Patti LaBelle uses Vaseline to take off her makeup and La Mer to moisturize


I was today’s years old when I discovered that I could use Old Spice as a woman. Auntie Patti LaBelle is the new spokeswoman for Old Spice. Patti hopped on her first flight in fifteen months to film an Old Spice commercial with Black-ish’s Deon Cole. Patti said in a promotional interview with People that her father used Old Spice and now she does too as a part of her beauty regime. Patti explained that the rest of her beauty regimen is pretty basic. She removes her makeup with Vaseline and uses high end La Mer cream afterwards. Below are a few more highlights from People:

In the spot, LaBelle stars alongside black-ish actor Deon Cole and A Black Lady Sketch Show’s Gabrielle Dennis, who both return as part of the brand’s “Men Have Skin Too” campaign that launched in 2019 and focuses on men’s desire for efficacious body care.

For her cameo, LaBelle plays a “bad mother-in-law” who steals Cole’s Moisturize with Shea Butter body wash, she says. The gig had LaBelle filled with excitement as she spoke to PEOPLE exclusively from the set.

“Back in the day, my father wore Old Spice, so, I would make sure he had [it] for a Christmas gift or birthday. And, you know, my son wears it and people in my life wear it,” she shares, adding, “It’s one of those fragrances that never leaves the room [but] never overwhelms, which is good.”

When it comes to her own skin and body care, LaBelle says she keeps her routine “basic.”

“People ask, ‘Why are you so youthful looking?’ I get a lot of compliments on my skin. I use Vaseline to take off the makeup. And then I put on La Mer cream. I’ve been doing it for ever. And now it’s going to be Old Spice [too].”

[From People]

Patti is so old school. Removing your makeup with Vaseline is a trick I learned as a tween in the 80s. It is a really great solution for mascara particularly. However, I do hope Patti is using a great cleanser along with her La Mer moisturizer because Vaseline will clog pores and cause break outs. I am sure Patti has people around her to tell her that Vaseline is comedogenic, so I do not need to. As for Old Spice, call me old fashioned, but I still love the smell of it. I used to enjoy smelling it on my uncles at Christmas time. All the men in the neighborhood would wear it. The Old Spice commercials have always made me smile as well. Especially the new ones with the father and son who both wear Old Spice.

I like the new commercial with Patti as the mother-in-law stealing the husband’s Old Spice. I also like wearing men’s fragrances. There is something sexy about smelling the scent of a man on my skin. I have been into that since the CK One unisex scent from the 90s. I also used to wear Joop for men. I just love the smell of spicy fragrances. Now that Old Spice is on the table, I am definitely going to try their Shea Moisturizer shower gel. I am so glad Patti was able to get out and see some people after fifteen months of social distancing. Patti has been a joy to follow during the pandemic and I hope she gets to live more of her life.

The commercial:

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39 Responses to “Patti LaBelle uses Vaseline to take off her makeup and La Mer to moisturize”

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  1. Northerngirl says:

    The 77 cake looks good, I want some and it’s 7:16 a.m.
    I wish I could afford La mer cream…

    • Eleonor says:

      During lockdown I became addict to youtube videos of plastic surgeons explaining why La mer cream is not worth it, there are much more affordable options!

    • Melissa says:

      I switched to La Mer for six months as a “treat myself” splurge, and to be totally honest I didn’t see any difference between that and my normal regimen of Skinceuticals and a few drugstore items. Maybe I didn’t get the right products, but IMO it’s a status brand and not really worth the exorbitant price tag.

      • LaraW” says:

        Honestly I think it goes to show how unique our skin is. I know that companies will simplify sell products and dump them in generic categories (dry skin, oily skin, etc) but it took me forever to find the right products. Endured a lot of break outs and oily skin and super dry skin before finding My Routine. Also I think our skin adapts over time to the produts we use.

        When I was in France, the sheer variety and range of skin care products boggled my mind, but I feel like once you find the magic combo, you’re golden.

    • LaraW” says:

      I totally didn’t notice the cakes because I was staring at the ice cream truck. So I know the truck isn’t Cold Stone Creamery (but I bet it’s 1000% delicious!) and I usually don’t care for Cold Stone, but recently I have just really wanted to watch someone mash ice cream with strawberries and everything and present it to me in a giant waffle cone.

      Ms. Patti LaBelle living her best life!

    • Duchess of Hazard says:

      @northerngirl – you can use nivea to get similar effects according to results via blind testing.

    • Tanguerita says:

      It’s crap with a hefty price tag, a jar of glorified Nivea. If you need a good super occlusive moisturizer, buy Weleda skin food, you won’t regret it.

