40+ Smart Ways to Use Baby Oil

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Most of us have used baby oil at some stage in life. In fact, many of us still have a bottle rattling around our bathroom cabinet. Well, it’s time to rummage around and rescue that precious baby oil because we have a whole list of ways that it can be used. This throwback product is cheap, it has gentle ingredients, and it’s a great multitasker. From household hacks to budget beauty tips, it’s all about the baby oil.

Deep Clean Your Makeup Brushes

It’s very important to clean makeup brushes. Understandably, they pick up lots of bacteria when being swiped onto skin and smeared into products. There are lots of makeup brush cleaners on the market, but they can be pricey.

Many people use baby shampoo to clean their makeup brushes. It’s gentle, particularly on the delicate bristles of cosmetic brushes. However, baby oil can also be used to deep clean and condition makeup brushes. Every other time you clean them, opt for baby oil instead.

Tame Your Eyebrows

There are a whole host of products available to use on eyebrows. There’s gel, pomade, oil, powder, and serum. However, baby oil does the job pretty well. Just dip an eyebrow spoolie into some baby oil and brush directly onto your brows.

This tames rogue hairs and helps to shape brows into your preferred position. As with most uses of baby oil, there’s the added bonus of moisturization. Using baby oil on brows keeps them hydrated and well-conditioned.

Mix a Tinted Moisturizer

Beauty goes through cycles. Sometimes, it’s fashionable to have a face with full coverage foundation. These days, it’s all about a dewy glow. Rather than splashing out on the new Glossier product, you can opt for baby oil instead.

To try this, just add a few drops to your existing foundation to create your own tinted moisturizer. As with using baby oil on your hair, this is dependent on your skin type. People with oiler skin would be best to skip this tip.

Revive Old Mascara

We’ve all been there when it comes to mascara. It starts out thick and glossy, and ends up dry and crusty. However, there’s a way of getting it back. You guessed it – it’s baby oil! Add a few drops of baby oil to your mascara tube and give it a good shake.

And voilà, your mascara is liquid again. This is also beneficial because baby oil is gentle and moisturizing. This means your mascara will also double as a gentle eyelash conditioner.

Amp Up Your Dusting

Now, baby oil isn’t just for beauty. The product actually makes a great cheap household cleaning product. For example, it’s great for dusting. To try this, pour a few drops of baby oil onto a cloth and get to work.

It picks up even more dust than a dry cloth would. Using baby oil for dusting also keeps dust at bay for longer. If you wish, you can use a dry cloth afterward to buff away any oil residue that’s left behind.

Remove Excess Wax

Many people choose to do their own waxing at home. There are lots of kits available, and it’s much cheaper than going to a salon. However, at home waxing usually leads to bits of wax residue clinging to the skin. As it dries, it clings on even harder.

But, guess what? Baby oil can solve that problem! To remove excess wax, just pour some baby oil onto a cotton ball and apply it to the waxy residue. It softens the wax, allowing you to just wipe it off.

Soften Cracked Heels & Ankles

Baby oil is a great moisturizer. This means that it’s a great solution to a very common problem – cracked ankles and heels. Lots of folks are self-conscious about scaly skin, but baby oil can help to soften it.

When you get out of the shower or bath, smear some baby oil onto your cracked ankles and/or heels. If you do this on a regular basis, the skin will start to get smoother. Alternatively, you can soak your feet in oil for a faster result.

Make a Face Mask

In recent years, there’s been a real uptick in commercially available face masks. These include Japanese sheet masks, kaolin clay masks, and even masks made from snail slime. However, it’s much cheaper to mix up your own mask at home.

To try a tightening baby oil face mask, mix baby oil, egg white, and tea tree oil — and apply to your face. Alternatively, for a moisturizing mask, combine baby oil and mayonnaise, and leave the mixture on your skin for 20 minutes.

Make a Budget Bath Oil

First things first, we know that baby oil is used on babies. This is because it’s hypoallergenic and moisturizes to create baby soft skin. For these very reasons, it’s also good on adult skin. One way to soften skin and unwind is to add a touch of baby oil to your bubble bath.

Rather than spending a fortune on expensive bath oils, just add baby oil directly into the water. Alternatively, you can mix a few drops into your bubble bath for a silkier result.

Keep Skin Soft

Anyone that’s used it knows that baby oil is one of the best moisturizers out there. Rather than splashing out on an expensive body lotion, give yourself a once-over with some baby oil instead. You’ll end up with super soft skin, trust us.

Some people use baby oil when their body is still damp after a bath or shower. This locks in the moisture from the water as the pores are already open. This will lead to soft, hydrated skin all day long.

Sort Out Split Ends

In recent years, hair oils have really taken off. Of course, putting oils on your hair depends on your hair texture. Some hair types can handle more than others. It’s worth playing around to see what works best.

