Beauty trends have officially entered their “check the baby aisle” era.
The truth? I never imagined I’d willingly slather diaper cream all over my face before bed, yet here we are.
One scroll through BeautyTok and you’ll find countless creators capping off their nighttime skincare routines with a generous layer of diaper cream, waking up the next morning to skin that looks suspiciously calmer and glowier.
The logic sounds a little unhinged at first.
After all, diaper cream is to protect babies from irritated bottoms, not adults chasing glass skin.
Naturally, I had to see what the fuss was about.
I spent a night looking like I’d lost a fight with a tub of white paint, fully expecting to wake up questioning every life decision that led me there.
Instead? My skin felt surprisingly smooth, less red and noticeably more comfortable. No, diaper cream didn’t magically erase my pores or grant me red carpet-ready skin overnight, but it did make my complexion look like it had enjoyed a luxurious eight-hour spa retreat while unconscious.
As bizarre beauty experiments go, this one earns points for delivering more than laughs.
About the diaper cream trend
Victoria McDonnell
Dubbed “face basting” or “zinc slugging” on TikTok — the beauty involves coating your face in diaper cream before bed. After all, the TikTok dermatologist expert notes that “adding a zinc-based barrier cream to your face is a one-way ticket to the best skin of your life.”
Click here to jump to skincare creams that best mimic the soothing effects of the diaper cream trend.
Why people are embracing the trend now
While TikTok may have introduced diaper cream to a new audience, the hero ingredient isn’t exactly new.
“Zinc oxide paste has been around for decades,” says Dr. Nelson Lee Novick, MD, a RealSelf Verified Provider. It’s traditionally been used to treat and prevent diaper rash, soothe irritation from incontinence, and even by lifeguards as sun protection because zinc oxide blocks both UVA and UVB rays. “[It] essentially provides barrier protection to lock in moisture and can also have a mild, calming, anti-inflammatory effect on the skin,” he explains.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Douglas M. Monasebian, surgical director and founder of Park Avenue Plastic Surgery & MedSpa, notes that zinc oxide’s occlusive properties help seal moisture into the skin while reducing irritation and inflammation.
“It acts to lock in moisture, thus hydrating the skin,” he says. “Because moisture is trapped, your skin will be more hydrated and look healthier.”
Today, Dr. Novick says viral platforms have popularized “face basting” or “zinc slugging” as an inexpensive overnight treatment that may be even more soothing than applying plain petroleum jelly.
The trend “really works,” according to Dr. Monasebian, but there are some caveats.
“There are so many trends out there, but this one is actually effective. That said, you should speak with a doctor before performing any at-home treatments. You must make sure you have a proper diagnosis and perform appropriate treatment.”
In other words: TikTok can inspire your skincare routine, but it probably shouldn’t be your dermatologist.
Who should (and shouldn’t) try it
According to Novick, zinc oxide can be especially beneficial for people with sun-damaged, dry or aging skin, as well as those managing eczema or psoriasis.
Monasebian similarly recommends it for people experiencing dry, irritated or inflamed skin, where the ingredient’s soothing properties can shine.
But this trend definitely isn’t for everyone.
“People with acne-prone skin risk worsening of the condition due to pore clogging,” Novick says. He also advises avoiding zinc oxide if you’re allergic to ingredients commonly found in diaper creams, including lanolin or parabens, and never applying it to open wounds or broken skin.
Monasebian echoes that warning, explaining that because diaper cream is highly occlusive, it can trap bacteria inside pores and potentially trigger breakouts.
Still, I had to try the trend
After smoothing on a thick layer of the Tubby Todd Sweet Cheeks Diaper Paste before bed, I caught one look in the mirror and immediately understood why this trend is mostly filmed from flattering angles. I looked less like someone indulging in self-care and more like a Victorian ghost auditioning for a moisturizer commercial.
The next morning, though, my skin felt noticeably softer. Diaper cream for acne is real: the redness around my nose had dialed itself down, my cheeks felt comfortably hydrated instead of tight, and my complexion looked like it had finally decided to stop being so dramatic. It wasn’t a miracle cure, but it absolutely felt like my skin had spent the night wrapped in a weighted blanket.
Face creams that give the same skin-softening effect
While my diaper cream experiment was surprisingly successful, I still prefer products designed specifically for facial skin.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+
Victoria McDonnell
Whenever my skin feels over-exfoliated, irritated or generally offended by my own skincare choices, this is the tube I reach for. It creates that same comforting, cocoon-like feeling as diaper cream but absorbs more elegantly, feels less heavy and doesn’t leave me looking like I accidentally face-planted into frosting.
Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream
Amazon
If Cicaplast is the rescue blanket, this is the cashmere throw.
The lightweight cream leaves my skin unbelievably soft by morning without feeling greasy or suffocating. It’s become one of my favorite products for calming redness while still giving me that deeply moisturized, barrier-supported finish I was chasing with diaper cream in the first place.
Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
Amazon
Whenever my skin feels raw — whether I’ve gone a little too hard on exfoliating acids or spent too much time in the sun — this is the cream I reach for. It’s rich without feeling suffocating and leaves my complexion noticeably calmer by morning. While it doesn’t have the thick, paste-like texture of diaper cream, it delivers that same “my skin finally got a night off” feeling.
Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream
Amazon
If you’re after the soft, cushiony skin that makes diaper cream so appealing but want something specifically formulated for the face, this moisturizer is hard to beat. Packed with ceramides, fatty acids and lipids, it helps reinforce the skin barrier while delivering lasting hydration. I wake up with skin that feels plump, smooth and comfortably moisturized (not greasy!).
Kiehl’s Since 1861 Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream
Amazon
This is the moisturizer I reach for when my skin feels tight or flaky.
The balm-like formula is rich enough to replenish a compromised skin barrier without feeling overly greasy, and I always wake up with skin that feels noticeably softer and more comfortable. It delivers that same deeply nourished, overnight recovery effect that makes diaper cream so appealing — but in a formula created specifically for facial skin.
Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post
This article was written by Victoria McDonnell, New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent countless hours researching, testing hundreds of products and comparing the latest makeup, skincare, hair and beauty items and trends to determine what’s truly worth your hard-earned cash. She evaluates formulas, textures, ingredients and more, in addition to consulting medical and industry experts. Some of Victoria’s latest conquests include testing the best sheet masks on the market, and a rinse-and-repeat review of the best shampoos for all hair types and budgets. Victoria, who received a beauty industry essentials certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology, has been creating shopping guides for the New York Post since 2021 and previously held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored.
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