Petroleum jelly, also known as petrolatum, is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons that is derived from petroleum, a non-renewable fossil fuel.
It is a common ingredient in a variety of skincare and cosmetic products, as well as in some medical applications. But is it vegan friendly? Let’s find out.
In this article, we will examine the Vaseline Petroleum Jelly ingredients, how it is made, and if vegans can use it.
But first, what is Petroleum Jelly made of?
What is Petroleum Jelly, and what is it used for?
Petroleum jelly is created by refining crude oil, a process that involves removing impurities and other unwanted compounds.
The resulting product is a colorless and odorless semi-solid substance that has a smooth and greasy texture. It is insoluble in water, but can easily be mixed with other oils and fats.
Because of its occlusive properties, petroleum jelly is often used in skincare and cosmetic products to help lock in moisture and protect the skin from environmental factors.
It is found in a wide range of moisturizers, conditioners, lip balms, baby care, and beauty products.
Petroleum jelly does not cure burns or other wounds, but it does seal a cleaned burn or injury off from contamination or further infection.[1]
Now, that we know what is Petroleum Jelly made of, and what is it used for, let’s go back to our main question “is Petroleum Jelly vegan?”.
Is Petroleum Jelly vegan?
Yes. Petroleum Jelly is vegan friendly. It does not contain animal derived ingredients.
The production of Petroleum Jelly does not use bone char or any animal derived products. It’s made from microorganisms that lived millions of years ago and no animals are purposefully harmed in the production.
Please note that while petroleum jelly is generally considered safe for external use, it should not be ingested, as it is not intended for internal use.
Also, some people may be allergic to petroleum jelly, so it’s always a good idea to do a patch test before using it on a larger area of skin.
Is Vaseline Petroleum Jelly Vegan?
Yes. Vaseline petroleum jelly is considered vegan friendly. As it is free from animal derived ingredients.
It’s a by-product of the petroleum refining process.
Is Vaseline Cruelty Free?
Vaseline is not cruelty-free. They may test on animals, either themselves, through their suppliers, or through a third party.
Vaseline company is owned by Unilever, and Unilever states on their website (can be found here) that they do not test on animals and believe that animal testing is not needed to make sure that their products are safe for people to use and safe for our planet.
But occasionally, across Unilever’s broader portfolio of brands, ingredients that they use still have to be tested by suppliers by law, to comply with regulatory requirements in some markets.
So, Vaseline petroleum jelly is not cruelty free.
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Is Petroleum Jelly Halal?
The petroleum jelly do not contain any ingredients forbidden by the Islamic religion and therefore, Petroleum jelly is halal.
But to be clair, manufacturers may change their recipe ingredients any time, so always read the ingredients list before using.
Final Thoughts:
Petroleum jelly is vegan friendly and halal, but it is not cruelty free.