We recommend a little baby oil rather than shelling out for a super costly product. If your hair is getting those pesky split ends, baby oil is a great option. Apply a dab of the oil to your hands, pat them together and apply to the ends of your hair.

Use for a Smooth Shave

When shaving legs, many people use shaving foam, lotion, or gel. Or, they use water from the shower or bath. However, we’re here to tell you that the job could be done with baby oil.

The benefit of this is that you can shave your legs even if you don’t have time to hop in the shower. Simply slather your legs in baby oil, and use a razor as usual. We recommend keeping a cup of water nearby to rinse out the loose hairs and oil.

Carefully Remove Band-Aids

Hey, this list isn’t all baby oil beauty hacks. We also have some day-to-day uses for this product. For example, there’s no need to rip off band-aids. We know that the saying tells us to do exactly that, but in reality, it kind of hurts.

To remove adhesive bandages more gently, soak them in some baby oil first. This way, you can peel the band-aid off without giving yourself an at-home wax at the same time.

Have a Thrifty Massage

We’re back to the basics of baby oil. Many parents use the product to give their babies a gentle massage. Of course, it can also be used on adults in the same way. There are lots of benefits to massage.

It reduces stress, improves circulation, lowers blood pressure, and improves immune function. To use baby oil as a massage oil, simply slather it on the skin and get to work. It will leave skin smooth and isn’t as pricey as official massage oils.

Refresh Your Shower Curtain

Anyone that has a shower curtain knows that they can get a little grimy. The constant moisture from running water means that mildew can easily collect along the edges of a shower curtain. This can cause discoloration and an overall grubby bathroom vibe.

However, baby oil can change that. Simply apply some baby oil to a cloth and wipe it over the shower curtain. This will remove mildew, restore color and keep the curtain fresh for longer. Baby oil does it again!

Refresh Your Under Eyes

We’ve already mentioned that there’s a beauty product for almost everything. Ordinarily, these specialist items cost quite a lot of cash. Therefore, it’s thriftier to use one product for multiple things. Naturally, we recommend baby oil.

Rather than reaching for expensive under-eye gel or cream, try massaging a little baby oil under the eyes for several minutes instead. Wipe away any excess oil afterward and you’ll be left with de-puffed under eyes. This ritual works particularly well right before bed.

Create New Colors

Guess what? Baby oil can even be used for arts and crafts. For people that like to draw, baby oil can amp up the color options and textures available for your creations. After all, experimentation is the key to unlocking new ideas.

To try this, dip a paintbrush in some baby oil and get blending. The product can deepen the appearance of colored pencil and allows for detailed shading. In fact, it’s a great alternative to using watercolors. Seriously, it’s a multi-tasker!

Restore Old Leather

Although leather is a long-lasting fabric, it can still get scuffed. Anyone with a leather couch knows that it’s prime for scratch marks. However, with a small amount of effort – and baby oil – you can restore leather so it gleams again.

As with using baby oil for dusting, using it on leather is simple. Simply wipe down leather items with baby oil and watch them transform. This hack has the additional benefit of creating a barrier between the item and any dirt that might land on it.

Try an Overnight Foot Treatment

We know that baby oil is a great solution to cracked ankles. But, why not apply it to the entire foot? To do this, slather your feet in baby oil and then put on a pair of socks. This may sound a little uncomfortable, but it guarantees baby soft feet.

If you can handle sleeping with a pair of oily socks on, then it’s best to do this overnight. When you wake up, you’ll remove the socks to find that your feet have absorbed all of the oil.

Tame Hair Frizz

So far, our list has shown that baby oil is good for smoothing split ends. However, the multi-tasking product also works well as a serum for hair frizz. Baby oil works particularly well on naturally curly hair, which tends to be drier in texture than straight hair.

Just rub a few drops of baby oil into your hands and pat it onto your frizzy bits. Baby oil as a hair serum will tame your frizz, and add a pleasant sheen.

Detangle Your Necklace

Isn’t it the worst when your jewelry ends up in a tangled mess? We’ve lost count of the times we’ve reached for a necklace just to find it bunched up with a clump of other items. No matter how long we pick away at the chain, it remains knotted and impossible to remove.

But, no more! With a few drops of baby oil, that necklace will be much simpler to set free. Just spread it around the chain and everything will move that little bit easier.

De-Smudge Your Steel

Much like leather, steel is a very durable material that can still get a little grimy. After all, who amongst us hasn’t seen smudges and fingerprints on their steel appliances? But, fear not – baby oil to the rescue.

The next time you’re wiping down your oven or refrigerator, reach for the baby oil. Drop a little of the oil directly onto the appliance, leave for a few moments and then wipe off. This will remove the mark, and give your steel items a glossy glow.

