We all certainly know one thing, Veganism is not just about eating vegan food. A true vegan adopts a vegan life too and hence, have to select products based on facts and figures. In terms of vegan food, it is easy to determine which ingredient is vegan and which is not. But what about skincare products which we need on a daily basis? The first thing comes o your mind is vaseline petroleum jelly.
Is vaseline vegan? As a fellow vegan; let us first acknowledge some facts and figures so as you too can decide whether vaseline is vegan or not.
What is Petroleum Jelly? Where does it Come From?
Petroleum jelly is a blend of mineral oils and waxes, which form a semisolid jelly-like matter. This product hasn’t altered much since Robert Augustus Chesebrough discovered it in 1859. He saw that oil workers would use a gooey jelly to heal their injuries and burns. He ultimately packaged this jelly-like thing as Vaseline.
Petroleum jelly’s chief ingredient is petroleum, which eases seal your skin with a water-protective film. This helps your skin to heal and maintain it’s moisture.
Is Petroleum Jelly Vegan?
Petroleum jelly is a by-product of oil production. The same oil industry which extracts fossil fuel. Fossil fuel is a fuel developed by natural methods, such as the anaerobic breakdown of buried dead organisms, carrying energy originating in ancient photosynthesis. Although these animals are dead long back we cannot forget the fact that it is (not 100%) animal by-product.
Secondly, many petroleum jellies are mixed with wax and other substances (for stabilization) which may not be vegan at all.
On the other hand, some vegans may find a 100% petroleum jelly vegan as petroleum is not directly related to animals. Thus, we can conclude a 100% petroleum jelly is ethically not vegan but can be approved by many vegans. It depends on how dedicated you are to a vegan lifestyle.
What is Vaseline made out of? Is vaseline vegan?
The official website of Vaseline states that the Vaseline Jelly is made of 100% pure petroleum jelly which is a blend of mineral oils and waxes. Although we know paraffin wax is one kind of wax used, Vaseline itself says “WAXES” in the description provided by their official website.
Hence we went frenzy to look into which were the other “waxes” which were used in the making of vaseline? And we landed into a claim that Vaseline uses Lanolin. Lanolin is made of sheep wax and adds elasticity to the Vaseline.
At this point, we do need to bring you into notice if is vaseline vegan or not. You know it already!
Is Vaseline tested on Animals? Is vaseline petroleum jelly cruelty-free?
The producing company, Unilever, denies that it tests its products directly on animals. Still, it clearly declares that some suppliers may test the products on animals according to the legal regulation of each country. Therefore, other countries that happen to import the product, are free to test it on animals.
This means that even if the company doesn’t test on animals, however, it may not be able to stop each supplier from doing so.
Moreover, Vaseline is not certified by the people for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) as a cruelty-free product (though some of Unilever’s other products are certified). This is because the product is somehow tested on animals whether the ingredients separately, the formulation or the final product itself.
We also know that Vaseline is sold in China where the product might undergo animal testing because China makes the process mandatory for all the products sold therein.
Is petroleum jelly the same as Vaseline?
Although several people interchange Vaseline with petroleum jelly, the two are truly very diverse. Vaseline is a brand title for petroleum jelly. On the other hand, petroleum jelly is chemically obtained from petroleum, the natural raw material matter that was found in 1859 by oil miners in Pennsylvania. Hard like wax and black in colour, petroleum was a matter that produced upon the oilers’ rigs like clay but at the very time was a good “paste” that they could apply on cuts and burns.
What are the vegan options for vaseline? What are the vegan options for petroleum jelly?
Vaseline jelly is most of the time prevent or treat chapped lip. The good news is that there are loads of balm brands that make their goods without abusing animals. We have specially crafted this list which is not only approved by PETA but also are our favourite popular vegan and cruelty-free lip balms:
1. Eco Lips’ Bee Free Vegan Lip Balm
This is a beeswax free lip balm which components are organic and not genetically modified. It contains sunflower seed oil, candelilla wax, cocoa butter, and coconut oil to be used as a lip balm
2. Hurraw
The name is a call to celebrate some of the best vegan lip balms in the business.It contains nut/seed butter and oils contains avocado butter, jojoba oil, and castor oil
3. Pure + Simple
4. Pacifica
Your lips need protection from the sun the same way the rest of your body does—which is why we’re so in love with Pacifica’s SPF 30 vegan lip balm. Contains coconut oil, candelilla wax, soybean wax, and avocado oil.
5. Sun Bum
This balm contains SPF 30 which is pretty difficult to get in vegan skin or lip care brands
6. Shea Moisture Shea Butter Lip Balm
Shea Moisture’s balms, which are available at Target, deliver protection from harsh weather with a solid base of raw, organic shea butter.
7. Crazy Rumors Lip Balms
The only crazy here is crazy awesome! This company offers a tremendous variety of vegan cruelty-free lip balms in loads of refreshing flavours.
8. Sugar Venom Cosmetics Eco Lip Balm
This Australian label offers a protective layer powered by macadamia oil and shea butter.
9. The Fanciful Fox Lip Balm
The Brooklyn-based company that makes this lip balm also offers other 100 per cent vegan products, including scrubs and soaps.
