Are Vaseline® & Petroleum Jelly Healthy?

Petroleum Jelly, the main ingredient in Vaseline®, is often used in beauty products and even on its own to moisturize skin. It’s cheap. It is unscented. It seems to work well for softening skin… what could be the problem?

What is Petroleum Jelly?

Petroleum jelly is a byproduct of the oil refining process. This means it is not sustainable or eco-friendly, and it also explains some of the potential problems with using it.

Petroleum jelly was originally found in the bottom of oil rigs and is further refined for use in the beauty industry. According to packaging and safety info, all of the harmful components are removed before use in beauty or personal care products, but some sources argue that it still contains some harmful components (like hydrocarbons).

How Does Petroleum Jelly Work on Skin?

Petroleum jelly is used in everything from lotions to baby products for its ability to create a protective barrier on the skin and hold in moisture. On labels, it may also appear as Petrolatum, Mineral oil, Liquid paraffin, or Paraffin oil.

While the ability to hold in moisture may seem like a good thing, it can have its downsides as well. Since petroleum jelly is both waterproof and not water soluble, it creates a waterproof barrier on the skin. At first glance, this may sound good, but it also means that it blocks pores and can lock in residue and bacteria. This is also the reason petroleum jelly should not be used on a burn or sunburn, as it locks in heat and can block the body’s ability to heal.

Also, while it certainly gives the appearance of hydrated and moisturized skin, this may be an illusion as there is nothing in petroleum jelly that is actually nourishing the skin. If you are looking for something to help hold in moisture and nourish the skin, there are some natural products that accomplish both (see the end of this post for a list).

Problems with Petroleum Jelly

Besides its pore-blocking potential, petroleum jelly carries some potentially bigger problems as well.

Harmful Hydrocarbons

Petroleum jelly can’t be metabolized by the skin and just sits as a barrier until it wears off. This means that the body isn’t able to gain any benefit from petroleum jelly (like it can from nutrient rich substances like shea butter or cocoa butter), and there is concern that some of the components (like hydrocarbons) may be stored in fat tissue within the body.

In fact, a 2011 study found that:

There is strong evidence that mineral oil hydrocarbons are the greatest contaminant of the human body, amounting to approximately 1 g per person. Possible routes of contamination include air inhalation, food intake, and dermal absorption.

This study was interesting because it evaluated both the long term storage potential of these hydrocarbons in the body, and also a woman’s ability to pass them on to her child through breastfeeding. It looked at fat tissue samples obtained from women during a c-section and also a follow up of breast milk samples and found a strong correlation between the amounts in fat tissue and the amounts passed on in breastmilk.

This suggests the potential for long-term accumulation of these hydrocarbons in the body. The study found no link between nutritional habits and hydrocarbon levels in the body but did find a strong potential link between cosmetic and beauty product use and contamination, suggesting that beauty products may be a major source of hydrocarbon exposure.

As moms, this study is especially interesting, since it shows the potential for passing on these contaminants to our children during breastfeeding. We also know that we can’t metabolize these substances, so they can build up in the body and are difficult to remove.

Collagen Breakdown

Because of the barrier that mineral oil/petroleum jelly creates on the skin, there is also some concern about its potential to cause collagen breakdown (which is the opposite of what most women want!).

Essentially, the concern is that when petroleum jelly coats the skin it blocks the skin’s natural ability to breathe and absorb nutrients. This can slow the cell renewal process and cause the skin to pull the necessary moisture and nutrients from within, leading to collagen breakdown over time (aka wrinkles!).

Estrogen Dominance

A growing problem in today’s world, estrogen dominance is when the body has high levels of estrogen and proportionately low levels of progesterone to balance it. It is linked to infertility, menstrual problems, accelerated aging, allergies and autoimmune problems as well as nutrient deficiencies, sleep problems and even some types of cancers.

Many products (including petroleum jelly) contain chemicals called xenoestrogens which may increase estrogen problems in the body. Studies have shown that these chemicals may act on hormone receptors in the body and lead to estrogen dominance.

