Lotions vs Creams vs Ointments: What’s the Difference?
What is the difference between lotions, creams, and ointments?
The main difference between these types of moisturizers is how much water and alcohol they contain. This changes how thick or greasy they feel—and how well they work for dry skin.
LOTIONS:
Lotions have the most water and alcohol. They are thin, spread easily, and feel less greasy—but they usually do not fix dry skin well.
CREAMS:
Creams are in the middle (like Goldilocks)—not too thick, not too thin. They have less alcohol than lotions and are the best choice for most people with dry skin.
Great cream options: Vanicream Moisturizing Cream and CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.
Natural butters like cocoa butter and shea butter (from cocoa beans or African shea nuts) are also excellent because they are rich in fatty acids. Choose versions with minimal fragrance. Vaseline also makes a great cocoa butter product.
OINTMENTS:
Ointments are the thickest and have little to no alcohol. They are usually just petrolatum (Vaseline) or a mix of petrolatum and mineral oil (Aquaphor) or ceramides (CeraVe). They are the best at locking in moisture and healing very dry or cracked skin—but they are also the greasiest.
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