Petroleum Jelly in Lip Care: What You Should Know
Everything you need to know about this ingredient in lip care.
Petroleum jelly (petrolatum, mineral oil) is the most common base ingredient in conventional lip balms, including ChapStick, Carmex, Vaseline, and Aquaphor. It is a byproduct of oil refining that creates an occlusive barrier on skin. While effective at preventing moisture loss, petroleum jelly does not deliver any moisture or nutrients — it simply traps whatever is already there. More concerning, petroleum jelly's fully occlusive nature can trap bacteria against skin, and there are ongoing debates about the purity of petroleum-derived ingredients in cosmetics.
Scientific Backing
The European Union has classified certain grades of petrolatum as potentially carcinogenic when not fully refined, though highly refined pharmaceutical-grade petrolatum (used in most commercial products) is considered safe. Research published in the Journal of Women's Health found detectable levels of mineral oil hydrocarbons accumulated in human tissue over time from cosmetic use. A study in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science demonstrated that while petrolatum excels at preventing transepidermal water loss, it provides no active moisturizing benefit — a key distinction from plant-based oils.
How Numbrrrz Uses Petroleum Jelly in Lip Care: What You Should Know
Numbrrrz contains zero petroleum-derived ingredients. We replaced petroleum jelly with organic coconut oil for moisture delivery and beeswax for barrier protection — achieving both functions that petroleum attempts to serve, but with ingredients that also deliver active nutrition, antioxidants, and antimicrobial benefits. Our approach is to nourish lips, not just seal them.