Fix Your Zipper

It’s extremely irritating to try and take off a sweatshirt or open a purse just to find a stuck zipper. In these moments, we wish for buttons or even Velcro. Some people try safety pins or bobby pins to jiggle the zip free. But alas, baby oil is all we need.

Next time you have a stuck zipper, dip a cotton bud into some baby oil and swipe it on top. This will loosen up the teeth and help the zipper to do its job correctly.

Wipe Wooden Furniture

Guess what? It’s not just dusting leather and steel that benefits from a drop of baby oil. That’s right – wood also does well with a swipe of the stuff. Thankfully, the gentle formulation of baby oil doesn’t stain wooden furniture.

Applying the product to wood simply leaves it looking shiny and almost new. So, next time you see a scuff or a scratch on your wooden table, cabinet, or dresser, remember that all you need is a little baby oil.

Create a Body Scrub

We’ve seen lots of examples of baby oil used exactly as it comes. But, there are also plenty of recipes that include baby oil. Mixed with a few simple and cheap ingredients, baby oil opens up a whole new world of hacks.

To create your own moisturizing body scrub, mix one tablespoon of baby oil with half a cup of brown sugar and two tablespoons of honey. Apply to your skin in a circular motion and then wash or wipe away.

Easy Makeup Remover

Lots of makeup removers contain oils. In particular, oil is great at removing products like mascara and eyeliner, which tend to be longer lasting than eyeshadows or foundation. So, naturally, you can use baby oil as a cheap but effective makeup remover.

To try this, soak a cotton bud or wipe in baby oil and smear it on your face. Once your makeup is gone, wash your face with water or a cleanser. This is best for people with drier skin types.

Make Your Own Bug Repellant

Interestingly, baby oil can also be used to ward off pesky bugs. Most commercial bug sprays smell rather medicinal, but this homemade option is much more pleasant. To make your own bug repellant, mix together equal parts of eucalyptus or tea tree oil, baby oil, and an antiseptic like Dettol.

A word of warning, however — don’t use this if you’re in sunny conditions. Baby oil provides no sun protection so it can cause sunburn when used without any SPF products.

Care for Your Cuticles

Anyone who gets a regular manicure knows that the final step is a drop of nail oil smeared over your cuticle. This softens the protective barrier, making the cuticles less rough or hardened. But, there’s no need to go to the salon for this service.

And there’s no need to spend money on pricey cuticle oil. Instead, reach for the baby oil. Massage a drop of baby oil onto your cuticles and they’ll stay super soft for a fraction of the cost.

Moisturize With Lip Scrub

Likewise, there’s absolutely no need to splash out on fancy lip scrubs. These can easily be made at home with some cheap and accessible ingredients. To soften dry lips, mix together baby oil, lemon juice, and sugar and apply to your mouth.

Rub your lips together and they’ll get a good coating of oil, plus a gentle exfoliation to remove dry and flakey skin. You can keep this mixture in a small tub and use it whenever you feel your lips need a touch of moisture.

Remove Clingy Stickers

Our next hack is along the same lines as using baby oil to remove band-aids — except this time, we’re talking about stickers and labels on household items. The same method applies in each case.

Just soak a cotton bud in baby oil and hold it over the sticker in question. After a few moments, it should slide off in one piece. Plus, if you’re ever left with the sticky residue of a label, then baby oil is also the answer.

Clean Your Car Dashboard

Car dashboards are prime places for collecting dust, debris, and dirt. Thankfully, these can easily be cleaned away using a cloth and a little baby oil. In fact, several car dealerships do exactly this to leave cars looking pristine and dust-free.

For larger areas, pour some baby oil directly onto the dashboard and then use a cloth to wipe. For smaller sections, use a cotton bud dipped in baby oil to really get into those hard-to-reach areas.

Remove Household Creaking

It can be very frustrating to have a door or cabinet that’s constantly creaking. When there’s a creak in the house, many people reach for a product like WD-40. However, it’s cheaper and gentler to use baby oil instead.

It works in exactly the same way, lubricating the hinge. In fact, WD-40 contains petroleum-based oil just like baby oil. To try this, just pour some baby oil directly into a hinge. You’ll have relief from that pesky creaking in no time.

Boost Your Body Lotion

Whilst baby oil can be used on its own as a body moisturizer, it can also be mixed with other products. Many of us have tubs of lotion lying around that don’t have much product left in them.

In these cases, you can just add some baby oil to loosen up the often dried-out lotion left behind. A little baby oil goes a long way. Add a few drops to a tub or bottle of old lotion and give it a good mix or shake.

Loosen Excess Earwax

Whether we like it or not, many people have excess earwax. This substance is made up of dead skin cells, hair, and various secretions from the ear. Gross! For people that have a build-up of earwax, baby oil can be the answer.

