A couple years ago, I started making homemade Vaseline as an alternative to store-bought petroleum jelly, which is a bi-product of the oil industry. It’s easy to make, works great, and only contains three simple ingredients. And did I mention it smells incredible?
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons (1/8 cup) beeswax pellets
4 Tablespoons (1/4 cup) olive oil
4 Tablespoons (1/4 cup) coconut oil
*Makes 1/2 pint
Directions:
Heat all ingredients in a saucepan on very low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat immediately once beeswax has fully melted (only takes 1-2 minutes).
Immediately pour warm liquid into jars. Allow jars to sit, undisturbed, until hardened (takes several hours). After the pot has cooled, you can rub the Vaseline residue off the inside of the pot and use it as a moisturizer on the spot. (No need to waste it.)
Use as you would Vaseline.
Vaseline is a brand name for petroleum jelly, so it makes no sense to call this "homemade Vaseline" as it is neither Vaseline nor petroleum jelly. Why not call it homemade ointment or salve? I know I'm nitpicking but it's a pet peeves of mine when brand names are used to refer to things that are not made by that brand. It gives even more credibility and recognition to the brand when your intention was to avoid the brand and their product.
I just opened up the comment section to post that very kind of post, above Anonymous! That is not homemade Vaseline, that is a mix of beeswax, olive oil, and coconut oil. Very different than the product of that brand name you're comparing it to. Just as if you chopped up your own paper pulp and spread it thin to dry, it would not become a Kleenex.
I also have to question why you seem not to like Vaseline. You introduce your alternative and speak about Vaseline as if it's a bad product because it's linked to "the oil industry." I think that remark needs to be clarified or explained.
Also, do you understand the purity of the Vaseline product? It's considered safe for ingestion. I give it to my cats to help prevent hairballs. It's FDA approved and the National Eczema Association considers it appropriate to use for eczema patients. The Vaseline brand of petroleum jelly is triple-purified and non-carcinogenic. So is your complaint about it ecology-based?
Hey, I know this is very early, but I think that this will be great, as part of a Christmas present, I am going to put the "vaseline" in little funky pots!!! I am sorry, but what kind of white pot are you using, if one can do all those things, then I would like to have that, and I need to know what to get!! THANKS!!!!
That looks like a little Glad or Ziploc plastic food container. Plastic, which can be a by-product of the gas and oil industry…
Hey, thanks, I know what containers, she used to pour the 'vaseline" in, I want to know about the white pot, she used to melt the beeswax in, with a wooden spoon in it, and I HATE PLASTIC VERY MUCH!!!!! Please never micro anything in PLASTIC!!!!!! Take care!!!
Jars like that are available on amazon.com. Look for glass jars for cosmetics.
You could search thrift stores for little decorative ceramic or glass containers with lids to put this in, if you wanted to avoid plastic. I know what you mean about the microwave. I'm sensitive to the smell of any plastic in the microwave.
As far as the saucepan, I wouldn't use one that I used for cooking. I'd use a dedicated wax-melting pan for a double-boiler setup. If you wash the pot and get beeswax down the drain, it could harden in your pipes, the way grease can. So I'd use an old pan or a pan bought solely for melting. I'd paper-towel it out and store it for next time. Same with the spoon. I'd use a clean paint stir stick or a Popsicle stick — something that didn't need to be washed.
hey guys just want to say. best to make choice for your own families that you are comfortable with. if your non plastic user then wonderful i find mason jars are great for things like this. i find the large mouth ones are awesome for salves and such like this!
I thought you were never to melt beeswax in a pan directly on a burner. Beeswax is flammable. Drips on burners, very much so. I thought you were supposed to use a double-boiler. Did you thoroughly research this "recipe" before posting? Please don't copy every Pinterest or blog idea you see online. Do some research. House fires are something I wish on nobody. I've had one (caused by lightning).
You're not supposed to melt any wax in a pan like that. I've made candles, and know to use indirect heat for melting, not direct heat. She did take some risk, even with the pan on low and standing right there. Personally, I wouldn't do it like that.
You are more than welcome to use a double boiler. However, this is a very small amount of wax (compared to melting large blocks of wax for candles), and even after it is fully melted, it is not hot enough to burn your hands. Be sure to stir it constantly, use very low heat, and remove it from the burner as soon as it is fully melted. 🙂
Have a wonderful day.
Ellie
I make it all the time minus the coconut oil and you just melt it at a low heat, never catches fire and I have probably made 50 batches. Great gifts and I use it all the time.
For those who complain they used Vaseline, I’m glad they did because that was what I searched the first time I wanted to make my own. 🙂
I would like to know we're you can beeswax Pellets? Thank you.
Craft store, you can find bee wax there
Thank you.
Amazon also sells them (although I usually prefer to give my business to stores rather than Amazon). You can also check your local health foods store or a place like Whole Foods.
Ellie
Thank you.
I get mine from a wonderful company, here's the link https://www.bulkherbstore.com/
I thought this was pretty cool! Thanks for sharing Ellie!
Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Ellie
Ellie, have you tried saving bacon fat yet? I recently started saving bacon fat as a way to save on olive oil and butter, plus it's so yummy it's a shame to waste! Just sharing another method to save a little bit of money 🙂
I haven't, but that's an interesting idea. I'll have to give it a try! How do you store it?
Ellie
I save mine in a glass container I just keep in the fridge. It's soft enough even refrigerated to scoop out with a spoon. Use it for frying eggs, on vegetables, and in savory baked goods. It is the single best thing I have ever used to season cast iron.
My mom always saved bacon grease to reuse like you mentioned. I’m talking about the 1940’s. Now-a-days we have to be careful about what we fill our veins with. But then again tomorrow the advice may change. 😊
Thanks for sharing! I do have a cast iron pan, so perhaps I'll give it a try. Have a wonderful weekend.
