Aquaphor ingredients list

US Healing Ointment versus Original Ointment

Both US ointments list petrolatum as the skin protectant. The other ingredients appear under inactive ingredients; that label category does not mean they have no role in the formula. Healing Ointment includes panthenol and glycerin to moisturize and nourish skin. Neither US list gives a percentage for each inactive ingredient, so the 41% petrolatum figure is not a complete breakdown of the formula.125

What do the ingredients do?

Healing Ointment forms a protective barrier that helps skin retain moisture. It is a water free ointment rather than a lotion or cream. Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it attracts water and helps keep it in the skin. Panthenol, also called dexpanthenol, improves hydration in the outer skin layers and reduces water loss. Bisabolol has soothing, anti inflammatory properties and can come from plants or be made synthetically.34

US Healing Ointment is fragrance, preservative and dye free and is formulated for sensitive skin. Both US ointments contain lanolin alcohol, so neither is a lanolin alcohol free choice. If you are checking for a particular ingredient, use the full list rather than the sensitive skin wording on the package.124

Why does another Aquaphor list look different?

Eucerin Aquaphor Repairing Ointment lists Paraffinum Liquidum, Cera Microcristallina, Ceresin, Lanolin Alcohol, Panthenol, Glycerin and Bisabolol. Use that list for the Repairing Ointment version, not as a replacement for the US Healing Ointment list. The product name matters even when the brand name matches.3

Canadian Aquaphor Healing Ointment with DIN 02446189 lists mineral oil 52.74% by weight as its active ingredient. That differs from the US product's 41% petrolatum declaration. For the Canadian product's remaining ingredients, check its package rather than borrowing the US inactive ingredient list.16

Ingredient names can also differ between markets. US cosmetic labels use common or usual names; international terms can appear alongside them in parentheses. A naming difference is therefore not automatically a formula difference, but matching the exact product remains necessary.7

Aquaphor tells you to check the ingredients on your own packaging, which gives the jar a rare chance to settle an internet argument. Ingredients are updated regularly, and website lists can differ from the packaging. When checking an ingredient before buying, read the list on the product you will actually use.5

How do you use Healing Ointment?

Apply US Healing Ointment as needed to protect and help relieve chapped or cracked skin and lips. It also temporarily protects minor cuts, scrapes and burns and helps protect skin from wind and cold weather. Aquaphor advises against applying it to open, bleeding or wet wounds.14

Keep the ointment out of your eyes. Do not use it on deep or puncture wounds, animal bites or serious burns. Stop use and ask a doctor if the condition worsens, symptoms last more than seven days, or symptoms clear and return within a few days.1