Difference Between Petrolatum and Petroleum Jelly
The main difference between petroleum jelly and petrolatum is their purity level. Petroleum jelly is a mixture of semi-solid hydrocarbons that may contain some impurities, while petrolatum is a purified form of petroleum jelly that is free of impurities.
Property |
Petroleum Jelly |
Petrolatum |
|---|---|---|
| Composition. | The semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons | A purified mixture of semi-solid hydrocarbons |
| Source | Derived from petroleum | Derived from petroleum |
| Level of purity | May contain impurities | Purified and free of impurities |
| Common uses | Skin moisturizer, wound healing, diaper rash prevention | Ingredient in cosmetics, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and lubricants |
| Brand names | Vaseline, generic petroleum jelly | Various brands and formulations |
| Availability | Widely available in drugstores and supermarkets | Available mainly as an ingredient in other products |
| Price | Relatively inexpensive | Price varies depending on the application and quality |
| Color | Transparent | Transparent or white |
Difference Between Petrolatum and Petroleum Jelly
Several skincare and cosmetic products contain petroleum jelly or petrolatum, however, we cannot argue that they are interchangeable. Although petroleum jelly and petrolatum have many physical and chemical characteristics, there are some distinctions as well, which we shall cover in the section after this. Since many individuals are perplexed by these distinctions, we shall lay out an easy-to-understand explanation of them in this piece. This will make it clearer to readers what to utilize for their individual skin care requirements.