The Easiest Way To Get The Glazed Donut Look Is With An Underrated Drugstore Product

In the beauty world, glazed donuts are no longer a breakfast food. At the beginning of 2022, Hailey Bieber — influencer and the owner of enviably good skin — declared in an Instagram post that glazed donut skin would rule the year, and she was right: The glazed donut skincare trend took off and has remained the standard ever since.

Consider it a new take on glass skin. Just like a frosted confectionery, glazed donut skin is bright, dewy, and slick without being wet. Achieving the glossy look can require a full arsenal of products, especially if you don't have a naturally oily complexion or if you struggle with hydration. Bieber herself uses a combo of hydrating cleansers, serums, moisturizing creams, oils, and other skincare essentials before bed to make her skin glisten.

Thankfully, looking as scrumptious as a sugar donut doesn't have to be so complicated, as long as you have this one drugstore product on hand.

"Glazed donut" may be a new term for healthy-looking skin, but the look can be achieved using one old-school drugstore product: petroleum jelly. Vaseline and other petroleum jelly products — yep, the same ones you use on scrapes and rashes — can give you dewy skin, without having to follow a fussy skincare routine.

That's not to say you should ditch your hydrating toners or creamy moisturizers. But a humble tub of Vaseline can protect your skin and lock in moisture, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. It's also super versatile: Petroleum jelly can be used as a highlighter on your cheeks, a gel for smooth and shiny brows, and an eye-boosting ointment when applied to the eyelids and around your peepers.

Glazed Donut Queen Hailey Bieber also admits to using petroleum jelly-based products. In a YouTube clip, she admitted to using Aquaphor every night on her lips, as well as on flaky dry patches. "At night, I'll sometimes slug my skin with Vaseline or Aquaphor, but that can get messy," the influencer told Byrdie.

Before slathering Vaseline all over your face, there are a few precautions to keep in mind. First, Healthline points out that petroleum jelly should only be applied to clean skin. As an occlusive, it creates a barrier that blocks moisture from escaping while also locking in whatever you have on your skin. If dirt, oil, and makeup are lurking under your layer of Vaseline, expect them to stay put (and possibly clog your pores).

On that note, petroleum jelly products aren't moisturizers themselves, meaning you should apply any moisturizing skincare products first. Then, top them off with a juicy coating of Vaseline to seal it all in.

Finally, if you tend to break out, go easy at first. "If you experience more acne-prone or oily skin, applying Vaseline directly to the skin may clog your pores and worsen acne," dermatologist and Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology Dr. Rina Allawh shared with Who What Wear. Dr. Allawh cautions against applying Vaseline around the mouth and nose, though she adds that using the medicine cabinet staple directly on your lips and under your eyes is generally safe and won't trigger acne spots.