Vaseline’s beauty benefits seem endless, and yet we’re always discovering new ways to incorporate this affordable product into our daily lives. Experts say it locks in moisture, boosts hydration, and helps fight signs of aging, so we’ve been known to slather it on everything from chapped lips to dry elbows, especially during the winter months.
Can Vaseline be used as an eye cream? | Who should use Vaseline on the under eye area? | How can I use Vaseline as an under eye cream? | Moisturizing cream | Meet Our Experts | Reasons for choosing
But the area around the eyes was one of the few places we hadn’t yet tried it. So when a TikTok user posted a video early last year of applying $5 Vaseline under their eyes instead of pricey eye cream, we immediately took notice. And we weren’t the only ones who took notice: The video has been viewed more than 3.8 million times and garnered tons of comments from people who were learning the hack for the first time (many weren’t surprised, one person said, “Vaseline is a cure-all”), some of whom added that they were fans of the hack.
With these claims in mind, we were intrigued. Can this affordable formula really hold its own against pricey eye creams? We consulted a dermatologist to find out more.
Can Vaseline be used as an eye cream?
The skin around the eyes is very thin, making it prone to dryness and sensitivity, says Papri Sakar, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Boston. “One of the reasons people use eye creams is to hydrate and plump, because plumping reduces the appearance of wrinkles,” she says. In addition to the hydrating standpoint, people tend to use eye creams that contain ingredients like retinol and brighteners to treat wrinkles and fade dark circles around the eyes.
Unfortunately, Vaseline won’t do much to erase deep lines or lighten dark circles under your eyes, but Sakar says the product can provide just as much hydration as your favorite eye cream, especially when combined with a moisturizer. “Vaseline is what’s called an occlusive,” she says. “So it’s like Saran Wrap. When you put it on top of your skin, it adds another layer, like a barrier, and it stops moisture from evaporating.” [of the skin] “As soon as possible,” she says. Applying a moisturizer to the under-eye area followed by petroleum jelly can help hydrate the area and lock it in, she says. In other words, it’s a targeted anti-sagging treatment. Some people may notice the area plumper and less noticeable fine lines as a result, Sakar says.
Vaseline Pure Vaseline
Who should use Vaseline on the under eye area?
“I personally love petroleum jelly, like Vaseline,” Sakar says, “and I think putting Vaseline under the eyes is a great idea for certain people. For example, I think it’s great for people whose skin around the eyes is very dry, very sensitive, and other eye creams can cause irritation and things like that.”
On the other hand, if you’re prone to developing milia (tiny cysts) around your eyes, you might want to steer clear of petrolatum: “While petrolatum is technically non-comedogenic, meaning it shouldn’t clog pores, we’ve found that in some people it can actually clog pores,” says Sakar.
How to Use Vaseline as an Under-Eye Cream
For best results, apply a moisturizer first (Sakar prefers this option from Belif), then layer on Vaseline. Vaseline is popular on TikTok, but Sakar points out that you can also use another 100% white petrolatum product or CeraVe healing gel.
Belif the true cream aqua bomb
material: Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Squalane | Skin type: Dry skin, normal skin, oily skin, combination skin
Sakar says the lightweight, gel-like cream is “super hydrating,” and the brand says it instantly cools and refreshes the skin upon application, increasing hydration levels by 70%.
Belif the true cream moisturizing bomb
material: Peptides, Ceramides, Squalane | Skin type: Dry, normal, combination
The brand’s Moisturizing Bomb is a “thick cream that feels light and sinks into the skin,” Sakar says. “I like this in the winter or when my skin is dry.”
CeraVe Healing Ointment
material: Ceramide, Hyaluronic Acid | Skin type: Dry and cracked skin
With over 13,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, this product from CeraVe has been called a “must-have” by one reviewer and a “miracle cure” by another. Formulated with hyaluronic acid and three types of ceramides, it’s a great moisturizing option for dry winter skin.
Bag Balm Skin Moisturizer
material: Vaseline, Lanolin | Skin type: Dry and cracked skin
Just like Vaseline, this Vaseline balm has gone viral on TikTok for its all-in-one solution for under-eye areas, cracked heels, dry hands, and more. “I use it daily on my lips, forehead, elbows, laugh lines, and between my eyebrows. It keeps wrinkles at bay,” one reviewer wrote.
