11 Best Alternatives to Aquaphor and Petroleum Jelly

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In this article, we will discuss the 11 Best Alternatives to Aquaphor and Petroleum Jelly. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global skincare market, beauty and sustainability come together, and skincare companies are developing and using eco-friendly practices, go directly to the 5 Best Alternatives to Aquaphor and Petroleum Jelly.

The ultimate form of self-care, skincare, consists of a variety of treatments and products intended to improve and maintain the condition of our skin. Skincare enables us to reveal a bright and youthful complexion by doing everything from cleaning and hydrating to protecting and renewing. This art form allows us to embrace our natural brightness and take the first steps toward having healthy, glowing skin by harmoniously fusing science and beauty. Let skincare serve as the cornerstone of your radiant and loving self!

The size of the US skincare market was estimated at $26.78 billion in 2023 and is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 6.7% to reach $50.27 billion by 2030 as per Verified Market Research

Global Skincare Market: 

According to Grand View Research, the global skincare products market size was valued at $135.83 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to boom between 2023 and 2030 at a CAGR of 4.7%. Global demand for body lotions, sunscreens, and face creams is predicted to have a beneficial effect on growth. Furthermore, it is expected that the thriving e-commerce industry will spur additional market expansion. The beauty and cosmetics business was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Strict lockdown procedures caused store closures, which had severe effects. Global sales fell by 60–70% between March and April 2020. As consumers reduced their spending on cosmetics and grooming items, corporations positively addressed the situation by stepping up production and providing hand sanitizers and cleaning agents. The impact of viral content makers and the rise of organic skin care trends have significantly expanded the market for skin care products. Due to the influence of well-known personalities and the growing need for high-quality skin care products, the rise of celebrity-led brands like Kylie Cosmetics by Kylie Jenner is surging global demand for skin care. 

The desire of consumers for personalized items has been rising in the United States. With a revenue share of 39.65% in 2022, Asia-Pacific was the dominant region worldwide. From 2023 to 2030, North America's CAGR is projected to be 4.4%. Customers in North American nations like the United States and Canada are prepared to shell out money in exchange for skin that is more radiant and youthful-looking. In 2022, face creams and moisturizers had the highest revenue share (42.11%), and this trend is anticipated to continue throughout the forecast period.

Beauty and Sustainability Come Together: 

The skincare sector is currently going through a profound transformation. The perception of sustainable beauty is unexpectedly gaining traction, fueled by the aspiration for merchandise that no longer only enhances our look but also undoubtedly contributes to the well-being of our planet. This remarkable movement is reshaping the beauty market, challenging conventional practices, and igniting a surge of creativity and ingenuity. From the utilization of eco-friendly ingredients to the adoption of sustainable packaging and the emergence of consumer traits, sustainable beauty is the way towards an environmentally conscious destiny. 

The vegan cosmetics market, predicted to be worth $17.39 billion globally in 2022, is anticipated to rise at a thrilling rate and attain $24 billion by 2028, as reported by Research and Markets. Europe is expected to be valued at $2.2 billion by 2028, making it a crucial geographic area for this marketplace. Hence, customers are actively seeking out beauty merchandise that might be vegan, cruelty-free, or composed of natural materials. With Green Beauty, purchasers can use their purchases to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and ethics.

For years, petroleum jelly has been used as a moisturizer and skin healer. The latter is a product of crude oil. One of the best-selling products, Aquaphor, consists of mineral oil, which is extracted from petroleum. However, recently, concerns have been raised about petroleum jelly's sustainability, effectiveness, and safety.

Even the more refined and pure forms of mineral oil cannot be metabolized by the body, according to a 2011 study. Consequently, they do not get eliminated but rather build up in our bodies over time.  

The Environmental Working Group claims that 1,4dioxane, a carcinogenic contaminant, is present in 22% of all petroleum-based cosmetics. As recognized endocrine disruptors and xenoestrogens, petroleum-based products have the potential to cause estrogen dominance, according to studies.

As the skincare market is currently changing and there is a wealth of information available about various substances, customers are becoming more aware of the effects that personal care products have on the environment and their health. As a result, researchers and cosmetic chemists are looking into a range of natural and synthetic ingredients to mimic the occlusive, protective properties of petroleum jelly while offering other skin benefits. The majority of clean beauty shops and establishments, like Whole Foods, forbid the use of petroleum and mineral oil constituents in their products. 

