Sleeping With Aquaphor On Your Face: Smooth, Glowing Skin Awaits!

Aquaphor is one of the most beloved skincare products, a thick ointment with many uses.

Aquaphor is often used where the skin is dry or cracked. Some apply it to help heal minor cuts, burns, and other irritations. 

But many people find success applying a coating of Aquaphor before bed.

Is sleeping with Aquaphor on your face a good idea?

Many fans swear by the positive effects of Aquaphor on their skin applied overnight (known as “slugging“). It is an effective moisturizer, and overnight use can result in great skin. 

Should you try slugging with Aquaphor?

In this article, I’ll go over everything you need to know about Aquaphor on your face, and why you might want to apply it before going to sleep.

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What Is Aquaphor?

Aquaphor is a “healing ointment” made up primarily of petroleum jelly (similar to Vaseline) and is known for its moisturizing and healing properties. This is a safe skin care product that you can apply on the skin to help prevent water from evaporating from the surface of the skin. 

While Aquaphor isn’t marketed as a facial moisturizer, many people choose to use it on their face. The manufacturers primarily recommend it to be used on chapped lips, and is commonly used to treat minor cuts. 

Why Use Aquaphor on Your Face?

Aquaphor is a moisturizer, but it’s different from the usual moisturizers or creams that you might use on your face. Aquaphor doesn’t add more water to the skin. 

It traps the existing moisture that’s already in the skin so that it won’t evaporate in the air and dry out the skin. Additionally, it can draw in moisture from the air so that the skin is moisturized. 

What are the Benefits of Aquaphor on Your Face?

Petroleum jellies like Aquaphor and Vaseline can create a protective barrier over the skin to lock in moisture. This barrier helps protect broken or irritated skin, and helps soothe any skin damage. The barrier helps make sure that the wounds are kept moisturized as they heal, and rejuvenates dry or cracked skin. 

Sleeping With Aquaphor On Your Face

Aquaphor can be used on the face overnight to help keep it moisturized, a process known as slugging. The barrier Aquaphor creates over the skin locks in any moisture that is present, but Aquaphor does not hydrate on its own. This healing barrier is the main reason why people use Aquaphor overnight on their faces.

Additionally, people may choose to use Aquaphor on their face while they sleep to help with a face rash. If the face rash is dry, Aquaphor could help because of its moisture-sealing properties. 

Some use it when they have insect bites or other minor cuts and burns. It could help with mild discomfort as it helps prevent drying out the skin while it heals. 

The barrier Aquaphor creates over the skin locks in any moisture that is present, but Aquaphor does not hydrate on its own.

Is there a Downside to Aquaphor?

Using Aquaphor on the face can help retain moisture, fight dryness, and produce dewy skin, but sleeping with Aquaphor on the face won’t solve all your skin problems, and may even cause a few!

For example, it is not a product that helps with wrinkles. Although keeping the skin moisturized and hydrated can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, Aquaphor won’t prevent or treat wrinkles. 

Additionally, Aquaphor hasn’t been studied to help with acne. Although you need a moisturizer even if you have acne-prone skin, Aquaphor may not be the ideal one to use. 

Can Aquaphor on Your Face Cause Breakouts?

Aquaphor may trigger more acne to develop, so be careful. Although the manufacturers of Aquaphor say that it is non-comedogenic — it doesn’t clog the pores — Aquaphor could still contribute to the production of acne. 

Those with oily skin, eczema, and acne-prone skin who use Aquaphor may have excessive moisture or oil products in their skin. This can excess cause the skin to be filled with oil, especially if you don’t wash your face before applying Aquaphor. 

That can lead to trapping the oil, dirt, and dead skin cells in the pores, which could trigger a breakout.

If you have acne, choose a lightweight moisturizer instead.

If you have acne, choose a lightweight moisturizer instead.

The Safety Of Sleeping With Aquaphor On Your Face

Aquaphor is safe to use on your face overnight if it is compatible with your skin. Most people don’t have an allergic reaction to it but some can get irritated with it especially if you use too much and your skin is prone to acne. 

It is safe to use Aquaphor overnight on the face (as well as the eyelashes and the eyelids) while you are sleeping. It creates a barrier on the skin to help with dry and cracked skin. 

Some consider Aquaphor a lightweight product but others may feel that it is heavy due to the petroleum jelly content. It may feel sticky or oily, but most people got used to it on their faces while sleeping. 

If you are using Aquaphor on your face while you sleep, use a thin layer. Too much Aquaphor will lead to oily skin.

How Often Should You Use Aquaphor?

If your skin is compatible with Aquaphor, then you can use it regularly as part of your skincare routine. Depending on your skin and the climate you are in, some people might choose to use the Aquaphor sparingly as needed. 

Some only use it when their skin feels dry because of the colder months and lack of humidity. It acts like an additional booster to moisturize the skin in such times when their usual moisturizers may feel like it’s not enough. 

Those who have really dry skin have found relief in using it regularly to make sure that their skin is adequately moisturized. Just remember that although Aquaphor works well as a moisturizer, the results may not show themselves overnight, depending on the current condition of your skin. 

If you want to see clear improvements when it comes to your skin moisturization, it is best to use Aquaphor regularly. It is a good yet affordable drugstore moisturizing product that you can easily purchase almost anywhere.