Ingredient decoder

Petrolatum: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Petrolatum

Acne verdict Low clog risk

Not a known pore-clogger

  • ComedogenicNo published rating
  • IrritancyNo published rating

What it does

Seals in moisture and protects dry or irritated skin.

  • Antistatic
  • Emollient

Petrolatum in plain English

Petrolatum is a purified petroleum jelly that seals in moisture and protects dry or irritated skin. It rates low for clogging pores in testing. Because it is so occlusive, it can trap other ingredients against the skin, which matters more if those ingredients are the problem.

Is petrolatum bad for acne?

Not based on the evidence we have. Petrolatum is not a known pore-clogger. Our checker rates it as fine for acne-prone skin, so judge by how your own skin reacts.

Clean routine and still breaking out? The cause may be internal. See what is driving it

Also called

  • Petrolatum
  • Petroleum jelly
  • Vaseline
  • White petrolatum
  • Petrolatum album
  • Soft paraffin
  • Yellow petrolatum

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Frequently asked questions

Is petrolatum comedogenic?

There is no published comedogenic rating for petrolatum in Fulton's 1989 table, and it is not known as a pore-clogger.

What does petrolatum do in skincare?

In short: seals in moisture and protects dry or irritated skin. In formulas it is used for antistatic and emollient.

What else is petrolatum called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, petrolatum can also appear as Petroleum jelly, Vaseline, White petrolatum or Petrolatum album.

Sources