Vaselina, the Oil-Rig Jelly Behind Every Jar

Vaselina is the word a lot of families use for any tub of petroleum jelly, and the story behind it starts with a chemist and an oil rig. Robert Chesebrough traveled to the oil fields in Titusville, Pennsylvania, where he learned of a residue called rod wax that had to be cleared from the pumps. The oil workers had been using it to heal cuts and burns. He tested the refined version on his own cuts and burns before selling it, and the name Vaseline first appears in his 1872 patent.

The brand says the name comes from the German word for water plus the Greek word for oil. Its own Spanish page says petroleum jelly has been a fixture in many Latino homes, generation after generation, which is why vaselina is the word I hear for the whole category. Chesebrough also claimed he ate a spoonful of it daily. Please do not copy that part. It is a good story for a jar of something this plain, though.

What I like is how little the job has changed. It sits on top of skin and keeps moisture from leaving, and that simple barrier is why it works on lips, heels and chapped knuckles.

The first grid is Vaseline in jars, tubes and sticks. The second grid is other ointments, salves and balms that do a similar job. My tip: apply it on slightly damp skin, right after the shower, so it has water to seal in.

Original Petroleum Jelly in the 13 oz tub is the one I would start with, and it has the most reviews here. The description says it is triple-purified, hypoallergenic and has no added fragrance. The 7.5 oz Original Healing Petroleum Jelly Unscented is the same idea in a smaller jar, which fits a nightstand better. Baby Healing Jelly is a single-ingredient jelly made for sensitive baby skin, and I would hand it to anyone who reacts to fragrance.

Cocoa Butter Healing Petroleum Jelly smells like cocoa butter and aims at dull, dry skin. It is the one for elbows and shins when you want a little warmth in the scent. Original Healing Jelly Tube is unscented in a squeeze tube, so nothing gets under your nails. That makes it the gym bag version.

The Healing Jelly All-Over Body Balm Stick is jelly you swipe on, and the Cocoa Shimmer Jelly Stick adds mineral shimmer for a luminous finish. Run the shimmer stick along collarbones or the tops of cheeks over bare skin. Lip Therapy Fragrance Free Original Twin Pack is a non-sticky balm made with pure Vaseline Jelly for dry, cracked lips, and a pair means one lives by the bed.

What I would skip: the shimmer stick if you want plain protection. The glow is the whole point of it, and it will show on the pillowcase.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment is the closest rival in this edit. It makes a protective barrier that lets skin heal while it locks in moisture, and the description is clear that it is different from a lotion or cream. The Aquaphor Body Healing Ointment Jar is the jar for elbows, heels and hands.

Glossier Balm Dotcom is the multi-use one people carry for lips, brows and cuticles. Petrolatum is first in the ingredients, so it is cousin to the jelly, with beeswax and lanolin for a cushiony feel. MAKEUP BY MARIO Jelly Jar is a bouncy lip and cheek balm with a wash of color, which is useful when you want one pot for both. Hanni The Fatty, Fatty Acid Moisture Stick is waterless and fragrance free, and I would try it on dry patches when jelly feels too heavy.

rhode Barrier Butter is an intensive balm for dry patches and says it helps seal in moisture for up to 24 hours. Erborian Centella Barrier Cream is a rich cica cream with ceramides for redness and a worn-out barrier. Kiehl's Since 1851 Ultimate Strength Hand Salve has shea butter and a light eucalyptus scent, and it is the one I would keep next to the sink.

What I would skip: the Hanni stick on a new scrape. Plain ointment is a gentler choice for broken skin.

I think the original tub is still the right answer for most dry skin, and the rest are variations on what to carry or how it should feel. Pick a jar for home, a tube or stick for your bag, and a lip balm for the nightstand. Reach for the balms in the second grid when you want color, scent or a lighter feel. Whatever you choose, a thin layer is enough, and it is worth checking that a jelly sits well on your face before you commit it to a whole night. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together NYX Lip Gloss and Glass Nails, the Korean-Rooted Finish That Looks Like Wet Jelly.