Pound Shop Treat- Vaseline

Your skin has the ability to care for itself, it can renew, repair, heal and restore itself to its natural state, but sometimes it needs a helping hand to stay healthy. Best of all is the price- I found this cheaper than a pound in many chemists. 89p was the cheapest I saw it for! Lasts for ages.

According to it’s website Vaseline , is original 100% pure petroleum jelly is made using a unique triple purification process which creates a petroleum jelly so pure that it works naturally with your skin, helping it to rebuild moisture and renew itself. 
The benefits of petroleum jelly or Vaseline are well known. It is an excellent lubricant, it can be used as a coating to prevent substances from adhering to surfaces and can be used to slide out tight rings. Vaseline, however, can also be used by many as a basic first aid item that can help minor irritations and problems.

So what’s the boring science bit?
Vaseline is a mixture of hydrocarbons that was developed from petroleum. Robert Chesebrough refined and patented the process of manufacture. Physically, the petroleum jelly doesn’t oxidise to air, doesn’t react with many chemical reagents, is water insoluble and is transparent, odourless and clear in colour. Today its use includes easing skin disorders and eczema. It is used in many ointments and is useful by itself.

Beauty Uses

1. It prevents windburn by creating a barrier between the skin and the wind, helping to prevent windburn.

2. It helps psoriasis by lubricating the patchy, itchy white scales and keeping eczema under control in dry weather.

3. A fantastic lip balm or lip gloss for chapped lips. Great on long flights and in sunny climates. I use it every night at bedtime and it really conditions them. I also keep old eyeshadow palette boxes and mix my favourite lipstick with Vaseline to create light Summer tint shades for on the go. Also if you exfoliate your lips with a toothbrush and Vaseline you will make them super smooth.

4. Great for creating shiny eyelids. Apply with a brush over eyeshadow. You can also use it as a subtle highlighter on brow bones, cheekbones and lip contour.

5.Vaseline is perfect for shaping and taming eyebrows. You can also use an eyelash wand  (without mascara) and apply Vaseline on it to create glossy lashes.

6.Use in the hair for a sleek look such as a bun or up do where you need shine. It will condition the hair and won’t damage it. Great for dry skin conditions such as dandruff or itchy scalps.

7.Use Vaseline on your cuticles- leave it for 2 minutes and then push back cuticles with a cuticle stick and you will have fab nails. It also conditions the nails.

8. It protects cuts and scrapes. The jelly creates a barrier that keeps the air, water and bacteria out, promoting healing. But do not use on fresh burns as it traps in heat making it uncomfortable. Only apply on old burns.

9. It locks moisture to the skin to prevent dryness. This is why it is also great for sunburn or irritated skin. So, if your skin is super dry on your heels it will make an excellent barrier and heal them. In fact, I often rub Vaseline all over my loofahed feet after a bath and put socks over them for bedtime.When you wake you won’t believe how soft your feet are in the morning.

10. Vaseline has long been used on stage and screen for actors who smear it on their teeth to make them gleam and create easy smiles by rubbing onto gums as  nerves stop the mouth beaming from being so dry and the Vaseline stops your mouth sticking.

11. Slather on your hands before you put them in washing up gloves to do the washing up. The steam and heat of the water will make the Vaseline act as an intensive moisturising treatment the same way that a hot paraffin treatment would.

12. If you have stubborn eye-make-up that won’t budge, smear some Vaseline into a cotton pad and wipe over eyes in a stoking movement. The Vaseline will catch and pick-up all the make-up and leave your eyes soft. I use it for when I have waterproof eye-make-up on and I find it is so gentle it doesn’t take out my eyelashes, which some removers do.

13. Mix with sea salt and your favourite essential oil for a cheap, homemade body scrub before your tanning application.

14. Coat eyebrows, nails and heels/elbows before tanning to create the burnt orange effect of your body.