Common active ingredients include petrolatum, zinc oxide, and colloidal oatmeal. Other ingredients used to soothe or repair skin are ceramides, glycerin, panthenol (vitamin B5), shea butter, and licorice root extract.
These products are offered in several forms, including ointments, creams, pastes, and balms.
Descriptions commonly say products seal out moisture, create a protective barrier, soothe and relieve dry or itchy skin, and promote healing or restore normal moisture levels.
Colloidal oatmeal and petrolatum are explicitly described as skin protectants; zinc oxide is also used to protect skin by sealing out moisture.
Products commonly highlight ceramides (including Ceramide-3), glycerin, and colloidal oatmeal to help lock in or attract moisture and support the skin barrier.
