Vaseline is used to relieve dry skin, particularly on the body. But many consumers are curious about whether it can improve skin quality and hydration on the face as well.

Does Vaseline contain research-backed ingredients for improving facial skin quality and even reducing the signs of aging? Does it contain any questionable additive ingredients? How do real users rate and describe the effects of using Vaseline on the face? And what retailer sells Vaseline for the best price?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in Vaseline based on medical studies to give our take on whether it’s good for the face or if it should be avoided for use on the face.

We’ll also feature unsponsored user reviews of Vaseline for the face, as well as a price comparison featuring which retailer sells Vaseline for the best price.

Ingredient Analysis

Vaseline is unique in that it only contains one ingredient: white petrolatum.

This ingredient has been studied in clinical trials.

A 2016 clinical trial investigated the effects of petrolatum on skin, and the researchers found that this ingredient had an antimicrobial effect and supported skin barrier repair.

A clinical trial published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology also found that Vaseline supports skin barrier repair, and suggests that it may have a hydrating effect, describing its mechanism of action as trapping water under the skin’s surface.

A 2016 medical review found that petrolatum reduces water loss from the skin by up to 98% when applied topically.

Petrolatum was also shown to protect skin against environmental irritants in a clinical trial published in the Dermatology journal.

Based on the available research, we consider Vaseline to be good for the face and to help protect skin and lock in moisture.

We have not come across any clinical trials suggesting that petrolatum, the active ingredient in Vaseline, has any toxic or harmful effects.

But how do real users report the effects of Vaseline on the face? Is “slugging” an anti-aging secret? We’ll review in the next section.

Real People Try Vaseline on Their Faces

A YouTube creator named “Nimeshaa” used Vaseline on her face for 7 straight days and shared her results in a video with over 800,000 views:

A YouTube creator named Kaiser Cody claims that using Vaseline on her face helped with clearing acne and eczema and includes before-and-after images:

Where to Get the Best Price

Vaseline is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here's a price breakdown per-bottle for the 13 ounce version:

CVS: $12.58 (plus shipping, link)

Rite Aid: $6.29 (plus shipping, link)

Target: $8.38 (plus shipping – link)

Walmart: $4.99 (plus shipping, link)

Amazon: $4.94 (free shipping, link)

Vaseline is more than 400% more expensive per-ounce at CVS than at Amazon when factoring in shipping fees.

Dermatologist Answers Questions About Vaseline on the Face

A popular YouTube creator and dermatologist named “Dr Dray” has a video about using Vaseline on the face that answers questions about whether the product clogs pores, if it’s safe, how to properly apply it and more:

Conclusion

We consider Vaseline to be a good option for facial use based on a review of the clinical research backing its active ingredient, petrolatum.

This ingredient has been clinically shown to improve skin water content (hydration), help repair the skin barrier and protect against irritants.

One major benefit of Vaseline for use on the face is that it’s free of any unhealthy additives like fragrance or synthetic preservatives. Facial skin can be thinner and more sensitive, and can be especially reactive to such additives in cosmetics.

Most of the online user reviews of Vaseline for the face were positive, with some users noting benefits like reduced acne.

For consumers interested in purchasing Vaseline for use on the face, Target has the best price at the time of publishing this article.