Ellie
I put Bacon fat in a glass jar and freeze it then when the jar is full I throw it out in the trash.
It's not good to eat bacon grease.
We get ours at craft stores.
I love it! I make a similar mix, but add peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils to use for when you have a cold, it helps clear your breathing like vic vapor rub does
Great idea, Robyn!
Ellie
I would love to know what you use this salve for! I never heard of using Vaseline as a moisturizer, except on burns and rashes.
It's great for chapped lips, and in winter when my hands are dry, I'll rub a good amount on before bed.
Ellie
Why do you need an alternative to Vaseline? I'd worry about these oils going rancid with time and starting to smell bad. Vaseline seems to last forever, unchanged.
I have stored it for several months and haven't had any issues. I've used my fair share of Vaseline, and I think this works better. It's also fun to do DIY projects.
Ellie
I'm always looking for homemade lotion recipes. I will give this one a try!
Let me know what you think, Anne. 🙂
Ellie
I tried some beeswax and oil lip balm last winter, and ewww, it was so greasy. I went back to ChapStick.
What are the benefits of a homemade "Vaseline" such as this one, over conventional Vaseline? I thought Vaseline is triple purified. Is there any real evidence that it's inherently harmful?
There are opinions about it being harmful, but I don't think there is a real basis for them. If so, someone would have found a reason to sue Chesebrough-Ponds or Unilever by now, and/or the FDA would have come down on them like a ton of bricks. Vaseline has been around for almost 150 years.
Of course, you have to "use as directed" and not do something goofy with it like snort it. But actions like that could turn any substance harmful, even water.
I wonder how this compares cost-wise to Vaseline? You'd have an initial outlay for the ingredients, but how many "jars" can you make from that? Versus what you might be able to buy Vaseline for, minus the occasional coupon in the newspaper inserts, which some stores double. Rambling thought, but I'm a coupon clipper and have seen Vaseline coupons in the paper, and my store does double.
I haven't done the exact calculations, but this recipe only takes a small amount of beeswax, and you can get a good sized bag for under $10. I also like the homemade version better than the store-bought. Seems to work better. 🙂
Ellie
Feel free to share any coupon clipping tips. Would you consider yourself an extreme couponer?
Ellie
This would be a good topic Ellie. Could we get input from people about their ideas and suggestions for coupon collecting? I've seen where they advertise the workshops to learn about extreme couponing, but have never gone to one.
I'm a coupon user, but not extreme. I use the coupon inserts from my paper, and my neighbor gives me hers after she's taken out what she wants. I don't print a lot of online coupons, but that's a good place to find them. So is calling or e-mailing a company directly to give product feedback. Sometimes they offer product coupons you won't find elsewhere.
I won't buy something just because there's a coupon. It has to be something I already use or want to try, or something that is very affordable once the coupon is applied. If the item is on sale and I have a coupon for it, all the better.
My sister just printed me some coupons for my cats liter that's good tell august 26,2017.
I always cut coupons out and use them almost every week. Specially Toilet Paper coupons.
Ellie,
Can you make this without using beeswax?
Without the beeswax, it wouldn't harden properly.
Have a blessed day.
Ellie
Is it possible to add a few drops of essential oil for fragrance?
I brought some Vaseline last week I set it on top of my purse and it fell through behind my water bottles and walked out with out paying for it.
Did you go back in and pay for it or did you just leave.
Hi Ellie,
I've been reading some of the replies people have been posting. Its amazes me how mean some are.
Bacon grease is great not only for flavor you are being frugal. 1 tablespoon of it
in your recipe isn't going to hurt you.
If you want to call your homemade salve Vaseline then call it Vaseline. If you would like to heat up your beeswax in a white pot or a black pot even a purple pot do what you please. I think it's great that you are doing a lot of DIY projects. In your post please do not worry about what people are going to reply to your post. Overly critical people really ruin it for a lot of people. I know my post will cause a lot of replies in a negative way which is fine with me. Over-analytical or mean replies really shows of what type of person they are. Keep doing what you doing and enjoy life.
Hi Tammy,
Your words are very encouraging. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Have a blessed day. 🙂
Ellie
Yes Yes Yes thank you thank you. I'm expecting a baby arriving somewhere around April 3rd. and I have always loved using "Vaseline" on bums for wetness protection (i'm a career child care provider or was but now in a different area of the field… anyway i digress). and I have been seeking a more natural living lifestyle in the past few years so didn't want to use petroleum on my babe bum. This will work for me!!! and i have everything already at home. Thanks again from this clueless first time to be Momma!
Late to reply, but wow….these comments! I am trying to make a lip gloss base for a project my daughter wants to do. Versagel is out of stock and expensive, and after reading that vaseline could be used as an alternative, I thought why not make our own! Thank you for sharing, as it is exactly what I was looking for!!
I call this NON-Petroleum jelly. I don’t use petroleum on or in my body.
I just found this recipe about 4 weeks ago and it’s improving my wrinkles! First I followed her directions with zero issues but I did add 1 tablespoon of shea butter. I use this only hands, chest, neck, face and feet. My skin is improving some much I’m shocked! First of my chest lines from sleeping are slowing going away all together! Not to mention the little creases on the wrists from moving etc are gone period! I do believe my skin on my hands was thinning and they are turning back also! My hands look so smooth and so much healthier! My neck looks so hydrated and the “tech lines” are not even as pronounced! I do use this several times a day plus at night I get a few layers going. Sometimes I really put on a bunch and wrap my hands and feet in plastic for awhile just to get some serious hydration. Anyway totally excited to see something so easy and fun to make making a huge difference in my skin! THANK YOU I will never go with out this jelly …ever!
I’m so very glad to hear that KiKi! How wonderful!