We love an at-home beauty hack (really, who doesn’t?!). Especially when it involves an OG staple that all of us have hidden somewhere in the back of a cupboard — Vaseline.
It truly is a miracle worker when it comes to dry, irritated skin and chapped lips. But it turns out the all-round holy grail does much more than just hydrate and moisturise. From your lashes to your legs, Vaseline will elevate your beauty routine and has become a daily essential for beauty lovers far and wide.
Here, an expert-approved bible of hardworking Vaseline beauty hacks that will make your life easier and your skin glow.
Try skin slugging
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably come across the term “slugging”. But it’s not as gross as it sounds. Put simply, slugging is a K-beauty trend that involves smearing petroleum jelly all over your face as the last step in your nighttime routine. Vaseline is an occlusive, which means it creates a barrier on your skin so will lock in moisture and also help your regular products soak into your skin. It’s perfect for winter to keep your skin hydrated whilst you sleep.
Treat your cuticles
Save yourself the expense of a luxury cuticle oil and swipe some Vaseline over your nails instead. It will also help with your at-home manicures, allowing you to easily push back your cuticles and avoid getting polish on your skin. Simply dab a cotton bud into your jar of petroleum jelly and wipe it along the sides and base of your nail beds. Allow it to soak in for a few minutes before gently pushing your cuticles back, then apply your polish.
DIY lash lift
The latest and (arguably) greatest Vaseline beauty hack we’ve come across is the instant lash lift. Yep, you can now replicate the results of a salon treatment with a jar of Vaseline, an eyelash curler and a spoolie. Start by smearing the rubber part of your lash curler then clamp your lashes as if you were simply curling them. Keep your curler in place while you grab a spoolie and gently brush your lashes upward to separate and lengthen. Remove your curler and voila! Voluminous, lifted lashes without any expensive treatments or mascara!
Repair dry, cracked heels
Foot care is often a last thought (if at all) for some of us. So chances are your feet are in desperate need of some TLC — especially during winter. Just like you might treat your face, you can try slugging your feet too to keep them feeling silky soft. Slather your heels and feet in Vaseline before bed then pop some thick socks on to lock in hydration and prevent any mess. Your feet will thank you in the morning.
Add a dewy highlight
Want to know the secret to Kim Kardashian’s picture-perfect highlight? Vaseline. Yep, you read that right! Her go-to makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic swears by the product for dewy cheeks, eyelids and lips. Kelly Rowland also covets Vaseline as an alternative to eye cream. “I do put it on underneath my eyes and it works like a charm,” Kelly told Into The Gloss.
Give your legs a glow-up
Channel your JLo glow with a light coat of Vaseline on your legs. You can also mix it with your favourite liquid bronzer for a year-round summer glow. It’ll also hydrate your skin so you can say goodbye to dry, flaky legs — just be sure to exfoliate beforehand so your skin can really soak all the goodness in.
Make your fragrance last longer
If you find that you have trouble getting your perfume to last throughout the day, dabbing some good old Vaseline onto your pulse points before spritzing is a great way to help boost the life of your fragrance. This trick works best for deeper notes like sandalwood and patchouli, but according to TikTok it will boost the lighter notes of floral fragrances too.
Main image credit: @kellyrowland
Have you tried any of these Vaseline beauty hacks? Which one is your favourite?
That lash lift 😲 definitely going to try that one!
Experienced dry skin on my hands last year and doctor’s advice was to before bed rub vaseline onto my hands and wear cotton gloves – did the trick!
Cotton gloves would be a must after using vaseline onto your hands. I can imagine the mess on the sheets if one did not wear gloves.
Just needed to make sure that everything was completed before going to bed otherwise you would be in trouble
So many great tips here. I am definitely going to try the perfume and dry cracked heel tips.. Great article!
I like it for my first aid kit – and I used it for making my HSC major work to stop the moulds sticking to the poured object (namely penguins – I made 101 of them).
A must for the first aid kit
Actually I never used it. I might try it, not sure about using it as a night cream thou.
What a lot of ideas for Vaseline. Who would have thought?
