If that multi-purpose balm that lives in your handbag or jacket pocket is only being used on your chapped lips, get ready for your mind to be blown.
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This Swiss Army knife of beauty products (which you’ve only been using for one thing!) will soon heal ailments and be your go-to for achieving a dewy complexion.
And according to Kate Bosworth, you can even use it on the ends of your lashes for a thicker, fuller effect.
For anyone confused by what on earth a multi-use balm even is, we are referring to a skin care formula that’s typically thick in consistency, colourless and scent-free. It’s purpose in a nutshell is to nourish and hydrate skin.
Our faves include:
- Lano Lips 101 Ointment
- Sukin Naturals Paw Paw Ointment
- Weleda Skin Food
- Aquaphor
- Trilogy Everything Balm
- Vaseline
Got one of those or something like it? Get ready to use it for basically everything…
40 ways to use a multi-purpose balm
- To treat dry lips
- Apply over lipstick to add shine
- To treat dry cuticles
- To soothe mosquito, spider or various insect bites or stings
- To smooth hair fly-aways
- To treat cracked elbows
- As a dewy highlighter on cheekbones
- To treat cracked nipples
- To treat nappy rash
- To offer relief from psoriasis
- To heal grazes if you’ve fallen over
- To soothe sunburn
- To ease chafing
- As a protective barrier for eczema and dermatitis
- To treat pash rash
- To heal minor burns
- To hydrate cracked pet paws
- To treat cracked heels
- To remove eye makeup
- To prevent split ends
- Use it as a perfume base for longer lasting scent
- To help remove tight rings off your finger
- As a barrier to prevent hair, brow or lash dye staining skin
- As an eyelash conditioner
- To lubricate stubborn door hinges
- To lift stubborn makeup stains
- To turn powder, or pigment makeup into cream products
- Acts as a barrier for nail polish bleeding onto skin
- As a leather polish
- Apply to dry skin spots before applying fake tan
- To help insert piercings with ease
- As a base of lip or body scrubs
- To prevent nail polish lids glueing to the bottle
- To stop razors from rusting
- As a dewy finish on eyelids
- To tame unruly brow hairs
- To define lashes
- Applied to nipples during a run to avoid rubbing
- To soothe freshly waxed or lasered skin
- To soothe a dry, red nose during a cold
Do you get the most out of your balms? What is the most obscure way you’ve ever used one?
Wow that is a lot of uses. Don’t have any balms ATM but am inspired.
Wow! Cannot live without my Lanolips 101 Ointment. I even got my mum addicted to it. But there’s so many uses I hadn’t even thought of.
Balms have the ultimate purpose with so many ways to utilise it
Don’t use those. But do use all my skincare over the lips too.
Oh! Leather treatment!? I’d never think of using it for that – how clever of an idea! And awwww no. 17!!! yes I have lots of pets…….
I love Sukins paw paw ointment, it keeps my lips hydrated and because it’s thick it stays on for awhile so you don’t have to reapply
So many uses – I love multi purpose products
Vaseline is an amazing allrounder and always in my bathroom cabinet along with the Vicks Vapour rub!
yes they are good for cuticles and lips
I need to get myself a new lanolips ointment.
I’ve used Vaseline as a balm type makeup remover in a pinch! Worked well
Now I needed this knowledge a few weeks back when my front door hinges kept squeaking.
wow …vaseline is the best!!
So many Wonderful and Amazing ideas for a Multi Purpose Balm. Thank You BH for such a Comprehensive List you have definitely covered everything!
Have Vaseline, Sukin paw paw ointment and Weleda Skin Food at the moment. Vaseline does work on door hinges, I’ve tried it after Dad told me about it.
Didn’t realise multis were so multi! Some of them don’t taste nice so I don’t use them on my lips but I do use them for some of the rest of the list.
I have sinus congestion and often my nose is red and cracked, so I use my rose balm which works like a treat
Love it! pet paws so cute haha
Love using Vaseline on dry patches of skin, it does wonders!
Vaseline forever!
LOL lubricate door hinges! Vaseline really is a multi-purpose product
To soothe mosquito bites? Must keep a balm handy in my bag for the kids. Not sure if I have the Sukin one, must do a dig around in my stash.
My husband uses vaseline on his tonneau cover (the cover for his tray on his ute) to waterproof it.
So many ways to use one product, many of which I already do but keen to try some more.
I’m so going to try it for a mozzie bite
Very multi-purposes
So many lip balm uses that I hadn’t even thought of!
I sometimes use Blistex on my cuticles to soften them.
I really don’t use my balm for anything other than a lip balm. I just don’t need it for anything because I have separate products for all the other areas
I”d be too afraid that my hair clumps together and knot if I use balm in it.
Not a balm user… But some great ones to try out…
Paw paw is lovely and all natural
And to think they already had many uses! Way more than I thought! Thanks for this BH!
Decades ago when I was overseas and had to treat very dry skin the only brand I could find that I trusted was Vaseline Intensive Care. It was fantastic for my dry skin (face and body), sunburn, as a foot balm etc. I have used this brand ever since.
I use Lucas’s paw paw ointment for quite a few things, but this article has given me even more uses for it. Definitely favouriting this one!
Some good ideas here.
Thank you for giving us more ways to use them.
Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream?
I can say balm on eczema flares works wonders.
I love multiple purpose products.
I don’t think all it is multi-purpose
My reaction?….WOW!
Love Vaseline , so many uses. Great for dry cracked lips.
Forty is a lot! Like WD40 – that stuff really does it all! I’ll admit though, some of these are a stretch. I have a platinum and diamond ring I struggle to get off but I’d never use a balm to get it off, I just lick my finger a bit and it slides right over the knuckle and I don’t have to worry about dirtying up my diamonds.
Vaseline is the best always have one at home
I booked marked this page very helpful info.
Some good ideas here!
How wonderful that one balm can do many things. Must keep it in my bag for when I’m out and about.
very good for dry lips, cuticles, even your nose when you have cold!
So versatile. I have combined it with eyeshadow before to make a cream shadow. The world is your oyster!
So do I. Can’t live without vaseline