Moisturization never goes out of style. Founded in 1870, Vaseline products have been present from the first successful expedition to the North Pole, to protecting wounds in WWI, to healing the skin of 5 million people through the Vaseline Healing Project.

This year marks the 150th anniversary for the Unilever-owned brand. To commemorate the milestone, Vaseline is launching a limited-edition Vaseline Vintage Collection, which will feature a new Vaseline Vintage Lip Tin and Vaseline Vintage Hand Cream. In addition, the Vaseline Healing Jelly Jars in Original and Cocoa Butter will be redesigned with a retro look.
 

 “This is a monumental year for Vaseline as the brand celebrates 150 years of healing, protecting and loving the skin of millions around the world. So much has changed over the years to meet the needs of consumers, but Vaseline has showed us some things are timeless,” Kevin Tolson, Vaseline senior brand manager, told Happi in an interview.

The first known reference to the name Vaseline was by the inventor of a process for making petroleum jelly, Robert Chesebrough in his US patent (U.S. Patent 127,568) in 1872. The name “vaseline” is said to be derived from Wasser “water” in German and elaion in Greek for “olive oil.”

In 1859, Chesebrough went to the oil fields in Titusville, PA and learned of a residue called “rod wax” that had to be periodically removed from oil rig pumps. The oil workers had been using the substance to heal cuts and burns. Chesebrough took samples of the rod wax back to Brooklyn, extracted the usable petroleum jelly, and began manufacturing the medicinal product he called Vaseline.

Vaseline was made by the Chesebrough Manufacturing Company until the company was purchased by Happi Top 30 leading company Unilever in 1987. It is sold throughout the world.

According to Tolson, the new Vaseline collection “evokes a sense of nostalgia while celebrating the power of healing over the past 150 years and many years to come.”

Earlier this year, Vaseline held a virtual roundtable discussions with actress Regina King and brand partners Dr. Caroline Robinson and Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe on furthering the conversation around the disparities that Black and Latinx communities face and how access to quality healthcare and resources are imperative for these communities most impacted by COVID-19.

Though Black and Latinx communities account for the minority of the population, COVID-19 has disproportionately affected these groups. Not because they are more susceptible to the virus, but rather the systemic racism deeply rooted in our nation affects these communities’ access to quality medical care, says Vaseline.
 
At press time, in partnership with King, Vaseline is debuting a new campaign, Equitable Skincare for All, to highlight the brand’s commitment in bringing awareness and championing change to eradicate racism by taking a stand for true equity in skincare for Black and Brown skin.

Since March 2020, Vaseline has donated more than $606,000 worth of products to Direct Relief’s partner network of 5,000 community health centers and free and charitable clinic sites around the US to protect and care for medical staff and patients.
 
Following this immediate response, Vaseline also donated more than $1 million to Direct Relief’s COVID-19 Fund for Community Health, which has supported 518 health centers across the country, including those located in predominately Black and Latinx communities, that have seen some of the highest COVID-19 fatality rates.
 
New for Fall 2020 are line expansions in the Jelly Stick collection—Vaseline Refreshing Body Balm Jelly Stick and Cocoa Shimmer Jelly Stick. Both were specially created with Vaseline Original Healing Jelly in a no-mess formula providing instant moisturization and dry skin healing on-the-go.

Also, the iconic Vaseline Intensive Care range has a new addition: Vaseline  Intensive Care Almond Smooth. According to the company, the products are crafted with nourishing pure sweet almond oil and vitamin E for rich moisturization—a key consideration with more consumers washing their hands to keep COVID-19 at bay.