Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser vs Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
97 facts in comparison
Based on 533 Reddit opinions. Close race—Petroleum JellyVaseline Original Petroleum Jelly edges ahead.
533 opinions
Petroleum Jelly leads by 5pts
VS
68%
C+
Based on
367 Redditors
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
~$9.99
146 opinions
tldr; Reddit has mixed feelings about Cetaphil; praised for being gentle on sensitive skin, but criticized by some users for causing breakouts.
Check pricesVS
Reddit's Pick
73%
B-
Based on
1,009 Redditors
Winner
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
~$5.48
387 opinions
tldr; Reddit highly recommends Vaseline for its exceptional healing, moisturizing, and occlusive properties, often favored by dermatologists and praised for its affordability.
Check prices✓EFF
⭐ING
✋SKI
❤️GEN
💨FRA
68
Points
76
Points
Score by Category
Effectiveness
55%73%
Ingredients
44%67%
Skin Feel
60%50%
Gentleness
73%88%
Fragrance
75%—
Why is Original Petroleum Jelly better than Gentle Skin Cleanser?
- Higher Reddit score (73% vs 68%)
- Better effectiveness (73% vs 55%)
- Better ingredients (67% vs 44%)
- Better gentleness (88% vs 73%)
- Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor
- ⏱ Heals skin fast and effectively
- Works as an effective, affordable occlusive
Based on 1,376 Reddit opinions
Slight Edge
Reddit prefers the Petroleum JellyVaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
Winning by 5 points (73% vs 68%)
Better effectiveness
Better ingredients
Better gentleness
High confidence (1,376 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 1,376 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Skin Cleanser
6.8/10
367 mentions
Petroleum Jelly
7.3/10
1,009 mentions
GENTLENESS
Skin Cleanser7.3/10
Petroleum Jelly8.8/10
EFFECTIVENESS
Skin Cleanser5.5/10
Petroleum Jelly7.3/10
SKIN FEEL
Skin Cleanser6.0/10
Petroleum Jelly5.0/10
FRAGRANCE
Skin Cleanser7.5/10
Petroleum JellyN/A
INGREDIENTS
Skin Cleanser4.4/10
Petroleum Jelly6.7/10
VALUE
Skin Cleanser10.0/10
Petroleum Jelly10.0/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Skin Cleanser | Petroleum Jelly |
|---|---|---|
Gentleness | 73% | 88% |
Effectiveness | 55% | 73% |
Skin Feel | 60% | 50% |
Fragrance | 75% | N/A |
Ingredients | 44% | 67% |
Value | 100% | 100% |
Category Wins
Skin Cleanser: 2|Petroleum Jelly: 3
Head to Head
Skin Cleanser: 2|Petroleum Jelly: 3
GentlenessPetroleum Jelly
Skin Cleanser73%
Petroleum Jelly88%
EffectivenessPetroleum Jelly
Skin Cleanser55%
Petroleum Jelly73%
Skin FeelSkin Cleanser
Skin Cleanser60%
Petroleum Jelly50%
FragranceSkin Cleanser
Skin Cleanser75%
Petroleum JellyN/A
IngredientsPetroleum Jelly
Skin Cleanser44%
Petroleum Jelly67%
Value
Skin Cleanser100%
Petroleum Jelly100%
Skin Cleanser
68%
73%
Petroleum Jelly
Skin Cleanser68%
Petroleum Jelly73%
Petroleum Jelly wins by 5 points
Key Specs
| Spec | Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser | Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly |
|---|---|---|
| Key Ingredients | Glycerin, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) | — |
| Skin Type | Dry to normal, sensitive skin | — |
| Formula | Fragrance-free, paraben-free, soap-free, sulfate-free, oil-free, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic | — |
| Texture | Creamy formula | — |
| Brand | Cetaphil | Vaseline |
Key Highlights
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
🎯 Gentle for sensitive skin
🎯 Good for rosacea skin
🎯 Daily facial moisturizer with SPF available
⚠ Can cause major breakouts for some users
⚠ AM PM lotion specifically mentioned as
Vaseline Original Petroleum JellyWinner
🏆 Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor
⏱️ Heals skin fast and effectively
💰 Works as an effective, affordable occlusive
🎯 Leaves skin feeling amazing overnight
💧 Excellent for extremely dry skin when layered
Topic Battles
Skin Cleanser: 2|Tied: 0|Petroleum Jelly: 3
✓Effectiveness
Petroleum Jelly winsSkin Cleanser
55%
Petroleum Jelly
73%
⭐Ingredients
Petroleum Jelly winsSkin Cleanser
