Best Ointments for Dry Skin

Ranked by 584 mentions across Reddit · Updated November 2026

Top picks· 14

The heaviest layer — a thin coat on dry patches, last step.

Reddit’s top pick

Original Healing Jelly

Vaseline277 mentions

The why

Nose-fold flaking gets a thin layer before tret, which commenters say keeps those edges from peeling.

“Vaseline or Aquaphor can also really help prevent dryness.”
— Reddit, r/tretinoin

One minus

Greasy, sticky film; awful under makeup

Good forDry Skin, Sensitive Skin, Oily Skin, Combination Skin

Compare the top 5

	1 Vaseline Original Healing Jelly	2 Aquaphor Healing Ointment	3 CeraVe Healing Ointment	4 Aquaphor Healing Balm Stick	5 Hydromol Hydromol Ointment
	Top pick	Compare with #1 →	Budget pick Compare with #1 →
Reddit mentions	277	225	57	5	5
Price	—	from $12	from $9	from $9	from $20
Better for	—	Skin Barrier	—	—	—
Key ingredients	Petrolatum	Petrolatum, Mineral Oil	Petrolatum, Ceramides	Petrolatum, Avocado Oil	—

Want something lighter? Prequel SKIN UTILITY GEL Multi-Purpose Skin Protectant

Want something richer? CeraVe Advanced Repair Balm

Community take

For dry skin, Redditors often reach for petroleum-jelly ointments like Vaseline or Aquaphor to prevent dryness and slug with a thin layer. Some also find petroleum jelly especially helpful for dry lips.

What works

Helps prevent dryness and supports overnight slugging.
A thin layer can help dry skin feel more comfortable.
Petroleum jelly is reported to suit dry lips.

Watch out for

Slathering on a thick layer is discouraged.
Applying ointment over adapalene may not suit some routines.

The full ranking

Advanced Repair Balm
CeraVe3 mentions
After chemical burns, commenters use it as a face barrier and later as lip balm.
“use the cerave barrier advanced repair balm in my dry spots <3”
— Reddit, r/tretinoin
Ultra Repair Rescue Barrier Balm with 1% Dimethicone
First Aid Beauty3 mentions
Wintertime nostril flares prompt a balm layer, and commenters say it really helped with flaking.
“It really really has helped with the flaking.”
— Reddit, r/tretinoin
from $36
Treatment Ointment
Dermeze2 mentions
Eye-area eczema stays away for years, and one commenter uses it as their face’s sole product besides occasional sunscreen.
“I use Dermeze ointment for moisturiser and nothing else touches my eyes.”
— Reddit, r/eczema
from $39
Skin Utility Ointment Facial Treatment
Prequel2 mentions
Cracked, bleeding lips get a dab, with one user saying it seems to help.
“I did use a bit on my lip when it cracked and bled from dryness and it seemed to help”
— Reddit, r/SkincareAddiction
Original Ointment
A+D1 mention
Morning-and-night lip use stopped one commenter’s chronic dryness.
“Try Vitamin A&D ointment.”
— Reddit, r/30PlusSkinCare
Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant
Elizabeth Arden1 mention
During Accutane, one user says it absolutely saves their lips.
“Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream absolutely saved my lips FYI.”
— Reddit, r/koreanskincare
from $17
Epaderm Ointment
Epaderm1 mention
Makeup-remover duty makes this thick balm useful as a cleanser.
“Epaderm ointment (as a makeup remover or cleanser, it's a thick balm for dry skin”
— Reddit, r/tretinoin
from $9
SKIN UTILITY GEL Multi-Purpose Skin Protectant
Prequel1 mention
Nose spots are where it earns its keep: one user says it helps a really dry nose.
“My nose gets really dry and it helps a ton.”
— Reddit, r/30PlusSkinCare
Moisturizing Ointment
Vanicream1 mention
Nightly post-shower eyelid use calls for the ointment specifically, not the regular cream.
“I put it on my eyelids every night after I get out of the shower.”
— Reddit, r/30PlusSkinCare