Which scores higher with the experts?
Aquaphor Healing Ointment holds a Guru Score of 87%, just ahead of CeraVe Healing Ointment at 86%. The first draws on 12 independent expert reviews, the second on 14. On the experts' own numbers that puts Healing Ointment in Approved territory and Healing Ointment in Approved.
What do the experts say about Healing Ointment?
Aquaphor Healing Ointment carries a Guru Score of 87% from 12 independent experts. The high petrolatum content creates a strong moisture barrier that gurus consistently praise for healing chapped skin, reducing dryness, and speeding recovery on areas from lips to feet to hands. One thing to keep in mind: Aquaphor contains lanoline alcohol, which a small percentage of people are allergic to. If you're using it and your eczema or rash worsens, experts suggest switching to plain Vaseline or CeraVe Healing Ointment instead. Best applied right after bathing to lock in hydration, or spot-treated onto the driest patches. Most gurus note it can feel too greasy for daytime summer use, though many still reach for it year-round or overnight.
What do the experts say about Healing Ointment?
CeraVe Healing Ointment carries a Guru Score of 86% from 14 independent experts. This ointment earns consistent praise for being noticeably lighter in texture than Aquaphor while still delivering strong moisture-sealing power, thanks to its 46.5% petrolatum base combined with barrier-repairing ceramides and hyaluronic acid that draws water to the skin. Dermatologists and skincare experts recommend it especially for extremely dry patches, cracked heels and lips, eczema-prone skin, and anyone prone to irritation around the eyes or mouth, and it works well applied as a thin film at night to lock in other products. The lanoline-free and fragrance-free formula makes it safe even for the most sensitive skin, though those wanting something less heavy may find plain Vaseline does the job.
Which should you choose?
On the experts' scores Aquaphor Healing Ointment comes out ahead, 87% to 86%, a gap of 1 point. It has 12 experts behind it against 14 for CeraVe Healing Ointment. Healing Ointment is most often recommended for dry and sensitive skin, Healing Ointment for dry and sensitive. Both are independently verified on the Guru Index, so either is a sound pick; let the use case and your budget settle it.