The American international grocery chain Whole Foods Market, Inc., a division of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), is based in Austin, Texas, and offers products free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives as well as hydrogenated fats. In 2017, Whole Foods Market was acquired by  Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) for a sum of $13.7 billion.

The American multinational corporation and technology company Amazon.com, Inc., doing business as  Amazon, is focused on digital streaming, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, online marketing, and e-commerce. Individuals purchase goods online from Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), which offers several non-petroleum alternatives. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) generated a staggering $513.98 billion in revenue in 2022.  

Skincare Companies Are Developing and Using Eco-Friendly Practices:

With a focus on packaging, forestry, water, and climate change, Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) with a whopping revenue of $80.19 billion in 2022, is a globally renowned US brand dedicated to making a positive difference in our homes, communities, and the environment. 

Procter & Gamble Company’s (NYSE:PG) is well-acquainted with acquiring beauty brands. In 2022, the corporation allocated $1.4 billion in cash for acquisitions, primarily focusing on popular and clean skincare brands Farmacy Beauty and Tula, along with haircare company Ouai.

Procter & Gamble Company’s (NYSE:PG) goal is to create products and innovations that, when combined, provide sustainable, unbeatable supremacy. According to Procter & Gamble Company’s (NYSE:PG) Annual Citizenship Report 2022, the company, by 2040, aims to attain net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout its supply chain, from raw materials to retailers. 

Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL), a global cosmetics American brand, has taken a step towards boosting its commitment to sustainable packaging in 2023 by teaming with SK Chemicals, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chemical and life science products. 

As stated by the latter company, advanced recycling “is considered important technology for the advancement of packaging-to-packaging recycling, helping solve plastic waste issues in a circular and innovative way.” 

Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) announced several ambitious targets for sustainability in 2021. Two of these objectives were to reduce the amount of virgin petroleum plastic used in packaging to 50% or less by 2030 and to incorporate 25% post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials into the packaging by 2025. Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) hopes to accomplish the aforementioned goals with the assistance of SK Chemicals.

After completing a $2.8 billion agreement in April 2023, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) became the only owner of the Tom Ford brand. In the high-end beauty industry, it is one of the biggest deals. 

With that said, here are the 11 Best Alternatives to Aquaphor and Petroleum Jelly.

11 Best Alternatives to Aquaphor and Petroleum Jelly
11 Best Alternatives to Aquaphor and Petroleum Jelly

Methodology:

To pick out the 11 Best Alternatives to Aquaphor and Petroleum Jelly, we have used a consensus-based approach using a diverse variety of credible sources to determine the best non-petroleum products worldwide. To give you the finest result possible, we picked products that appeared multiple times in reliable sources, including Byrdie, Amazon, Cleanmundi, and Reddit, assigned them a score based on their number of appearances, and ranked them accordingly. In tie-breaker situations, we consulted independent beauty blogs and product reviews and then curated the skincare brands for our list. 

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders. 

11 Best Alternatives to Aquaphor and Petroleum Jelly

11. Vegaline 

Insider Monkey Score: 2

Vegaline stands out as a product renowned for its 100% vegan formula serving as an alternative to Aquaphor and "Pure" Petroleum Jelly. Crafted with care using ingredients like rapeseed oil, botanical soy, and coconut wax, Vegaline is a nourishing powerhouse for your skin.

Experience the feeling of hydrated skin all day long without any greasy or sticky residue. Vegaline offers uses to enhance your skincare routine, from nourishing hair and softening lips (one of the natural alternatives to Vaseline for lips) to moisturizing your face and hydrating your body. Moreover, this jelly not only serves as a go-to solution for skincare issues such as sunburns, dryness, blemishes, rashes, and eczema but is also free of mineral oil, petroleum jelly, fragrances, parabens, phthalates, or synthetic additives.

10. 365 Whole Foods Multi-purpose Jelly 

Insider Monkey Score: 2

365 Whole Foods Multi-purpose Jelly is a versatile skin moisturizer that can be used instead of Vaseline or Aquaphor. This jelly is made up of nourishing plant oils and vegan wax. This means you can say farewell to dry, rough skin without having to use products that are based on petroleum. The special blend utilizes the potency of sweet almond oil, gotu kola extract, and shea butter obtained through fair trade to effectively moisturize your skin. 

