Healing Ointment — Reddit Reviews
by Aquaphor
Updated October 1, 2026
Petrolatum-heavy ointment for sealing in moisture and calming barrier damage; greasy.
What the community says
A water-free occlusive built around petrolatum and mineral oil, with panthenol and glycerin for extra cushion. Best for very dry, irritated skin or retinoid-adjacent barrier rescue. It feels heavy, can look shiny, and lanolin alcohol trips some people up.
What this means for you
Backed by 26 threads from r/SkincareAddiction, r/30PlusSkinCare and 4 more.
Read the threads ↓What people love
Watch out for
Product details
Skin Type
Product Traits
Key Ingredients
Where to buy
What the science says vs. what Reddit says
Skin Barrier
Some evidence
Petrolatum: 13 studies tested it on its own. See all 22 studies
On Reddit: Petrolatum ointment lets users aggressively lock in moisture on irritated eyes and nostrils to aid rapid healing. 141 mentions
What the studies found
- Most studies found it helped the skin barrier
- It often helped dry, rough, or itchy skin look and feel better
- It helped skin hold water better and lowered water loss through the skin
- It often helped the skin's protective layer recover faster after damage
- Some studies found no clear extra benefit, especially for diaper rash or irritated skin
Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.
Real Reddit threads — 1,244 mentions across 26 threads
Aquaphor Healing Ointment on Reddit, in one place — 26 threads from r/SkincareAddiction, r/30PlusSkinCare and 4 more, summarized.
“For the first week, always always always keep it covered with a thin layer of aquaphor”
Positive
“you do not want to see any scabbing! Scabbing will increase severity of scarring. This is why you always keep it covered with aquaphor.”
Positive
“using Aquaphor healing ointment”
Positive
“Aquaphor Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy – 10/10”
Positive
“Pros: Heals, hydrates/seals in moisture.”
Positive
“Cult classic for good reason. I’m team Aquaphor over vasaline every day.”
Positive
“Me🤝Aquaphor after all my skincare steps”
Positive
“Ah, you also enjoy waking up feeling like your lint roller.”
Positive
“On top of all your night routine???”
Positive
“I’m laying here trying not to let my cat touch my aquaphor face.”
Positive
“Even after 45 minutes of layering, it’s still a fight I’m not going to win.”
Positive
“my cat touch my aquaphor face”
Positive
“A lot of the examples of “glass skin” that I have seen can be easily achieved with me smearing aquaphor on my face”
Mentioned
“there is a happy medium between super matte and super oily”
Mentioned
“People are going to look back on “glass skin” and they are going to cringe”
Mentioned
“At night I’ve been slugging with aquaphor but I’ve gone down to only 2-3 days a week for that now.”
Positive
“I started slugging immediately because I had aquaphor already while I waited for my new products and that helped almost right away!”
Positive
“Slugging for sure! And I think the thicker moisturizer also”
Positive
