Watch: Viral DIY deodorant recipe sparks backlash as woman boils Vaseline containers, risks microplastics
A woman recently posted a video on X sharing a DIY deodorant-making video, saying, "I'm going to try this." The clip quickly went viral, racking up nearly 4 million views in just a few hours. While some were intrigued, most skeptics warned that the DIY concoction would be akin to applying microplastics directly to your skin.
The video starts with the woman placing two whole Vaseline lip balms (containers and all) into a pot of boiling water for 2 minutes.?
Once the balms are melted into a liquid, she adds about 7-8 sprays of a perfumes to the mix.?
After a thorough stir, she pours the concoction into an empty roll-on deodorant can.?
After freezing it for an hour, the result is a DIY roll-on perfume, ready for use.
How did social media react?
In the comments, reactions ranged from shock to concern.?
One commenter warned, "Congratulations. You are introducing micro-plastics to your skin."
Another added, "Microplastics will be an issue, you boiled the plastic jar so you're going to be applying a bunch of microplastics that will penetrate the skin when you apply that stuff."
A third user noted, "Petroleum products with EDC deodorant. That's going to be a no from me."
For context, Vaseline lip balm is made from petroleum jelly, which, according to Healthline, is a blend of mineral oils and waxes forming a semisolid jelly. While there's online fear about petroleum jelly being a by-product of petroleum, Modern Dermatology reassures that cosmetic-grade petroleum jelly is purified and generally safe.
One user suggested an alternative: "Ok I've done this for years and I make balms all the time with quality essential oils and organic coconut oil.? PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS with vaseline! That is not something you should be putting on your body consistently. do the same thing but just use coconut oil in a glass jar or make up container."