Other moisturizers to consider
Cores Poreless Skin Cream
material: Santorini Grape Extract, Salicylic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Fireweed Extract | Skin type: Normal skin, combination skin, oily skin
In addition to minimizing the appearance of pores, this cream provided amazing hydration for Senior Editor Jess Bender’s face. “It has added benefits like balancing skin tone and providing extra moisture to the face during the dry winter months,” she says. “It goes on so smoothly and doesn’t feel heavy at all!”
Cetaphil Deep Hydration Refreshing Eye Serum
material: HydroSensitiv Complex, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin B5, Antioxidant Vitamin E | Skin type: Sensitive Skin
Contributing writer Jennifer Worth purchased this cream hoping it would help moisturize her eye area, but the skin benefits she got were even better than she bargained for. “Not only did my under-eye area feel more hydrated after just one use, but it also reduced the appearance of fine lines within just a few days. It really killed two birds with one stone,” she says. “Say goodbye to dry skin and fine lines!”
L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Moisturizer
material: Pro-Retinol and Centella Asiatica | Skin type: All Skin Types
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mary Lupo previously recommended this retinol cream for its anti-wrinkle benefits. However, according to the brand, the cream’s formula: Keeps skin moisturized for a long time.
Elfskin’s Divine Moisturizing Face Cream
material: Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Peptides | Skin type: Dry skin, sensitive skin, aging skin
Associate Editor Shannon Garlin says this affordable face cream is one of her favorites for dry skin. “It’s thick but doesn’t feel heavy, and I feel like my skin absorbs the cream right away and leaves it feeling hydrated and moisturized,” Garlin says.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Water Gel
material: Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin | Skin type: usually
A dermatologist once told me that if you try slug removal, applying a product containing a moisturizer such as hyaluronic acid before the petrolatum will make the treatment even more effective. Neutrogena’s best-selling moisturizer contains hyaluronic acid and is said to be oil-free and non-comedogenic.
CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
material: Vaseline, ceramides, hyaluronic acid | Skin type: Dry, normal
Another bestseller, this gentle moisturizing cream is formulated with both hyaluronic acid and ceramides, which are said to provide up to 24 hours of hydration, and it has garnered nearly five-star reviews from more than 115,000 shoppers on Amazon.
Editorial assistant Erica Mallison loves moisturizers for sensitive and acne-prone skin: “I use it as a face moisturizer morning and night, and it’s perfect! Plus, it’s inexpensive and the bottle is big, so I can use it all day.” very It will be a long time before you have to repurchase,” she says.
The Inkey List Bio Active Ceramide Repairing & Plumping Moisturizer
material: Vaseline, ceramides, hyaluronic acid | Skin type: Dry skin, normal skin, combination skin, oily skin
Product Coordinator Camryn Privett loves this ceramide-rich moisturizer for tackling dry skin: “I use it at night when the winter winds are drying out my skin and I immediately see a difference. This brand has really done their research into their ingredients, so it feels great to put it on,” she says.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane
material: Squalane, ceramide, glacial glycoprotein | Skin type: Dry, normal, combination
This Shop TODAY Beauty Award-winning product contains squalane and glacial glycoproteins to help keep your skin hydrated for 24 hours. A dermatologist previously told Shop TODAY that this lightweight moisturizer is based on credible research that shows it helps restore the skin’s barrier function.
Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream
material: Peptides, glycerin, folic acid fermentation filtrate extract (vitamin B) | Skin type: Dry skin, normal skin, combination skin, oily skin
The moisturizer is infused with peptides that the brand says repair dry skin and make it look plump and youthful. Associate Editor Sierra Hoerger has been using the moisturizer for a year and loves that it “doesn’t make my already oily skin look even more oily after application.”
Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream
material: Japanese purple rice, hyaluronic acid, red algae | Skin type: Dry, normal
Though it may be a bit extravagant, Garlin says the moisturizer has been a “lifesaver” for dry skin, as the brand says its ingredients help lock in moisture for long-lasting hydration.
“I have dry skin, which gets even drier and more prone to flaking in the winter,” she says. “I use it mainly at night and can immediately see the increased moisture. My skin has not flaked since I started using this cream.”
Meet our experts
- Dr. Papli Sarkar is a board-certified dermatologist based in Boston, Massachusetts.
Reasons for choosing
These products were selected based on insights gleaned from interviews with top dermatologists and recommendations from Shop TODAY editors, while other moisturizing creams were sourced based on verified buyer reviews and brand reputation.
