Have you been duped? Popular Aussie beauty product no better than Vaseline

Many of us carry it in our handbags and have it in our medicine cabinets but could this iconic Australian product have been fooling us this whole time?

Made in Brisbane since 1906, Lucas’ Papaw Ointment is a fixture of the female beauty industry but it was one beauty blogger recently who brought attention to that familiar red tube’s ingredients.

Despite many celebrities and even Kay next door swearing by it, it seems this Aussie product has little more than a pinch of paw paw in it.

This revelation has shocked many – and for good reason. How many times have you applied it to your lips, cuts, bruises and face? Well, it actually has 4 per cent paw paw, and 96 per cent petroleum jelly, making it a more expensive Vaseline.

Melbourne beauty artist Wanda Waller told her Facebook followers the reasons why she would never use Lucas’ Papaw Ointment on her clients or herself: “[it] contains more petroleum jelly than an actual pawpaw. Funnily enough it’s clearly stated on the front of the tube – “contains fermented papaw 39 mg/g”, there is 1000 mg in a gram, which means it is 96% petroleum jelly and 4% pawpaw.

She continues, “Petroleum jelly (petrolatum, mineral oil, liquid paraffin or paraffin oil) is a by-product of the oil industry, coming from crude oil that has been refined and heavily processed. It is the cheapest way you can make a moisturiser, one that feels amazing on the skin but it actually not that good for you.

Petroleum jelly creates a physical barrier against the skin, meaning moisture can’t get in or out. It only reduces moisture loss which is why it feels like it is moisturising”.

The company has since posted a statement on their website, saying, “The pharmaceutical grade petroleum jelly used in Lucas’ Papaw Ointment is further filtered and highly clarified to ensure that there are no carcinogens or impurities.

“Petroleum jelly by itself aids healing because it seals out germs and moisture to protect wounds while the body gets on with repairing itself. Then with the added bonus of papaw, which is a natural antiseptic and has natural drawing properties that clean wounds, it has shown to be a very effective healing agent”.

The makeup artist recommended using these products instead: Brauer Paw Paw Ointment, Suvana Organic Paw Paw & Honey Balm, Natural Alternative Paw Paw Ointment and Natralus Natural Paw Paw Ointment and Lip Balm.
Tell us, did you get duped by this famous Australian product?