What is the benefit and what is the harm of petroleum jelly for the face and body. Recommendations on how to use it correctly to moisturize and soften the skin. Petroleum jelly is a relatively recent cosmetic product. In the middle of the 19th century, it was invented by the Englishman Robert Chesbrough. While personally testing his development, Mr. discovered that oil jelly has an amazing property - to heal, moisturize and soften the skin. And he patented it under the familiar name "Vaseline" (from "wasser" + "elaion", that is, "water", German, "olive oil", Greek).
Properties of petroleum jelly for skin
The use of petroleum jelly for cosmetic purposes is very effective. Lacking healing properties, this remedy perfectly heals minor injuries and prevents the appearance of wrinkles. But it should be applied with caution.
Why is petroleum jelly useful for the skin of the face and body?
The use of high-quality petroleum jelly is justified by the effectiveness, safety, simplicity and low cost of this product. It does not heal, but it has beneficial properties, thanks to which it has become so popular:
- Formation of a protective barrier … When applied to the skin, petroleum jelly forms a thin film that is impervious to water. Thanks to this, the dermis does not lose its moisture. Note that he does not share water with the epidermis, but simply does not allow him to lose it. This protective property of the substance makes it an effective remedy against the appearance of wrinkles, as well as against inflammation, because the protective film, without releasing water, does not allow infections to the skin. After dermabrasion or peeling, when the epidermis is very sensitive and prone to injury, the use of petroleum jelly or a product based on it is simply salvation.
- Safety for the body … This cosmetic substance has practically no contraindications, except for individual intolerance, but allergic reactions to it are extremely rare. Vaseline is not absorbed into the bloodstream, does not break down and does not interact in any way with the components of cosmetics, that is, it cannot form any compound that is potentially dangerous to the human body. By the way, women use this with might and main, lubricating the cuticle around the nail or the skin around the hair during dyeing to avoid unnecessary staining.
The use of Vaseline is especially important for residents of those places where the weather is very harsh: frosty, windy. In the Far North, the Eskimos, in order to protect themselves from frostbite, smear their face and hands with fish oil, which exudes an indescribable aroma. The use of petroleum jelly in the absence of a disgusting odor, just like fish oil, saves the skin from chapping and cracking.
Modern creams, those that do not contain this substance, cannot give the same effect, because due to the large amount of water in their composition they simply freeze in severe frost, which, by the way, even intensifies skin damage.
There are two types of petrolatum: natural, which is obtained from plant paraffin resins, cleansing and bleaching, and artificial, which is made from solid paraffins and oil. Natural - viscous to sticky, transparent, colorless and odorless, but characterized by antimicrobial properties and attracts moisture. Artificial petroleum jelly is a less sticky substance without taste and aroma, yellowish or cloudy white, it is more often used in cosmetics than natural, precisely because of its less sticky consistency.
The harmful effects of petroleum jelly on the skin
Vaseline is not harmful to the skin, its improper use is harmful. The protective film that it forms on the body retains moisture, preventing it from evaporating, but the same property of the substance can lead to edema if it is used immoderately often and unnecessarily.because the evaporation of water from the surface of the epidermis is disturbed.
Petroleum jelly helps heal microtraumas by preventing infection from entering them, but at the same time, it clogs the pores, preventing the skin from breathing. It retains not only water, but also toxins and the resulting sebaceous fat, thereby increasing the pollution and greasiness of the dermis and causing increased formation of comedones and blackheads (however, this has not yet been proven 100%).
From all of the above, we can conclude that measure is good in everything. If, adhering to common sense, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly and use it taking into account climatic conditions, your skin type and its condition, take into account your individual reaction, monitor the expiration date and choose a good manufacturer, then there will be no problems.
It is interesting! The melting point of petroleum jelly is +60 degrees Celsius. It does not dissolve in alcohol and water and therefore it is so difficult to wash off, but it can dissolve in chloroform or ether, it easily interacts with any oils except castor oil.
How to use petroleum jelly correctly
Any cosmetic product used incorrectly can be harmful. This also applies to petroleum jelly. It is safe when used correctly: for one month, no more, and in the cold season (autumn, winter or early spring).
How to use petroleum jelly to moisturize your face
At home, you can apply petroleum jelly to the skin of the face to moisturize it: either smear it with a pure substance, or mix it with chamomile infusion and castor oil (1:10:10). And if you combine it with other ingredients, then, in addition to retaining moisture in the epidermis, you get an additional effect:
- Rejuvenation … Whisk half the yolk, combine with 0.25 cups of chamomile infusion and 0.25 cups of almond oil. Add 0.5 tsp. honey and salt. Whisk the resulting composition thoroughly and combine with 2 tsp. petroleum jelly (pre-melt it in a water bath). Place the petroleum jelly in the refrigerator for 10 minutes. Before going to bed, apply the anti-aging mass to the previously cleansed face and neck, in the morning remove the remnants with a napkin.
- Fight wrinkles … Squeeze 3 tsp from the aloe leaves. juice (just before preparation) and mix, rubbing thoroughly, with 1 tsp. petroleum jelly. Store the resulting mixture in the refrigerator, but no longer than 1 month. This amount will be enough for you several times. Use it like this: apply on face and neck for 20 minutes, and then blot the remainder with a tissue and wash with cool water.
