vicks vaporub for wrinkles before and after
What’s Actually in Vicks?
Petrolatum (petroleum jelly): Occlusive, locks in moisture. Menthol, camphor, and eucalyptus oil: Provide the classic aroma and tingling feel; these are skin irritants for some and counterirritants for most. Other herbs: Including cedarleaf and nutmeg oils.
Skin Care Benefits: The Evidence
1. Hydration and Barrier Repair
Vicks’s thick petrolatum base creates a seal, reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) overnight. This barrier function is central to “slugging”—the viral trend of applying an occlusive on top of serums/moisturizers for overnight hydration. Result: Nextmorning skin is plumper and fine lines less visible. Most credible vicks vaporub for wrinkles before and after posts are due to this effect, not active collagen production.
2. Temporary Line Smoothing
By trapping water in the surface layer, fine lines (“sleep lines,” crow’s feet, and laugh lines) appear filled. Vicks’s gloss reflects more light, giving the illusion of texture reduction. Photos show improvement, but repeated use is required for ongoing effect.
3. Calming Dryness and Rough Patches
Vicks helps sooth windburn, postretinoid flakiness, or dry elbows and feet. It’s as effective as Vaseline for these issues; the real benefit is barrier restoration. Hygroscopic effect of petrolatum makes rough patches softer after two to three uses.
The Hype: What Doesn’t Hold Up
1. Wrinkle Reversal
No collagen stimulation: Unlike retinoids or peptides, Vicks doesn’t remodel skin or erase wrinkles permanently. The vicks vaporub for wrinkles before and after “miracles” are hydrationbased, not deep transformation. Lines return if you stop use; progress is cosmetic, not structural.
2. Spot Removal or Pigment Correction
No ingredient in Vicks “fades” melanin or treats dark spots; any fading is due to smoothed skin scattering light, not actual pigment reduction.
Side Effects and Cautions
Irritation: Menthol and camphor are known skin sensitizers; repeated use increases the risk of redness, bumps, or dermatitis (especially in thinskinned or sensitive users). Clogged pores: While petrolatum is noncomedogenic in clinical tests, the essential oils may cause breakouts if applied to oily or acneprone skin. Not for open wounds or postprocedure skin.
How To Use (If You Must)
Patch test first: Two nights behind the ear or along jawline. Apply as the last step: Cleanse face, apply light serum, then a very thin layer of Vicks to fine lines or dry patches. Never fullface or near eyes: Stick to forehead, smile lines, or dry zones only. Max 2x/week: Even dry skin types should avoid nightly application. Rinse thoroughly in the morning and use SPF.
Better EvidenceBased Alternatives
Vaseline: All the occlusive benefits without essential oil allergy/intolerance risk. Ceramiderich overnight creams: Barrier repair and hydration. Bakuchiol/Retinoid night serums: True wrinkle transformation. Plantbased balms: Less risk of irritation, sustainable and clean.
User Reviews: Summary Table
| Benefit Claimed | Evidence | Risk | |||| | Smoother skin in morning | Real (hydration) | Low if used sparingly | | Lines “disappear” overnight | Temporary, not lasting | Rebound if stopped | | Fades spots or wrinkles after months | No evidence | More risk (irritation) | | Irritation and bumps | Common | Use discipline |
Realistic “Before and After”
Night 1: Immediate plumping, smoother feel. Day 2–5: Softening continues if skin is dry or mature, lines less pronounced. One week+: No deep wrinkle or pigment removal. Stop if signs of irritation develop.
The big wins reported in vicks vaporub for wrinkles before and after are always closest to very dry, mature skin—not universal.
Bottom Line
Vicks hydrates, but does not transform: Immediate “wow” for surface lines, but no real change to deep wrinkles or pigment. Risk of side effects is real: Use only on hardy, dry skin and do not attempt as a nightly cure. Routine builds better skin: Pair slugging (with Vaseline or clean balms) with retinoids and sunscreen for real results.
Use vicks vaporub for wrinkles before and after as an occasional tool, not a mainstay. The simple truth: skin transformation is slow, structured, and grounded in evidence long before hacks. In discipline, not drama, comes real change. Routine always outlasts shortcuts.