We seem to have gotten it into our heads that Vaseline is a moisturizer, why else would we be happy to smother it on our delicate lips? Vaseline has its uses in other areas, for example it acts as a barrier to the skin in sub-zero temperatures and, well, it can be used in a multitude of situations where lubricant may be needed, but overall it doesn’t help the skin. rejuvenation.

When I was young I used to think that Vaseline and Vaseline were different things. I once heard someone say that Vaseline was made from whale blubber and he made me cringe and wipe my covered lips on my sleeve in disgust. But after realizing that my can of ‘Vaseline’ was actually the same thing in a tub in the bathroom cabinet, I immediately put a fresh coat on my lips with relief. This caused more confusion. Since ‘gasoline’ was in the name, I figured therefore I must be choking my mouth with gasoline, and should be a bit more cautious around naked flames.

Still, he wasn’t going to throw that can away just yet. You see, it becomes a kind of addiction. When you see someone open that awkward can and rub their fingertip in that natural-seeming circular motion, you check the state of your own lips, and if they can handle being a little more slippery, you immediately start looking for them. her bag too big to find. Basically, watching someone apply Vaseline to their lips is like watching someone yawn: you have to emulate it.

As much as we enjoy applying this goo, we never wonder why our lips remain dry after that thick layer of jelly has worn off, or more likely been ingested. Surely with the amount of (what I’ve called) ‘facial lubricant’ we apply to our lips daily, they should be so smooth that applying lipstick is next to impossible, slipping off course down our cheek. Other reasons to ditch the can are seen in studies suggesting that Vaseline (an ingredient in Vaseline) is linked to breast cancer.

Now, I know that these days, everything seems to give you cancer, but when you hear that ‘gasoline’ is used to sell a beauty product, it certainly puts you off. So here it is. We need to throw out that can, or give it to a friend who has an alternative use for it, and replace that Vaseline with a moisturizer with vitamins A and E. Or, for the short term, put some E45 on your lips before bed and I guarantee your lips will feel really soft without looking like you just ate a fry and forgot to wipe your mouth.