Vaseline, also known as petroleum jelly, is a household staple that many people simply cannot live without. We all know you can use Vaseline to help repair chapped lips, but it can be used for so much more than that.
From โsluggingโ your face to pampering your pooch, here are 35 practical ways you can use Vaseline (or your favorite brand of petroleum jelly) at home during the winter months!
1. Ditch the red-nosed reindeer look
Do you have a raw, red nose thatโs starting to look a bit like Christmas? Then rub a dollop of Vaseline on the dry, flaky areas โ itโll help soothe away all the chafing and irritation that comes with the cold and flu season.
2. Scrub-a-dub-dub
The next time youโre sitting in the tub, why not give yourself a full-body scrub with this easy
DIY recipe:
Mix 2 tablespoons of Vaseline with 1 tablespoon of sea salt, then rub the mixture in a circular motion all over your body. Rinse with warm water, and then enjoy just how silky smooth (and exfoliated) your skin feels!
3. Try โsluggingโ your face!
This skincare routine has recently been making the rounds on TikTok and YouTube, but itโs actually nothing new. Mothers and grandmothers have been applying a thin layer of Vaseline onto their faces for ages to maintain a youthful appearance!
In case youโre wondering, itโs called โsluggingโ because it makes your face look like youโve been slimed by a slug bug (no punch backs allowed).
4. Pamper your pooch
Next time you take your doggy for walkies, massage Vaseline onto his paws before you head out the door. Not only will it help keep his feet hydrated, but itโll also prevent things like snow, rock salt, or a totally random candy cane from irritating his toes.
5. Donโt forget to treat your own feet, too!
Give dry, cracked heels some extra TLC by glopping a thick layer of Vaseline onto your feet before bed. Pop on a pair of cozy socks to protect your sheets from getting all greasy, and by morning your tootsies will be nice and soft!
6. Keep your cuticles looking soft and healthy
Massage petroleum jelly into your cuticles to prevent them from getting dry and unruly. Even the American Academy of Dermatology
recommends this cheap and easy beauty hack!
7. Quick fix for stubbornly-stuck rings
If winter weight gain is making your fingers swell up like a holiday sausage from Hickory Farms, that can certainly put a pickle in your ring-removing efforts. Thankfully, thereโs an easy fix for that โ just rub some Vaseline onto your ring finger, and itโll slip right off.
8. Hope for sensitive earring wearers
Do you have sensitive pierced ears that get sore when you wear earrings? Then try coating the posts with Vaseline before you slip them through the hole. Itโll help create a barrier thatโll keep your ears from getting irritated by the metal.
9. Tame flyaway hairs
Want polished, smooth-looking hair? Then rub a tiny bit of Vaseline between your fingers and apply sparingly to the flyaway hairs to keep them in check.
10. Unstick zippers
Are the zippers on your jacket getting stuck? Then rub some Vaseline on both sides of the zipper, and itโll zip right along.
11. Soothe newly plucked eyebrows
Ripping out your eyebrow hairs one by one tends to make your skin a little bit red and angry. Hereโs where Vaseline can help โ not only will it soothe your irritated skin, but itโll also groom your eyebrows at the same time!
12. Stop razor rash in its tracks
If you tend to get annoying little bumps on your skin after every shave, then massage a thin layer of Vaseline all over it. The protective layer will calm the redness and give your skin a chance to heal.
13. Stop glue from getting stuck to itself
Donโt you hate it when glue forms a sticky layer of goo under the bottom of the cap? Just dab some Vaseline under the rim and the glue will never accidentally seal itself shut again!
14. Stop hair dye from staining your face
If you apply a generous amount of Vaseline along your hairline itโll stop the dye from staining your face. Itโs the same exact trick they use at hair salons!
15. Use it as a highlighter to look fresh and dewy
If your skin is looking a little bit dry and sallow this winter, spruce it up with some Vaseline. Dab it along your cheekbones to give cheeks a healthy-looking glow.
16. Stop tugging on your shower curtains
Apply some Vaseline to your curtain rod and theyโll glide open and closed with ease. Itโs smooth sailing from now on!
17. Hot tub helper
Cover up cuts and scrapes before you jump in the hot tub. Vaseline is known for its occlusive properties, which provides a protective layer between skin and the outside world.
