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I started using Aquaphor Healing Ointment when my freshman-year roommate's mom, a dermatologist to the stars, pulled a tube out of her purse. I had stubborn New York-winter-chapped lips, and everything I applied to my dry lips started to flake off within minutes, leaving my lips gritty and raw. My poor, miserable lips!
My roomie's mom saved the day. One slather of the viscous ointment felt like immediate relief. It didn’t have the menthol taste of some lip balms, or the fruity flavor of others. In fact, it had no taste at all, just a totally neutral, richly subtle weight that stayed on my lips instead of slowly disintegrating. It seemed to penetrate all those layers of fragile, chapped lip skin and work its magic quickly. Aquaphor will do that – it’s a gloopy skin protectant ointment that helps skin recover from whatever ails it.
Once I started using Aquaphor, I never looked back. I’ve since learned that dry air, licking lips, and sun exposure are all responsible for making lips chapped, and flavors including citrus, mint, and peppermint can make them worse.
What is Aquaphor and what makes it work so well?
I turned to Dr. Amy Spizuoco, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist based in New York City, for answers. Dr. Spizuoco is the President of the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology and is an Associate Clinical Instructor in the Department of Dermatology at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, among other accolades. She also happens to be an enthusiastic fan of Aquaphor.
“Aquaphor has the unique ability to create an ideal healing environment in the skin,” Dr. Spizuoco explained. “It does this by creating a semi-occlusive, protective barrier to prevent water loss. At the same time, it allows oxygen to flow to the skin to reach the wound.”
This was the technical explanation of the healing power I was experiencing on my chapped lips — why it felt so much more healing than anything else I tried, without feeling suffocating or greasy. “It's formulated with petrolatum, glycerin, panthenol, and soothing lanolin,” she says, the recipe for working all these wonders.
What is Aquaphor used for?
I usually wear only Aquaphor on my lips — and it sort of feels like cheating when I’ve been asked what lipstick I’m rocking. On the occasions when I do wear lipstick, I apply Aquaphor first, creating a well-moisturized canvas. My lipstick then goes on more smoothly and stays for longer.
Dr. Spizuoco recommends Aquaphor to her patients in all sorts of scenarios: “after skin surgery, after biopsy procedures, after ablative and destructive procedures such as laser treatment. And for any minor wounds, like cracked dry skin or cuts and scrapes.” Apparently, it’s also the gold standard for healing new tattoos. The uses for Aquaphor are seemingly endless.
It's certainly my go-to for chapped lips, but it’s also my solution for dry cuticles, rough elbows, razor burn, and crusty heels (sorry, that last one is a little gross). It’s my secret makeup remover for waterproof mascara and a great highlighter for cheekbones. Dr. Spizuoco likes “that Aquaphor won't clog pores, and it's free of fragrance, preservatives and dyes.” In other words, it won’t make you break out because it’s that miraculous.
It’s great for kids, too.
When my son was born in the winter of 2021, he soon developed a flaky scalp and dry, angry red patches on his legs. (Poor little guy!) The pediatrician recommended a steroid cream, but it didn’t seem to help much. Next, we visited a pediatric dermatologist. He told us to slather our baby in Aquaphor. He said he liked it for its “super gloopiness.”
“That’s it?” we asked, surprised the solution could be so simple. That was it.
Almost instantly, we saw a difference. His scaly patches became softer and soon disappeared altogether. His head became smooth, with little tufts of wispy baby hair that are now golden ringlets. I realize I only have a sample size of one here, but we were thrilled.
Because Aquaphor creates a barrier between the skin and the air that allows for the flow of oxygen to create an ideal healing environment, and because it’s so gentle and non-irritating, it’s a great solution for little kid skin problems, like dry skin and diaper rash. (Note that Aquaphor has a separate, also wonderful, diaper cream.)
Aquaphor comes in many formats.
OK, I’ll admit it: Over the years, I’ve tried all kinds of new lip balms that feel a little more playful and feminine. After all, Aquaphor has a no-nonsense, medicinal presentation. But I keep coming back to my trusty white tubes — and I don’t leave my house without at least one.
Aquaphor comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, including a 14-ounce tub and a body spray, but my favorite format is the 3-ounce tube, which comes packaged in a handy 2-pack. They also make a specific Lip Repair formulation (it’s a different formula with shea butter, beeswax, and Vitamin E instead of the usual petroleum base), but I prefer to use the standard Aquaphor for everything, including my lips. I just like the way it feels and makes my lips soft and juicy.
I usually buy several: one for my purse, car, bathroom, the bedside table, and of course my desk. You never know when you’ll need the magical potion that has your skin, lips, nails — whathaveyou — looking and feeling fantastic.
PHOTO CREDIT:
Photography: Paul Quitoriano
Art Direction: Sarah Ceniceros Gomez
