Aquaphor is a surprising but effective hero for combating frizz. As much as we prepare for and attempt to prevent frizz, sometimes we lose the battle. In those cases, you need a product to smooth down the damaged hair strands puffing up around your head. Aquaphor is your surprising but effective friend here.
Do not use this medicine on deep wounds, puncture wounds, animal bites, or serious burns. You may apply Aquaphor Healing as needed.
This purse-size staple remedies everything from chapped lips to raggedy cuticles, and in a pinch, it can even hide split ends.
While Aquaphor itself is not a typical moisturizer, instead of adding water to the skin it helps retain the water already present on the surface of the face. It can also draw in additional moisture from the air. This product creates a breathable protective barrier over any broken, irritated, or injured skin.
I also use the Aquaphor lip balm and love it just as much. This product is in my every day beauty routine. The only problem with using this product as an every day lotion is the greasy aspect. It works great for super dry, cracked skin, but doesn't soak in completely.
Mix Baking Soda with Shampoo
It absorbs the Aquaphor so you can wipe it away. To try this, mix a tablespoon of baking soda with two tablespoons of anti-dandruff shampoo (or your regular shampoo or baby shampoo) and wash your hair like you normally would, focusing on the areas saturated with Aquaphor.
Using a few drops of argan oil on the ends of your hair may give it a more finished and supple appearance. Other essential oils, like peppermint oil and lavender oil, may help stop hair loss and prevent breakage.
The makers of Aquaphor claim that their product does not clog pores (it's noncomedogenic), and so it shouldn't cause acne in people with dry to normal skin. But if you have naturally oily skin, using Aquaphor on your face may cause excessive moisture. The pores in your face may not be able to breathe properly.
Simply keep your skin moist with Aquaphor Healing Ointment. Re-apply as frequently as needed to maintain a continuous layer on your skin. Do not shower until the day after treatment.
Most emollients can be used safely and effectively with no side effects. However, burning, stinging, redness, or irritation may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Vaseline contains 100 percent petroleum jelly, while Aquaphor includes other ingredients like mineral oil, ceresin, lanolin alcohol, panthenol, glycerin, and bisabolol. Both can be used on lips and skin, as wound healers, and as makeup removers or cuticle softeners.
Can you use Aquaphor on your eyelashes or eyebrows? Yup, you totally can—as long as you go into it knowing that Aquaphor won't grow your lashes or brows, says dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor at Yale School of Medicine.
It helps repair cracked skin.
If you have super cracked or severely dry places on your hands or feet, you can use Aquaphor as a mask. (What, did you think masks were just for your face?) "It's also a fabulous treatment for the cuticles, hands, and feet to help soften thick, dry skin," says Marchbein.
On the contrary, Vaseline can clog the hair follicles and cause hair thinning and hair loss. It is also not helpful in treating dandruff. Vaseline can help control flyaways and tame frizz. You can use it with overnight hair masks or dab some on the hair ends to prevent split ends.
Avoid all over the counter creams or ointments, except Aquaphor or A&D Ointment, either of which can be applied for dryness or irritation as needed. If you feel you need a lubricant during intercourse, these products can sometimes be a significant source of irritation.
Just like the hair on your head, the strands on your lids need TLC, too. Bowe recommends applying a hydrating product like Vaseline or Aquaphor before bed to soften lashes and prep them to grow longer and stronger. "Put it where you put eyeliner—not on your actual lashes," says Bowe.
Eyelash Conditioners
"Just like you condition your hair, you need to condition your lashes," Graf says. Her simple suggestion is to put a thin layer of Vaseline or Aquaphor over your lids at night. Over-the-counter lash conditioners can also help. They usually contain ingredients to strengthen and moisturize lashes.
For hair that's dry and prone to frizz, you'll want a mask that's deeply hydrating and restorative. If you want to add moisture to your hair, banana and honey are two ingredients that work well in an overnight hair mask.
Try a hair mist.
You can simply spray water into your hair or spray on a hair mist (DIY or shelf stuff). Use your fingertips to massage the moisture into your scalp and onto your strands. Leave-in conditioner should be your everyday hair product, especially if you're dealing with dry, brittle strands.
There are four primary factors that cause frizz: the environment, diameter of the hair fiber itself, level of curl, and the amount of damage. Avoid long and hot showers, excess exfoliation, and hot tools like traditional hairdryers and flat irons to prevent frizz.
Use baby oil or lotion on the scalp 15 minutes before washing to soften the crust. Make sure to wash all the oil off or it may worsen the cradle cap. If the area is very red and irritated, apply a small amount of 1% hydrocortisone cream (nonprescription) or Aquaphor twice a day.
"Tapping a little Aquaphor over your eye cream at night plumps up lines by sealing in moisture, and it's nonirritating," says Joshua Zeichner, a dermatologist in New York City. "It's one of the best products for the under-eyes."
Aquaphor isn't just an ointment or a lip balm. It's an all-purpose product in its truest form that can be used for everything, from highlighter to eyeshadow to keeping dark circles at bay.