Cetaphil Healing Ointment Review

Cetaphil Healing Ointment
5.0
/ 10
Moisturizing
0.0 Humectancy icon Humectancy
10.0 Occlusivity icon Occlusivity
Review

Does Cetaphil Healing Ointment Work?

 
According to CreamScan AI's analysis of the ingredient list, here’s what Cetaphil Healing Ointment has to offer:
 
  • Strong occlusive moisturizing. This exceptionally occlusive moisturizer, ideal for dry and very dry skin, has a moderate moisturizing rating of 5.0 out of 10, impaired by the absence of humectants.

Key Benefits of Cetaphil Healing Ointment

 
These are the key benefits you can expect from using Cetaphil Healing Ointment:
 

Very Rich Moisturizer with the Right Occlusivity for Very Dry Skin

According to CreamScan analysis, Cetaphil Healing Ointment is quite moisturizing, with a moisturizing rating of 5.0 out of 10.

Is it more humectant or occlusive? It is purely occlusive. It has zero Humectancy (we didn't find any humectant ingredients on the ingredient list) and a maximum Occlusivity of 10 out of 10, due to the high content of Petrolatum (est. ≈71.5%), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter (est. ≈6.8%) and Beeswax (est. ≈3.7%).

This type of product, when used as a standalone moisturizer, can deliver an exceptional level of occlusive hydration that is adequate for dry to very skin. The occlusive profile of Cetaphil Healing Ointment suggests a rich, thick texture, making it perfectly suited for dry skin.

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the moisturizing rating calculation.

Please note that this is not a complete list of benefits. We are in the process of enhancing our AI model to incorporate anti-pigmentation, exfoliation and anti-acne ratings.

Things to Be Aware Of: Cetaphil Healing Ointment

 
CreamScan AI identified a few things to consider before adding Cetaphil Healing Ointment to your skincare routine:
 

Best for Very Dry Skin - May Be Too Thick for Other Skin Types

With exceptional occlusivity, this product is optimal for moisturizing dry and very dry skin but may be too thick for other skin types, including normal, and especially combination and oily skin.

If you have oily, combination, or normal skin and are considering purchasing this product for the first time, it might be a good idea to try a sample before buying.

If It’s Your Only Moisturizer, It’s Better When Paired with Some Humectants

An ideal moisturizer for any skin type should balance the right level of occlusivity (depending on skin type) with a significant amount of humectants, while Cetaphil Healing Ointment contains no humectants at all.

People with dry skin would definitely benefit from adding water-binding humectants to their moisturizing routine for effective dual-action moisturizing. If this is your only moisturizer, it may be worth including a humectant-rich product, such as a serum, in your skincare routine.

Pros & Cons of Cetaphil Healing Ointment

 
Here’s an overview of the pros and cons of Cetaphil Healing Ointment to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your skincare routine:
 

Pros:

  • Provides the right level of occlusivity to moisturize dry to very dry skin

Cons: 

  • May feel too rich and thick on skin types other than dry
  • Ideally needs to be paired with extra humectants for optimal moisturizing efficacy

Ingredients

Est. % Ingredient Origin Functions
71.5
13.6
6.8
3.7
2.5
1.8
Est. %
Petrolatum
Function:
Origin:
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Function:
Origin:
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
Function:
Origin:
Beeswax
Function:
Origin:
Microcrystalline Wax
Function:
Origin:
Tocopheryl Acetate
Function:
Origin:

Ratings

All humectants
0.0
None
Benchmark
10
All occlusives
156.0
71.5 x 2
6.8
3.7
2.5
Benchmark
20
Moisturizing rating
5.0
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Raiting
Humectancy All humectants 0.0 10
0.0
None
Occlusivity All occlusives 156.0 20
10.0
71.5 x 2
6.8
3.7
2.5
Moisturizing rating
5.0
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Humectancy
None
All humectants 0.0 10
0.0
All humectants
0.0
None
Benchmark
10
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Occlusivity
71.5 x 2
6.8
3.7
2.5
All occlusives 156.0 20
10.0
All occlusives
156.0
71.5 x 2
6.8
3.7
2.5
Benchmark
20
Ingredient
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
when present at, %
in this formula est. %
Rating
None
Total
0
None
Anti-wrinkle rating
0
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Antioxidants
1.8
All antioxidants 1.8 3 No
All antioxidants
1.8
Tocopheryl Acetate
1.8
Benchmark
3
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Soothing
None
All soothing 0 5 No
All soothing
0
None
Benchmark
5

Ingredients explained

Petrolatum
Est. %71.5
Function
Origin
PetrolatumAlso known as Vaseline, this is the most powerful occlusive moisturizer and at least twice as effective as other occlusives. This is why we multiply the petrolatum score by 2 when calculating the Occlusivity of the product. Petrolatum is not comedogenic.
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Est. %13.6
Function
Origin
Cetearyl EthylhexanoateAn emollient ester that is derived from palm and palm kernel oil and is known for its velvety soft skin feel and excellent spreading properties.
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
Est. %6.8
Function
Origin
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) ButterA semi-solid, buttery fat extracted from the seeds of the Shea tree that is a wonderful occlusive and emollient ingredient mainly comprised of fatty acids. Shea butter contains a large amount of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds.
Beeswax
Est. %3.7
Function
Origin
BeeswaxA waxy substance made by bees while they are building their honeycombs. It is an occlusive moisturizing and emollient ingredient with wound healing and antimicrobial properties similar to those of honey. Its bleached, purified form is called Cera alba.
Microcrystalline Wax
Est. %2.5
Function
Origin
Microcrystalline WaxA white, highly purified, solid substance consisting of petroleum hydrocarbons. It is used in skincare as a strong occlusive and emollient similar to Petrolatum, and also as a formula helper that thickens and stabilizes the product.
Tocopheryl Acetate
Est. %1.8
Function
Origin
Tocopheryl Acetate

An antioxidant derivative of tocopherol (vitamin E). It helps to protect cells from free radicals and UV damage through the conversion to active vitamin E in the skin. It is more stable than tocopherol.