Oil loosens earwax so pouring a little baby oil into the ear can allow it to fall out by itself. This method tends to be better than using cotton swabs, which can actually push earwax further into the ear canal.

Improve Your Jewelry

Currently, there are lots of cheaply available tassel earrings available online. However, when these trendy pieces arrive in the mail they can often be a little disheveled. To smooth out earring tassels, put a drop of baby oil on your fingers and tame that fringe.

While you’re there, you can also use baby oil to buff up the metal parts of jewelry. This will remove any smudges and leave necklaces, earrings, rings, and bracelets looking nice and shiny.

Take Care of Tattoos

We have two tips when it comes to baby oil and tattoos. Firstly, for people with actual tattoos, baby oil is a great way of keeping them moisturized. We don’t recommend using it as aftercare on a fresh tattoo, but baby oil works brilliantly on already-healed tatts.

For people that use temporary tattoos, baby oil is ideal for removing any unwanted designs. Just soak a cotton ball in baby oil and wipe the temporary tattoo until it’s transferred from your skin onto the cotton.

Tidy Up Your Manicure

It’s pretty skillful to be able to paint your nails and not get any polish on your skin, cuticles, or surfaces. After all, that’s why many of us go to a professional. But, baby oil can help when it comes to giving yourself a tidy manicure.

Before you start painting your nails, use a cotton bud soaked in baby oil to trace around your nails. This will create a layer between your skin and the nail polish so that they don’t stick to one another.

Keep Skin Paint-Free

While we’re talking about paint, the same applies for household painting. If you enjoy upcycling, arts and crafts, or home renovation, you’ll know that it’s common to get some paint on your skin. Paint doesn’t wash off with just soap and water, but it does come off with the help of baby oil.

Baby oil softens paint so swipe it onto stains and it will simply wipe away, leaving you with paint-free skin. This is much better for the skin than picking paint off yourself.

Make a Hair Mask

It’s time for another recipe for a cheap but effective homemade beauty product. Recently, various social media accounts have been recommending mixing the baby oil gel formula with honey to create a hair mask. However, regular baby oil works just as well.

To try this, combine a small amount of baby oil with honey to make a hair mask that will leave hair moisturized and shiny. Honey has similar properties to baby oil. It prevents hair from drying out and maintains strong follicles.

Stretch Your Shower Gel

Remember we said that mixing baby oil with lotion can make it go further? Well, the same applies to shower gel. When you only have a little bit of product left in the bottle, add some baby oil and give it a shake to really get your money’s worth.

The added bonus here is that baby oil will also make your shower gel more moisturizing. As with the body lotion hack, a little goes a long way.

Make Baby Oil Bronzer

Next up is a baby oil hack that’s been all over TikTok. To create your own baby oil bronzer, all you need are two things. Firstly, of course, you need a bottle of baby oil. Secondly, you need a cheap shimmery bronzer.

Start by crushing the bronzer into powder – using tweezers is a good method. Then, use a piece of paper to funnel the powder into a bottle of baby oil and give it a shake. Slather the bronzed oil onto the body for a moisturizing glow.

Slide Off Stuck Rings

It can be rather frightening to get a ring stuck on your finger. It feels as though there’s nothing to do — and the more you panic, the more it seems to be fixed in place.

But, as with every problem on this list, the answer is baby oil. The next time you find a ring stuck on your finger, just lubricate it with some baby oil. This will help the ring to glide off.

Reduce the Appearance of Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are extremely common. They’re a type of scarring that’s caused when the skin dermis tears. This usually happens during periods of growth — including during puberty, pregnancy, or from things like bodybuilding and hormone therapy. All in all, there’s no way of totally getting rid of them.

However, because baby oil moisturizes the skin, it can reduce the appearance of stretch marks. These scars are depressed into the skin, so baby oil helps by plumping the skin and making them less visible.

Treat Itching Skin

Over the course of our lives, many of us experience various skin conditions. This could include things like psoriasis or eczema. Whatever it might be, skin issues usually cause discomfort or itchiness. While there are prescribed medications for skin conditions, baby oil can help to reduce discomfort.

It’s hypoallergenic, so it won’t inflame skin further. To relieve itching skin, massage baby oil into the affected area for at least 15 minutes. Alternatively, add some to your bath for all-over relief.

Create a Body Shimmer

Last but not least, you can use baby oil to mix up your own body shimmer. This is similar to the bronzing hack above, but uses a highlighter or eye shadow instead. Depending on your skin tone, choose a strongly pigmented gold, silver, or peachy product.

Mix the crushed powder with baby oil to create a dupe for the $60 Fenty Body Lava. For both the bronzer and body shimmer, remember not to lie in the sun as baby oil provides no SPF protection.