18. Keep eczema itchies at bay
Vaseline wonโt cure eczema, but itโll certainly help soothe the itchiness and relieve the dry skin associated with it. Even the
National Eczema Association gives Vaseline (the original version) a huge โlike!โ
19. Make a DIY hair conditioning mask
If you have dry, damaged hair, apply this deep
conditioning mask to make your tresses silky smooth:
- 6 heaping spoonfuls of Vaseline
- 3 heaping spoonfuls of aloe vera gel
- 5 vitamin E capsules
Mix everything in a bowl and work it into your hair. Let it soak into your hair for a couple of hours, or leave it on overnight for super deep conditioning. Wash it out with shampoo when youโre ready.
20. Protect your hair from damaging heat
If youโre out of heat styling spray, no worries, Vaseline will do the job in a pinch. Just rub some of the jelly between the palms of your hands and then run your hands through your hair.
21. Smart lightbulb
How many turns does it take to unscrew a lightbulb? Hardly any if you rub some Vaseline on the threads ahead of time! Itโll act like a lubricant, making it easy to remove the lightbulb the next time you change it.
22. Protect your skin from the elements
Be sure to apply Vaseline to areas that are prone to getting wind chapped. Itโll help protect your cheeks and lips from the elements when you head outdoors this winter.
23. Soften calluses
Do you have a bunch of calluses on your hands that seem to get rougher by the day? Rub some Vaseline into your palms to soften them up.
24. Heal friction burns the easy way
Use Vaseline on your inner thighs or under your boobs if you tend to suffer from skin chafing in these areas. Not only will it help soothe the soreness, but itโll give your skin a chance to heal as well.
25. Grow your eyebrow hairs like crazy
Do you want to have thick, full eyebrows like all the beauty influencers? Then try slathering some Vaseline over your eyebrows before bed as part of your beauty routine.
26. DIY flavored lip gloss
Itโs easy to make your own flavored lip gloss so you can take it with you on the go. Just melt some Vaseline in the microwave, add some Kool-Aid, and store it in cute little cosmetic jars. Itโll taste good and keep your lips moisturized at the same time!
You can find the full recipe on this blog here.
27. Make your own body glitter
While youโre at it, use your leftover cosmetic jars to mix together Vaseline and glitter (or glittery eyeshadow). Itโll make you sparkle like a goddess at music festivals and parties!
Whatever you do, donโt ever get glitter near your eyes as it can cut into your cornea.
28. Make some glitter slime for the kids
Are your kids bummed out because theyโre stuck at home during the holiday break? Keep them entertained with glitter slime. Mix together water, glitter, Vaseline, and some clear glue in a bowl, and itโll soon be like putty in your hands.
Get the full recipe here.
29. Soften rough patches of skin
All that bending makes the skin on our elbows and knees feel rough in texture. If you want to keep them as soft as can be, make sure that you massage Vaseline into these areas as part of your daily beauty routine.
30. Use it as an eye makeup remover
You donโt need to buy expensive makeup remover products โ just dab some vaseline around your eyes and wipe off with a cotton round. Vaseline is both gentle and hydrating on the delicate eye area, just make sure you donโt get any into your eyes as you wipe away the mascara.
31. Extend the life of your perfume
Want to make your perfume last even longer? Then dab some Vaseline on your wrists and behind your ears before you spritz โ itโll help extend the life of your favorite signature scent.
You can also make a solid perfume by mixing together Vaseline and a few spritzes of perfume in a small metal tin.
32. Fix a frozen lock or squeaky door hinges
Cold winter weather can make doors and locks jam up like crazy. If you donโt have any WD-40 handy, try dabbing some Vaseline on it to get the parts moving again. This also works great for squeaky hinges.
33. Remove dry candle wax with ease
Thereโs no need to pick at the dried candle wax that dripped all over your Thanksgiving dinner table. Dab some Vaseline on top of the crusty mess and wait 10 minutes โ itโll be much easier to peel off once the wax has softened up.
34. Buff away scratches on eyeglasses
Dab some Vaseline on your sunglasses and use a soft cloth to buff away unwanted smudges, fingerprints, and scratches. That way youโll be able to see clearly when you wear your sunglasses at night!
35. Soothe those โmaskneโ woes
Wearing masks for extended periods of time can irritate the skin around your cheeks, chin and ears. You can protect yourself against further irritation and redness by applying Vaseline to areas of the face that are prone to chafing.
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