Alternatives To Petroleum Products for the Skin

Thankfully, there are many great alternatives to petroleum jelly and mineral oil that help increase moisture on the skin and provide nourishment as well. The best part? Most of them can be used alone and you don’t even have to make anything!

If you are looking for a simple alternative to petroleum jelly or Vaseline®, try:

Shea Butter– A natural skin superfood that is high in Vitamins A, E and F. It also contains beneficial fatty acids that nourish skin and it may reduce skin inflammation and increase collagen production. It is excellent on its own or in homemade beauty products. (This is the one I like).
Cocoa Butter-A great source of antioxidants and beneficial fatty acids, cocoa butter is another great product for skin. There is even some evidence that it may reduce the signs of aging. (This is the brand I’ve used)
Beeswax– A great substitute for the waterproof and protective properties of petroleum jelly without the hydrocarbons. Though not usually used alone, beeswax can be blended into homemade beauty products for its skin-protective ability and is especially good in lip balms and body creams.
Coconut Oil– Coconut oil has so many benefits, internal and external, and it can be great for the skin. It does cause breakouts in some people, so I always suggest testing on a small area of skin first, but it is a source of skin-nourishing fatty acids, lauric acid and anti-inflammatory compounds.
Almond Oil– A liquid oil that is fragrance free and nourishing to skin.
Jojoba Oil-A perfect choice for skin care because it naturally resembles sebum, the oily substance naturally produced by the body to nourish and protect skin. I like to mix Jojoba Oil with shea butter for a simple natural lotion.

Petroleum Jelly Free Skin Recipes

If you’re feeling crafty, there are a lot of great skin-nourishing recipes that you can make using the simple ingredients above:

The Bottom Line

I’ve never been a fan of petroleum jelly (or Vaseline®) because every time I’ve tried it, my naturally oily skin went crazy and I had breakouts for at least a week. Since there are many potential problems with using it and a variety of great natural alternatives, I’m glad it is a product I never really started using.

Do you use petroleum jelly? Have you switched to these alternatives instead?

Sources

Become a VIP member!

Get access to my VIP newsletter with health tips, special deals, my free ebook on Seven Small Easy Habits and so much more!

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

108 responses to “Why I Don’t Use Petroleum Jelly (and What I Use Instead)”

Bess

November 19, 2015

Yes, I enjoy lanolin, too! Great salve and when I’m in the barn it soothes cows’ teats as well as my chapped lips and hands! 😉

Reply
Mariyam

November 19, 2015

Hi, doesn’t anyone know if sesame oil safe?

Reply
Nicole

November 19, 2015

I have used Baby Oil to remove mascara every night for years. Any suggestions to replace that (cause no matter how green I get I’m just not really going to give up my mascara or go crazy expensive on the natural mascara- just being real with ya!)?

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  November 19, 2015
  
  Olive oil works really well (it will even remove waterproof mascara)!
  
  Reply
2. Carisa
  
  December 18, 2015
  
  I use castor oil to remove my eye makeup. It works better than any other oil that I’ve tried and has the added benefit of making your lashes grow long and lush! I buy it and put it in a dropper bottle for ease of use.
  
  Reply
olivia

November 19, 2015

my sons doctor -homeopathic- recommended first aid calendula ointment for the baby instead of petroleum. I get it at whole foods or amazon. It worked great so far he is 16 months old now. I also used it myself for cuts scrapes burns so far so good and it is natural. I also love using aleo vera for the skin it is like magic even on jellyfish burns.

Reply
Amy

November 19, 2015

I love this post because it truly made a difference for my daughter when I switched her to a vegan-certified brand of health & wellness products! (Being respectful – contact me if you want that source)

My daughter showed signs of eczema since birth. She was a WALKING SCAB! The 1st 3 years of her life, she ensured pain and 4 hospitalizations due to her weakening immune system. She fought MRSA & staph off and on during these three years. Due to his history, my husband kept stating that the only thing that would help her and relieve her of the eczema was to put petroleum jelly on it. It just got worse until I started researching this exact information!

