Aquaphor & Vaseline

Are we rubbing gasoline on ourselves?

Okay, I’m kinda being funny… but kind of not. There is SO much research out now about how these products are extracted/refined and the harmful risks of ingesting them and putting them on our skin.

Aquaphor contains petrolatum, commonly known as petroleum jelly. The concern with petrolatum lies in its contamination with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs).

PAHs are naturally present in crude oil, gasoline, and coal, and can also from when burning gas materials like garbage, wood, gas, and tobacco.

Petroleum jelly is derived from crude oil, which inherently contains PAHs.

Exposure to PAGs typically occurs through contaminated air from sources such as motor vehicle exhaust, cigarette smoke, wood smoke, or asphalt fumes.

PAH exposure can lead to serious health issues including cancer and damage to the liver, kidneys, and other organs.

Therefore I do not believe it should go on skin when there are so many better options.

So why when I had a baby this was so frequently recommended for dry skin and preached as “healing” ointment? Or used for things like chapped lips and around the eyes? I don’t like to sit and linger on the fear tactics but this one is a no brainer for me !

Check out my favorite Aquaphor/Vaseline alternative: Everything Balm by Primally Pure.