    • SpankyB says:

      It used to be that the first ingredient in La Mer was a form of vaseline. People spending hundreds of bucks for a $2 jar of vaseline. They’ve extended their line and changed up their ingredients, and now it looks like they’re heavy on mineral oil.

      I’ve used a lot of high priced moisturizers over the years and nothing has worked as well as CeraVe lotion and cream.

  2. MsIam says:

    I saw that commercial last night and did not realize that was Patti! I think the blonde hair threw me for a loop. Get it Miss Patti!

  3. Merricat says:

    I used to buy my dad Old Spice for Father’s Day. I still love the scent of it.

  4. BusyLizzy says:

    La Mer Is overrated, very expensive and full of fragrance so if your skin is sensitive or easily irritated that’s not great.
    I love Vaseline for my lips and my under eyes before going to bed but I’ll stick with an oil-based cleansing balm to remove my makeup (followed by a cleanser).

    • LaraW” says:

      I was on a trip once and it was very dry and cold— perfect nosebleed weather. I get nosebleeds all the time— even went to an ENT to see what the problem was. The dude shoved silver nitrate up my nose and it was Not Fun, didn’t solve anything (not that I expected it to. I know what that sh-t is for, and permanent solution it is not.)

      A lady from Alaska told me her son had the same problem told me to apply some vaseline in my nose. It worked so well, I am not exaggerating when I say it changed my life.

      • BusyLizzy says:

        Oh I used to get nosebleeds all the time too! I had a deviated septum and I had the inside of my nose cauterized maybe 6/7 times. It’s seriously NOT FUN and hurts like hell. The only thing that worked for me was getting a septo-rhinoplasty 7 years ago and the nosebleeds have totally stopped. I hope yours have or at least it has gotten better!

        Vaseline is awesome, I also use it on top on retinol to prevent my skin from getting too dry. La Roche Posay’s Cicaplast is also a great cream when you skin barrier is “damaged”.

      • Call_me_al says:

        Yes, it fixes so many ailments! I read on this site to put it on your feet at night plus socks and it WORKS! Heels and toenails look clean and not cracked or crusty!

  5. Nikki* says:

    I asked my husband for White Shoulders perfume as a gift. He got mixed up with Old Spice, and asked for “Old Shoulders”!

  6. Nikki* says:

    I HATE Vaseline for eye makeup removal: it’s so glumpy you have to wipe your lashes endlessly. Sephora’s blue eye makeup remover’s the best for me.

  7. Chaine says:

    I will use Vaseline in a pinch for makeup removal but the problem is especially on the eyes then you have such a thick difficult to remove petroleum jelly grease that makeup doesn’t want to go on properly the following day.

    • Digital Unicorn says:

      I highly recommend Glossier Milky Oil eye make up remover – it takes my eye makeup off pretty easily, even with water proof mascara.

  8. Darla says:

    I started using la mer this year. If you use the serum, the moisturizer and the oil, it does seem nice. I am not sure it made a real difference though. I think my shiseido is just as good. If I were to pick one la mer product to keep it would be the oil though. I really wonder if any of these expensive skincare products make any difference. Retinol does for sure. Retinol and sunscreen is likely all you really need.

    • BusyLizzy says:

      Amen! Retinol and SPF for life. We seriously need to teach people early on to wear sunscreen every day even if it’s cloudy, it’s winter and you are inside. SPF is especially a must if you use retinol at night.

  9. manda says:

    I use old spice deodorant! It smells good! I like the way men’s cologne smells versus the flowery powdery fruity stuff they make for women

    • TaraBest says:

      Same! I used to have a hard time finding women’s deodorant (they all seemed to be anti-perspirant which I don’t use) so I started wearing Old Spice. I love it, especially some of the “newer” smells. Fiji is my current fave.

  10. Betsy says:

    Vaseline is non-comedogenic! In fact, lots of people use it as an acne treatment (according to reddit). It works well for me, too – I use it on top of my moisturizer/retinol.

    The only problem with her using the Vaseline first and then the La Mer is that I would think the film that petroleum jelly leaves is probably blocking any actives from touching her skin, thereby preventing her from getting any of the benefits of the cream.

    If I had cash to burn on spendy creams, I’d be getting Barbara Sturm or Augustinus Bader.

    • Deehunny 2.0 says:

      I came here to say the same thing. Vaseline doesn’t clog pores as the molecules arw too large to get into the skin.

      In fact, I saw a video with a dermatologist who said that they place that under their eye thin film and put their retinol on top to. Protect the undereye but get a retinol on there

      • Betsy says:

        I put my retinol on first (even around my eyes) and then the Vaseline (well, Cerave healing ointment, but same basic thing), but I’m just using OTC drugstore retinol, so nothing that’s very strong. I can see if I was using Retin-A that doing Vaseline then retinol would be a good idea.

