Vaseline is a product that pretty much everyone knows and has probably used at some point in their life. It could even be in your bathroom cabinet right now. Today I'm going to put a spotlight on this iconic product and talk about why it is time to find an alternative.

Vaseline is made from petroleum jelly (or petrolatum), a by-product of the oil refining process, which was discovered accidentally over 150 years ago. In its crude, unrefined form, there is no way we would ever put petroleum jelly anywhere near our bodies — in that form it is black, flammable and unpleasant smelling, not to mention incredibly toxic, containing irritants, carcinogens, like mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and endocrine disruptors.

When it reaches the cosmetic counter, it is highly refined. Or it is meant to me. On its website, Vaseline claims that its product is 'triple purified' and this level of refinement removes all harmful components, making it safe for use. However, Vaseline is not the only brand using petroleum jelly and others may not refine to the same level. The Safe Cosmetics guide recommends looking for brands that clearly state petroleum is fully refined as white petroleum on the label or company website. But even this pure form of petroleum can be irritating to the respiratory system when inhaled, posing an obvious issue for the use of this product on the face.

There is no doubt that petroleum jelly products do have some desirable qualities — they are effective moisturisers and lubricants with anti-chafing and barrier qualities, which is why they have remained a mainstay in bathroom cabinets for so many decades. And of course, Marilyn Monroe famously slathered layers on her face as both a moisturiser and primer for on-set make up. But, and to me this is a big but, it is still a petrochemical and that is something I don’t want anywhere near my skin, especially given how much we absorb through this organ.

On an environmental level, using refined petroleum jelly isn't directly supporting the oil industry as it is a by-product of the refining process. However, it is still very resource intensive due to the level of refining that is required, and it isn't biodegradable. So instead of reaching for the Vaso, why not try a more natural and sustainable alternative like cocoa butter, shea butter, or mango butter. As we look for alternatives to petroleum, it makes sense to look for alternatives to petroleum jelly too.

Planet Ark does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the original information and encourages readers to check the references before using this information for their own purposes.