The Truth About Using Vaseline if You Have Acne-Prone Skin (2025)

In middle school, I saw a video from Lisa Eldridge claiming that Marilyn Monroe slathered her face in a thick layer of Vaseline every night to get her signature glow. Was Marilyn the O.G. of slugging? Maybe! Anyway—as a teenager with zero money to my name, this seemed like a budget-friendly way to get better skin. So, I committed it to memory and found myself following suit, in pursuance of similarly soft, supple skin. Only problem? My skin was (and still is) extremely acne-prone, and breakouts ensued. All of this begs the question: Does Vaseline clog pores? Does slugging work if you have acne? Will it make my face a greasy mess? I'll explain (with the help of a derm, ofc).

What is Vaseline?

Vaseline is the brand name for petroleum jelly, which is really just a mix of waxes and mineral oils in a jelly, ointment-like texture. It has about a bajillion uses, mainly because of its occlusive nature to lock in moisture, which can help keep your skin and lips hydrated, as well as aid in wound healing.

"A wonderful thing about Vaseline is that it is extremely rare to have any sort of reaction to it," says dermatologist Brooke Jeffy, MD, noting that it's actually what she recommends to patients as part of wound care after medical and cosmetic procedures. Dr. Jeffy even likes it as a gentle moisturizer for babies and people with sensitive skin. But... can too much occlusion be a bad thing?

Is Vaseline bad for your pores?

Technically, no, Vaseline isn't bad for your pores. "Vaseline is non-comedogenic, meaning it does not clog pores," says Dr. Jeffy. "It works as a moisturizer by sitting on the skin to block water from evaporation, a process called transepidermal water loss," she explains. But! "Because of this occlusive nature, it can trap in oil and dead skin cells which can be a problem for more oily or acne-prone skin, especially if used more frequently," she adds. Basically, in essence, Vaseline isn't going to clog your pores just by slathering it on. But it can be too heavy and occlusive, leading to breakouts if your skin is oily or acne-prone.

Does Vaseline make you break out?

Vaseline can potentially make you break out. To be fair, pretty much anything and everything can cause breakouts since the potential causes of acne are are different for everyone and often include uncontrollable factors like genetics. What breaks me out could make you look like a glowing goddess and clear your face.

But if you are going to try Vaseline, "stick with products containing petroleum in lotion form over heavy ointments for routine use if you have acne-prone skin," says Dr. Jeffy. In. general, Dr. Jeffy recommends looking for products that are lighter weight ("water-based lotions and gels are ideal to avoid pore clogging," she says). But "lightweight lotions containing petrolatum or mineral oil can often be used daily without clogging pores, but it definitely depends on the person," she adds. Peep some of my other favorite barrier products that don't feel as heavy as good ole' Vaseline:

What are the side effects of petroleum jelly on skin?

There are no major "side effects" of using petroleum jelly, aka Vaseline, on your skin, since it's generally well-tolerated and gentle. But as stated above, it can potentially be too heavy for oily and acne-prone skin types, leading to clogged pores and acne. Before smoothing a thick layer on your entire face, try a patch test (like on your neck or one side of your face overnight) to get an idea of how it'll affect your skin.

How to use Vaseline on your skin:

After you've patch tested and your face is doing fine, then you have a few options for how you use Vaseline in your skincare routine. You can spot-treat with Vaseline to help offset potential peeling and dryness (I do this nightly to prevent the peeling around my mouth and nose from tretinoin), or layered over moisturizer as a final step in your skincare routine á la slugging. FWIW, Dr. Jeffy is a fan of slugging "a few times per week when you have dry skin—just be careful not to overdo it to prevent breakouts," she explains.

It's important to know that Vaseline, or any occlusive barrier product for that matter, isn't going to moisturize your skin on its own. Instead, it helps seal all the moisture you already have on your face to prevent water loss. This is why it's v important to hydrate your skin before applying Vaseline with a moisturizer that contains ingredients that will actually hydrate your skin first, like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, squalane, collagen, and/or peptides, says Dr. Jeffy.

The bottom line:

While, no, Vaseline doesn't technically clog pores, it can be too heavy for acne-prone skin. I've tried it countless times, and my skin will be fine for a few nights, then break out to hell. In general, it's a good idea to keep slugging with Vaseline to a minimum (two nights a week, max) unless you have extremely dry skin that isn't prone to pimples. But! If you're craving the extra hydration, opt for something with a thinner formula to help lock in moisture without turning you into a slimey lil slug.

Meet the expert:

• Brooke Jeffy, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist with her own . She is also the founder of youth skincare brand, BTWN.
  

Why trust Cosmopolitan?

Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with more than six years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare stories that range from non-comedogenic moisturizers to reviewing The Ordinary products. She's an authority in all skincare categories, but is an expert when it comes to using Vaseline on acne-prone skin, because she's dealt with the breakouts (and lived to tell the tale).