I started her on the health and wellness products to clean out her gut and started using their vegan certified & gluten free skincare. After just one month, she was clear! She’s 7 now & still enjoys her vegan shake for breakfast daily & we eat clean MOST of the time.

Thanks for sharing this info with others because I’m truly a believer!

Reply
1. Kristin C
  
  November 20, 2015
  
  Hi! My daughter is 5 and also had eczema and food allergies, one anaphylactic… Our allergist told me to put Vaseline on her every day but I had heard about this before so haven’t been doing it so much… We use the Shea moisture ultra sensitive baby cream that is gluten free and fragrance free, but I want to put a good oil too or butter (cocoa or shea) ..did you do well with either of those or a mix?
  
  Also, I’m looking into a alkaline diet for my daughter to help her skin too, have you done one of those?
  
  Am interested in your story…
  
  Much love,
  Kristin
  
  Reply
  1. Terza
    
    November 20, 2015
    
    The Eczema Cure by Emily Bartlett, L.Ac. is an amazing E-book. Gluten free and fixing leaky gut are vital! I got my copy from the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle but it can be found online also. There are probiotics that will help heal the gut also. I had eczema for over four decades and now it is gone, no other way to describe it.
    
    Reply
    1. Wellness Mama
      
      November 21, 2015
      
      Yes it is a great resource! Here’s the link to purchase it: https://wellnessmama.com/go/eczemacure/
      
      Reply
    2. Amber
      
      December 4, 2015
      
      Hi Terza, I have recently started the GAPS diet for leaky gut to hopefully improve my eczema (having a very bad flare for the past few months) and would love to hear more about your experience. My skin is getting worse and I’ve been on the GAPS intro diet for 8 days feeling hopeless right now. Any advice?
      
      Reply
      1. Lea
        
        December 4, 2015
        
        I don’t have personal experience with GAPS or this website, but I’ve heard from lots of people like Katie about SCD Lifestyle run founded be Steve Wright and Jordan Reasoner. It’s supposed to be better than GAPS and they have a whole community over there that is awesome. Hope you can find some encouragement.
Melissa

November 19, 2015

I am so late to the knowledge of the harm of these chemicals. But I have been making body butters from your site, next up is lotion bars. As a health care professional I really appreciate the citation of the studies and the rigorous research you do. Thanks!

Reply
Jean

November 19, 2015

The reason I have used petroleum jelly is because there is no smell. Smells such as shea butter and coconut oil give me headaches. I would love an alternative to petroleum jelly.

Reply
1. Svetlana
  
  November 24, 2015
  
  Try lanolin. Very moisturizing. It has almost no smell. Its natural odor smells faintly of sheep, almost undetectable, but if you get refined lanolin, it has no odor.
  
  Reply
Carrie

November 19, 2015

Interesting read. I generally don’t use petroleum jelly but I caught mineral oil as one of the derivatives of petroleum. I do use mineral oil on my cutting board to seal the wood and create a moisture barrier to prevent cross contamination. I didn’t know that mineral oil came from petroleum, so if you have any suggestions of what to use in its place, I would love to hear it. TIA

Reply
1. christy
  
  November 19, 2015
  
  This link gives some good oils to use (disregard the mineral oil!) and not, with good explanations.
  https://www.cuttingboard.com/blog/what-type-of-oils-are-safe-to-use-on-your-cutting-board/
  
  Reply
Jess

November 19, 2015

It’s scary to think of all the petroleum products in name brand baby care. Not to mention the phthalates and parabens found in the top selling baby products. 13 million dollars are spend on baby lotion each year in America. Why not make our own or just go with a single oil, such as almond or coconut oil to rub on our babies instead?
Great article!

