Style Skincare 27 Genius Vaseline Uses for Your Beauty Routine These clever beauty hacks for using petroleum jelly may surprise you. By Hana Hong Hana Hong Instagram Hana Hong is the beauty & fashion editor at RealSimple.com. She has been a writer and editor in the beauty and fashion industry for more than six years, sharing her expansive knowledge on skincare, hair care, makeup, fashion, and more. In addition to her broad network of beauty experts, she uses her family's background and training in skin science and cosmetic chemistry to differentiate between effective skincare formulations and marketing jargon. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 25, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email If you don't already know, there are many ways to use Vaseline petroleum jelly beyond helping dry skin. Vaseline has been around for over 150 years, and though it may not be the most glamorous item in your makeup bag, its utility makes it an undeniable staple—even if you already use other moisturizers for dry skin. The simple mixture of mineral oils and waxes was created as a protective barrier to help dry skin heal, but customers soon learned that it does so much more than moisturize. From removing eye makeup to prolonging the life of your perfume, here are 27 hacks that prove Vaseline can be used to fix virtually any beauty problem. Katelyn Perry 01 of 27 Soothe Cracked Heels Vaseline is a true foot saver. If your feet are blistered (or looking dry and flaky), spread some petroleum jelly on your heels before bed and cover them with fuzzy socks. You'll wake up with baby-soft skin come morning. 02 of 27 Remove Eye Makeup If you don't have any makeup remover, massage some Vaseline onto your lids and wipe it away using a cotton pad. It can even dissolve the eyelash glue that falsies leave behind. Just make sure to rinse everything with water afterward to avoid clogging your pores. 03 of 27 Help Perfume Last If you have a perfume that fades a bit too quickly, try this trick. Moisturized skin holds scents better, so rub Vaseline on your pulse points (wrists, inner elbows, back of the knees, and neck) before you spritz. The petroleum jelly base will help your fragrance last longer. 04 of 27 Use as Lash Serum For longer lashes, coat them with a little Vaseline every morning instead of mascara. This will give you a defined, glossy finish (perfect for a "no makeup" makeup look), leave lashes conditioned, and help them grow faster. 05 of 27 Prevent Nail Polish Bottles From Drying Shut If you've ever had a nail polish bottle for over a year (like all of us), you'll know the struggle of the lid drying shut. After use, spread some Vaseline around the inside of the polish lid for effortless opening the next time you use it. 06 of 27 Convert Powder Makeup Into Cream A smidge of Vaseline is a genius way to transform matte or powder makeup products into cream formulas. Mix loose pigments with the jelly to create custom cream eyeshadow, blush, or lip balm. 07 of 27 Use as a Cheek Highlighter No highlighter? No problem. Dab some Vaseline on the tops of your cheekbones to create a dewy, luminous glow. (Be careful if you have acne-prone skin since Vaseline's formula is occlusive.) 08 of 27 Help Damaged Hair Ends Hair ends are most susceptible to drying out due to environmental stressors and heat damage. Rub Vaseline on the ends as a leave-in conditioner to smooth down flyaways, reduce the appearance of split ends, and inject extra moisture and shine. 09 of 27 Create a Barrier Against Skin Stains One of the worst parts about an at-home hair or nail color is the mess it leaves behind on your skin. A light coating of petroleum jelly around your hairline or cuticles will keep dye and polish off the surrounding skin. 10 of 27 Smooth Eyebrows Keep unruly eyebrows in check by smoothing Vaseline over your arches. The petroleum jelly will play the part of eyebrow gel so hairs don't move throughout the day. 11 of 27 Remove Stubborn Makeup Stains Do you have an unfortunate foundation stain that refuses to budge? Add Vaseline to a damp washcloth to lift stains from clothes and bedding. The oil in petroleum jelly will help draw out other oils from makeup stains, making it easier to come out when you toss it into the washer. 12 of 27 Prevent Tanning Streaks When self-tanning at home, tanning streaks can seem impossible to avoid. The solution: Rub a small amount of Vaseline on the drier parts of your skin before applying self-tanner. The jelly acts as a barrier to keep the tanner from clinging to any dry areas, resulting in patchiness. 13 of 27 Help Earrings Slide On If you have newly pierced ears or don't wear earrings very often, sliding in new earrings can be painful. Rub a pinch of Vaseline on your earlobes and the earring backing to help it slide in effortlessly. If your earring holes are still irritated, the petroleum jelly can also quicken the healing process. 14 of 27 Prevent Razor Rust A razor sitting in a humid bathroom will inevitably rust over. Prevent this from happening by smoothing an ultra-thin layer of Vaseline onto the blades between uses (careful to avoid nicking). It may be an additional step, but it will keep your razor looking brand new. 15 of 27 Exfoliate Lips Alleviate dry lips by exfoliating with Vaseline. Place some petroleum jelly on your lips and leave it on for a few minutes. Then, gently rub your lips with a toothbrush. 16 of 27 Use as a Face Mask Make a DIY skin-brightening face mask with Vaseline. Simply mix the jelly with lemon and apply the mixture to your face. 17 of 27 Make a Body Scrub Vaseline can be used as a body scrub to remove dead skin cells. Mix the petroleum jelly with either sugar or salt before applying it to the skin. Your skin will be smoother and softer, and you will save money using a DIY scrub. 18 of 27 Relieve Sore Skin Help soothe sore skin after waxing or eyebrow threading. Rub a bit of Vaseline on the irritated area to relieve the soreness. 19 of 27 Avoid Hair Flyaways Create a sleek, polished look with your hairstyle (braid, ponytail, bun) by using Vaseline. Add a bit of the jelly onto the hair to slick back flyaways. 20 of 27 Use for Massages Use Vaseline for body massages. Since petroleum jelly helps heal dry skin, this is an excellent way to lotion the skin and soften a massage. 21 of 27 Soften Cuticles Help your nail cuticles heal with a bit of Vaseline. Rub the product into dry cuticles to help them soften. Do this periodically to maintain soft cuticles and especially before a manicure. 22 of 27 Use for Lip Gloss If you run out of your favorite lip gloss, don't despair. Vaseline can be applied to your lips for a shiny look that also helps keep moisture sealed. 23 of 27 Protect New Tattoos Help protect your new tattoo with Vaseline. Apply it over newly healed tattoos to create a protective layer and help soothe irritated skin. 24 of 27 Avoid Lipstick Stains All too often, we apply a gorgeous lipstick color only to have it stain our teeth. Spread Vaseline onto your teeth before applying your lipstick. This helps prevent the color from transferring onto teeth. 25 of 27 Soothe Mild Sunburns After a day at the beach or picnic in the park, you may come home with a mild sunburn—even if you did your best to apply sunscreen. No worries. Apply Vaseline to the affected areas to help soothe and alleviate the sunburn. 26 of 27 Remove Gum From Hair If you (unfortunately) get gum stuck in your hair (or your child comes home from school with gum in their hair), Vaseline can help. Cover the gum and affected hair with a generous amount of petroleum jelly. Then, gently pull on the gum until it comes out. 27 of 27 Avoid Bra Strap Discomfort Even with the most comfortable bra, sometimes the bra straps can cause itching or discomfort. Apply Vaseline to your shoulders before putting on your bra to help prevent irritation. 20 Brilliant Hair and Beauty Hacks You Never Knew You Needed Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit