Why people are using Vaseline instead of expensive eye creams
A slew of TikTokers have turned their back on expensive eye creams and have turned instead to applying Vaseline to their under eyes - but why are people turning to this budget beauty favourite and will it really get the job done?
You've probably used the thick ointment to lock moisture into parched lips, set unruly brows or even for slugging - but turns out this £1.80 buy could be great for the sensitive under-eye area too.
Search 'Vaseline under eye' on TikTok and you'll be bombarded by influencers telling you all about the benefits.
Advert
One viral TikTok video racked up a massive 3.8 million views with one person commenting 'Vaseline cures all'.
But what does a derm think? Boston-based, board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Papri Sakar, told TODAY the skin around your eyes is very thin, so it can be prone to dryness and sensitivity.
She continued: "One of the reasons why people use eye cream is for hydration and plumpness, because that plumpness kind of makes the lines look less visible."
Sakar says that, while it doesn't contain fancy actives like vitamin C and retinol that will reduce the appearance of dark circles and fine lines respectively, Vaseline is up there with the most expensive products in terms of locking in hydration - especially when paired with a moisturising cream.
"Vaseline is something that's called an occlusive," she says. "Which means that it's almost like Saran wrap [clingfilm].
"You put it down over your skin, and it adds another layer, like a barrier.
"It keeps water from being able to evaporate out [of the skin] as quickly."
By applying a hydrating cream to your under-eye area and then following it with Vaseline, you're adding moisture to the area and then locking it in.
The results according to Sakar? Plumpness and a reduced appearance in fine lines - not bad for less than a cost of an iced coffee.
"I personally love petrolatum, in general, which is what Vaseline is," says Sakar.
"And I think that applying it under the eyes is a great idea for a certain group of people — like for people whose skin around their eyes is really dry, and is also very reactive, or sensitive, where other eye creams may cause an inflammation or anything like that, I think that it's great."
Put down that iconic tub if you're prone to milia (tiny white spots) around your eyes, though.
Sakar explains: "Although Vaseline is technically non-comedogenic, meaning that it's not supposed to clog pores, for some people, I've just found in practice that it can."
Amelia Jones