- Lightening … Mix 1 tsp. sour cream, 1 tsp. lemon juice and 3 g of petroleum jelly, apply the mixture on your face for 1 hour, and then, after removing the remnants with a napkin, wash yourself with warm water.
- Fight inflammation … Mix 1 tsp. petroleum jelly with 1 tsp. your night cream and 2 drops of iodine. Apply a homogeneous mass to the face for 20 minutes, remove the excess using a napkin and rinse with warm water.
Vaseline will help the sponges if the skin is chapped and cracked. Use it neat or mixed with chocolate by melting in the microwave and mixing. It is also used for traces of acne: as soon as a scar has formed, without waiting for the moment of its coarsening, lubricate the affected area on the skin with petroleum jelly. They can also remove cosmetics, even waterproof ones.
How to apply petroleum jelly to soften body skin
The use of petroleum jelly also has a good effect on the condition of the skin of the body, it softens, becomes smooth and pleasant to the touch, moreover, the areas of its use are very different:
- For heels … Lubricate your heels with Vaseline and put on your socks. Already in the morning you will notice a positive effect - the skin will soften. And if you do this for 30 days, then the cracks that have arisen from dry legs will heal, and the heels will become even softer.
- For knees and elbows … Vaseline has a similar softening and wound-healing effect on the flaky, rough skin of the elbows and knees. Just lubricate them. In summer, do this at night, and in winter, when you wear warm clothes, during the day: apply the product on your elbows under a sweater and on your knees under warm tights.
- For cuticles … Lubricate the thin skin of the cuticle with it in the morning, afternoon and evening. This will soften it and make your fingers look neater.
- For body peeling … To make the skin velvety, firm and smooth, mix sea salt (or just finely ground iodized salt) with petroleum jelly (1: 1) and massage the resulting scrub into the body, then rinse with water.
- After epilation … Vaseline has a soothing and anti-inflammatory effect, so applying it in a thin layer is useful after epilation (shaving or plucking, it doesn't matter), and men can use it as an after-shave lotion. The same properties make the substance useful for those who have undergone surgery and those who have tattooed themselves: it prevents the appearance of crusts, the wounds heal faster, and the seams are tightened without forming scars.
- For head and hair … Dry skin is a common cause of dandruff. And applying petroleum jelly to the scalp prevents its occurrence, and can also eliminate the unpleasant itching caused by it. The split ends of the hair, lubricated with this tool, look healthy - it seems to seal them. However, remember that it is quite difficult to wash off the petroleum jelly from the curls. You can use it as a base for mascara (it separates the cilia well, makes them shiny) and make an eyebrow tinting agent out of it, mixing it with brown shadows, fixing the hairs in the right position.
- For treatment … Petroleum jelly can be used to treat some dry skin problems. They are lubricated with various cracks and inflammations, dry nasal mucosa, atopic eczema, and even lesions with poisonous sumac.
To save on expensive perfume, lubricate the skin on the wrists and on the neck with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, and only then sprinkle with perfume, so their scent will last longer. And if you apply it on the area above the eyebrows and on the eyebrows themselves, then when washing your head, the soap solution will drain away without getting into the eyes, this is especially true for babies.
Got a pair of earrings that are difficult to fit into your earlobe? Lubricate the skin with petroleum jelly, and the procedure will be easier and more painless.
Applying petroleum jelly to the skin around the eyes
The area around the eyes is practically devoid of sebaceous glands and therefore is dry, aging in the first place. Vaseline, covering it with a sufficiently dense layer and not absorbing into it, thereby blocks the loss of moisture. It is a wonderful prophylactic against the appearance of wrinkles.
Proof of this is the appearance of the famous American actress Jennifer Aniston, who often uses ordinary inexpensive petroleum jelly to care for the skin around her eyes, applying it at night, and washing her face with ice water in the morning to avoid swelling. And this despite the fact that a month a movie star does not regret spending up to $ 8,000 on body and face care.
Of course, it is not always recommended to use petroleum jelly to protect the skin around the eyes, as this can disrupt metabolism and get swelling instead of additional protection. Therefore, the best option is to apply it periodically, this is especially true in the cold season and windy weather.
You can do like Jennifer Aniston, but in our harsh climatic conditions, Vaseline is best applied in the morning, before going outside, so you will protect your skin from negative interactions with a hostile environment. Gently rub it under your eyes with gentle patting movements. By the way, do not forget about your lips, they will also be protected from wind and cold.
For the eyelids, you can make special cream shadows based on petroleum jelly. To do this, in a small container with a lid, chop and grind dry shadows to a powdery state and mix them with a small amount of the substance (add it gradually, trying not to overdo it) to get a substance similar in consistency to a cream.
And further! Applying gently, so as not to touch the mucous membrane, with a mascara brush with Vaseline on the eyelashes, you will thereby enhance their growth. But this is only temporary, use it no more than once every six months for a month, you cannot do this all the time. How to use petroleum jelly for skin - watch the video:
Vaseline is a time-tested inexpensive cosmetic product that protects against bad weather, eliminates irritation and copes with increased flaking on the body and face. True, it must be used wisely, in moderation. Proper use of the substance will relieve your skin from problems, and your budget from financial turmoil, as well as keep it turgor and smooth.
