Did you know that Vaseline is THE safest product to apply to skin? For our next Anti-Ageing April video recipe, Una Jefford reveals how to make a protect and plumping lip balm using Vaseline & Coconut Oil
From shampoo, body wash and toothpaste to deodorant, face creams and hair products – every day we expose ourselves to around 126 different chemicals through grooming products.
These chemicals are able enter our bodies and bloodstream through our skin.
That’s why Healthista is dedicating its full attention to Anti-Ageing April – a time to focus and provide some TLC to our much loved skin through the use of beauty products created with all natural ingredients.
directing your attention to more natural, inexpensive ingredients
Harley street resident skin expert, Una Jefford from Dermal Health, will be directing your attention to more natural, inexpensive ingredients, of which some are food-based beauty superstars that you can probably find in your cupboards.
Replenish: Protect & Plump Lip Balm
We would love you all to create these homemade products yourself and let us know how you got on by tagging #antiageingapril #HealthistaTV #dermalhealth on Instagram.
Our next Anti-Ageing April video is how to make a protect and plum lip balm using, coconut oil, lipstick and Vaseline (or another type of petroleum jelly).
This week we will be focussing on Vaseline, otherwise known as petroleum jelly that has been in use for over 150 years – in fact I am sure everyone reading this has some in their cupboard right now!
Vaseline remains today an excellent occlusive moisturiser, why? It’s greasy consistency acts as a covering layer and stops your skin from losing any of its water. This is called transepidermal water loss.
I hear a lot of people worried that petroleum jelly comes from petrol, and therefore must be dangerous or harmful to the skin, however these fears could not be further from the truth.
It’s greasy consistency acts as a covering layer
Firstly, Vaseline is a ‘cosmetic’ graded product that has been designed and refined (the whiter the jelly the more refined it is) to be applied to your skin and is in fact one of the safest things you can apply to your skin. This is because it is inert and does not bind to any cells of the skin.
This inability to bind to anything means it is impossible to be allergic to petroleum jelly or develop an irritation. It is completely non-sensitising, meaning that it will not make your skin react in any way.
Within dermatology we use it as a negative control in patch testing, when testing allergies to other allergens.
What about the benefits of coconut oil?
It’s not often a health fad becomes a health trend but coconut oil has done it and is here to stay. It is the oil cold-pressed from coconuts and has been used as a staple in Asian cooking, and traditional healing, for centuries.
Coconut oil has important nutritional properties and has demonstrated some important health effects.
Raw, virgin coconut oil preserves natural anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant compounds and when applied topically has been shown to relieve some skin conditions.
coconut oil has been shown to help improve skin health
And although a saturated fat it is very stable when used in cooking, much better than other vegetable oils, so it does not create toxic compounds and it does not negatively affect your cholesterol.
Topically, coconut oil has been shown to help improve skin health when applied like a cream twice daily. So buy a jar for the bathroom as well as the kitchen.
More From Anti-Ageing April:
Anti-Ageing April Recipe #1: Green Tea Facial Toner with Apple Cider Vinegar
Anti-Ageing April Recipe #2: Himalayan Salt Exfoliator Scrub with Apple Cider Vinegar
Anti-Ageing April Recipe #3: Restore & Repair Hand Cream with Vaseline
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