Vaseline®, a thick, waxy, oil-soluble chemical compound derived from petroleum, is a colloidal hydrocarbon ointment. Vaseline is an oily, colorless to yellowish product used for its emollient and protective properties. It's often used in skincare products like lip balms, creams, and ointments to protect and moisturize the skin.

"Vaseline" is a trademarked name, but the term has become synonymous with petroleum jelly in many languages. Petroleum jelly is a mixture of saturated hydrocarbons derived from refining crude oil.

Step-by-step summary of its industrial chemical synthesis process. 

• Distillation - The petroleum undergoes fractional distillation to separate out its different components.
• Dewaxing - The heavier fractions of the petroleum are then subjected to a process called dewaxing to remove the paraffins.
• Refining - This fraction is further refined through various chemical processes to remove impurities and yield Vaseline.

It appears as a light to yellowish-coloured gel. Practically insoluble in water, in ethanol (96%) and in glycerol. slightly soluble in methylene chloride.

What it is used for and where

Medical

Topical skin moisturising and lubricating agent. A bioactive glass preparation with gold nanoparticles and 18% Vaseline demonstrated strong vascular proliferation and complete wound regeneration by accelerating a strong vascular proliferation and complete wound regeneration (1). Excipient for suppositories, pharmaceutical formulations. 

Cosmetics

It protects the skin through a moisturising action and contributes to the formation of collagen in the stratum corneum. As it has a melting point just above body temperature, it melts on the skin in the spaces between the cells in the lipid barrier, then stops solidifying again. It forms an occlusive barrier to the skin's natural water loss.

Other uses

• Lubrication of silk fabrics in the textile industry.
• Temporary protection of medical devices, precision instruments.
• Softener for rubber products.
• Machinery lubricant.

Safety

Do not use Vaseline on burns or fresh burns as it is not sterile, promotes bacterial growth on the wound surface and can lead to infection. (2).

Commercial applications 

Skin Care. Vaseline is often used as a moisturizer to prevent or treat dry and chapped skin.

Protection. It can be applied to small wounds and cuts as a protective barrier against pollutants and irritants.

Lip Products. Vaseline is a common ingredient in lip balms to prevent or treat chapped lips.

Cosmetics. Used as a base in some beauty and makeup products.

Baby Products: Used to prevent diaper rash in infants.

Lubricant. In some industrial and mechanical applications, Vaseline can be used as a lubricant.

Protection against the elements. Athletes might apply Vaseline to the skin to protect against the cold or to reduce friction.

The most relevant studies on the subject have been selected with a summary of their contents:

Vaseline® studies

Typical characteristics of the commercial product White petroleum jelly

• Molecular Formula  C₁₅H₁₅N
• Molecular Weight  209.292 g/mol
• CAS  8009-03-8  
• EC Number: 232-373-2
• MDL number : MFCD00147839
• NACRES NA.21
• SMILES  CCCCCCCC(CCCC)CCCCCCCC(CCCC)

Synonyms: 

• Petrolatum
• Petroleum jelly
• Jelly, Paraffin
• 2,3,3-trimethylbenzoindolenine
• 1,1,2-trimethylhydrobenzo[e]indole
• 1,1,2-Trimethyl-1H-benzo(e)indole (2,3,3-Trimethylbenzo(4,5)indole)
• 1H-Benz(e)indole, 1,1,2-trimethyl-
• SCHEMBL31583

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Mârza, S. M., Magyari, K., Bogdan, S., Moldovan, M., Peştean, C., Nagy, A., ... & Papuc, I. (2019). Skin wound regeneration with bioactive glass-gold nanoparticles ointment. Biomedical Materials, 14(2), 025011.

(2) De Souza BA, Furniss D, Olaofe G, Jawad M. Vaseline and burns: vaseline should not be used as first aid for burns. BMJ. 2003 Nov 29;327(7426):1289; discussion 1289. doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7426.1289.