Why Petroleum Isn’t the Answer (and What to Use Instead)

You’ve seen it everywhere — that familiar glossy jar promising “intense hydration.” But here’s the truth: petroleum doesn’t heal your skin. It hides the problem.

For decades, big beauty brands have sold us the idea that smoother skin comes from something that started in an oil refinery. Petroleum jelly feels silky because it forms a seal, but that seal is the skincare equivalent of plastic wrap. It traps everything — including sweat, bacteria, and irritation — under the surface.

The Problem with Petroleum

Petroleum itself isn’t inherently evil — it’s just inert. It doesn’t add vitamins, antioxidants, or nutrients. It sits on top of the skin, giving a false sense of hydration while doing nothing to repair what’s underneath.

If you’ve ever wondered why your lips keep drying out no matter how often you apply your favourite tube of petroleum-based balm — that’s why. Your skin never actually gets nourished; it just gets sealed and suffocated.

And because it’s derived from crude oil, it’s not exactly the cleanest thing to keep reapplying to your mouth, nips, or anywhere intimate.

What to Use Instead

Your skin doesn’t need a barrier; it needs balance. It needs ingredients that work with it, not against it.

That’s where natural oils and plant butters come in — ingredients that deliver actual nourishment:

• Shea Butter – rich in fatty acids and vitamins A & E to soften and protect.

• Calendula – a botanical healer known for calming redness and irritation.

• Jojoba Oil – mirrors your skin’s natural sebum, restoring harmony.

• Vitamin E – antioxidant support that helps repair daily damage.

These ingredients don’t just sit on your skin — they sink in, feed it, and help it rebuild its own protective barrier over time.

The Nooks Way

We built Nooks Balm™ because we were tired of the quick-fix myth.
You shouldn’t have to choose between “natural” and “effective.”
Our balm melts in on contact, leaving your skin soft, not sticky — and actually healthier the next day.

So ditch the petroleum.
Reach for plants.
And give your skin something real to drink in.

Put a tin by every sink. One habit, fewer cracks → Shop Nooks Universal Balm™.