally moisturize because there are no sebaceous glands on your mouth..