Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel vs Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly

98 facts in comparison

Based on 457 Reddit opinions. Close race—Water Gel edges ahead.

457 opinions
Water Gel leads by 3pts
Reddit's Pick
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
76%
B
Based on
136 Redditors
Winner

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

~$22.29
70 opinions

tldr; Reddit appreciates Neutrogena Hydro Boost as an affordable, lightweight hyaluronic acid gel moisturizer that hydrates without greasiness, though some prefer it layered with heavier creams.

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VS
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
73%
B-
Based on
1,009 Redditors

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.

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EffectivenessIngredientsSkin FeelGentlenessFragrance
EFF
ING
SKI
❤️GEN
💨FRA
62
Points
76
Points

Score by Category

Effectiveness
48%73%
Ingredients
0%67%
Skin Feel
100%50%
Gentleness
75%88%
Fragrance
0%

Why is Original Petroleum Jelly better than Boost Water Gel?

  • Better effectiveness (73% vs 48%)
  • Better gentleness (88% vs 75%)
  • Better value (100% vs 25%)
  • Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor
  • ⏱ Heals skin fast and effectively
  • Works as an effective, affordable occlusive
Based on 1,145 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call

Reddit prefers the Water Gel

Winning by 3 points (76% vs 73%)

Better skin feel
Lightweight gel texture absorbs quickly
Great for oily skin types
High confidence (1,145 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 1,145 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Water Gel
7.6/10
136 mentions
Petroleum Jelly
7.3/10
1,009 mentions
EFFECTIVENESS
Water Gel4.8/10
Petroleum Jelly7.3/10
SKIN FEEL
Water Gel10.0/10
Petroleum Jelly5.0/10
FRAGRANCE
Water Gel0.0/10
Petroleum JellyN/A
INGREDIENTS
Water Gel0.0/10
Petroleum Jelly6.7/10
VALUE
Water Gel2.5/10
Petroleum Jelly10.0/10
GENTLENESS
Water Gel7.5/10
Petroleum Jelly8.8/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

Water Gel: 1|Petroleum Jelly: 4
EffectivenessPetroleum Jelly
Water Gel48%
Petroleum Jelly73%
Skin FeelWater Gel
Water Gel100%
Petroleum Jelly50%
Fragrance
Water Gel0%
Petroleum JellyN/A
IngredientsPetroleum Jelly
Water Gel0%
Petroleum Jelly67%
ValuePetroleum Jelly
Water Gel25%
Petroleum Jelly100%
GentlenessPetroleum Jelly
Water Gel75%
Petroleum Jelly88%
Water Gel76%
Petroleum Jelly73%
Close race - Water Gel edges ahead by 3 points

Key Specs

SpecNeutrogena Hydro Boost Water GelVaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
Key Ingredient
Hyaluronic Acid
Skin Type
Normal, oily, combination, acne-prone
Texture
Ultra-lightweight gel
Hydration Duration
24 hours
Formula Properties
Oil-free, non-comedogenic, dermatologist-tested

Key Highlights

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
Lightweight gel texture absorbs quickly
Great for oily skin types
Affordable drugstore option
Contains hyaluronic acid for hydration
Works well under makeup
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

Water Gel: 1|Tied: 1|Petroleum Jelly: 3
Effectiveness
Petroleum Jelly wins
Water Gel
48%
Petroleum Jelly
73%
Ingredients
Petroleum Jelly wins
Water Gel
0%
Petroleum Jelly
67%
Skin Feel
Water Gel wins
Water Gel
100%
Petroleum Jelly
50%
❤️Gentleness
Petroleum Jelly wins
Water Gel
75%
Petroleum Jelly
88%
💨Fragrance
Water Gel
0%
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 Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

Best Praise
+25 pts
I use multiple moisturizers in the winter bc it just gets soooo dry here. I have humidifiers in almost every room but still wake up to bloody noses.  I love the hydro boost OP has pictured; the way it absorbs into my skin is perfect and during the summer I’ll leave it at that. During the winter I’ll add a cream-based moisturizer that I apply after the first is fully absorbed.  I prefer the more natural feel i get when I stack them opposed to a thick and greasy heavier option.  Maybe there is a solo option that provides the moisture level and feel I prefer, but I don’t have the money or time right now hunting it down. 
r/SkincareAddiction
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Top Criticism
+135 pts
do you touch your face a lot? could be you’re touching grimy school surfaces and then subconsciously touching your face or leaning your head on your arm/hand when sitting
r/SkincareAddiction
View
3 more quotes available below

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
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Top 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
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3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
$10$15$20Jun '25Aug '25Aug '25Oct '25Nov '25Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26May '26Low: $16.94Low: $5.97Current: $22.29Current: $9.99
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
All-time low: $16.94(2025-10)
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
All-time low: $2.29(2022-05)

Which is Better?

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Wins
76%
Gel
vs
73%
Jelly

Close race, but Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel edges ahead by 3 points based on 1,145 Reddit opinions.

Why Water GelWinner
  • Lightweight gel texture absorbs quickly
  • Great for oily skin types
  • Affordable drugstore option
Why Petroleum Jelly
  • Better Value for Money (100% vs 25%)
  • More discussed (1,009 vs 136)

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

39%Positive
Positive
39%
Neutral
48%
Negative
13%
Based on 136 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

28%Positive
Positive
28%
Neutral
62%
Negative
10%
Based on 1,009 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel or Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly?
Based on 1,145 Reddit comments, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel has a slight edge with 76% positive sentiment vs Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly's 73%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel or Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly?
Both have similar approval ratings (76% vs 73%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel?
Reddit users highlight: Lightweight gel texture absorbs quickly. Great for oily skin types. Affordable drugstore option. With 136 mentions and 76% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say 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 remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 1,145 Reddit comments: 136 about Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel and 1,009 about Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly. 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.

457 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 6/14/2026