Whether or not you’re trying up celeb secrets and techniques for glowy pores and skin or looking for reduction from winter dryness, you’re more likely to run into two merchandise time and again: Vaseline and Aquaphor. And for good purpose: The 2 skincare staples have a robust ingredient in widespread—petrolatum (also referred to as petroleum jelly). However though Vaseline and Aquaphor have each been virtually synonymous with pores and skin therapeutic for many years, they’re not really interchangeable.
So, when must you use one over the opposite? We requested board-certified dermatologists Dr. Tia Paul, founding father of Balanced Pores and skin Dermatology and Aesthetics in Newport Seashore, California, and Dr. Kavya Desai of U.S. Dermatology Companions Fairfax in Virginia to give us the lowdown forward.
What’s Vaseline?
Vaseline is pure petrolatum, a semisolid jelly-like substance created from the processing of petroleum oil. There aren’t any different substances in Vaseline, however don’t worry—petrolatum, aka petroleum jelly, is a powerhouse all by itself. Petroleum jelly is occlusive, which means it can create a water resistant barrier on the pores and skin to lock in moisture.
Advantages and makes use of of Vaseline
As a result of Vaseline is nothing however pure petroleum jelly, it’s a go-to once you want its occlusive powers.
- Conserving moisture locked in when the outermost layer of pores and skin is therapeutic from minor scrapes, burns, and different accidents.
- Stopping pores and skin infections in surgical websites after surgical procedure by holding pores and skin moist.
- Defending pores and skin from environmental irritants, like chilly winter temperatures and wind.
- Utilized after a bathe on barely damp pores and skin to sluggish the evaporation of hydration.
- Layered on prime of face and physique lotions to maintain hydration sealed in (also referred to as “slugging“)
- Stopping pores and skin staining throughout hair coloring by appearing as a barrier between pores and skin and dye
When to make use of Vaseline as an alternative of Aquaphor
“Though they’ll typically be used interchangeably, Vaseline is usually most popular in wound care,” Dr. Desai says. “In wound care, defending the surgical web site from the surface setting might be extraordinarily essential. The occlusive results of pure petroleum jelly might help create a powerful barrier between the underlying pores and skin and outdoors setting (micro organism and different organisms) to stop postoperative surgical web site an infection,” she explains. Analysis has additionally discovered postoperative wound redness and swelling decreased with plain petrolatum in contrast with Aquaphor.
Dr. Desai and Dr. Paul additionally like Vaseline for common moisturizing—simply hold your pores and skin kind in thoughts. “Folks with oily or acne-prone pores and skin could wish to keep away from Vaseline as it could clog pores,” says Dr. Paul.
What’s Aquaphor?
Aquaphor is a semi-occlusive formulation with 41% petroleum jelly and panthenol, glycerin, and lanolin alcohol. Like Vaseline, the petroleum jelly in Aquaphor retains moisture within the pores and skin—however as a result of it’s not pure petroleum jelly, it additionally permits for the movement of oxygen. Aquaphor’s different substances do some heavy lifting too—lanolin is a pure moisturizer derived from sheep’s wool, glycerin hydrates the pores and skin earlier than petroleum jelly locks within the hydration, and panthenol, a type of vitamin B5 that holds in moisture and smooths and softens pores and skin.
Advantages and makes use of of Aquaphor
Aquaphor has a few of Vaseline’s occlusive advantages so it may also be used for therapeutic from minor scrapes, burns, and different accidents, post-surgical wound care, post-shower hydration, defending pores and skin from chilly temperatures and wind, and skincare slugging. However the decrease share of petroleum jelly and the extra substances additionally make Aquaphor a great choice for some further makes use of:
- Moisturizing and defending dry pores and skin
- Hydrating pores and skin and restoring the pores and skin barrier in folks with eczema, a persistent situation that weakens the pores and skin’s barrier perform and causes dry, itchy, and infected pores and skin
- Enhancing pores and skin situations in infants
- Treating keratosis pilaris, a persistent situation that blocks hair follicles and causes dry, tough patches and tiny bumps on the pores and skin
When to make use of Aquaphor as an alternative of Vaseline
Since Aquaphor is 41% petroleum jelly, which makes up 100% of Vaseline, you get a number of the identical pores and skin barrier advantages. Should you’re questioning whether or not Aquaphor is likely to be the higher choice for you versus Vaseline, look to the extra substances present in Aquaphor. “These components assist with deeper moisture by enhancing hydration and bettering pores and skin barrier perform,” Dr. Paul says.
Glycerin makes an enormous distinction you probably have eczema or dry pores and skin. “People with eczema (also referred to as atopic dermatitis) have elevated transepidermal water loss because of decreased pores and skin barrier perform,” Dr. Desai explains. Whereas the petroleum jelly in each Vaseline and Aquaphor can forestall additional water loss and assist restore pores and skin barrier perform, Aquaphor additionally incorporates glycerin, a humectant. “Humectants have the additional benefit of serving to to hydrate pores and skin that has skilled transepidermal water loss,” she says. “This makes Aquaphor an ideal choice for sufferers with eczema or dry pores and skin.”
In response to Dr. Paul, Aquaphor may also be higher for terribly dry, cracked pores and skin and therapeutic minor pores and skin irritation. “It supplies further hydration and barrier safety past what Vaseline gives,” she says. In different phrases, escape the Aquaphor when your pores and skin has further wants past primary moisturizing.
One other bonus? Aquaphor can really feel much less greasy on pores and skin if that’s one thing that icks you out. “Because of Aquaphor containing a decrease share of petroleum jelly, some folks really feel that it’s much less greasy and heavy on the pores and skin than Vaseline,” Dr. Desai says.
Dangers of Vaseline and Aquaphor
Whether or not you attain for Vaseline or Aquaphor, Dr. Paul cautions towards overdoing it. “Overuse of Vaseline or Aquaphor, particularly for “slugging,” can result in zits or clogged pores,” she says. Dr. Desai additionally says to maintain the remainder of your skincare routine in thoughts. “When used on prime of retinoid or retinol merchandise at evening, you could discover elevated efficiency of the retinoids, inflicting the pores and skin to get extra irritated and dry.”
And although you need to use each for wound care, neither Vaseline nor Aquaphor is an alternative to a go to to the physician. “Each can entice micro organism if used on damaged or contaminated pores and skin,” Dr. Paul warns. When you have a deep or open wound, an damage from an animal chew, or a extreme burn, it is best to have your pores and skin evaluated by a medical skilled earlier than utilizing both, Dr. Desai provides.“If there may be an an infection current, it will be significant that the an infection is addressed earlier than occlusive moisturizers are used.”
In terms of Aquaphor particularly, there’s one further (uncommon) danger to remember due to the lanolin. “There are some individuals who do have a pores and skin allergy to lanolin. This signifies that they develop crimson, itchy bumps (or generally blisters) within the areas of pores and skin uncovered to lanolin,” Dr. Desai says. “Should you expertise this response, it is strongly recommended to keep away from Aquaphor. A lanolin allergy is fairly unusual, so most individuals gained’t have any issues with it.”
The underside line on Vaseline vs. Aquaphor
Each Vaseline and Aquaphor are nice skincare staples, and you’ll probably discover loads of makes use of for each. Maintain each useful, and also you’ll be all set whether or not you want a superpowered occlusive that acts as a pores and skin barrier seal or a semi-occlusive that may concurrently hydrate and moisturize.
