Skincare expert reveals we’ve all been using Vaseline wrong

Without generalising too much, it's pretty much a given that if you took a peak into the handbag of any woman, you'd find a lip-care tool of some kind.

Whether it's a Nivea chapstick, a Burt's Bees pot of wax, or a - quite literal - VAT of Vaseline, most of us can admit we've always got some kind of chapped-lip remedy at an arm's reach.

It turns out, however, that we may have all been applying lip-balm - specifically Vaseline - wrong the entire time.

That's right - and taking to TikTok this week, a skincare expert has blown their followers' minds by revealing the correct way to whack it on...

Content creator and skincare expert @skinbyolivera shared the tip online, captioning a video: "The best tip to keep your lips hydrated all winter long!"

Shocked that they had been applying their Vaseline wrong, viewers took to Olivera's comments to thank her for the mind-blowing tip.

"How did I not know this," asked one.

While another grateful follower commented: "Thank you for this !! My lips are cut up during winter".

And a third added: "I do this for my skin but i never realized the same goes for my lips. thank you!!"

Other viewers said that they had caught on to this trick a little earlier than the rest of us, and confirmed it really works.

One wrote: "I always did this and it’s way better than putting balm on dry lips."

A second Tiktoker said: "I literally can’t EVER put on Vaseline or chapstick without wetting my lips first. Putting it on dry just feels gross😂."

And a third shared: "as a medical aesthetician this is a great tip!! Vaseline is an occlusive so it creates a seal and prevents moisture loss from skin 😊."

But others were sceptical about Olivera's tip.

One user commented: "itd be more efficient to just DRINK water".

Another wrote: "u don't have to put water on your lips and then seal it with a balm lmao".

To get to the bottom of it, Tyla spoke to skincare expert and Head of Face the Future clinic Kimberley Hulme about the trending tip.

Kimberley said: "The main thing is that Vaseline is petroleum jelly and it is an occlusive that acts as a barrier on the skin, helping to prevent moisture from escaping. If you were to put water on your lips and then apply Vaseline over the top, it would probably just feel hydrating as you've got your water and then the barrier of the Vaseline on top."

She added: "If you do want to use Vaseline and want to protect your lips while you're outdoors, I would suggest putting a hydrating lip protector on first and then using Vaseline as a barrier to prevent moisture from escaping. Water can't hydrate from the outside in, only inside out."

But others were sceptical about Olivera's tip.

One user commented: "itd be more efficient to just DRINK water".

Another wrote: "u don't have to put water on your lips and then seal it with a balm lmao".