Egyptian Magic Cream made from Vaseline? *ahem*

vaseline vs egyptian-magic-cream
Someone in the beauty industry made this comment to something I’d recommended to an Instagramer: “Egyptian Magical Cream is just a vaseline base moisturizer” and I was like oh wow, really, since when? Anyway, I didn’t respond to the comment but thought it makes a fodder for a blogging topic. HAHA. The mind of a blogger—do I get some scores for blogging juice or what?

Different ingredients
Everybody knows Vaseline but perhaps not everybody knows that it is basically 100% pure petroleum jelly. But I certainly don’t remember petroleum jelly being one of the ingredients of Egyptian Magic Cream, which I’d reviewed in March 2009. I remember mentioning that it’s a very curious product. It is said to be an all-purpose skin cream “made with the blessings and guidance of their ancestors and with pure ingredients of olive oil, bees wax, honey, bee pollen, royal jelly, bee propolis and divine love.” I know, it sounds totally out-of-this-world!

Similarities in color
In terms of appearance, I had described that the Egyptian Magic Cream is a tad similar to unrefined shea butter. And yes, it also looks like Vaseline. But upon contact, this cream is soft, a lot oilier and melts quickly when rubbed. You don’t have to use a lot of it each time and a little indeed goes a long way. But, this stuff smells really funky. I can’t describe it well but it smells a little like the brown sugar which I use every morning in my tea. It’s not unpleasant but it’s not a scent you’ll fall in love at first sniff either.

Occulsive properties vary
I hardly use Vaseline but I know how it feels. It’s quite thick and definitely occulsive, and it just sits on top of your skin. Doesn’t sink in. Doesn’t get absorbed. This is why it is not recommended to be used for fresh burns or fresh wounds as it just traps the heat and possible bacteria in wounds and can make the skin more uncomfortable. Egyptian Magic Cream however, does not sit on top of the skin. It contains beewax, which also has occulsive properties but the combination of olive oil, honey and other ingredients balances it out and while the texture feels kinda oily, it gets absorbed mostly. Well, at least you won’t feel like there’s a film when you rub your skin. Rather, it feels a more like after you’ve applied oil to your skin. In addition, I was able to use it on fresh wounds without issues.

Gloried Vaseline?
So saying that Egyptian Magic Cream is just a Vaseline based moisturizer is not accurate. I suppose what the beauty expert was trying to express was that the Egyptian Magic Cream is a glorified version of Vaseline. Well, I suppose some of you might agree although I don’t concur. But I don’t think it’s all that magical either. When I had a tub of it, I found it to be really effective in healing wounds, because I had used it on numerous occasions on my son. Granted, kids do heal more quickly but nonetheless, I found the product to be quite effective. As for Vaseline, I’m not sure how it does in wound healing but I know it definitely has many fans. Are you one of them?

Comments

  1. Eco Beauty says:

    I used to be a huge fan of vaseline. I remember one time I even cried after forgetting to bring my small tub of vaseline to Genting because it’s what I used for my lips at night for many, many years. I also used it to moisturize my feet and hands. But after reading that it can’t really nourish the skin, I slowly tried looking for alternatives. After many fruitless trials, I found quite a few lipbalms that prevented my lips from drying during the night and had a consistency like vaseline. Now, my beauty routine is 100% free of petroleum products. ?
    Eco Beauty last post is: Why I refuse to light up my Apivita scented candle

  2. Sesame says:

    I can’t use petroleum jelly lip balms. My lips feel very dry after awhile…

  3. Vicky says:

    I’ve been a fan and used Vaseline products for years, and this is quite interesting!

  4. Shelby says:

    I really had a hard time to stop using Vaseline…I felt it protected my baby’s bottom from moisture….I have since stopped using it..
    Shelby last post is: Revealing Yeast Infection No More Review

  5. Esther says:

    Vaseline was almost all that was available when I had to care for my babies bottoms and it did help some. This Egyptian Magic Oil does sound magical.
    Esther last post is: Reasons to Buy Natox

  6. Sesame says:

    Glad it works well for you. ?

  7. Sesame says:

    I’m sure it does because the film will protect the moisture from getting into the skin.

  8. Sesame says:

    It’s well okay, not exactly magical.

  9. Rachel says:

    This was very interesting! I as well can’t use vasline on my lips as it makes them more dry. I also don’t like the way it feels on my skin.
    Rachel last post is: Revitol Cellulite Cream Does Work

  10. Sesame says:

    Petroleum jelly does that to my lips too and so, I usually avoid products with that ingredient.

  11. Maya says:

    As you mentioned, Vaseline is petroleum jelly. My husband who is a pediatrician recommends it to his friends and patients for cases of irritation or dryness that needs moisturizing. Personally, I liked Mary Kay’s Extra Emollient Night Cream, which I feel is like petroleum jelly, but works much more. It probably contains different ingredients. It is a heavier translucent moisturizing cream in texture. It gets absorbed slowly though, I would say as it works as a protective shield. It hydrates the face or body parts that shows any dryness. I can use it for my dry lips or my face when skin is very dry due to cold weather and works very well.

  12. Sesame says:

    Yes, petroleum jelly is good for protection. It does feel moisturizing in that sense so I guess it’s good for cold weather.

  13. Tammie Umbel says:

    Egyptian Magic WAS made with petroleum jelly and I believe it was some “propolis” from the time they first started with the product. I was very surprised and dismayed that they were sold in health food stores. Just now I see they changed the formula to be wanted by the growing naturalites. Frankly I wouldn’t buy from a company who changes their original formula just because it was becoming less popular. And you can get plenty of products just like this one without spending an arm and a leg. If you look well enough online I am sure you can find their original packaging.

  14. Sheri says:

    When I smell Egyptian Magic, it brings me straight to “Vaseline.” I don’t think it’s all petroleum jelly, but it sure wouldn’t surprise me if there were some in there. I prefer a similar thing called Bee Magic. It’s a little more green/gold/brown (olive oil, honey, pollen) color that is what I would expect based on the ingredients. Egyptian Magic is more straw yellow/cream.

  15. Ben says:

    There may be some confusion as people have been selling fake jars of Egyptian Magic. Perhaps a fake jar of Egyptian Magic is in fact just vaseline with a larger price point.

  16. srabon says:

    Well, alternative skin moisturizer. Ok, let’s see how much better for me after using. Thanks for new idea generating.
    srabon last post is: Is Vaseline Edible? Solutions Of All Questions.

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