44%
Petroleum Jelly
67%
✋Skin Feel
Skin Cleanser winsSkin Cleanser
60%
Petroleum Jelly
50%
❤️Gentleness
Petroleum Jelly winsSkin Cleanser
73%
Petroleum Jelly
88%
💨Fragrance
Skin Cleanser winsSkin Cleanser
75%
Petroleum Jelly
—
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
Best Praise
+49 pts“My dermatologist won’t let me put anything on my face after any minor surgery by Vaseline. Not even aquapore- just Vaseline. My skin healed so fast. Supposedly to remove stitches it take 4-7bdays, but my skin healed up so fast they have to remove the stitches in 3 days tops. Any wound, dryness - this is all that doctors recommend. My mom also swears that putting light Vaseline on your face and rinsing it before you get out of the shower and applying make up after, your make up will be vibrant and last longer. She was an actress in the 70s and this is how the production make up artist does her make up.”
r/SkincareAddiction
ViewTop Criticism
+11 pts“I guess whoever who hasn't tried it yet, give it a go . But I've since learned during the winter trying to combat dry air, that dabbing a a little Vaseline a bit around my face, causes my face to break out like crazy the next day. Oh the night of, it is shiny and moist and lovely. But the next day, big ol bright red zits”
r/SkincareAddiction
View3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
Best Praise
+11 pts“I hate sunscreen for the same reason. Cetaphil has a moisturizer with spf 35 and it's the only thing that's worked for me most days as I'm not outside much. If I do go outside for awhile, just gonna wear my hat.”
r/SkincareAddiction
ViewTop Criticism
+14 pts“You can feel infrared radiation as heat and sunscreens don't block infrared”
r/SkincareAddiction
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Skin Cleanser
Petroleum Jelly
📈Historical Price Data
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
All-time low: $2.67(2023-03)
$3 below 90-day avg
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
All-time low: $2.29(2022-05)
Which is Better?
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly Wins
73%
Jelly
vs
68%
Cleanser
Close race, but Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly edges ahead by 5 points based on 1,376 Reddit opinions.
Why Petroleum JellyWinner
- 🏆 Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor
- ⏱️ Heals skin fast and effectively
- 💰 Works as an effective, affordable occlusive
- More discussed (1,009 vs 367)
Why Skin Cleanser
- 🎯 Gentle for sensitive skin
- 🎯 Good for rosacea skin
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
28%Positive
Positive
28%Neutral
62%Negative
10%Based on 1,009 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
26%Positive
Positive
26%Neutral
61%Negative
13%Based on 367 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly or Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser?
Based on 1,376 Reddit comments, Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly has a slight edge with 73% positive sentiment vs Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser's 68%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly or Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser?
Both have similar approval ratings (73% vs 68%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly?
Reddit users highlight: Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor. Heals skin fast and effectively. Works as an effective, affordable occlusive. With 1,009 mentions and 73% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser?
Reddit users highlight: Gentle for sensitive skin. Good for rosacea skin. Daily facial moisturizer with SPF available. With 367 mentions and 68% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 1,376 Reddit comments: 1,009 about Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly and 367 about Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. Data was sourced from Skincare products community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.
533 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 6/14/2026