Last updated: October 2026
Short answer: Most drugstore moisturizers for dry skin are built on water plus petrolatum (petroleum jelly) or mineral oil, which seal moisture in. Aquaphor Healing Ointment is 41% petrolatum; Eucerin Original Healing Cream and Nivea Creme list both petrolatum and mineral oil near the top; Vanicream lists petrolatum second. An aloe vera cream such as Corium 21 takes a different route: certified organic aloe vera is listed first, and it contains no petroleum jelly or mineral oil. Ointments are best for very cracked skin at night; a cream that absorbs well is easier to use all day.
We make Corium 21, so we stuck to what each label says. Ingredient lists come from the sources at the bottom of this page, checked October 29, 2026. Formulas change, so check the package you buy. Corium 21 is not affiliated with any brand named here.
How do the ingredients compare?
| Product | Type | First listed ingredients | Petrolatum or mineral oil? | Fragrance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquaphor Healing Ointment | Ointment (skin protectant, an over-the-counter drug category) | Petrolatum 41% (active); mineral oil, ceresin, lanolin alcohol | Both | None added |
| Eucerin Original Healing Cream | Cream | Water, petrolatum, mineral oil, ceresin, lanolin alcohol | Both | None listed |
| O'Keeffe's Working Hands | Hand cream | Water, glycerin, stearic acid, sodium hydroxide | Paraffin and mineral oil | None listed |
| Vanicream Moisturizing Cream | Cream | Water, petrolatum, sorbitol, cetearyl alcohol | Petrolatum | None |
| Cetaphil Soothing Gel-Cream with Aloe | Gel-cream (skin protectant, allantoin 0.5%) | Inactive ingredients listed alphabetically; aloe appears as leaf juice powder | Neither | Fragrance free |
| Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion | Lotion (dimethicone 1.2% active) | Water, glycerin, distearyldimonium chloride, petrolatum | Petrolatum | Fragrance free |
| Nivea Creme | Cream | Water, mineral oil, petrolatum, glycerin | Both | Contains fragrance |
| Lubriderm Daily Moisture | Lotion | Water, mineral oil, glycerin | Mineral oil | Contains fragrance |
| Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, Fragrance Free | Hand cream | Water, glycerin, cetearyl alcohol | Neither | Fragrance free |
| Corium 21 | Cream | Certified organic aloe vera, water, glycerin, isopropyl palmitate | Neither | Classic Fragrance or Fragrance Free |
Why do so many moisturizers use petrolatum and mineral oil?
They work. Petrolatum and mineral oil are occlusives: they form a thin layer that slows water loss from the skin. The American Academy of Dermatology lists petrolatum among helpful moisturizing ingredients, along with glycerin, shea butter, dimethicone and hyaluronic acid. The trade-off is feel: the higher they sit on the list, the heavier and shinier the product tends to be.
When is an ointment the better choice?
For skin that is cracked or raw, a thick ointment at night gives the most protection, and dermatologists recommend ointments and creams over lotions for dry skin. Many people use an ointment on the worst spots at bedtime and a cream that absorbs well during the day, when greasy hands get in the way. Read more in lotion vs cream vs ointment and aloe vera cream vs petroleum jelly.
Who might prefer an aloe vera cream?
- People who want aloe listed first, not as a minor ingredient.
- People who want a moisturizer without petroleum jelly or mineral oil.
- People who need a cream that absorbs well enough to use at work, between hand washes.
- Households that want one cream for face, hands, feet and body, in a pump bottle by the sink.
- People who want to choose a scent: Corium 21 comes in Classic Fragrance or Fragrance Free.
How to try Corium 21
Corium 21 is an aloe vera skin cream for dry skin with certified organic aloe vera as its first ingredient, plus glycerin, soluble collagen, niacinamide, vitamins A, C, D3 and E, and rose hip oil. Trusted since 1994. Family-owned in Oregon. Not sure yet? Free Samples are two 0.5 oz jars, one Classic and one Fragrance Free, for $3.95 shipping (one per customer). Full sizes come with our 90-day promise: if it isn't right for you, email support@corium21.com within 90 days for a refund of the product price, even if the jar is opened. Questions? Call (800) 319-5114 and talk to a real person.
Want to compare a label that isn't on this list? Paste it into our free Ingredient Label Decoder. For a closer look at one brand, see how an aloe vera cream compares with CeraVe.