Whole Foods 365 Multi-Purpose Jelly is sustainably and carefully produced to deeply moisturize without compromising ethics or performance. This jelly is here to give your skin the moisture it craves from dry spots, rough elbows, cracked heels, or any other condition that you suffer from. 365 Whole Foods Multi-purpose Jelly provides a calm remedy for all types of skin as it lacks harmful components like petroleum.

9. Erin's Faces Tamanu Balm Barrier Salve

Insider Monkey Score: 2

A must-have facial skincare product like Erin Balm Barrier Salve, which is perfect for those who want to avoid using petroleum jelly or Aquaphor, serves as a multipurpose balm. It comes in handy when addressing skin problems such as dryness, insect bites, and eczema as well as taking care of babies’ tender skins and healing new tattoos. Thus, it is an alternative to Aquaphor for tattoos. What this means is every application offers protection plus nourishment due to the three powerful ingredients contained in it: organic Tamanu oil, organic Safflower seed oil, and locally sourced beeswax. The Tamanu Oil provides an earthen aroma that is nutty, while Beeswax seals it all off inside with a moisture-rich barrier from the antioxidants in Safflower Seed Oil. Furthermore, nothing less than petrochemicals-free; gluten-free; parabens-free; artificial fragrances- free, and no phthalates are used in its formulation, making this product safe and efficient for skincare purposes.

8. Doctor Rogers’ Restore Healing Balm

Insider Monkey Score: 2

Restore Healing Balm, equivalent to Aquaphor, is the ultimate answer for injured and indignant skin of all types. Originally formulated to heal sensitive post-procedural skin, this versatile balm proves equally effective in repairing and safeguarding cuts, burns, and irritated, dry, or chapped skin. Available in multiple sizes for on-the-move comfort, it is truly important for any skincare regimen. Notably, it additionally works wonders on eczema. In scientific studies, Restore Healing Balm exceeded Aquaphor in skin recuperation and earned overwhelming preference from patients at a ratio of 9 to 1. 

Recognized through esteemed companies, which include the National Eczema Association with their Seal of Acceptance, in addition to accolades from Goop for being the Best (Clean) Do-It-All Beauty Balm, Allure for being the Best Balm for Moisturizing Dry Skin, and NewBeauty for being the Best Post-Procedure Essentials. Its effective but mild formula consists of Glycerin, Castor Oil, and Hydrogenated Castor Oil (Castor Wax), ensuring top-of-the-line care and nourishment for your skin. It is among the 11 Best Alternatives to Aquaphor and Petroleum Jelly

7. Pipette Baby Balm

Insider Monkey Score: 2

Pipette Baby Balm can be a substitute for petroleum jelly. It is multipurpose and fragrance-free, designed to nurture and moisturize an infant's sensitive skin with fast-absorbing hydration. While best for sweet child massages, this multi-purpose balm is suitable for individuals of every age, offering the most efficient care and nourishment. Restore the natural balance of your skin with sugarcane-derived squalane, renowned for its moisturizing properties. Lock in moisture with essential fatty acids and extra-pure ceramides, while comforting and supporting delicate skin with a safe and effective blend of antioxidants, including acai berry sterols and vitamin E. Backed by biologists, pediatricians, and dermatologists, all Pipette products undergo rigorous testing to ensure they are gentle and safe for babies, with hypoallergenic formulas, free of synthetic fragrances, a cruelty-free alternative to Aquaphor, and EWG (Environmental Working Group) Verified. 

6. Earth Mama Organics’ Nose & Cheek Balm 

Insider Monkey Score: 2

Earth Mama's Organic Baby Face Nose & Cheek Balm is a mild calendula coconut balm produced to moisturize and soothe cracked, dry skin on babies, kids, and individuals of all ages. This licensed organic, cruelty-free replacement to petroleum jelly is formulated without petroleum, parabens, artificial fragrance, or synthetic preservatives, making sure of the safety of its users. Whether it's runny noses or any area of skin in need of extra moisture, this balm is the solution. This balm is pediatrician-authorized, dermatologist-tested, and clinically examined for irritation. Hence, it is specially created for those who have sensitive skin. Embrace the goodness of Earth Mama's Organic Baby Face Nose & Cheek Balm and experience nourished, happy skin every time you apply it to your skin.

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Disclosure: None. 11 Best Alternatives to Aquaphor and Petroleum Jelly is originally published on Insider Monkey.

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