No way. My skin dislikes the thing so much, always did. Also just found out that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, bioaccumulation of petrochemicals from vaseline is bad. very. And real thing.
Can’t post. In short, not going onto my skin.
@Yohanna, I agree COMPLETELY. Other uses possibly but definitely not for my skin care and I’m delighted I’m not alone in my thinking.
It is very good on your skin and so easy to apply -I have dry skin and it fixs so many problems
Issue: bioaccumulation of petrochemicals.
Thanks Yohanna -something I hadn’t considered
Sounds a bit scary..
Neither. Don’t want petroleum on my skin. I know it’s in my baby’s products so I changed the brand.
Excellent Elly =)
@Yohanna me neither, I’d never put Vaseline on my skin! Full of chemicals and just sounds terrifying if you have oily skin like me… uhhh… I remember back when I was 8 and my mum wouldn’t buy me proper chapstick, we only had this giant tub of Vaseline at home. I’d always have the driest, most sore lips at school, was super painful and I’d end up getting cold sores! If only I owned a lip balm back then!
Have used Vaseline when I was desperate to rescue my cracked heels and it worked.
Great tip on the perfume, I’m definitely going to try that.
I don’t use vaseline often, but it’s good to protect the hairline when dying hair.
Happy to use on my battery terminals but it’s a no on my body.
This was a staple while growing up, but now I don’t use it as much.
I must be living under a rock as I did not know what slugging meant . I have used Vaseline for years and we used to use on our eyelashes when we went to school as we weren’t allowed makeup.
None of us have been living under a rock.
I don’t think this is news worthy.
Why do we need to start an article of unless you have been living under a rock, you should have heard of this?
These articles are here to inform and give us some new ideas and talking points and promote products.
No, I haven’t heard of this and I also don’t live under the rock.
It is pretty difficult to know everything and I don’t have TikTok.
Ha Ha ! I don’t feel so bad now -Thanks Elly
I keep forgetting to slug. My family thinks I have enough skin products for a big family to share.
I never thought of using it for cracked heels. I will definitely be giving it a try.
The lash hack looks amazing! Might give that a go
I want to try all of these now! Def needs the skincare boost overnight.
I don’t like the thought of applying vaseline to my face
Haven’t used it in years. Mainly used to use it to help pluck my eyebrows, sometimes used it on my heels.
I will add myself to the didn’t know what slugging is, the rock I live under is obviously very crowded! I’d use vaseline for heels and lips but don’t like the idea of putting it on my skin. When you home colour a smear of it around the hairline helps prevent staining.
Going to give the eyelash lift a try!
Never tried Vaseline for lash lift! But is this not a bit of product buildup?
Great tips. Some for me to try!
Wow the lash lift made a huge difference. Have to try it. Not so keen on putting a petrochemical product near my eyes but I’m sure there’s a viscous product (natural paw paw cream?) that will do the same thing.
Not sure that I would use Vaseline on my Eyelashes, prefer some of the Great Eyelash Serums, like L’Oreal Paris.
I use it on my cuticles but that’s about it.
Some interesting new uses for Vaseline.
Great for feet with socks on in winter
I knew the perfume hack. I’ve just finished a jar of Vaseline that’s been going for years, haha! So many uses!
Vaseline is an oldie that works but a more natural product would be my choice these days
I’ve always loved to hydrate my eyelids with a touch of Vaseline. It gives a great shine too. Also, have always used to curl my lashes by just placing a but on my finger tips and pressing up against my lashes and holding for a while, no need for an actual curler. The Vaseline lip pot with a rose tint is my go to for a touch of rosey glow on my cheeks too after I’ve applied it on my lips. My favourite cosmetic staple.
vaseline is great for all skin types and seal water in it
This is really helpful.
Oh wow! I love vaseline. I love the idea of the lash lift. Im totally going to try it. I’ve tried Vaseline as a PM moisturiser and it was great!
So many uses for vaseline haha. I cant remember the last time I had to use vaseline. There are so many great products available nowadays that are better than vaseline.
I would never put vaseline (petroleum jelly on my skin) except to use it as a barrier when I dye my hair.