    • Lila says:

      Yes this 100%! Just because Vaseline feels that way, it isn’t. It legit saved me when I started using Retin-A. Beautifully occlusive while still being non-comedogenic.

  11. Lauren says:

    I have seen quite a few dermatologists and estheticians recommending vaseline as the last step for your night routine. It creates a great occlusive barrier that traps moisture inside the skin it’s supposed to be good for dry skin or when your skin barrier is effed up.

    • Betsy says:

      Vaseline saved my skin when Hyper (a topical vitamin c) product just wrecked the acid mantle. My skin looks dewy and amazing now (despite eating too much sugar).

  12. Jen says:

    The creme de la mer or whichever is the classic la mer moisturizer with the hard texture in the pot, is definitely not worth the price tag. I found the texture to be too hard and to cause me to pull on my skin when applying. It was also overly perfumed. Can’t speak to other more lotion-y formulations they may sell, but always have to throw a comment in discussions about it, in case it gives anyone pause before shelling out the money for it!!

  13. diffraction says:

    I use coconut oil to remove makeup – it just melts everything off your face, and it works well on mascara! I wipe it off with a cotton ball, then follow up with CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser and go from there.

    I feel like Vaseline would be impossible to get off your face, especially eyelashes and eyebrows!

    • The Artist Formerly Known as Valiantly Varnished says:

      Nope. It’s water soluble. I washes right off.

  14. The Artist Formerly Known as Valiantly Varnished says:

    Vaseline or Petroleum Jelly/Petrolatum is an amazing occlusive. The main ingredient in La Mer is Petrolatum. La Mer is incredibly overpriced for the ingredients in it. Miss Patti is basically using Petroleum Jelly twice with a few more moisturizers and hydrators thrown in. I tell anyone to save their money on La Mer. You’re literally just paying for the name.

    My grandmother took her makeup off with Vaseline and Vaseline has been a staple in my house since I was a child. We also can’t discount the fact that Miss Patti is melanated. And black don’t crack!

  15. nb says:

    I use Clarins Eau Dynamisante spray, which is a unisex fragrance reminiscent of Old Spice but it has a lighter scent with hints of lemon. When I first spray it my husband says “did you just put on Old Spice?”. It’s also supposed to be beneficial for your skin but that’s not why I wear it – I just love the scent. I highly recommend checking it out if you like fragrances like Old Spice.

  16. Karlie says:

    I use Vaseline to take off makeup, especially mascara, and I steal my husbands old spice deodorant fairly frequently. Guess I’m
    Old school! I’ll take it!

  17. Jayna says:

    In my 30s, with such oily skin, I used a skin care line sold at a doctor’s office, MD Formulations with glycolic acid. I don’t even think they are around anymore. I loved doing my skincare regimen every night with all of my potions, and it really helped with the oilness of my face, my pores, etc. I liked that it was unscented.

    The biggest difference to my skin was when I got a pretty harsh 10-day skin peel from a plastic surgeon. The pain practically brought me off the table. But I was raised in a coastal town so had some sun damage. It made my skin look amazing, unbelievable, like baby’s skin. I told no one, but people would tell me how beautiful my skin was all the time, incuding my own mother, who kept asking me what I was using. I finally confessed to her it wasn’t just a skincare line that had made the difference, which is what I had been telling her. I think I was too vain to tell many people about the (TCA?) skin peel.

    As the years have gone on, I’ve used different products, but one day I ran out and bought Oil Of Olay unscented moisturizer. That’s what I use now. I don’t use eye creams anymore, nor tap eye creams the way they used to tell me to do under my eyes. I wash my face with a soft washcloth with CeraVe hydrating cleanser for normal to dry skin, and then I take the Oil of Olay Complete Moisturizer (which has SPF) and slather it all over my damp face, all up under my eyes, neck, everywhere. I have one that has 30 and one that has 15 SPF. I have to always do unscented.
    I cant bear scents on my face. I get headaches. Doing that and keeping my face out of the sun for the most part, but using hats and wearing 30 SPF when in the sun, has kept my skin looking good and not many lines.

    I’m sure I should be doing more for my face, but I’ve become lazy. After I watched a dermatologist on TV talk about washing your face with a soft washcloth and facewash and let that do the sloughing of your skin, because it’s more gentle than exfoliating washes, I liked that idea.

  18. Sarah says:

    Am I the only person that finds La Mer super irritating?? Too much perfume maybe? The scent is super strong. Didn’t like it at all.

    Sorry if others already said this. Lots of comments. Use what is best for you, regardless of cost. Try samples when possible.