Questions people ask
What is a good alternative to Aquaphor for dry hands?
If Aquaphor feels too greasy for daytime, try a cream that absorbs well, such as an aloe vera cream, during the day and keep Aquaphor for cracked spots at night. Corium 21 lists certified organic aloe vera first and contains no petroleum jelly or mineral oil.
Eucerin vs aloe vera cream: which is better for dry skin?
Eucerin Original Healing Cream is built on water, petrolatum and mineral oil, so it is rich and protective. An aloe vera cream like Corium 21 leads with aloe and glycerin and feels lighter. Very rough skin may like Eucerin at night; an aloe cream is easier to wear all day.
What are good O'Keeffe's Working Hands alternatives?
O'Keeffe's is glycerin-rich and also contains paraffin and mineral oil. If you want a hand cream without mineral oil that also works on face and body, an aloe vera cream such as Corium 21 is one option. Our guide to hand cream for working hands has a full routine.
Vanicream vs aloe vera cream: what's the difference?
Vanicream Moisturizing Cream is water, petrolatum and sorbitol with no fragrance. An aloe vera cream leads with aloe. If you want fragrance free, both have an option: Corium 21 Fragrance Free leaves the fragrance out.
Is Cetaphil Soothing Gel-Cream with Aloe the same as an aloe vera cream?
Not quite. It is a gel-cream sold as a skin protectant with allantoin 0.5% as the active ingredient, and its label lists aloe as leaf juice powder. An aloe vera cream such as Corium 21 lists aloe juice as its first ingredient.
Aveeno vs aloe vera cream for dry skin?
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion is a fragrance-free lotion with dimethicone 1.2% as its active ingredient, plus oat and petrolatum. Dermatologists generally suggest creams over lotions for very dry skin, so a cream may last longer between applications.
Nivea Creme vs aloe vera cream?
Nivea Creme is a thick cream built on water, mineral oil and petrolatum, with fragrance. An aloe vera cream like Corium 21 leads with aloe, contains no mineral oil or petrolatum and comes in a Fragrance Free version.
Lubriderm vs aloe vera cream?
Lubriderm Daily Moisture is a lotion with water, mineral oil and glycerin first and added fragrance. An aloe vera cream is thicker than a lotion and Corium 21 has no mineral oil.
What are alternatives to Neutrogena Norwegian Formula hand cream?
Norwegian Formula is a concentrated glycerin hand cream. If you want something that also works on your face and body, an aloe vera cream with glycerin, such as Corium 21, covers hands, heels and face from one jar or pump bottle.
Sources
- Aquaphor Healing Ointment ingredients, via Dermatology Foundation product listing. https://dermfnd.org/p/aquaphor-healing-ointment/
- Eucerin Original Healing Cream ingredients, via SkinSort. https://skinsort.com/products/eucerin/original-healing-cream
- O'Keeffe's Working Hands product page. https://okeeffescompany.com/products/working-hands
- Vanicream. Vanicream Moisturizing Cream product page. https://www.vanicream.com/product/vanicream-moisturizing-cream
- Cetaphil Soothing Gel Cream with Aloe ingredients, via SkinSort. https://skinsort.com/products/cetaphil/soothing-gel-cream-with-aloe
- Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion ingredients, via Dermatology Foundation product listing. https://dermfnd.org/p/aveeno-daily-moisturizing-lotion/
- NIVEA USA. NIVEA Creme product page. https://www.niveausa.com/products/nivea-creme--721400054670079
- Lubriderm. Daily Moisture Lotion product page. https://www.lubriderm.com/products/daily-moisture-lotion
- Neutrogena. Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, Fragrance Free, product page. https://www.neutrogena.com/products/norwegian-formula-hand-cream/6801300
- American Academy of Dermatology. Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dermatologists-tips-relieve-dry-skin
About this page
Corium 21 is a family-owned company that makes a moisturizing cream with certified organic aloe vera. Trusted since 1994. Family-owned in Oregon. Certified organic aloe vera is the cream's first ingredient (see the full list). It is a cosmetic moisturizer: it moisturizes and helps relieve dryness. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This page is general information, not medical advice. If your skin is cracked and bleeding, painful, or not getting better, see a doctor or dermatologist.