Vaseline turns 140

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. Vaseline petroleum jelly, which is a Unilever brand, is celebrating its 140th anniversary with a new online campaign and the launch of a new cocoa butter variant, as well as new packaging.

Vaseline petroleum jelly was first discovered in 1859 by Robert Chesebrough, a 22-year-old chemist from Brooklyn, N.Y. Chesebrough traveled to Pennsylvania to study the oil extraction and refinement process and was drawn to a byproduct of the oil refinery process used by the riggers to help aid the healing of cuts and burns: petrolatum. He took some of the substance home with him and, after testing, discovered he could extract a skin-friendly version of the material. In 1870, Chesebrough introduced the product to the public as Vaseline petroleum jelly, and by 1974, it was being sold nationwide at the rate of a jar a minute.

To celebrate its history, Vaseline is compiling the ultimate list of uses by inviting fans to share how they flip for Vaseline petroleum jelly. The campaign coincides with the launch of new packaging that features a flip cap, making it easy to use with one hand. In addition, a new Vaseline petroleum jelly rich condition cocoa butter variant is joining original Vaseline petroleum jelly and Vaseline petroleum jelly baby on store shelves.

The success of Vaseline petroleum jelly can be attributed to its many uses, which range from skin care and beauty to athletic, household and more. In beauty, makeup artists keep the product handy to set makeup in place and prevent red lipstick from sticking to teeth. It can be applied to skin after shaving to soothe legs, to eyelids as a daily moisturizer and all over the body to act as a protective barrier.