Petroleum Jelly vs Shea Butter
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free skin care · Sat Jun 16, 2012 5:06 pm

Is shea butter comparable to petroleum jelly, which is an occlusive?

Which is better for skin, and could they be used interchangeably in a product?

free skin care · Sat Jun 16, 2012 8:29 pm

I much prefer Shea Butter over Vaseline, but my favorite that would be closer in consistency is Mango Butter! It is heavenly! Smile

free skin care · Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:02 pm

What are you actually using it for? Vaseline is commonly used post laser treatments but Paw Paw Ointment or Egyptian Magic can be used to the same effect. I like Egyptian Magic as it contains bees wax and olive oil - so I use it as a moisturiser too.

free skin care · Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:22 pm

VeronicaM wrote:

Is shea butter comparable to petroleum jelly, which is an occlusive?

Which is better for skin, and could they be used interchangeably in a product?

I think the petroleum jelly just sits on the skin (isn't absorbed) and would be used just as an occlusive, but I think the shea butter would be absorbed and would act as both a moisturizer and occlusive. That's my thinking on the difference!

free skin care · Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:29 pm

I love Egyptian Magic too.. (not so nuts about the smell).

Keliu, have you ever used a little EM along with your oils or serums? I'm finding I love to do that at night, especially after I use the LED. I feel like it really helps to push those goodies in well. It just feels like such pampering to me.

I like shea butter also, but haven't re-ordered in a while.

Every time I hear or see 'Vaseline' I think of Tyra Banks..lol. She gave it to all the members in her audience one day as "a surprise gift of my very favorite skin product"..

To answer Veronica's question; I don't think anything is more occlusive than vaseline.

free skin care · Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:34 pm

I had come across this article some time back: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/06/21/is-your-moisturizer-causing-skin-cancer.aspx

About Minerial Oil which is derivitave of Petroleum. Vasaline being petroleum.

This is just one article, it's enough for me to reconsider putting this type of product on my body or my children's bodies when there are so many other avail. alternatives, nearly as cheap. (common usage on the lips meaning it's ingested often?)

And, well, if this article is correct, then MUCH cheaper than cancer would ever be.

Shea butter so far has not scared me.

free skin care · Sat Jun 16, 2012 10:51 pm

ClaudiaFE wrote:

I had come across this article some time back: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/06/21/is-your-moisturizer-causing-skin-cancer.aspx

About Minerial Oil which is derivitave of Petroleum. Vasaline being petroleum.

This is just one article, it's enough for me to reconsider putting this type of product on my body or my children's bodies when there are so many other avail. alternatives, nearly as cheap. (common usage on the lips meaning it's ingested often?)

And, well, if this article is correct, then MUCH cheaper than cancer would ever be.

Shea butter so far has not scared me.

I know many don't agree and to each their own on this, but I am on the same page Claudia!

I refused to use it in my kids ages ago and instead of Vaseline I make my own with 10 oz. oil and 2 oz. beeswax (can use another natural wax if bee allergies are an issue) and I much prefer it personally! Smile

free skin care · Sun Jun 17, 2012 12:20 am

1. IMO no, petroleum jelly is an occlusive only, natural oil or butter contain 'active' fatty acids, whether that activity is positive or negative.

2. To some extent it depends what shea butter you are referring to: there is a good deal of difference between the composition of west and east African shea, and also between unrefined and refined shea.

free skin care · Sun Jun 17, 2012 1:00 am

Kassy_A wrote:

I love Egyptian Magic too.. (not so nuts about the smell).

Keliu, have you ever used a little EM along with your oils or serums? I'm finding I love to do that at night, especially after I use the LED. I feel like it really helps to push those goodies in well. It just feels like such pampering to me.

