Aliases asks…Hi, new member here. I’m fascinated by your beauty blog with the fancy decos and infos. Perfect! Keep it up! I’ve read a lot of articles and watched many Youtube videos claiming that by applying Vaseline to your eyelashes and eyebrows every night before sleep helps to lengthen them. I wonder if it’s true? I know eyes are sensitive organs, so wouldn’t the chemicals in Vaseline, in this case Petroleum Jelly or mineral oil, enter the eyes and cause harmful health effects? Another curious question: I love your knowledge on beauty and skin and all these stuffs. Just wondering, what degree courses did all of you take?
The Left Brain replies:
Welcome to the Beauty Brains, Aliases! You’re not alone in your question about petroleum jelly helping eyelashes and eyebrows grow, I’ve seen that question from a number of women, in fact I’ve even blogged about this before but I think its worth revisiting.
Hair growth is difficult
Unfortunately this goes in the category of beauty myth. There is no plausible technical rationale why petroleum jelly (also known as petrolatum) would have any effect on hair growth whatsoever. So why is this myth so pervasive? My hunch is that women have applied this to their eyelashes and eyebrows and seen an apparent thickening effect. In other words, just like mascara, this oily substance can you make lashes stand out and look thicker. Since the oil also increases reflectance and shine it may make the lashes appear more dramatic. In theory, it could even be providing a little lubrication to lashes which helps keep them from falling off so soon.
Is petrolatum safe?
So if you do like this effect is it safe to apply these products as close to your eyes? I have also blogged before about the myth of petrolatum and mineral oil causing cancer. These are very safe ingredients as they are highly purified. The molecules are too large to penetrate through the skin and into your bloodstream. Of course, as with any product I would recommend keeping it out of the eye itself. Even the mildest products and have a stinging effect.
Finally, in response to your question about our education, the Beauty Brains have Bachelors of Science degrees in Chemistry and Master of Science degrees in Biochemistry. That technical scientific background combined with decades of experience in the beauty industry give us the knowledge to answer questions like yours.
Image credit: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4562615567_dd0484ac71.jpg
Have YOU ever tried Vaseline on your lashes? Leave a comment and share your experience with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.
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No never tried it because I know it doesn’t actually work. A friend of mine does use it and I’m glad to know that the answer I gave her about this pretty much in par with this post.
What about castor oil for helping lashes or eyebrows grow? On the Pixiwoo youtube channel they recently posted a video on ‘HD Brows’ and the guest recommended castor oil for helping grow in brows. Seemed unlikely to me, but would love to get your thoughts on it.
Yes! It definetely helps-but on bare lashes,so be sure to take your makeup off before going to bed!
@Junie: Here’s what we’ve written previously on castor oil: http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/10/20/117/
I sometimes get desperate when the skin around my eyes gets too dry in the wintertime. That’s when I get out my jar of Vaseline. A few months ago, I got a nasty stye, though, and had to go to an opthamologist for treatment. I wondered if the application of Vaseline had caused it. He said that was doubtful since I washed my face everyday, including by my eyes. He also said that very dry skin can actually be more susceptible to environmental irritants and therefore, infection. I’m glad because Vaseline is my savior once the weather turns cold.
Thanks for the answer Beauty Brains! By the way, the respond above mentioned that Vaseline is safe when applied to skin due to its large molecule. What about if we have a cut on the skin or as I’ve aforementioned, applying Vaseline on eyes which has a very high possibility of getting into the eyes via the cornea (that’s when we have the stinging effect right)? Is it safe for our health?
Thanks for replying in advance
I’m not an ophthalmologist but I’m guessing that getting any material into an open corneal abrasion is ill advised.
I use petroleum jelly for everything! Every. thing. It’s amazing! But for eyelashes and eyebrows, I bought a serum off my esthetician that has been working. It’s called Glymed Plus Eyelash Power serum. My esty says it’s the best one. Look it up!