Reply
Christy

November 19, 2015

I have used “other” moisturizers for 20 years or more. I started with EV olive oil. I live part of the time in Italy and now most of the time between Italy and Greece and I needed something more effective than commercial lotions, I live on a boat a good part of the year in the summer heat and sun of the Med.
I slowly found out more and experimented with different oils and gravitated to lighter oils for my face, like grapeseed, I add a couple drops of rose essence and YangYang, my favorite combination.
Be careful of where you get your jojoba, I was buying it not knowing much about it, it is costly, so I usually just use other oils now.
For my body oil, I made up a spray container of the olive oil that I mix with water (1/4 oil, 3/4 water, add a few drops of lavender or similar) shake and spray – this continues to be my body moisturizer. For my face, I spritz, then I spread just a few drops of oil over my face and neck and I “moisturize” and my skin. At 60, and exposed long hours to bright light if not direct sun, is in great shape, better than many people at 40. Oils nourish your skin. I then run my hands through my moist hair to “moisturize” my hair, it is all it needs. I also now only use baking soda “shampoo” with fantastic results.
For 20 years I have produced a body “butter” made from EV olive oil and bees wax, it is sold in San Francisco. This is an “intensive care” solid cream, I started selling this before any other similar product showed up on the scene, like Burt’s Bees. (I am a beekeeper so I knew of the use of bee’s wax in ancient salves, I developed my recipe from this). I use petroleum jelly….only on mechanical parts in my boat!! The idea that oil leaves your skin oily is completely off base; good oil absorbs quite quickly and you just don’t use too much of it. I don’t get any blemishes from it either, and have been prone to blemishes up to a few years ago, must be menopause that has changed that!
Thank you as always for your great advice, I read just about every message from you that comes to my box, you choose your topics so very well. ~Christy

Reply
Paula Kemp

November 19, 2015

I am a massage therapist and specialise in Pregnancy massage. A lot of my clients swear by Bio Oil for their stretch marks, but as its mainly mineral oil I try to get them to use good old coconut butter or oil instead.

I will definitely be trying some of your recipes and sharing this post to show the evidence of how bad hydrocarbons found in mineral oil is – thank you for highlighting it.

Reply
Nina

November 19, 2015

Healthy alternative: Devil’s club salve. Amazing in the winter for chapped hands! I get mine from Sitka, AK (believe it’s Winter song co.)

Reply
Sharon

November 19, 2015

Wow! And my dermatologist is always telling me to use Aquaphor. It’s going in the trash.

Reply
1. Terelyn
  
  November 19, 2015
  
  My sister-in-law is always telling me how wonderful Aquaphor is, but I never tried it because of the petroleum jelly. She’s old school and won’t accept the fact that petroleum jelly shouldn’t be used on your skin. She has a Down syndrome child and gets Aquaphor free, so she doesn’t want to listen to anything contradictory. Oh well, her choice, not mine! 🙂
  
  Reply
  1. Mary
    
    April 12, 2016
    
    I really don’t understand what a child with down syndrome has to do with petroleum jelly
    
    Reply
Sharan

November 19, 2015

Hi Katie,

Thanks for your post. I have to say I tried coconut oil but I’m not sure the oil gets fully absorbed into the skin. When I used it, I still had a slight whitish sheen to my skin (I have an olive complexion), especially around areas like my elbows. I have a feeling this would be an issue with any kind of oil?

Thanks.
Sharan

Reply
1. Cate
  
  November 19, 2015
  
  I have the same problem. I make my lotion out of coconut oil, shea butter, olive oil, almond butter and essential oils, and I can’t get the mixture right to make it more absorbent. If I use too much, it feels like it is sitting on my skin (for hours) – thus getting on my clothes – and if I use too little, I have to reapply. I reapply without hesitation, but would love to find the right mixture so it absorbs into the skin like store-bought lotions do.
  
