7 Genius Vaseline Hacks Dermatologists Say You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner

Did Vaseline just change its name to Baseline? Kinda! After a South Korean influencer adorably mispronounced the product’s name in a viral video, Vaseline leaned in, temporarily rebranding as “Baseline” on social media. The stunt got a lot of attention and sent millions of us searching for Vaseline hacks and skin care tips. People want to know: Is Vaseline good for your face? Will Vaseline make your eyelashes grow? Can you use Vaseline as lube? What else can Vaseline do? 

To find out, we turned to top experts. And we were blown away by what we learned. Not only does the stuff do a lot, there’s even a Vaseline hack that might save the life of older adults. 

What’s in Vaseline exactly—and when it beats pricier products 

Invented in the 1870s, Vaseline is a brand of petroleum jelly, which is essentially a semi-solid goo made from highly purified petroleum compounds. (Another popular brand: Aquaphor. Store brands are great too—and only about $2.50 for 13 ounces. You can even find Unpetroleum Jelly, which is made from plants.) 

No matter the version you opt for, “it acts as an ‘occlusive,’ which means it seals in moisture and supports the skin barrier, making it especially helpful for dry, irritated or sensitive skin,” says Annette Czernik, MD, FAAD, founder of DermMedical and an assistant professor at Yale New Haven Medical Center. “For simply sealing in moisture and supporting the skin barrier, petroleum jelly is hard to beat. It can outperform many costly creams for very dry or irritated skin.”

But that doesn’t mean everything you’ve heard about it is true. “It’s a myth that Vaseline makes eyelashes grow,” says Debra Jaliman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Vaseline is also not a great choice as a sexual lubricant for women, she adds, “because it upsets the vaginal pH and can lead to infections.” Luckily, Vaseline can indeed be good for your face and a whole lot of other things.

7 best uses for Vaseline you’ll want to try today

From ingenious beauty hacks to a potentially breakthrough treatment for inflammation, here are the ways doctors suggest using petroleum jelly.

A booster for pricey skincare products

If you’re paying for products with expensive anti-aging ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides, petroleum jelly can help you get more bang for your buck. “It actually works well as an add-on. Apply your serum or moisturizer first, then a thin layer of petroleum jelly on top to seal that the ingredients in,” suggests Maryam Zamani, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon and skincare expert in Beverly Hills.

A safer alternative to antibiotic ointment

“Petroleum jelly keeps wounds moist, which supports healing and may help minimize scarring,” says Dr. Czernik. On top of that, “studies have found healing and infection rates comparable to antibiotic ointment like bacitracin or Neosporin, but with less risk of an allergic reaction.” Adds Dr. Jaliman: “As a dermatologist in practice for 40 years, I’ve never seen an allergic reaction to petroleum jelly. It is both safe and effective.”  

Apply a thin layer to minor cuts or abrasions and cover with a clean bandage. Petroleum jelly should not replace medical care or antibiotics for bite wounds or any infected, deep or dirty wound.

‘Slugging’ dry hands and calloused heels

If you have rough hands or feet, this is a Vaseline trend worth trying, says Dr. Jaliman. Before bed, apply a good moisturizer first, then a generous “slug” of petroleum jelly on top to seal it all in. Slipping on gloves or socks afterward can make this approach even more effective. By morning, dry patches and even hard callouses should be noticeably softer. And it’s a great way to maintain softer heels after a pedicure.  

Perfecting at-home manicures and hair coloring

One of Dr. Zamani’s favorite beauty tricks: “Dab a small amount of petroleum jelly around your cuticles before painting your nails, being careful to avoid the nail itself. If polish strays outside the lines, it wipes away easily afterward.” It’s also a great cuticle moisturizer, says Dr. Jaliman. 

This also works when applying hair dye at home. Just sweep a little along your hairline before you start, and then easily wipe away any dye that drips on skin.

A perfume primer

Add a dab of petroleum jelly to pulse points before applying perfume. “This slows down evaporation and helps perfume scent last longer,” according to Harvard dermatologist Abby Waldman, MD. 

Protecting skin irritated by eczema 

While petroleum jelly doesn’t treat the underlying inflammation, it can reduce water loss and protect irritated skin. “Eczema often involves a compromised skin barrier. Petroleum jelly can help reinforce the barrier, seal in moisture and relieve irritation and dryness,” says Dr. Zamani.

A total-body anti-inflammatory for older adults

As we age and skin becomes dry and fragile, constant irritation or damage to skin can lead to chronic inflammation throughout the body—a problem linked to countless age-related health conditions like joint pain, brain fog and heart disease. Turns out, Vaseline may help. 

A UC-San Francisco animal study found that applying Vaseline to senior mice reduced blood inflammation markers, and then a small study in older humans got the same results. It led the research team to suggest older adults who moisturize with petroleum jelly “may help as part of a general strategy” against systemic inflammation. 

Dr. Czernik notes that more studies are needed to know how powerful the benefit really is. Still, it can’t hurt to try. “It’s inexpensive, well tolerated and an excellent option for very dry skin,” she says. “Apply a thin layer over slightly damp skin or moisturizer, especially after bathing.”

One caution from Dr. Jaliman: “Since petroleum jelly is an occlusive, it can trap bacteria and other oils and aggravate acne.” So don’t use it all over your face if you’re acne-prone. 

The bottom line on ‘Vaseline-maxxing’

Whether you choose Vaseline (about $6 for 13 ounces) or a store brand, petroleum jelly is one of the best and most versatile bargains in your medicine cabinet. From sealing in the benefits of your priciest serums to potentially calming inflammation throughout your aging body, petroleum jelly quietly outperforms products that cost 10 times as much. So go ahead and slather, slug and prime your way to healthier skin—dermatologists approve!