Can I use Vanicream Moisturizing Cream on my face?

Who is the cream best for?

The cream is a reasonable choice if your face feels dry and you want a richer moisturizer. It contains petrolatum and is free of fragrance, masking fragrance, botanical extracts and essential oils. Vanicream describes the cream as easy to spread and quickly absorbed. The same cream is intended for face and body, so the tub does not need a facial rebrand.1

If your skin is oily or prone to acne, the richer texture deserves more consideration. General facial skincare guidance cautions that heavy petrolatum products can be a poor fit for some acne prone skin. The cream's noncomedogenic label is useful when choosing a moisturizer, but your next step should depend on how your skin responds. For sensitive skin, try the product on your inner arm for a few days before applying it across your face.2

How do I apply it?

1. 1Wash your face gently with warm rather than hot water. Avoid scrubbing dry or flaky areas.
2. 2Pat your face dry gently. Apply moisturizer immediately, within five minutes of washing, using a soft touch.
3. 3Apply Vanicream Moisturizing Cream as needed. You can use it in the morning or evening; the directions do not restrict it to nighttime.
4. 4Reapply when your skin needs moisture. Vanicream also directs application after bathing, showering or swimming, and before exposure to wind and cold.

For dry facial skin, moisturizing more than once daily can help reduce dryness and prevent it returning. Use the cream to restore and maintain moisture rather than as a fixed length treatment. If flakes persist, do not keep scrubbing them away: repeated exfoliation can damage the skin and prolong the irritation.13

What if the cream feels too rich?

Choose Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion if you want a lighter version of the cream, including during warmer months. The lotion is also intended for facial use and is labelled noncomedogenic. A lighter lotion is an option, not a requirement to give every season its own bathroom shelf. The cream itself does not contain ceramides; Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer is a separate option that does.14

Does the cream replace sunscreen?

No. Vanicream Moisturizing Cream is not the brand's Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30. Applying the plain cream after sun exposure does not make it sunscreen. For daytime use, include sun protection. If you choose Vanicream Facial Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30, its label directs liberal application 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapplication at least every two hours. Use a water resistant sunscreen when swimming or sweating.135

Can I layer it with prescription eczema cream?

Follow the instructions for your particular medicine rather than assuming every prescription uses the same order. For pimecrolimus, an eczema medicine, apply the medicine to dry skin first and let it absorb completely before adding moisturizer. Ask your doctor about the specific moisturizer you plan to use. Moisturizer can help eczema related dryness, but it does not replace prescribed treatment.6

When does dryness need medical attention?

Contact a healthcare professional if facial dryness is not improving, looks wet and red, stays persistently pink, or is itchy enough to interfere with daily life. Those are reasons to have the skin assessed rather than simply applying more cream.3