  Reply
  1. Christy
    
    November 19, 2015
    
    I have been using oils and making my own concoctions for over 20 years. The trick to using oils is to apply to wet skin and not use too much. I either use it before I am completely dried off after bathing, or, I spritz or simply wet my skin then apply the oil. Also, you are probably using too much, being possibly used to the quantity of lotion you would use – oils require a lot less, I literally use a few drops at a time, to about a quarter teaspoon. It still takes just a little longer to absorb than commercial lotions but with water and using less, oils absorb well. I have not yet experimented with coconut oil alone, mostly I have used EV olive, almond, grape seed, sesame and walnut. Any mixture of oils are fine for your body, I prefer the grape seed as a base for my face oil, it seems to absorb more quickly and has a lighter feel. Now that coconut is readily available I will start experimenting with that although I live in central Italy where olive oil is local, of high quality,not expensive and fresh- in fact the new oil is just out- so I tend to generally use olive oil.
    
    Reply
    1. Cate
      
      November 20, 2015
      
      Thanks for your input, Christy! I never thought of applying to wet skin, I’ll give it a try!
      
      Reply
      1. Christy
        
        November 20, 2015
        
        It does make a lot of difference to how it feels going in – and going on, it is much more pleasant, you don’t get that oily feeling. Find a nice spritzer to use or make one yourself. I love Witch Hazel with Cucumber, (can’t think of the brand of witch hazel right now, but not hard to find) it is mild, refreshing and soothing.
      2. Shairys
        
        February 21, 2021
        
        I agree. The oil spreads better and sinks in better when you apply to damp skin. I feel like it’s all the benefits of a lotion without the need for emulsifier or preservative, both of which are necessary for lotion.
  2. Terelyn
    
    November 19, 2015
    
    Do you mean almond oil or almond butter? Thanks.
    
    Reply
    1. christy
      
      November 19, 2015
      
      almond oil. I use all cold pressed oils, NOW brand appears to be good and the least expensive or Aura Cacia available on Amazon.
      
      Reply
  3. Carole
    
    November 22, 2015
    
    Cate, you might like emu oil, as it absorbs through all the layers of the skin, and is full of essential fatty acids that are great for the skin. I use Emu Bliss emu oil as my night time moisturizer and love the way my skin feels in the morning. Also great for homemade skin care formulas in place of or in addition to the carrier oil.
    
    Reply
Lea

November 19, 2015

I am so surprised Lanolin isn’t on this list. It is my very favorite for every skin issue. 6 kids, 14 years of mommying, and countless salves, it’s the best. From food allergy rashes to post-birth healing perineums, to bike wipe-outs. Especially in place of vaseline.
Glad for this list though, love to hear about other uses for these items that I’m beginning to have on hand most of the time now! Thanks Katie!

Reply
1. Melissa W.
  
  November 20, 2015
  
  I was going to say the same thing about lanolin! I was wondering if Katie left it off because she just doesn’t have personal experience using it, or if there’s something bad about lanolin that I don’t know. I use the most unrefined lanolin I could find (still smells like sheep, mmmm!) but obviously it’s still refined to a large extent. But it’s the ONLY thing I’ve found that actually undoes the damage I do to my hands each day during the wintertime and keeps my hands from cracking and bleeding. (The combination of winter weather, house cleaning, constantly washing kids’ hands, and washing dishes is brutal on hands.) But if I put the lanolin on my hands each night and wear gloves to bed, they will be completely restored by the next morning. No other moisturizing product can do that for me. It also is THE BEST for keeping a nose from getting red and painful during a cold when you have to keep blowing it every few minutes.
  
  I’m glad for the information in this article, Katie, because I was just telling my family 15 minutes ago that petroleum jelly isn’t really healthy, but I couldn’t name the exact reasons why. Now I’m armed with information! 🙂
  
  Reply
  1. Carole
    
    November 22, 2015
    
    If you want a natural cream for super dry hands try Banish My Callus. Works great on feet overnight with socks, so I would think it would do the same with hands and gloves.
    
