Affordable and effective natural Aquaphor alternatives exist! Here are 5 safe alternative for Aquaphor, with clean ingredient lists included. Each product is perfect for treating cuts and scrapes, dry skin (and baby’s diaper rash too).
By: Lisa Fennessy
You asked and we’re answering! This series (“Swap This for That”) is where we take reader questions from the blog and social media on tough-to-find clean swaps—and answer them right here!
This week is all about finding a clean swap for Aquaphor. We’ve got a pick for every budget, purpose and style. Check it out. And if you like this, be sure to check out ourhealthier alternatives for CeraVe Cleansers, ourclean swap for children’s Tylenoland ournatural swaps for Purell.
IN THIS POST:
- Aquaphor ingredients to consider
- Alba’s Un Petroleum
- Waxelene
- Maya Chia’s Waterless Wonder Balm
- Erin’s Faces Tamanu Balm Barrier Salve
- True Organic’s All You Need Is Me
Identifying Natural Occlusives
The active ingredient in Aquaphor is petrolatum. Petrolatum helps prevent evaporation of moisture from the skin and also protects skin from irritation. This type of skincare ingredient is categorized as an “occlusive” because of the way it functions.
The problem is that fatty acids from petroleum are absorbed through the skin, stored in our adipose tissue, not metabolized and not excreted. Mineral oil snuck into food and cosmetics has led to mineral oil being the largest contaminant in human tissue.
Better swaps for petrolatum are natural ingredients that act like occlusives like vegetable waxes (candelilla and jojoba) and animal-derived waxes (like beeswax and lanolin)(1). Look for these on labels instead, when searching for Vaseline alternatives.
Keep reading to check out our top swaps for Aquaphor!
RELATED: Natural skincare products to try now.
5 Natural Swaps for Aquaphor
Alba’s Un Petroleum | $7.80
Check out their full ingredient list below…um, SOLD. Use this all over to soothe skin and protect against irritation, chaffing and windburn, as a non petroleum jelly alternative.
Alba’s Un Petroluem’s full ingredient list: castor seed oil, organic sunflower seed oil, beeswax and tocopheryl acetate (vitamin e).
RELATED: My Favorite Natural Face Moisturizers
Waxelene | $59.99
This USDA-certified organic ointment can be used for a myriad of purposes (dry skin, chapped lips, face, cuticles, elbows, hair, scars, cracks, calluses, feet, babies, makeup remover, after-shave, after-sun)—it even promises not to clog pores. Love that it comes in glass too, making it an even more sustainable Vaseline alternative.
Waxelene’s full ingredient list: organic soy oil, organic beeswax, mixed tocopherols (vitamin e) and organic rosemary oil.
Maya Chia’s Waterless Wonder Balm | $42
This luxe pick can be used as a spot treatment that leaves the skin on your hands, feet, elbows —you name it—nourished, hydrated and rejuvenated. The consistency here is divine and I especially love this for lips—a perfect petroleum jelly substitute!
Read more here about why I love Maya Chia’s products.
Maya Chia’s Waterless Wonder Balm’s full ingredient list: shea butter, supercritical chia seed oil, organic apricot kernel Oil, organic sunflower oil, beeswax, tocopherol (non-GMO vitamin e), 2% essential oils and botanical extracts.
Erin’s Faces Tamanu Balm Barrier Salve | $40
This balm is a fantastic Aquaphor alternative / Vaseline substitute for babies, cheeks, hands, lips and dry patches.
Erin’s Faces Tamanu Balm Barrier Salve full ingredient list: Organic Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Oil, Organic Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax)* sourced locally in New Jersey.
True Organic’s All You Need Is Me | $14
This Swedish-made ointment soothes chafing, sunburn, heals cuts and scrapes, hydrates dry patches and more. This thick-waxy textured balm will become a quick fave!
True Organic’s All You Need Is Me full ingredient list: castor oil, beeswax, olive oil, shea butter, vitamin e, blueberry seed oil.
RELATED: The Best Organic Lip Balms
What are you trying to find a better swap for? Tell me about your favorite Aquaphor alternative in the comments below!
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REFERENCES:
1. Janeš, D. and Kočevar Glavač, N. (Ed). (2018) Modern Cosmetics Ingredients of Natural Origin, A Scientific View. Velenje: Širimo dobro besedo, d.o.o. p.174
