‘Vaseline serves two functions:

First it helps keep the outside world out – it protects skin from the effects of weather and exposure.

Second, it acts like a sealant to help keep the inside world in – it forms an occlusive barrier to the natural water loss of our skin.  So skin that is dry and chapped is protected from drying elements, enabling skin-softening moisture to build up naturally from inside the skin itself.’

What is so great about Vaseline is that not only is it cheep, but it has a bazillion uses.  It can be used as a lip balm to an eye cream, as a hand moisturiser or serum for split ends.  I found a page by Christina Jones with 50 uses of Vaseline – here are a few of my faves! Read the full list here.

1.      Put a coat on your eyelashes before you go to bed. Lots of people swear by this – and say it will make your lashes grow longer and thicker over time.

2.      Defines eyelashes and leaves them with a glossy and waterproof look

3.      Put a coat of Vaseline on your feet at night, cover them with socks and wake up to softer feet – every day!

4.      Put Vaseline on your cuticles several times a day for softer and better looking cuticles every day.

5.      Mix with sea salts to make a scrub!

6.      Applying Vaseline on your teeth prevents lips from sticking to teeth for celebrities and contestants in beauty

pageants who smile a lot

7.      Applied on teeth before applying lipstick prevents lipstick from sticking on them

8.      Makeup remover

9.      Applied under eye shadow it can create a shiny effect

10.  Applied on cheeks for a dewy look

11.  Can be used to smooth and soothe skin after shaving

12.  Use with your lipstick to create a cream blusher for your cheeks

13.  Helps to ease off stuck on rings

14.  Tames unruly eyebrows

15.  Conditions scalp pre-shampooing

16.  Aids with healing after cosmetic surgery procedures

17.  Use just a touch on the ends of your hair to hide dry and split ends

18.  Remove makeup stains from clothing

19.  Rub Vaseline on the neck of your nail polish bottles and they won’t get stuck to the caps

20.  Remove false eyelash glue from your lash line

21.  Apply a small amount on dry spots on your body before fake tanning lotions are applied, and prevent uneven

tanning!

22.  Once you carve your Halloween pumpkin, rub Vaseline on the exposed edges. it keeps it from rotting or going dry.

But Vaseline isn’t great for everything.  Don’t use it for…

Fresh Burns – It should not be used on fresh burns of any kind, including sunburn. Petrolatum traps heat inside, worsening burns. After heat has dissipated, however, it can serve as a dressing for minor burns to soothe later pain.

Nasal congestion or dryness – If particles of petrolatum are inhaled from the nose, they may deposit in the lungs and lead to a condition called lipid pneumonia.

Personal lubricant – Because petroleum jelly is oil-based, it interferes with the structure of latex.  Using petroleum jelly with latex condoms weakens the material very quickly, increasing the chance of rupture. Thus it is not recommended for use during sexual intercourse when using a latex condom.

Besides those silly uses (duh who would use it as lube? pfffft), Vaseline is pretty much an all rounder and a beauty must have!