    Reply
  2. Christy
    
    November 23, 2015
    
    May be that some people cannot use lanolin as it can produce an allergic reaction, being an animal product. I find putting olive oil on my hands at night and then gloves does the same as the lanolin does for you. My favorite product is still one that I have been making (and selling) for 20 years, it is derived from an ancient bee keeper’s salve recipe from Italy (where I live) The bee’s wax and olive oil solid hand care cake can be purchased online – or through me, but I don’t want to be using this site to advertise, so I would have to ask Katy if I can supply my own address for direct purchase (but I don’t see a place on the site for direct contact) . There is nothing in this but bee’s wax and olive oil with a drop of camphor, you can use it even while cooking.
    
    Reply
Allie

November 19, 2015

Are these hazards included in mineral oil? I heard years ago to drop a few drops of mineral oil in your ears every so often as an alternative to using Q-tips.
Thanks for all your great information!

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  November 19, 2015
  
  It’s a derivative product, so yes, the same potential is there.
  
  Reply
Terelyn

November 18, 2015

I wish I had never used petroleum jelly! I started using a petroleum-based lip balm habitually when I was 18. I used it for 30 years straight from the jar several times a day (and night) but for the last 2 years I’ve switched to using coconut oil and sometimes I mix in Shea butter or aloe vera. I’ve advised my teenage nieces not to use anything that contains petroleum jelly, but since it’s on the market, they think it’s reasonably safe…not!

Reply
1. Erris
  
  December 3, 2015
  
  I now right? When i used to use it it made my skin feel odd but then after doing some research I stopped using it
  
  Reply
2. Stacey C.
  
  March 28, 2016
  
  Why? Do mind sharing why you regret using it for 30 years? I’m trying to figure out what’s right for me. I’ve been trying to get more into natural living on one hand, and on the other hand my mother used petroleum jelly and mineral oil for 40 years daily on her face and body. She’s 70 now and her skin looks great. I know she is only 1 data point, but to me she is a significant one. I’m in my 30s now and having a hard time deciding what my skin regimen should be.
  
  Reply
  1. Skeewee
    
    February 26, 2019
    
    Hi, like your mom I have used petrolatum for decades. I’ve been vegetarian for a few years and before that followed a kosher diet, but even before then I should always get compliments on my skin. I’m now 40 and ppl think I’m in my 20s. Could be genetics and I also pray a lot but I think the patroleum has helped too.
    
    Reply
kristina

November 18, 2015

I primarily use lanolin as an alternative to petroleum jelly, in addition to shea butter and coconut oil 🙂

Reply
1. Svetlana
  
  November 24, 2015
  
  I also use lanolin for anything I used to use petroleum jelly for. I find that lanolin is very good as lip balm, skin protector, even as hair gel for my boys. I use it on my feet to help the skin soft. I use it on my hands when I paint (I am an artist by trade). Lanolin is awesome, and is great right out of the can, so I don’t have to mix it with anything to use it.
  
  Reply
2. Yosha
  
  January 24, 2016
  
  same, I have eczema and if I don’t use Vaseline on my extremely dry face, it will crack and bleed… coconut oil isn’t very effective because it dries out very quickly and it feels uncomfortable on my face, as if its just sitting on top like a slippery layer, I don’t want to keep using Vaseline any advice??
  
  Reply
  1. Kris
    
    February 26, 2016
    
    Personally I don’t think Petroleum or Mineral Oil is as bad as it’s made out to be. It is an inert ingredient, & for folks who have issues like eczema, severely dry skin, sensitive skin etc. it can be incredibly helpful.
    
    Like you I’ve tried all of the natural alternatives (beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, oils) & Petroleum is unsurpassed in terms of being able to hold the moisture in the skin. Precisely because it isn’t as “breathable” as the other things, & therefore does not allow as much transepidermal water loss.
    
    That said, it is true that it does not add moisture back into the skin, as opposed to trap it in, but it can be invaluable to calm inflammation, & protect & restore the epidermal barrier.
    
