When it comes to the unsung heroes of skin care, Aquaphor takes the cake. Thanks to its simple formula and no-fuss packaging, it doesn't always get the viral attention it deserves — but longtime lovers of the product know that it's a skin care powerhouse with plenty of uses.
While people perhaps best know it as a solution for dry, chapped skin and lips, its benefits are far more expansive, ranging from healing scrapes to preventing hangnails. To help get a better idea of its many uses, we tapped two dermatologists to explain the benefits and break down just how the drugstore staple works. Keep reading for everything you should know.
What is Aquaphor? | Benefits of Aquaphor | Can Aquaphor be used for slugging? | More ways to use Aquaphor | Who shouldn't use Aquaphor? | Meet our experts
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
- Multipurpose
- Tube can fit in a purse
- Not best for oily skin
What is Aquaphor?
Aquaphor is an ointment made from a mix of "petrolatum, mineral oil, ceresin, and lanolin alcohol," shares dermatologist Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose.
Aquaphor's formula was originally developed in 1924 and sold to doctors, pharmacists and hospitals in a large 5-pound tub. It wasn't until 1982 that it was introduced in a smaller tube form and sold directly to consumers. A little less than a decade later, the brand released Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment, the formula that so many of us have come to know and love.
"Aquaphor is probably one of the most commonly prescribed over-the-counter products by doctors, including dermatologists, because it has so many uses," shares Dr. Brendan Camp, a dermatologist in New York City.
Murphy-Rose says that she often recommends Aquaphor to patients "with dry, cracked, or irritated skin," including those with eczema to help prevent flare-ups. She adds, "I have also used it plenty myself and on my children."
What are the benefits of Aquaphor?
"Aquaphor protects and heals dry or irritated skin by providing a protective barrier to lock in moisture and promote healing," shares Murphy-Rose. Water from your skin evaporates into the air through a process known as transepidermal water loss, which causes dry skin. To prevent that from happening, you need to block that evaporation. "Occlusive ointments like Aquaphor do just that," she says.
Aquaphor is also an emollient, or a moisturizing agent, so it can help make the skin feel smoother and softer "by correcting cracks or gaps in the skin surface," Camp says.
That means that it can actually work as a moisturizer for the skin. Camp shares that it's particularly helpful "on rough, dry patches of skin, such as the elbows and knees." He adds, "It is also a commonly used [as a] moisturizer to address skin conditions that cause very dry skin, such as eczema and psoriasis."
Aquaphor Healing Ointment, 14-Ounce Jar
- "Lasts a long time"
- No smell
- Not travel-friendly
Can Aquaphor be used for slugging?
Slugging for skin has been around for a long time, but in recent years it has gone viral as a way to provide deep hydration for skin. The process involves using a heavy emollient as the last step in your skin care routine to help seal in your products and enhance their benefits. And Aquaphor can do that.
"Aquaphor works well for slugging as it is a generally well-tolerated occlusive ointment that prevents moisture loss and supports the skin barrier," says Murphy-Rose.
Partnerships editorial assistant Erica Morrison swears by the product for this purpose. "While I have combination-to-oily skin on my face, my limbs are prone to dryness, so I love giving them a hit of Aquaphor," she says. "After I get out of the shower, I cover myself in body lotion and then apply Aquaphor to my elbows, knees and ankles — 'slugging,' as they say. (I also use it as an eye cream when I remember that step.) An occlusive, it locks in moisture, keeping my skin smooth."
Aquaphor Lip Repair Lip Balm
- Added chamomile essence
- Convenient squeeze tube
- Some say dries too quickly
More ways to use Aquaphor
The beauty of Aquaphor is that once you have a tub in your medicine cabinet, you can reach for it for everything, from dry elbows to sunburns. Here, are just a handful of other ways that you can use it in your routine:
- As a lip balm: Chapped lips, no more! Aquaphor doubles as a lip product "by locking in moisture, soothing and protecting," Murphy-Rose says. A number of our editors say that they originally bought Aquaphor for another purpose, but now use it to hydrate their lips. "I have the [small] size that always fixes my dry lips!" shares writer Danielle Murphy.
- For chafing: In the summer, it often seems like chafing is unavoidable. Thankfully, our experts told us that Aquaphor can help prevent some of that irritation. When applied to areas prone to chafing, it reduces friction and helps protect the skin, Murphy-Rose says. She adds that it creates "a lubricating barrier that prevents the skin from rubbing together which reduces irritation and discomfort."
- To heal skin: When you put Aquaphor on a cut or a scrape, it creates a protective layer on the skin and "acts as a barrier to the outside environment to limit infection and create a better healing environment for a wound," Camp says. According to Murphy-Rose, data has suggested that "a moist environment promotes healing," so dermatologists recommend using an ointment, like Aquaphor, for injured skin.
That's why it also is helpful for healing tattoos. SEO editor Amanda Fama shares that she recently got a tattoo with a lot of detail and shading, so she was paying special care to ensure it healed properly. "As soon as I took the protective plastic (aka ‘second skin’ sticker) off of it, I used Aquaphor to help keep the skin soft and moisturized. It works like a charm! I also use it as a lip balm, and it gives my lips a really nice shine.” - To soothe a sunburn: Speaking of sunburns, it can also be a great choice to use when your skin is feeling the effects of a day in the sun. "If you start to blister, Aquaphor is a great option," dermatologist Rebecca Baxt previously shared with us.
- As a cuticle cream: "Aquaphor is an effective moisturizer for cuticles," shares Camp. This is important, because "keeping cuticles moisturized and soft can help prevent the formation of hangnails, which occur when cuticle skin dries out and peels back from the skin."
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Who shouldn't use Aquaphor?
Yes, Aquaphor has plenty of benefits, but that doesn't mean that it's the best choice for everyone. Murphy-Rose recommends that those with acne-prone or oily skin avoid occlusive ointments like Aquaphor "as it can potentially contribute to breakouts."
Aquaphor also contains lanolin, a moisturizing wax extracted from sheep's wool, Camp shares. "Those with a lanolin allergy may opt for a different product, such as Vaseline, which contains only petrolatum."
How we chose
In-the-know shoppers have long been singing the praises of Aquaphor as a do-it-all beauty staple. Because of its many uses and its popularity (the original formula has more than 66,000 perfect five-star ratings on Amazon), we decided to take a deeper look into what makes it so popular. To do that, we spoke to top dermatologists and our own editorial staff about the many reasons why they love the product.
Meet our experts
- Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, is a board-certified cosmetic, medical and surgical dermatologist specializing in facial rejuvenation at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York. She is also a clinical instructor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery and the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.
- Dr. Brendan Camp, MD, is a dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in New York. He is double board-certified in dermatology and dermatopathology.
- Dr. Rebecca Baxt, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist, who runs BAXT CosMedical in Bergen County, New Jersey.
