Whether you’re looking up celebrity secrets for glowy skin or seeking relief from winter dryness, you’re likely to run into two products again and again: Vaseline and Aquaphor. And for good reason: The two skincare staples have a powerful ingredient in common—petrolatum (also known as petroleum jelly). But even though Vaseline and Aquaphor have both been practically synonymous with skin healing for decades, they’re not actually interchangeable.
So, when should you use one over the other? We asked board-certified dermatologists Dr. Tia Paul, founder of Balanced Skin Dermatology and Aesthetics in Newport Beach, California, and Dr. Kavya Desai of U.S. Dermatology Partners Fairfax in Virginia to give us the lowdown ahead.
What is Vaseline?
Vaseline is pure petrolatum, a semisolid jelly-like substance created from the processing of petroleum oil. There are no other ingredients in Vaseline, but do not worry—petrolatum, aka petroleum jelly, is a powerhouse all on its own. Petroleum jelly is occlusive, which means it can create a water-resistant barrier on the skin to lock in moisture.
Benefits and uses of Vaseline
Because Vaseline is nothing but pure petroleum jelly, it’s a go-to when you need its occlusive powers.
- Keeping moisture locked in when the outermost layer of skin is healing from minor scrapes, burns, and other injuries.
- Preventing skin infections in surgical sites after surgery by keeping skin moist.
- Protecting skin from environmental irritants, like cold winter temperatures and wind.
- Applied after a shower on slightly damp skin to slow the evaporation of hydration.
- Layered on top of face and body lotions to keep hydration sealed in (also known as “slugging“)
- Preventing skin staining during hair coloring by acting as a barrier between skin and dye
When to use Vaseline instead of Aquaphor
“Although they can often be used interchangeably, Vaseline is sometimes preferred in wound care,” Dr. Desai says. “In wound care, protecting the surgical site from the outside environment can be extremely important. The occlusive effects of pure petroleum jelly can help create a strong barrier between the underlying skin and outside environment (bacteria and other organisms) to prevent postoperative surgical site infection,” she explains. Research has also found postoperative wound redness and swelling decreased with plain petrolatum compared with Aquaphor.
Dr. Desai and Dr. Paul also like Vaseline for general moisturizing—just keep your skin type in mind. “People with oily or acne-prone skin may want to avoid Vaseline as it can clog pores,” says Dr. Paul.
What is Aquaphor?
Aquaphor is a semi-occlusive formulation with 41% petroleum jelly and panthenol, glycerin, and lanolin alcohol. Like Vaseline, the petroleum jelly in Aquaphor keeps moisture in the skin—but because it’s not pure petroleum jelly, it also allows for the flow of oxygen. Aquaphor’s other ingredients do some heavy lifting too—lanolin is a natural moisturizer derived from sheep’s wool, glycerin hydrates the skin before petroleum jelly locks in the hydration, and panthenol, a form of vitamin B5 that holds in moisture and smooths and softens skin.
Benefits and uses of Aquaphor
Aquaphor has some of Vaseline’s occlusive benefits so it can also be used for healing from minor scrapes, burns, and other injuries, post-surgical wound care, post-shower hydration, protecting skin from cold temperatures and wind, and skincare slugging. But the lower percentage of petroleum jelly and the additional ingredients also make Aquaphor a good option for some additional uses:
- Moisturizing and protecting dry skin
- Hydrating skin and restoring the skin barrier in people with eczema, a chronic condition that weakens the skin’s barrier function and causes dry, itchy, and inflamed skin
- Improving skin conditions in infants
- Treating keratosis pilaris, a chronic condition that blocks hair follicles and causes dry, rough patches and tiny bumps on the skin
When to use Aquaphor instead of Vaseline
Since Aquaphor is 41% petroleum jelly, which makes up 100% of Vaseline, you get a lot of the same skin barrier benefits. If you’re wondering whether Aquaphor might be the better option for you versus Vaseline, look to the additional ingredients found in Aquaphor. “These additives help with deeper moisture by enhancing hydration and improving skin barrier function,” Dr. Paul says.
Glycerin makes a big difference if you have eczema or dry skin. “Individuals with eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) have increased transepidermal water loss due to decreased skin barrier function,” Dr. Desai explains. While the petroleum jelly in both Vaseline and Aquaphor can prevent further water loss and help restore skin barrier function, Aquaphor also contains glycerin, a humectant. “Humectants have the added benefit of helping to hydrate skin that has experienced transepidermal water loss,” she says. “This makes Aquaphor a great option for patients with eczema or dry skin.”
According to Dr. Paul, Aquaphor can also be better for extremely dry, cracked skin and healing minor skin irritation. “It provides additional hydration and barrier protection beyond what Vaseline offers,” she says. In other words, break out the Aquaphor when your skin has extra needs beyond basic moisturizing.
Another bonus? Aquaphor can feel less greasy on skin if that’s something that icks you out. “Due to Aquaphor containing a lower percentage of petroleum jelly, some people feel that it is less greasy and heavy on the skin than Vaseline,” Dr. Desai says.
Risks of Vaseline and Aquaphor
Whether you reach for Vaseline or Aquaphor, Dr. Paul cautions against overdoing it. “Overuse of Vaseline or Aquaphor, especially for “slugging,” can lead to acne or clogged pores,” she says. Dr. Desai also says to keep the rest of your skincare routine in mind. “When used on top of retinoid or retinol products at night, you may notice increased potency of the retinoids, causing the skin to get more irritated and dry.”
And though you can use both for wound care, neither Vaseline nor Aquaphor is a substitute for a visit to the doctor. “Both can trap bacteria if used on broken or infected skin,” Dr. Paul warns. If you have a deep or open wound, an injury from an animal bite, or a severe burn, you should have your skin evaluated by a medical professional before using either, Dr. Desai adds.“If there is an infection present, it is important that the infection is addressed before occlusive moisturizers are used.”
When it comes to Aquaphor specifically, there’s one additional (rare) risk to keep in mind because of the lanolin. “There are some people who do have a skin allergy to lanolin. This means that they develop red, itchy bumps (or sometimes blisters) in the areas of skin exposed to lanolin,” Dr. Desai says. “If you experience this reaction, it is recommended to avoid Aquaphor. A lanolin allergy is pretty uncommon, so most people won’t have any problems with it.”
The bottom line on Vaseline vs. Aquaphor
Both Vaseline and Aquaphor are great skincare staples, and you will likely find plenty of uses for both. Keep both handy, and you’ll be all set whether you need a superpowered occlusive that acts as a skin barrier seal or a semi-occlusive that can simultaneously hydrate and moisturize.