What is Petroleum Jelly?

What Is Petroleum Jelly?

Petroleum jelly, the main ingredient in Vaseline, is a derivative of oil refining. Originally found coating the bottom of oil rigs in the mid-1800s, it's a byproduct of the oil industry and therefore an unsustainable resource (read: not eco-friendly). It's commonly used topically to cure everything from dehydrated, flakey skin to diaper rash.

Why Is It Potentially Harmful?

Though generally regarded as safe, the components that are removed from the oil during the refining process of petroleum jelly are carcinogenic in some cases. "Vaseline supposedly has all of these [components] removed," Dr. Dattner says. "But there are probably plenty of petroleum jelly imitators, and one doesn't always know the extent that they're removed." Denno also points out that, since petroleum jelly can be found in "different grades of purity," you don't always know how non-toxic your petroleum jelly-based beauty products really are. (For the record, Vaseline is highly-refined, triple-purified and regarded as non-carcinogenic.)

As for your skin? Petroleum jelly can create the illusion of moisturized, hydrated skin, all the while suffocating your pores. It's water-repellant and not water-soluble, meaning it merely seals the barrier so that moisture does not leave the skin. So while you might feel the instant gratification of a softened surface, you're actually drying out your pores by keeping out air and moisture. What's more, the thick texture makes it difficult to cleanse from the skin, so never slather Vaseline on an unwashed face if you want to avoid breakouts. "It essentially seals in the dirt," says Denno.

The Good

It helps stop the loss of moisture and helps maintain existing hydration under the skin.

It feels good on our skin, helping to alleviate the feeling of chapping and irritation.

The Environmental Working Group gives petroleum jelly the highest safety scores.

The Bad

It forms a seal over the pores of the skin that disrupts the body’s ability to eliminate toxins, dirt and contaminants, which would otherwise pass through those pores and exit the skin.

It does nothing to hydrate or heal the skin itself.

It slows cellular regeneration and can damage collagen and elastin, thereby contributing to older looking skin.

It is difficult to remove from the skin.

The Ugly

While petroleum jelly may be safe in its pure form, purity remains a problem, and the impurities often found in petroleum jelly, such as poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), have been linked to cancer.

Unlike in the European Union, there are no refinement requirements in the United States, and so U.S. manufacturers are not legally obligated to remove the PAHs and other contaminants from their petroleum jelly.