Slugging is a simple skin-care experiment: cover clean, dry or slightly damp skin with a thick ointment, then leave it on while you sleep. The aim is to reduce transepidermal water loss and give a tired, eczema-prone barrier time to recover. Both CeraVe Healing Ointment and Aquaphor Healing Ointment can create that occlusive layer, but they do not feel or behave identically.
My comparison focused on the practical questions rather than the word “healing” on the tube. How does each product spread over sensitised skin? Does it leave a greasy film or settle into a softer cushion? Can it handle a dry cheek, an irritated patch or an overnight layer without trapping too much sweat? I also considered ingredient lists and the Australian versions sold locally.
In side-by-side use, CeraVe felt more emollient and easier to massage over larger areas, while Aquaphor left the more obvious petrolatum film. Aquaphor was better matched to small, very dry cracks; CeraVe was easier to use over a whole face or several patches. Neither felt instantly transformative, and both made my skin feel softer by morning.
My short verdict is that CeraVe is the more comfortable all-rounder, while Aquaphor gives a more intense, slick occlusion for targeted dry spots. The best choice still depends on your skin, climate and tolerance of a greasy finish. Slugging is not a treatment for infected, actively broken or severely inflamed skin, and it works best as a short experiment rather than an automatic nightly step.
The barrier is meant to hold water in, while the ointment reduces evaporation from the skin’s surface. Petrolatum is the heavy lifter because it forms a protective film; ceramides, panthenol and humectants can support the mix around it. The result can feel deeply replenished, especially when a heater or air-conditioning has left skin tight by bedtime.
There are two common approaches. Local slugging targets flakes, rough patches, a dry lip border or eczema-prone areas, and is the gentlest place to start. A full-face version covers nearly everything except the eyes and mouth, then gets washed off in the morning. I keep the broader method for occasional nights and use targeted occlusion whenever my skin feels locally dry. That pared-back philosophy also shapes my clean beauty guide: fewer products, each with a clear job.
CeraVe Healing Ointment combines a petrolatum base with barrier-supporting ceramides, plus ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and panthenol on the labels I checked. The exact formula can vary between countries, so the Australian tub deserves priority over a website or social post showing another version. Ceramides are useful supporting players, but petrolatum does most of the overnight occlusion.
On my skin, the CeraVe looked opaque and slightly cushioned rather than simply greasy. It spread in a thin, even layer with less dragging, which mattered over tight cheeks and around the sides of my nose. It still created obvious shine, but the finish was more workable than Aquaphor’s. For someone who dislikes conventional petroleum-jelly stickiness, that difference can be the deciding factor.
I tested the classic original jar of Aquaphor Healing Ointment, not the lighter Aquaphor Rapid Healing body cream. Aquaphor is the more traditional petrolatum-centred formula. Its ingredient list includes mineral oil, ceresin, lanolin alcohol, panthenol, glycerin and bisabolol, depending on the market. It forms a water-resistant barrier rather than adding a lot of water by itself, so I call it an occlusive that works best over a moisturiser or slightly damp skin.
The Aquaphor was clearer, shinier and tackier than the CeraVe. A small amount covered a rough patch beautifully, but a full face looked coated and could collect at the hairline. Both standard tubs are sold fragrance-free, which is helpful for reactive skin, although fragrance-free status does not rule out contact allergy. Wool-derived ingredients can also cause problems for some people, so check both local labels carefully. For another Australian beauty perspective on keeping routines manageable, I also keep Agatha Lover as a useful second reference.
I tested each on separate patches with the same evening cleanse, amount of ointment and fresh cotton pillowcase. Both are petrolatum-led, and some markets list the same active petrolatum percentage, so the vehicle and supporting ingredients mattered more than the headline active. Over several nights, Aquaphor stayed visibly slicker and felt more resistant to washing, while CeraVe had a softer final finish. This was a texture and comfort comparison rather than a clinical test.
Climate changed the result. Melbourne’s dry winter, wind and heated rooms made the heavier Aquaphor seal useful on isolated patches, whereas Brisbane’s humid summer and powerful indoor air-conditioning created a different problem: sweat under a full occlusive can worsen congestion or folliculitis. My preference was CeraVe across the cheeks in humid conditions and Aquaphor only where the skin was genuinely cracked.
For acne-prone or combination skin, neither product automatically earns a place on the whole face. An ointment can trap sebum, irritate hair follicles or encourage milia, so acne and slugging are poor companions. On eczema-prone skin, the deciding factor is tolerance rather than a stronger-sounding ingredient list. CeraVe won in my test for broad, repeatable use; Aquaphor won for targeted, short-term intensity.
Start with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser, then pat the skin dry without rubbing it. Apply enough ointment to look glossy on the dry area, not a thick mask that can migrate into the eyes or pillow. For sensitive skin, I let the skin remain slightly damp, wait ten minutes and then add a bland moisturiser before sealing everything with a thinner layer. This staged method reduces the chance of an all-over greasy overload.
Leave local patches on overnight, wash gently in the morning and follow with a simple moisturiser and broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher. For full-face slugging, use a clean pillowcase and remove the ointment with lukewarm water rather than a hot face cloth. Stop if there is burning, spreading redness, heat, pus, a strong worsening of itch or a new cluster of pimples. Deeply cracked, weeping or painful eczema deserves a GP’s advice rather than an improvised occlusive.
These are the rules I use when choosing between the two ointments:
For my dry, sensitive face, CeraVe Healing Ointment is the default because I can spread it without fighting the texture. I keep Aquaphor for a few stubborn patches when petrolatum is exactly what those areas need. I would slug for two or three nights, reassess in daylight and return to a simpler moisturiser routine. If the barrier feels calmer and less tight, the routine has earned its place.
Both ointments are commonly found at Chemist Warehouse, Priceline, pharmacies and selected beauty or online stores in Australia, although stock and promotions change. CeraVe tends to have broader shelf presence, while Aquaphor may be easier to find in larger pharmacy chains or during a sale. Compare the price per 50 g or 50 mL rather than the sticker price; the high teens to low thirties in Australian dollars is common, but bundled multipacks can work out cheaper.
Check the Australian pack before buying. A product making a therapeutic claim may be regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and listed in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, while a product sold simply to moisturise may sit under cosmetic rules. Australian cosmetic labelling follows the National Ingredient Management Scheme, with ingredients listed using internationally recognised names. Search the exact product in the ARTG when the label shows a registration number, and never assume the American, British or European formula is identical.
Neither product should be presented as a cure for eczema. It can support comfort by limiting moisture loss, but prescription treatment and a clinician-led flare plan take priority. For an uncomplicated dry patch, my decision is straightforward: CeraVe when I want a comfortable all-over layer, Aquaphor when I want maximum petrolatum occlusion in a small area. The right amount is the smallest layer that makes the skin feel protected by morning.