Vaseline is a very good moisturizer for dry skin. Applying a layer of Vaseline to dry skin helps lock in moisture. Vaseline is great for treating all the usual dry areas, such as the: heels.
It's also vital that you care for your legs after shaving to prevent them from drying out. Use a moisturizer like Vaseline® Intensive Care™ Advanced Repair Unscented Lotion which contains healing micro-droplets of Vaseline® Jelly – to replace lost moisture.
A good trick is to provide the skin with a protective barrier, like Vaseline® Jelly, to reduce friction and chafing between the legs when walking or exercising. This protective layer prevents sweat from seeping into the chafed skin and irritating it further.
In general, the thicker and greasier a moisturizer, the more effective it will be. Some of the most effective (and least expensive) are petroleum jelly and moisturizing oils (such as mineral oil). Because they contain no water, they're best used while the skin is still damp from bathing, to seal in the moisture.
"You'll notice your skin feeling dry, tight, and ashy, because you're rapidly losing water," says Gohara. "Moisturizer doesn't just add water back into your skin, it also traps in the water you already have to plump it up and protect it."
Before going to bed at night, massage olive oil into your legs, wait for the skin to absorb it, then rinse in the shower. This will leave your legs feeling silky soft! Alternatively, try shea butter, coconut oil, or a petroleum jelly to create a moisture barrier.
Not for acne
According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, Vaseline can trigger outbreaks if you have acne-prone skin. Don't put petroleum jelly on your face if you're having an active breakout. There are plenty of other moisturizing options if you have acne-prone skin.
Locks in moisture
Vaseline locks in any moisture on your face without adding other ingredients that might irritate your skin. A layer of Vaseline applied before you sleep can help restore your face's natural level of moisture and softness.
Dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD, adds, "Vaseline is non-comedogenic so it is safe for all skin types. However, it is most beneficial for wounds and dryness. If you're trying to get rid of acne, there are plenty of other better suited, active ingredients."
Arms and legs are not prone to getting wet or suffer from harsh environments like winds or dust that much. So, they don't lose as much moisture as the hands. That means that you only need to moisturize them once a day (at night or after your daily shower) to keep them hydrated.
Is Petroleum Jelly Safe to be ingested? Another myth surrounding petroleum jelly is that it is toxic. In fact, Vaseline® Jelly meets FDA requirements for being safe for human consumption.
According to Zeichner, loss of hydration and the resulting inflammation worsens crepey skin. He recommends looking for purified petrolatum in your moisturizer, as in Vaseline's popular lotion. It protects the skin's barrier, prevents water loss, hydrates and plumps thin skin.
While Vaseline can be helpful when used sparingly to treat dry skin, it's quite greasy and can feel heavy on the skin. So, it's not entirely practical to use as a daily, overall skin moisturizer.
It's best to wash off any remaining Vaseline in the morning then use your normal moisture, as the thickness of Vaseline can cause greasy skin throughout the day. It's best to start small when applying a product that can be so heavy and greasy.
Is Vaseline a Good for Moisturizing? Vaseline is an effective moisturizer for dry skin, but it is not recommended for people with oily skin. vaseline can actually make oily skin worse by clogging pores and causing breakouts. If you have dry skin, vaseline is a good option for a moisturizer.
Aquaphor tends to be a better moisturizer because it contains humectant ingredients and is occlusive, while Vaseline is only occlusive. When used for wound healing after surgery, Vaseline has shown to cause less redness at the wound site than Aquaphor. If you have a lanolin allergy, opt for Vaseline over Aquaphor.
When properly refined, petrolatum is said to have no known health concerns. However, according some sources, petrolatum is often not fully refined in the US, which means it can be contaminated with toxic chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Vaseline is less effective than petroleum jelly at preventing moisture loss from the skin when used as a moisturizer. Additionally, because it contains more water, it can help moisturize the skin and lessen dryness. It is the perfect option for those who suffer from dry skin problems like eczema or psoriasis.
Acting as a skin barrier
The skin does not easily absorb petroleum jelly. This means that it is not really a moisturizer, but a barrier that can keep dirt out and prevent moisture loss. People can try applying it to irritated skin before spending time outside in cold, dry, windy air.
If you moisturize your skin regularly but still notice lingering dryness, you may want to check your moisturizer for potentially dehydrating ingredients, such as isopropyl alcohol or sulfates. You may get better results with products containing ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or ceramides.
Applying Vaseline® Jelly under eyes is a tried-and-tested way to lock in moisture, keeping skin in the eye area soft and elastic, and rejuvenating skin that looks dry and tired.
“It's not that the Vaseline hydrates the skin by sinking in through the skin layers; it rather just prevents the skin from losing its natural moisture.” And Tyra Banks was right about Vaseline for wrinkles: It's great for aging skin, too, Boull says.