I'm an EM smotherer!! I use it most nights, especially around the mouth and eyes. But if my skin is dry during the day, I also put it on top of my makeup - gives a nice dewy look!

free skin care · Sun Jun 17, 2012 5:33 am

rileygirl,

I, too, suspect that shea butter is better absorbed.

free skin care · Sun Jun 17, 2012 5:49 am

VeronicaM wrote:

rileygirl,

I, too, suspect that shea butter is better absorbed.

Agreed - but if you want something to actually lock moisture in the skin, Vaseline is good to apply over another moisturiser.

Personally, I think the whole mineral oil/cancer thing belongs in the "Everything Gives you Cancer" file. The mineral oil that is used in toiletries has been refined and bares no resemblance to its original state.

Read this from the Beauty Brains:

http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/11/28/the-top-5-myths-about-mineral-oil-part-1/

free skin care · Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:23 am

Keliu wrote:

VeronicaM wrote:

rileygirl,

I, too, suspect that shea butter is better absorbed.

Agreed - but if you want something to actually lock moisture in the skin, Vaseline is good to apply over another moisturiser.

Personally, I think the whole mineral oil/cancer thing belongs in the "Everything Gives you Cancer" file. The mineral oil that is used in toiletries has been refined and bares no resemblance to its original state.

Read this from the Beauty Brains:

http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/11/28/the-top-5-myths-about-mineral-oil-part-1/

LOL. I agree on the "everything gives you cancer". One minute something gives you cancer, and then some time later it is good for you again.

How about the comment on the Beautybrains that: It is also 100% natural taken directly out of our dear Mother Earth.

free skin care · Sun Jun 17, 2012 9:00 am

rileygirl wrote:

Keliu wrote:

VeronicaM wrote:

rileygirl,

I, too, suspect that shea butter is better absorbed.

Agreed - but if you want something to actually lock moisture in the skin, Vaseline is good to apply over another moisturiser.

Personally, I think the whole mineral oil/cancer thing belongs in the "Everything Gives you Cancer" file. The mineral oil that is used in toiletries has been refined and bares no resemblance to its original state.

Read this from the Beauty Brains:

http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/11/28/the-top-5-myths-about-mineral-oil-part-1/

LOL. I agree on the "everything gives you cancer". One minute something gives you cancer, and then some time later it is good for you again.

How about the comment on the Beautybrains that: It is also 100% natural taken directly out of our dear Mother Earth.

So is poison oak. LOL! Well, I've already dealt with cancer in my family. Mom and husband. I might be a wee bit hyper active when it comes to, "don't really need to risk it" when I can find a substitute that, so far, anyway doesn't seemingly cause cancer.

It seems I read vaseline wasn't even a beauty product until Marilyn Monroe scooped some off of some camera equip, and used it as lip gloss to keep the glossy look the women were going for, but could get without licking their lips nonstop for a photoshoot.

I wonder if that's true!

free skin care · Sun Jun 17, 2012 3:17 pm

Kassy_A wrote:

Every time I hear or see 'Vaseline' I think of Tyra Banks..lol. She gave it to all the members in her audience one day as "a surprise gift of my very favorite skin product"..

OMG she didn't!!! Laughing

That's awesome... I'd love to have seen the audience members' reactions! & I hope she made it up to them with something a little more luxurious.

I don't end up using it (as my tiny years-old tub can attest), but don't really hesitate dabbing a little if I need it in a pinch. The way I look at it is that I've got a lot more of a powerful "life force" or whatever, protecting me than is worth the bother of worrying about a touch of something questionable like that. (not worded v well, but you get the idea).

free skin care · Sun Jun 17, 2012 3:31 pm

My grandmother loved vaseline. She used it as a facial and body moisturizer during her life. She loved simplicity.

Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:31 am

must be shea butter better than vaseline. As petroleum's product is not a very good to skin. i dun prefer to use petroleum's products.

free skin care · Thu Jun 28, 2012 11:25 am

in the "olden days" we would use petro jelly as a night cream, well I did Razz

and i used to love it, knowledge is power I suppose and now i cringe at my old habits

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