Ingredient glossary
Petrolatum
On your shelf ✓What Petrolatum does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Petrolatum
In short: Petrolatum delivers barrier support, suits dry skin best, and the evidence behind it is strong.
- What it does
- Barrier support
- Best for
- Dry skin
- Evidence
- Strong
The Glow take
One of the ingredients I trust most.
When your goal is repairing a stressed moisture barrier, Petrolatum delivers, and the research properly backs it up. It tends to suit dry skin best.
— Maya
What it does
- barrier support
strong evidenceConsidered a gold-standard occlusive in dermatology literature for preventing transepidermal water loss and aiding barrier repair.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- very dry
- compromised barrier
Approach with care
- acne prone if thick layer
- oily
- Irritation riskLow
How it fits each skin type
- DrySuits
- CombinationNeutral
- OilyTake care
- SensitiveNeutral
Often chosen for compromised barrier. Take extra care if any of these apply to you: acne prone (in thick layers).
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
- humectants
- ceramides
Petrolatum, answered
Is Petrolatum safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Petrolatum is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.
Who should avoid Petrolatum?
Approach Petrolatum with care if any of these apply to you: acne prone (in thick layers) and oily.
What concentration of Petrolatum actually works?
Its concentration is rarely printed on the label, so use the ingredient list as your clue: near the top third it is likely doing real work, near the bottom it is more of a sprinkle.
Does it clog pores?
Inert and non-reactive; rates at the bottom of the scale.
- This rating comes from old lab tests on the isolated ingredient, not the finished product.
- The full formula, how much is used, and your own skin all matter more than one number.
- If you are acne-prone it is worth noticing, not a reason to avoid it on sight.
Checking a whole product? Paste its list into the pore-clogging checker →
Commonly confused with
- Mineral OilSame inert, non-reactive source. Petrolatum is the thick jelly that seals; mineral oil is the pourable liquid version.
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