Vaseline can do wonders for your lips – from locking in moisture to softening them while you snooze. But have you heard the rumor that vaseline can change the color of your lips? We’ve heard all versions of this theory.
Some people say that Vaseline can darken your lips, others say it can lighten them, and still, others claim it just makes your lips appear pinker.
If you want to know the real answer, it’s important to understand what Vaseline is and how it interacts with the skin. Once you understand that, you can feel confident in using it and knowing what effect it will have on your lips.
So, does Vaseline darken lips? No. Vaseline cannot change the color of your lips at all. What it can do, however, is act like any other mineral oil and amplify the effects of sunlight on your skin. So, in theory, it can cause slight tanning of your lips if you expose your lips to sunlight while wearing Vaseline on them.
That can potentially lead to a slight darkening of the lips, however, it’s not clear whether that would be noticeable. There are other things to consider when going outside with Vaseline on your face.
In this post, we’ll go over the science of how Vaseline interacts with your skin – lips included – and whether you can rely on it to change the color of your lips.
What Is Vaseline?
To understand how Vaseline works, it’s important to understand what it is. Vaseline is a brand name for petroleum jelly, also known as petrolatum. This material is made out of a mixture of mineral oils and waxes.
Vaseline has been used since the 1800s as a common ointment and skin treatment. It’s often used to protect skin from the elements because it does a great job of “sealing” the skin and preventing it from losing moisture.
Petroleum jelly can also help heal wounds if applied over them. It creates a moisture barrier on the skin that can be important during healing. It prevents outside materials from going in and inside moisture from going out.
It’s important to note that Vaseline does not moisturize the skin. So. if your skin is already dry, or your lips are already chapped, Vaseline won’t be of much help. It can’t restore the moisture balance because it’s not a humectant.
What it can do is prevent more moisture from escaping.
Regardless, Vaseline is commonly used on the lips because it can protect them from dry and cold weather by keeping their natural moisture in place. It’s a great way to prevent the lips from becoming dry and cracked, especially during cold seasons.
Can Vaseline Darken Your Lips On Its Own?
Let’s start by examining whether Vaseline, on its own, has any effect on the color of your lips.
There is currently no evidence to support the idea that Vaseline can change the color of your skin or other body parts. And since this product has been around since the 1800s, it’s safe to say that it doesn’t do that.
If you put Vaseline on your hands, they won’t become darker or lighter. In the same vein, if you put Vaseline on your lips, they won’t change color either.
There have been some anecdotal claims that Vaseline can make your lips pinker. We’ve tried to see it for ourselves, and we did notice a slight difference in the color of our lips. But it’s no different than putting regular chapstick on the lips. Or a clear oil.
What seems to be happening is that these oil-based substances are softening some of the dry scales on the skin, making them appear less ashy or white. This creates the illusion that the lips are pinker, or more normal-colored, compared to their color when they are dry and chapped.
So, overall, Vaseline does not change the color of the lips at all. All it can do is soften the tissues and make them look less dry.
Can Vaseline Darken Your Lips In The Sun?
Here’s how the theory goes: wearing Vaseline on your lips in sunlight will make your lips darker. Is this possible?
We’ve found some evidence that putting any mineral oil on your skin and exposing it to sunlight can, in fact, make your skin darker by increasing the depth of your tan.
If you’ve ever applied tanning oil over your body while out at the beach, you know that this is true. Tanning oils are simply mixed mineral oils that accelerate the effects of UV rays on your skin.
This is actually really bad for your skin and you should never do it (but that’s a topic for another day). What you need to understand is that any mineral oil, when applied to the skin, reduces the amount of UVB rays that your skin reflects. Less reflection = more absorption.
So, these oils can make your skin absorb more of the UV rays, which in turn, makes your skin tan a lot faster.
Since Vaseline is just another kind of mineral oil and your lips are just another part of your skin, this theory appears to be correct. If you expose your lips to direct sunlight after putting on a layer of Vaseline, it can make your lips tanner.
But can lips actually become “tan?” While they don’t usually become bronzed like the rest of your body, they do respond to sunlight in a similar way – they can burn, crack, peel, and become slightly darker. Sometimes they can become red and inflamed if you spend too much time in the sun.
And just like the rest of your skin, your lips can incur damage from the sunlight. The risk of skin cancer applies to lips, too.
So, if you’re going to go outside in the sun, it’s best not to wear Vaseline on your lips. Or at the very least, cover it up with some sunscreen!
How Dangerous Is It?
So, how dangerous is it to wear Vaseline while out in the sun? Are you not supposed to do it?
Here’s the thing: spending 15 minutes outside while running an errand and having some Vaseline on your lips isn’t dangerous.
But if you’re intentionally trying to darken your lips, and you’re spending all day in direct sunlight while slathering Vaseline on your lips – that’s not going to end well.
At best, you’ll burn your lips and deal with weeks of chapping and cracking. At worst, you’re damaging the DNA of your skin cells and increasing your risk of skin cancer.
If you’re trying to darken your lips, Vaseline in the sun is not the right way to do it.
We always recommend wearing chapstick with SPF if you’re going to spend time outside. Chapsticks are made of similar occlusive oils (some of them use the same petrolatum that you’ll find in Vaseline) and many of them contain other hydrating ingredients that’ll keep your lips soft and moisturized.
Many chapsticks have added SPF, which is very important if you’re going to spend considerable time outdoors. If your chapstick doesn’t have SPF, you can always put an SPF cream on your lips before applying chapstick.
Either way, avoid having Vaseline or any other mineral oil on your lips without SPF if you’re going to be spending more than 15-30 minutes outside.
Safer Methods To Darken Your Lips
If you’re looking to darken your lips without increasing your risk of skin cancer (or burning them for that matter), there is only one way to darken them permanently:
Lip Tattooing
Lip tattooing is a cosmetic procedure that can make your lips darker, correct their shade, and add more dimension. It’s a relatively safe procedure with semi-permanent results.
Although it may sound hardcore, lip tattooing is something many women of all ages get, and it can look very natural. If done correctly, no one will know you got your lips tattooed.
Lip Tint
A less permanent method, lip tint is a product that you put on your lips, much like lipstick or lip gloss. It has a tinting technology that allows the color to stay on your lips for 8-12 hours.
Lip tint is a much more affordable way to add long-lasting color to your lips. Plus, there’s no commitment, making it a much “easier” option than lip tattooing!
Tinted Chapstick
A tinted chapstick is a multitasking tool that can protect, moisturize, and soften your lips all while giving them a bit of color. Like always, make sure to pick a chapstick with SPF or use a sunscreen cream before going out into the sun!
Final Thoughts
Although Vaseline doesn’t directly darken your lips, it can make your lips more susceptible to sun damage.
Tanning your lips is not a safe or reliable way to darken your lips, so it should be avoided. Instead, try some of the safer alternatives if you’re looking to add a darker color to your lips!
Lip tattooing is a good option for those who want a long-lasting pigment with minimal upkeep. For others, a lip tint or a tinted chapstick might work better.
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