Petroleum jelly is a petroleum-derived gel commonly used in home remedies, beauty care and in various household products. While there are numerous misconceptions about its use and validity, knowing what it is suitable for and when its use is inappropriate will allow you to reap the benefits while avoiding the disadvantages. Learn to incorporate it into your everyday life (to take care of yourself, take care of housework, etc.) and find out when to prefer other methods instead.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Using Vaseline as a Beauty Product
Step 1. Use petroleum jelly to soften rough skin
While it is not a moisturizing product, it can be used to soften the skin and fix the moisture inside. It can be used to treat particularly dry skin spots, especially in winter: it protects it from exposure to adverse weather conditions.
- Apply it to your elbows or knees to help hydrate your skin and get rid of rough or gray-looking areas.
- If you have calluses or rough spots on your feet, just apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly before going to sleep, putting on a clean pair of socks. Your feet will be softer the next morning.
- Apply a small amount to dry spots on the body before spreading self-tanning lotions. This helps prevent an uneven complexion.
- Use it after removing the hair. It can be applied on freshly depilated skin to smooth and soothe it.
Step 2. Apply petroleum jelly to brighten the eye area
Used alone or in combination with make-up, it is a rather popular and inexpensive product to highlight the natural beauty of the eyes. It is perfectly safe, the important thing is to be very careful not to get it inside the eyes.
- Use a hint of petroleum jelly mixed with powdered pigment to create creamy eyeshadows. You can also use it to fix this product, so that it stays in place after application. Some like to put petroleum jelly before applying eyeshadow to create a glowing effect.
- It can be used to tame unruly brows; just apply a small amount with a brush. Similarly, you can use it to define lashes, polishing them and making them water resistant.
- Apply a thin layer to your lashes before going to bed. It hasn't been scientifically proven, but many think that petroleum jelly promotes lash growth and density over time.
Step 3. Use petroleum jelly on your nails
Massage it into your cuticles several times a day to soften them and make them look tidy. It is often used when manicuring, so that the cuticles are flexible and then pushed back. It is excellent for taking care of your hands.
Revive the enamel applied a week before by massaging a touch of Vaseline on the lacquer: you will restore shine and brightness
Step 4. Apply petroleum jelly to your lips
When the weather is cold or dry, a thin layer of it on chapped lips is enough to help them retain moisture and prevent them from drying out. Some like to apply the product before exfoliating them with a toothbrush, because it makes them smooth to the touch.
Step 5. Apply petroleum jelly to your teeth
Strange but true: spreading petroleum jelly on your teeth is an old stage trick, used to make sure that dancers and actresses weren't reluctant to smile. In fact, it prevents lipstick from getting on your teeth, so it's a pretty common preventative measure when putting on your lips. Used correctly, this method is effective.
Proceed with caution, applying only a very small amount of petroleum jelly to your teeth, otherwise it will annoy you in the mouth
Step 6. Use petroleum jelly on your hair
Using small amounts can be effective for taming hair, retaining moisture and treating any dry scalp problems. However, you should use it sparingly, as it is very difficult to wash off. Nonetheless, in some cases it is an effective treatment.
- Use it to reduce the scaling and itching sensation associated with dandruff. Before shampooing, apply it to your scalp by massaging it gently.
- Apply it to your hairline when dyeing or doing other treatments. Protects the skin from products used for dyeing, perms and permanent straightening.
- A very small amount is enough to replace the mousse or gel. Spread some on your hands and "scrunch" your hair for a look full of volume.
Step 7. Apply it on the irritations caused by the rubbing of the clothes
One of the most common and effective uses of petroleum jelly allows you to prevent rashes or irritation due to clothing. Runners and cyclists often smear small amounts on the inner thighs to prevent this problem during longer races. Others, on the other hand, use it to combat irritation in the nipple area caused by certain items of clothing or a variety of fabrics. If you tend to suffer from it, apply a preventive layer of petroleum jelly on the affected areas and continue as if nothing had happened.
Part 2 of 4: Using Vaseline in Case of Cough
Step 1. Take off your shirt and apply some petroleum jelly on your bare chest
Make sure you cover the entire surface of the chest.
Step 2. Wait until the petroleum jelly has completely absorbed before putting your shirt back on
Step 3. This should help you breathe better
Part 3 of 4: Using Vaseline at Home
Step 1. Use petroleum jelly to remove a stuck ring
It's a great lube, so it's great for pulling off your wedding band or another ring that you just can't move. Apply some around the edges and twist it as you go. It will soon come away.
Someone regularly lubricates their earlobes with petroleum jelly. In this way, putting on the earrings becomes easy, without feeling pain
Step 2. Use a tiny amount of petroleum jelly to quickly polish shoes and bags
A pinch is enough to make shoes, bags and other surfaces shiny, quickly recovering the initial brilliance and consistency. It is an easy and inexpensive way to do this.
