Product

Aquaphor

41% petrolatum, and the most useful product in most people's cabinets. It also contains lanolin — which dermatologists named Allergen of the Year in 2023.
At a Glance
Recommended

An occlusive seals the skin to slow water from escaping. Petrolatum is the strongest example, cutting water loss by over 98%. Aquaphor is 41% petrolatum, not 100%, so it seals but lets a little water vapor through.

That "semi" quality is why it is often preferred over pure petroleum jelly for healing wounds and post-procedure skin: the skin underneath is not completely sealed off. It also contains glycerin and panthenol, so it hydrates as well as seals.

The one caveat is lanolin. Lanolin was named Allergen of the Year in 2023, and a few percent of people react to it. Because people reach for this on already-damaged skin, a reaction can look like the original problem getting worse. If that happens, plain petrolatum with no lanolin is the swap.

Key facts

Key activePetrolatum 41% + lanolin alcohol
TextureThick ointment
Best forCracked skin, healing wounds, chapped lips, slugging
Approximate price$5–17 (by size)
FragranceFragrance free

How it works

Occlusives are the least glamorous and most effective category in skincare, and this is the standard.

Petrolatum blocks water from leaving your skin. It reduces water loss by more than 98% — no other ingredient comes close. That is the whole mechanism, it is well established, and it is why this works.

Unlike plain Vaseline, Aquaphor is semi-occlusive. At 41% petrolatum rather than 100%, it lets a little water vapor through. That is why it is preferred over pure petrolatum jelly for healing wounds and post-procedure skin — the skin underneath is not completely sealed.

It contains glycerin and panthenol, which pure petroleum jelly does not, so it hydrates as well as seals.

Cheap, and a tub lasts a very long time.

Everyday habits

How to use it
  • When: Any time, but especially at night (PM) for cracked or healing skin.How much: A thin layer over the area. A little goes a long way. Steps: Apply to slightly damp skin after cleansing, or over a moisturizer. It also seals in a treatment overnight. Tip: For slugging, use it as the very last step to lock in everything underneath.
Who should be careful+

It contains lanolin alcohol, and this is the real caveat. The American Contact Dermatitis Society named lanolin its Allergen of the Year for 2023. In patch-test data from nearly 44,000 people, about 3.3% reacted to it — and around 4.5% of children did.

If you are lanolin-allergic, Aquaphor will make things worse, not better — and because people reach for it on already-damaged skin, the reaction is easy to mistake for the original problem getting worse.

Vaseline is 100% petrolatum with no lanolin. If you have reacted to Aquaphor, that is the swap.

There is an active class action (filed September 2025) challenging Beiersdorf's "hypoallergenic" labeling precisely because of the lanolin alcohol. The case is unresolved and we take no position on it — but it tells you the question is live.

It is greasy. That is the point, but it will sit on top of skin and it will mark your pillow.

Questions people ask+
How is it different from Vaseline?Vaseline is 100% petrolatum. Aquaphor is 41% petrolatum with added glycerin, panthenol, and lanolin.
What is the lanolin concern?Lanolin was named Allergen of the Year in 2023. If you react to it, Aquaphor can make things worse.
Is it fragrance-free?Yes. It has no added fragrance.
Can I use it for slugging?Yes. It is a common last step to seal in a routine overnight.
Is it good for healing wounds?Yes. Its semi-occlusive nature makes it a common choice for healing and post-procedure skin.
Full ingredient list+

Petrolatum 41%, Paraffinum Liquidum, Ceresin, Lanolin Alcohol, Panthenol, Glycerin, Bisabolol

References+

1. Moisturizers: The Slippery Road (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4885180) — Directly states petrolatum reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) by more than 98%, while other occlusives (lanolin, mineral oil, silicones) only reduce it 20-30% - backing the 'reduces water loss by more than 98%, no other ingredient comes close' and 'occlusives are the most effective category' claims. 2. Petrolatum: Barrier repair and antimicrobial responses underlying this "inert" moisturizer (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26431582/) — Documents that petrolatum is used in prevention of skin infections after ambulatory surgery, in postoperative wound care, and as maintenance therapy for atopic dermatitis, and that it drives skin-barrier repair (filaggrin/loricrin induction, increased stratum corneum thickness) - backing the mechanism and the post-procedure/wound-healing use claims. 3. In vivo investigations on the penetration of various oils and their influence on the skin barrier (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22092829/) — Uses petrolatum as the positive control for skin occlusion and finds it produced the most effective reduction in transepidermal water loss - supporting the claim that petrolatum blocks water from leaving the skin as a well-established occlusive mechanism. 4. Aquaphor Healing Ointment - Product / Ingredients page (https://www.aquaphorus.com/products/healing-ointment) — Manufacturer page confirming the active ingredient is Petrolatum 41% and that the formula is enriched with Panthenol and Glycerin - backing the product-specific formulation facts (41% petrolatum, contains glycerin and panthenol).