Healing Ointment — Reddit Reviews
by CeraVe
Updated November 10, 2026
46.5% petrolatum plus ceramides seals in moisture for barrier repair; thick and shiny.
What the community says
A petrolatum-rich occlusive with ceramides, mineral oil, and panthenol, designed as the final layer over moisturizer. It suits cracked, tret-irritated, or eczema-prone skin, but acne-prone faces may find the grease congesting and daytime wear impractical.
What this means for you
What people love
- Heavy occlusive built for overnight slugging
- Ceramides added to petrolatum; more than plain petroleum jelly
- Tret-shed rescue for peeling patches
Watch out for
Product details
Use caution
Skin Type
Product Traits
Key Ingredients
What TikTok says
From 10 TikTok videos5 sponsored, marked with outlined numbers
Sponsored creators say the ointment locks in moisture and supports the skin barrier with ceramides 1234, and unsponsored creators 56 agree it helps dry, damaged skin. Creators, including sponsored ones, say it suits eczema-prone and very dry skin, plus hands and lips 23456. Sponsored creators say it will not clog pores 23 and is lanolin-free 4. Creators warn to buy the genuine tub because fake versions exist 5, and one says the formula has changed 7.
Sponsored means the creator disclosed a brand partnership or the video ran as a paid ad.
Videos open on TikTok in a new tab.
How to use it
From Reddit routinesHow Reddit uses it
Where to buy
What the science says
Petrolatum has some evidence for helping the skin barrier, often letting skin hold more water and lowering water loss through the skin 1. Ceramides also have some evidence for barrier support, and both studies that tested them directly found they helped skin keep moisture 2. For eczema, petrolatum has some evidence of easing symptoms and scaling, though one study found another moisturizer worked better 3. For eczema, ceramides fall in the not proven yet category, since studies were split on whether they help 4.
- Petrolatum for skin barrier Some evidence · 22 studies
- Ceramides for skin barrier Some evidence · 15 studies
- Petrolatum for eczema Some evidence · 8 studies
- Ceramides for eczema Not proven yet · 13 studies
Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.
How we grade researchFull ingredient list · 22
CeraVe Healing Ointment ingredients
Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Paraffin, Ozokerite, Dimethicone, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Water, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Proline, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Pantolactone, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin
Listed in label order, highest concentration first. Linked ingredients have their own page.
Real Reddit threads — 384 mentions across 29 threads
CeraVe Healing Ointment on Reddit, in one place — 29 threads from r/tretinoin, r/eczema and 5 more, summarized.
“I've recently discovered that using Cerave healing ointment over moisturizer really helps with peeling and flakey patches”
Mentioned
“Cerave healing ointment”
Mentioned
“really helps with peeling and flakey patches”
Mentioned
“First I tried using just Cetaphil gentle cleanser, Amerigel, and CeraVe healing ointment.”
Mentioned
“It helped a bit, but was not very gentle on my face.”
Mentioned
“Honest brand Honey balm (as an occupant alternative to Cerave Ointment)”
Mentioned
“Cerave healing ointment”
Positive
“when all that settles you can rub a tiny amount of cerave healing ointment over top”
Positive
“If it’s dry later I will add more moisturizer or pat on the cerave healing ointment.”
Positive
“either the original vaseline or the cerave healing ointment is recommended”
Mentioned
“it’s an occlusive so it’s very useful at the end of a routine to seal in any moisture”
Mentioned
“recommended - dyes etc in the lip therapy vaselines could cause breakouts”
Mentioned
“Seal it all in with CeraVe Healing Ointment”
Positive
“- Seal it all in with CeraVe Healing Ointment”
Positive
“PM:”
Positive
“Ive been using vaseline and Cerave healing ointment religiously”
Positive
“it seems like it clears up and comes back and spreads up and down his legs”
Positive
“My six year old is having trouble with eczema on the back of his knees.”
Positive
Dupes & Alternatives
Often paired with
Products Redditors use alongside this one
La Roche-Posay
Mentioned together in 25 threads
“I use CeraVe ointment and LRP cicaplast balm after.”
CeraVe
Mentioned together in 23 threads
“Cera Ve Moisturizing Cream (in the big 453g tub), applied gently to the entire face. Wait 5 mins to allow it to absorb, then apply Cera Ve Healing Ointment”
— r/eczema
Vanicream
Mentioned together in 11 threads
“At night, I use Vanicream moisturizer and Cerave healing ointment on top.”
— r/acne
Illiyoon
Ceramide Ato Concentrate Cream
Mentioned together in 8 threads
“my go-to’s are Cerave healing ointment at night and Illiyoon Ato cream concentrate during the day”