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If you have dry skin, then you may know that applying a bit of Vaseline (petroleum jelly ) over your facial moisturizer can really help seal in the moisture and quench your dry skin.

While you can apply foundation on top of Vaseline, you must be careful, because too much Vaseline can prevent your liquid foundation from properly setting, which can lead to it smearing off your face very quickly.

Also, many women actually use Vaseline to remove their makeup, since it works so well to break down the foundation and make it very easy to wipe off with just a damp cloth.

If you mix just a dab of Vaseline in with your daily facial moisturizer, wait five minutes for your moisturizer to sink in, then apply your liquid foundation, you are likely to have good results. Dust your foundation with a setting powder to help keep it from smudging.

However, if you use mineral powder foundation, then a little bit of Vaseline can actually help your powder foundation adhere to your face and give you a more full-coverage look. Just be sure not to over-do the Vaseline and apply it how you would apply it before using liquid foundation.

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Can you use Vaseline as a primer?

Vaseline can be used as a makeup primer substitute. However, it depends on how you use it.

If you are considering using Vaseline as a primer, consider the following factors:

  • Factor 1: Your skin type – Take a look at your skin, if you have oily skin, I wouldn’t recommend using Vaseline as primer as it will make your face even more oily. If you have combination skin, take a moment to study your face and map out the areas that are heavy in oil and the areas that are dry. You can use Vaseline as a primer in the dry areas only if you have considered factor 2, which I will discuss below.
  • Factor  2: What you are trying to cover – Keep in mind that Vaseline is a clear, thick jelly that is mainly used to moisturize dry skin. It’s not very effective for clearing up dark blemishes or hard to cover areas (which is what a primer is used for). It does however, allow you to create a smooth surface for the application of your foundation while providing some moisturization benefits to your skin.

Therefore, considering what I had mentioned in Factor 1 above, I would use Vaseline as a primer only on areas of your skin that is dry or uneven. The point is to use a rather inexpensive product to “smooth out” areas of your skin before applying your makeup.

My only tip for using Vaseline as a primer is that you should only apply a light layer of it. If you apply too much, your makeup won’t stick which will ultimately create a mess.

If you are serious about your makeup, I would definitely recommend using a proper primer which will not only get the job done, it will save you time and give you less headaches!

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Can Vaseline be used as a face moisturizer?

Yes, Vaseline makes a great face moisturizer. Although it’s thick, it’s non-comedogenic which means it will not clog your pores. Vaseline is most effect on skin that is extremely dry. If you have oily skin, I recommend using an oil free face moisturizer which is usually more light weight and feels a lot more comfortable than using Vaseline.

Can you mix Vaseline with foundation?

Although you can physically mix Vaseline with foundation, there is no real benefit in doing so. If you are trying to add Vaseline to increase the thickness of your foundation (maybe for better coverage?), I would recommend using a primer instead.

If you are mixing Vaseline with foundation in hopes that it will give you better moisturization, I would recommend simply look for another foundation (such as a water based foundation) which will help moisturize your face.

Furthermore, not all foundations mix well with Vaseline and if you don’t know what you are doing, you may end up wasting foundation. Therefore, with all these reasons in mind, I wouldn’t recommend mixing foundation with Vaseline.

Can you remove makeup foundation with Vaseline?

Yes! You can! As a matter of fact, you can remove pretty much any type of makeup with Vaseline. It’s not going to be as effective as using your everyday makeup remover but it will get the job done if you don’t have a makeup remover lying around. If you want to use Vaseline to remove makeup, follow these steps:

  1. Dab a small amount of Vaseline on your fingertips and apply it on the area of your face that you want makeup removed.
  2. Using a makeup removal pad or small piece of facial tissue, apply light pressure on the area that Vaseline was applied and wipe in an outward motion
  3. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until all makeup is removed.
  4. Wipe away any excess Vaseline

You may find that it takes a lot longer to remove makeup with Vaseline. If you are in a hurry, I suggest using an actual makeup remover to do the job. One “go to” makeup remover that I use often is the Neutrogena Makeup Removing Wipes. These wipes are really handy because they allow you to remove makeup and clean your pores at the same time. They even work on waterproof mascara!

Can you use Vaseline as a highlighter?

A few of the readers of my blog have been asking me this question so I decided to write about it here. I guess what people are really trying to know is: Is it possible to mix Vaseline with other colored products (like foundation) and use the mixed solution as a highlighter. Although this in theory could be done, I highly don’t recommend it.

First, the mixed solution of Vaseline and other colored products may not be the exact color that you want to achieve. You may end up wasting a lot of time mixing and remixing the products together just to get it to the right shade.

Secondly, the mixed solution may not be in the right consistency for use as a highlighter. This makes it harder for you to apply the solution which again wastes even more time.

With these factors in mind, I highly suggest getting an actual highlighter instead. Highlighters like the Wet n Wild Megaglo Highlighting Palette is not expensive, comes in 4 different colors and is easy to apply.