Difference Between Aquaphor and Vaseline

Skincare ought to be an important part of everyone’s daily routine. It repairs and enhance the appearance of the skin and makes it dust-free. Sometimes, it may also include medications and therapies. The practices that are generally carried out for skincare are using cosmetics, exfoliation, botulinum, fillers, laser resurfacing etc.

There is a wide range of products available in the market as aids for skincare. They differ in their composition, properties and significance. Mainly these products are of two types, Cosmeceuticals; the products that are applied topically, and Nutricosmetics; the products that are ingested orally.

Everyone has their chosen thing when it comes to skincare. From fixing chapped lips to crack in heels, if a single product does the work then that’s what people will prefer. Two such products are Aquaphor and Vaseline. Literally, people confuse themselves between these two all over the world.

The reason for the confusion between them is that both of them are ointments that help in repairing and look after the skin. Both of them are petroleum-based but they have several distinct features too.

Key Takeaways

1. Aquaphor is a healing ointment that contains ingredients like lanolin and glycerin, while Vaseline is a petroleum jelly that contains only one ingredient: petroleum.
2. Aquaphor is ideal for treating dry, cracked, or irritated skin, while Vaseline protects the skin from moisture loss.
3. Aquaphor has additional uses like wound healing and treating minor burns, while Vaseline is mainly used as a moisturizer and lip balm.

Aquaphor vs Vaseline

The difference between Aquaphor and Vaseline is that Vaseline is 100 per cent petroleum without water, while Aquaphor is 41 per cent petroleum along with some active ingredients with water.

Comparison Table

Parameter of Comparison	Aquaphor	Vaseline
Composition	Aquaphor is 41 per cent petrolatum, with some active ingredients and water.	Vaseline is 100 per cent petrolatum without water.
Significance	It is best for any wound care or treatment.	Whereas, it is best for keeping the skin free from impurities.
Application	It spreads evenly on the skin and feels more like a lotion.	While it feels quite sticky on the skin.
Miscibility	It is completely miscible with aqueous solutions.	It is not completely miscible.
Use	It is used as a base for other healing ointments.	It does not have any such usage.
Irritation issue	It can irritate sensitive skin because of its ingredients like lanolin.	Whereas, it does not have any such issue and is non-allergic.
Price	It is much costlier than Vaseline.	It is quite cheaper.

What is Aquaphor?

Aquaphor or as it is called “the Nectar of the Gods”, is a unique healing ointment that works for protecting dry or rough skin and enhance the natural healing process. It offers a number of advantages. It fixes everything starting from chapped lips, cracked, dry skin to minor burns.

It is a petroleum-based ointment that contains around 41 per cent of petroleum mixed with some active ingredients and water. The ingredients present in Aquaphor are mineral oil, ceresin, lanolin alcohol, panthenol, glycerin and bisabolol.

As lanolin alcohol comes from animal skin, it may cause a stinging effect or irritation on the skin sometimes. There are no other side effects of Aquaphor.

The healing property of Aquaphor is highly commendable. It soothes the skin by preventing water from evaporating. It can heal the skin like no other. If used continuously for days, it can even make the skin soft over time. It also helps in maintaining moisture in the skin and in turn, prevents the skin from getting dry.

Moreover, it was found that Aquaphor can also be an effective aid in the treatment of a condition named Keratosis pilaris which is very common among individuals.

What is Vaseline?

Vaseline is a petroleum-based product that helps in retaining the lost properties of skin through healing. It is a jelly-like substance which contains 100 per cent of petrolatum without any water compounds. As discovered by Robert Augustus Chesebrough in 1859, it has perfectly maintained its healing property to date.

Used by almost every other person, Vaseline has come out to be a popular name in every household. The main ingredient petroleum present in it helps retain moisture and heal the skin. Healing minor skin scrapes, burns, moisturising face, hands etc., removing makeup, working as a lube for stuck objects are some of the things that Vaseline does.

It offers a water-protective barrier to seal the skin and ensures overall protection for the skin. Nevertheless, it is not as harmless as people might think. No doubt, Vaseline has all the harmful components removed while the refining process takes place.

But, what we do not know is there are several imitators of petroleum jelly which may not give a clear idea about what extent the components are removed. This can sometimes be suffocating to the pores as it is insoluble in water. It can merely work on sealing the moisture and make the skin dry, as a result.

Continuing with its wonders, Vaseline is also found to be a help in reducing perineal traumas that occur during delivery. When perineal massage in the second stage of labour is carried out using Vaseline, it increases perineal integrity and in turn, decreases perineal traumas.

Main Differences Between Aquaphor and Vaseline

1. Vaseline is 100 per cent petroleum, while Aquaphor is 41 per cent petroleum mixed with water.
2. Aquaphor spreads evenly, whereas, Vaseline feels sticky on the skin.
3. The rate of miscibility of Aquaphor is higher as compared to Vaseline.
4. Aquaphor is best suited for repairing wounds, while Vaseline is best for keeping the skin dust-free.
5. Aquaphor can sometimes cause irritation to the skin, while Vaseline does not.
6. Vaseline is cheaper as compared to Aquaphor.

References

1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1525-1470.2011.01497.x
2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00404-011-1919-5