    I do prefer natural things, however, so I would say beeswax is probably the most effective alternative at sealing in moisture. And unlike Petroleum, it has moisturizing properties as well. I use Waxelene, or Badger Unscented Beauty Balm which absorbs much better. You can always just blot off the excess & it will still leave a thin layer on your skin which is more matte.
    
    Then on days when natural things just aren’t enough, I’ll use my Mineral Oil based skin care (Albolene, Avene etc.) until the barrier normalizes.
    
    I hope this helps!
    Kris
    
    Reply
  2. Christy
    
    February 27, 2016
    
    I make a lot of creams and do a lot of experimenting. I have been using strictly cold pressed oils on my face for over 20 years. I started with extra virgin olive oil (I live part time in Italy) then graduated to different blends of “lighter” more absorbent oils for my face. I have read that the molecules of some oils are smaller and absorb better. I have looked on the labels of high quality oil products from Weleda and Hauschka, they often use grapeseed oil and it appears to be the lightest (and on my skin feels like it). I often use a blend of this, almond, rosehip and carrot seed for my face, but I would start with just plain grapeseed for use on infants. I would add a drop or two, no more, of rose oil in 100ml, if you want a pleasant and light scent of something that should not cause a reaction.
    I would think that lanolin is a fine substitute for “heavier” uses where Vaseline would be used, I blend it with anything from cocoa butter to coconut oil or shea butter to lighten it just a bit. Put the jar in a water bath that has just boiled, keep it on low heat or turn it off and back on until the lanolin melts, mix in the other ingredients (which are generally softer and easy to mix) continue to blend it in the water bath if needed. I have made a heavy cream for my husbands difficult (aging)thin skin, aways flaking, always dry; I use a combination of lanolin, shea and cocoa butter and coconut oils. I always dampen my skin before I apply oil thus locking in the moisture and it makes the oils or heavy cream much nicer to use, leaves a nicer feeling. Use the creams/oils sparingly until you see just how much does the trick. I live in an extremely dry climate that is harsh on my skin, I apply my oil 2-3 times a day as needed.
    CONGRATULATIONS KATIE ON YOUR NEW BABY Thank you for sharing everything about the birthing process, very informative; young women need to know the reality of birthing so they can objectively deal with it. I come from a generation that was a bit in the dark, just beginning to open up about such things. “Our Bodies Ourselves” came out when I was about 18! The first “real” book dealing with women’s health issues!
    
    Reply
  3. Christy
    
    February 27, 2016
    
    Yosha, you probably can find the right balance for your skin by using lighter oils, but ALWAYS put some moisture on your skin before applying the oils. I really think Vaseline is too heavy. I would try combining shea butter, a bit of lanolin, a bit of grapeseed oil, then progress to adding the other ingredients I mentioned in my other posting. Hydrating first with something nice, like Cucumber Witch Hazel in a spray bottle, or a nice spritzer with light fragrance makes putting the oil on such a better experience, I love the feel of the combined moisture and oil. If you don’t feel you have applied enough, just keep reapplying until your skin feels “right”.
    I recently purchased an Aloe spray on Amazon, I mix this now with the Witch Hazel.
    
    Reply
Pascale

November 18, 2015

My husband tried the un-petroleum multi-purpose jelly by Alba that is sold at Whole Foods. He hasn’t used it on his face, but so far so good.

Reply
Shannon

November 18, 2015

Can you share information about candles also made from toxic oils ….looking for an alternative….I would love something yummy smelling to use over the holidays…any suggestions or companies you like?

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  November 19, 2015
  
  I wrote about candles here: https://wellnessmama.com/22656/dont-use-scented-candles/
  
  Reply
2. Dilara
  
  February 17, 2016
  
  Hi there,
  
  I am having my first baby in May and would really like to make my own diaper cream, the recipe that you have on your website. Coconut does cause breakout on my skin so I stopped using it and instead use sweet almond oil on my face. I was wondering if coconut oil might cause breakout on baby’s skin? What do you think? As I never made any creams myself nor I used it on the baby I do not know what to expect.
  Thank you so much .
  Dilara
  
  Reply