Step 3. Use petroleum jelly for craft projects that require the use of food
Foods you carve for an art project, such as potatoes or pumpkins, can last longer if a small amount of petroleum jelly is applied to the edges. After making the Halloween pumpkin, rub petroleum jelly on the exposed spots to prevent it from spoiling or drying out. Eventually it will happen anyway, but you can slow the process down considerably with a touch of well-applied petroleum jelly.
Avoid using it on wood: this will only dry it out over time
Step 4. Use petroleum jelly to lubricate moving parts such as door hinges, jammed hinges, and mechanical toys
This way they will work correctly. While oil-based lubricants like petroleum jelly can attract dirt and dust, they are exceptionally useful for a variety of purposes around the home. Keep a jar in your DIY room or toolbox. It's a treatment you can use quickly to oil squeaky gates and wheels that need grease.
Rub it on the neck of the nail polish bottles to prevent the cork from hardening. Helps create a barrier between the bottle and the lacquer, preventing it from forming a scab or getting dirty
Step 5. Use petroleum jelly to take care of your pets
It is a common home remedy for a variety of cat and dog problems. Always talk to your vet about the products and approaches needed to deal with more serious ailments, and ask if you can use small amounts of petroleum jelly.
- Use it to alleviate the problem of furballs ingested by felines. Feed a very small amount of petroleum jelly to your cat to relieve the symptoms of ingesting these accumulations of hair, making them pass quickly and easily. It is quite a popular treatment.
- Apply it to the fleshy pads of dogs' paws to make them softer. In winter, these parts tend to dry out, especially if your four-legged friend frequently walks on concrete; should it happen, it will be uncomfortable and painful for him. Gently massage a small amount of petroleum jelly into the pads and help him avoid licking them.
Step 6. Use petroleum jelly to prevent battery corrosion
Many batteries found in homes, cars, and electrical devices are prone to leakage and corrosion over time. This can be quite dangerous and can shorten their useful life. Prevents the battery terminals from being damaged by corrosion by applying a small amount of petroleum jelly each time you change it. After cleaning the corroded terminals of the car's battery, lubricate them with petroleum jelly before reinstalling it.
Part 4 of 4: Avoiding Incorrect Uses
Step 1. Don't use petroleum jelly on burns
It is commonplace to believe that petroleum jelly can be used as an analgesic or antiseptic, the truth is that it does not have properties that help make sunburn treatment effective. In fact, the components of this product create a barrier in order to retain hydration, which makes it very bad to be applied on burns, cuts and abrasions.
Use products designed for this purpose. If you don't know what they are, go to the pharmacy and ask for suggestions. Avoid making mistakes, otherwise you won't get better
Step 2. Be careful if you decide to use petroleum jelly as a vaginal or anal lubricant
It is not recommended to use it together with latex condoms, because petroleum jelly actively dissolves this substance, increasing the chances that the barrier breaks. Always use water-based lubricants in this case.
Petroleum jelly is commonly associated with this use, and strictly speaking, it is not "harmful". Some like the texture and feel it gives. However, it is extremely difficult to clean, so it is by no means preferable to lubricants based on water and other natural oils, such as coconut oil
Step 3. Don't use petroleum jelly on freshly made tattoos
Another common misconception? To think that tattoo artists use and recommend this product. It's false. Petroleum jelly absorbs the ink from fresh tattoos, clogs pores, increases the likelihood of a pimple popping up and ruining the job, and doesn't work to help heal the affected skin. Instead, use specific products to take care of it, which help moisturize the area and promote recovery. Choose a reliable tattoo artist and ask him for all the appropriate instructions.
Step 4. Vaseline is not suitable for acne or rosacea
As it is not water-soluble, it is not recommended to use it as a treatment for acne or other problems due to oily skin. In fact, it creates a barrier on the epidermis and dries it, retaining dirt and suffocating the pores. It gives it a hydrated look because it seems to soften it and reduce irritation, but it's all appearance.
Step 5. Don't use it as a moisturizer
If your dermatologist has advised you to moisturize your skin, use a moisturizing lotion, not petroleum jelly. After you have thoroughly cleaned and nourished the epidermis, you can apply it: it is effective for retaining moisture. By itself, however, it does not nourish the skin, in fact it creates a barrier to retain moisture, but on the other hand it prevents the skin from breathing, which can exacerbate skin problems.
Step 6. Do not use petroleum jelly as an antifungal product
It retains moisture, so it is extremely ineffective for fighting fungi. Instead, use products with real antifungal properties, such as coconut oil.
Advice
- Don't apply too much petroleum jelly at one time, go step by step.
- A new jar of petroleum jelly should last you a long time. If in a short time you empty it almost completely, you are using way too much.
- If you want a lasting effect, reapply it throughout the day for better results.
- Use it as a makeup remover.
- Remove the glue from the false eyelashes using petroleum jelly.
