No handbag would be complete without that little blue tin of petroleum jelly. And while it’s not actually that great as a lip balm (it locks in moisture, rather than actively hydrating cracked lips), the multi-beauty purposes of your Vaseline lip therapy tin make it pretty much the best £1.45 you can spend. Don’t believe us? Read on for 15 unexpected beauty tricks all performed by that lowly little round pot.
This article was first published April 10, 2016
Highlight cheekbones
The easiest way to give your skin a natural glow, this trick is used backstage by dozens of makeup artists every fashion month. Just add a little Vaseline to your index finger and gently smudge along your cheekbone to give skin a radiant shine that will last for hours. This should be the last thing you do, after foundation, blush and powder.
Make your perfume last longer
Vaseline is an occlusive so it will stop your skin absorbing perfume – making it last longer. Just dab a little wherever you intend to spritz and the fragrance will sit on the Vaseline and keep you smelling sweeter for longer.
Remove lash glue
Rub a little Vaseline onto your fingertips and gently massage into your lashes to remove any tricky lashes and last remnants of glue.
Use as clear mascara
…And on the subject of lashes, Vaseline makes a pretty decent mascara substitute if you’re rocking a statement lip and want to keep your lashes well-groomed but looking au natural. Simply curl your lashes and apply a tiny amount of Vaseline using your fingers.
Prevent hair dye running
Stop colour bleeding onto your forehead when you’re doing an at-home dye by smudging Vaseline all along your hair line and slightly down onto your forehead. It will act as a barrier between your skin and the dye preventing any pigment being absorbed.
Prevent self-tan disasters
…The same goes for at-home tanning. Rub Vaseline into problem areas such as writs, knees and elbows to prevent streaks forming.
Help heal sunburn
While Vaseline doesn’t boast any hydrating properties, it will prevent your skin losing any moisture by acting as a lock between skin and air. So apply to the affected area straight away, and avoid any more sun exposure, naturally.
Keep brows looking well-groomed
Comb a little Vaseline through your brows to keep them in shape all day. This is especially useful if you use powder-based brow fillers to perfect your arches – the Vaseline will also keep any product in place and looking great until bedtime.
Turn any matte lipstick into gloss
Use a lip brush to apply a layer of Vaseline over any matte lip colour to give a glossy finish. Not only will this trick turn any colour into a multi-tasker, it will stop the pigment drying out your lips, too.
Turn any eyeshadow into a lipstick
Just mix a little of your favourite shadow with a dab of Vaseline using a lip brush and apply directly onto lips. This is a great idea if you want to try a more experimental lip colour without investing. Joey’s Ichiban blue, anyone?
Wet-look locks
One of SS16’s biggest hair trends is slicked-back hair, but how can you tame your flyaways when even the toughest gel products won’t do the trick? A dab of Vaseline will hold even the most wayward strands in place.
Split end treatment
…You can also use a tiny touch of Vaseline to touch up any split ends ruining your perfect blow-dry. Run a little petroleum jelly onto your fingertips and just twist the very tips of your locks together to distribute a little of the product into your hair.
Salon-perfect manicures, every time
Run a dab of Vaseline around the edges of your nails using a cotton bud to prevent any messy overspill of nail varnish onto cuticles or fingertips. It will keep your cuticles in good shape, too.
Remove stubborn makeup
Apply a little Vaseline onto a muslin cloth to get rid of even the most budge-proof mascara, liner and lipstick. Just follow with a face wipe or swipe of your favourite cleanser to remove any leftover traces.
Budget night cream
While it might not be packed with anti-ageing ingredients or smell like roses, Vaseline makes a pretty decent night cream. If you suffer from dry skin, apply a layer of the product before bed and you’ll wake up with softer, more hydrated skin, as the petroleum jelly will prevent any moisture-loss throughout the night. And don’t worry, Vaseline is noncomedogenic, so it won’t clog pores and cause blemishes.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
I'm An Interior Designer & I Spend £5,000 A Year On Skin Care