Does putting Vaseline on your face clear it up?

Quick Answer

Vaseline (petroleum jelly) can provide temporary benefits for some skin types when used in moderation. It acts as an occlusive moisturizer by forming a protective barrier on the skin to lock in moisture. This can help hydrate dry skin and protect against irritation. However, Vaseline does not treat acne or clear up skin issues. It can clog pores leading to breakouts if used excessively. Proper skincare and acne medications are more effective for clearing up skin over the long-term.

What is Vaseline?

Vaseline is a brand name for petroleum jelly, a purified mixture of semi-solid hydrocarbons derived from petroleum. It has a thick, waxy consistency and is often used in skincare and cosmetics as an occlusive moisturizer. When applied to the skin, Vaseline forms a protective barrier that locks in moisture and helps prevent dryness.

Some key facts about Vaseline:

  • Its main ingredient is petroleum jelly, a byproduct of oil refining.
  • It has a melting point just above body temperature so it melts into skin.
  • Vaseline is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores).
  • It can help protect minor cuts, scrapes, burns and skin irritation.
  • Vaseline is inexpensive and available at most drug and grocery stores.

How Does Vaseline Moisturize Skin?

Vaseline creates a hydrophobic barrier on the surface of skin that prevents moisture loss from evaporation. This helps keep skin hydrated and protected from dryness.

There are two main ways Vaseline helps moisturize skin:

  1. Occlusion: The thick waxy molecules of petroleum jelly sit atop the skin and act like a sealant to prevent moisture from evaporating from the skin into the air.
  2. Emollient effect: The lipids and hydrocarbons in Vaseline fill in cracks and gaps between skin cells. This smoothes and softens rough skin texture.

When applied after moisturizer, Vaseline helps lock in hydration and enhances the effects by preventing moisture loss. This can temporarily strengthen the skin barrier and improve dry, flaking skin.

Can Vaseline Clear Up Your Skin?

Vaseline is good for protecting and hydrating skin, but not for treating acne breakouts or clearing up skin issues. Here’s why:

  • Vaseline can clog pores – When overused, the thick petrolatum in Vaseline can build up in pores leading to congestion and acne.
  • It doesn’t treat acne – Vaseline has no acne-fighting ingredients. It can trap dirt and oil in pores and worsen breakouts.
  • No anti-inflammatory effects – Vaseline doesn’t reduce redness or soothe inflammatory acne like medicated blemish treatments.
  • No exfoliating properties – Vaseline doesn’t help shed dead skin cells or unclog pores like AHA/BHA exfoliants.

While using small amounts of Vaseline as an overnight moisturizer barrier can benefit some acne-prone skin types, it should not be relied on as an acne treatment. Dermatologist-recommended acne products that contain benzoyl peroxide, retinoids or salicylic acid will be more effective for clearing up breakouts.

How to Use Vaseline for Your Face

You can use Vaseline sparingly as part of your skincare routine as long as you avoid acne-prone areas and don’t use too much. Here are some tips:

  • Apply a thin layer – Only use a pea-sized amount of Vaseline on dry areas.
  • Focus on dry spots – Dab onto dry patches, flaky areas, elbows and hands rather than acne-prone areas.
  • Seal in moisturizer – Apply after water-based moisturizer before bed to lock in hydration overnight.
  • Avoid excessive use – Don’t slather large amounts of Vaseline on skin or use multiple times a day.
  • Remove residue – Gently wash off any residue in the morning to prevent clogged pores.

Using Vaseline once or twice per week overnight can be beneficial for very dry skin types. But those with acne-prone skin may want to avoid using it on the face.

What Does the Research Say?

Numerous scientific studies have looked at the effects of applying petroleum jelly like Vaseline to the skin. Here’s what the research has found:

Moisturizing Effects

  • An overnight study found applying petroleum jelly for 8 hours significantly increased skin hydration and water content in the outermost skin layer.1
  • In a 2003 study, petrolatum ointments improved skin dryness, scaling and roughness more effectively than olive oil ointments.2
  • Petrolatum has been found to enhance skin moisture and treat eczema better than urea creams.3

Acne and Clogged Pores

  • Some acne patients have reported breakouts from petrolatum-based products.4
  • Studies have found topical petrolatum application increases pore clogging more than liquid paraffin.5
  • Petrolatum can enlarge pore appearance over time due to follicular occlusion.6

This research demonstrates petroleum jelly is an effective occlusive moisturizer but it also has risks of clogging pores and causing acne breakouts for some people. Moderation is key when using Vaseline on the face.

Who May Benefit From Using Vaseline?

Here are the skin types that may benefit most from judiciously applying small amounts of Vaseline:

Very Dry Skin

The rich petrolatum barrier helps prevent moisture evaporation from chronically dry skin.

Mature Skin

Mature skin loses lipids and ceramides that maintain the skin barrier. Vaseline can help supplement these lipids.

Eczema & Psoriasis

The protective seal of Vaseline can help soothe itchiness and flare-ups by locking in moisturizers.

Post-Procedures

After skin treatments like microneedling or laser resurfacing, Vaseline protects skin and prevents dryness.

Hands & Body

Using Vaseline on dry elbows, hands and feet is less likely to cause congestion away from the facial area.

Is Vaseline Comeogenic?

Comedogenic means a product has a tendency to clog pores and cause acne breakouts. In general, Vaseline and petroleum jelly are considered non-comedogenic and suitable for even acne-prone skin.

However, some studies have found that Vaseline can enlarge pores and lead to increased sebum production in susceptible individuals. For some acne patients, Vaseline does appear to be comedogenic.4,5

It’s impossible to predict who may experience breakouts from Vaseline. Moderation and proper removal is key if you decide to use it on acne-prone skin.

Are There Non-Comedogenic Alternatives?

For those concerned about clogged pores or acne flare-ups from Vaseline, some non-comedogenic alternatives to consider include:

Dimethicone

Dimethicone is a silicone-based occlusive widely used in skincare and cosmetics. It protects skin similarly to petroleum jelly without the pore-clogging risks.

Hyaluronic Acid

Serums with hyaluronic acid hydrate skin by attracting moisture without leaving a greasy residue that can clog pores.

Grapeseed Oil

Non-greasy grapeseed oil contains occlusive linoleic acid that locks in moisture to soothe dry skin.

Ceramides

Ceramide creams repair the skin barrier, improve hydration and are non-comedogenic.

Dimethicone, glycosaminoglycans

This combination provides a protective moisture barrier closely mimicking natural skin lipids.

The Bottom Line

Vaseline is an effective moisturizer but will not clear up acne or skin problems on its own. Some key takeaways:

  • Use it sparingly to prevent congestion and breakouts.
  • Focus only on very dry areas and avoid acne-prone zones.
  • It locks in moisturizer but does not hydrate on its own.
  • Consider alternatives if you’re very acne-prone.
  • See a dermatologist if you need help clearing up skin.

While petroleum jelly can improve temporary dryness, medicated acne treatments are required to actively clear up skin issues like acne. Use Vaseline cautiously as part of your moisturizing routine. But also follow a proper skincare regimen and seek professional help for skin problems if needed.

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