10. Natures Basics by Ava
Intense moisture and fun flavours are all wrapped up into one lip-smacking good balm. As it’s available in over 25 flavours, the tricky part will be picking one.
You might also want to try the following skincare products which moisturize and hydrate your skin. Although all brands have various products which fall in the same category but differ in flavour and size. We have added their official links respectively. All these brands fall in the vegan and cruelty-free category:
- Arbonne
This eco-friendly wellness and beauty company has been “on a green journey for 35 years” and has never tested its products on animals. You can buy through its online store or leading e-commerce websites. - Nature’s Gate
They sell personal-care products created from fruit and plant extracts, herbs and essential oils. All of its goods are parabens, mineral oil, sulfates, lanolin, petrolatum, and phthalates free. - Dr. Botanicals
They make skin-care products that are motivated by some of our beloved vegan foods. Its recognizable components are being upgraded. Now they’re no longer just for snacks! - MuLondon Organic
We’re in love with this brand’s delightful-smelling moisturizers and cleansers. - Sibu Beauty
This company uses fruit from the Tibetan Himalayas called sea buckthorn to formulate skin-care products that are high in omega 3, 6, 7, and 9 fatty acids. - Sparitual
Spiritual offers several different skin-care lines to heal and restore your skin based on its specific needs as well as nail treatments and polish.
Should we buy vegan products from a brand who is also selling non-vegan products?
Even if Unilever the producing company isn’t vegan, it’s still possible for it to produce vegan products. However, whether to purchase these products or not is a matter of choice.
Some people believe that buying vegan products from a non-vegan company is like funding the company to keep on with the usage of animal products and testing.
Yet, some people think that such an act may push the companies to create more vegan goods as they’re demanded and purchased.
How can you make vegan vaseline at home?
Making a vegan vaseline at home is extremely simple and quick. There is no such one recipe to make a vegan vaseline at home. We have provided you with all vegan ingredients and the method, hence you can make the one which suits your needs and choice. Imagination is your playground!
1. Natural body butter
Cocoa, shea or mango butter are our most favourite butter you can add up a few drops of essential oils and some natural colouring agent (like organic rose petal powder or lavender powder) according to your wish.
2. Nature’s gel: Aloe vera
Blend aloe vera with essential oil and a natural colouring agent and apply on your skin. Aloe vera can be easily grown in your backyard or even in pots. Aloe vera has antibacterial and antiageing properties. It heals your skin and retains its moisture.
3. Virgin oils
Coconut oil and olive oil are excellent for your skin. Add ups some natural essence such as orange or lemon zest extract and you are ready for excellent skin.
4. The queen of waxes: Carnauba wax
It is collected from the leaves of the carnauba palm by gathering and drying them, beating them to release the wax, then cleaning and bleaching the wax. In its virgin state, normally occurs in the style of hard yellow-brown flakes. You can heat these flakes and add some colour and character with your fav essence or oil.
5. Goe Oil
This oil is lighter than butter, remains longer than a moisturizer and it gets absorbs in skin faster. Goe Oil is a mixture of 28 plants, fruit, flower oils, and types of butter. Don’t worry, each individual component on the label is plant-based, and is petroleum-free.
What are the side effects of Vaseline?
Vaseline not only have side effects on the body but also on the environment. But why are we discussing the side effects of vaseline? We, vegans, are not only concerned about animals but also on the environment. Our love towards nature is true and we make sure we don’t use or limit the use of such products which harm mother nature. It is must to know how a particular product affects our environments irrespective oof its vegan-status.
Thus let us first cover what are the side effects of vaseline gelly on our body.
1. Allergies
Some people are more delicate and can increase the risk of allergies if they use petroleum-derived goods.
2. Infections
Not permitting the skin to dry or cleansing the skin properly before applying petroleum jelly can induce fungal or bacterial infections.
3. Aspiration risks
Sniffing mineral oils may generate aspiration pneumonia.
4. Clogged pores
Some people are prone to break out when using petroleum jelly.
Side Effects of vaseline on the environment.
- The plastic container piles up in the plastic waste. Although the container is recycled we do not know exactly how much of them will get recycled.
- The petroleum jelly is a byproduct of the oil industry which itself is bad for the earth.
- The washed-out vaseline adds up to water pollution.
Conclusion- Is vaseline vegan?
Now that we have answered all these questions we can surely say Vaseline petroleum jelly is NOT VEGAN and vaseline contains wax extracted from wool. Thus VASELINE IS NOT VEGAN.
To conclude our article you should note these points, on what basis we came to this conclusion. Following are the points:
- The packaging does not have a sign indicating “100% VEGAN”.
- The packaging does not have a sign indicating “cruelty-free” product.
- Its major content is petroleum jelly which is obtained from fossil fuel (animal fossils including)
- As discussed earlier it contains Lanolin which is a wax which is extracted from sheep wool.
Most of them will say vaseline is vegan but then why they give you a “VEGAN OPTION FOR VASELINE”? Why they do not mention these other waxes are? – questions to think upon, what and why are they hiding?
Do give the vegan options a try; buy the vegan products or make it at home it is really your choice. Go vegan!
