What is ‘face basting’? Dermatologist swears by diaper rash cream to relieve dry, inflamed skin

Bummed about dry skin? An NYC board-certified dermatologist is recommending slathering your face with diaper rash cream.

“I do this at night when I’m in a very dry climate or my skin is super dry and parched, and I do it after washing my face,” Dr. Shereene Idriss, 40, said in a trending TikTok from December.

“I use a zinc-oxide-based cream — you guessed it — a diaper rash cream all over my face, and much to the dismay of my husband, because zinc oxide is gold, little nerds, it is gold, it will help prepare your face and heal your skin while locking in hydration,” she added.

Idriss said she whipped up the term “face basting” to describe covering herself in the cream until she looks like “Mrs. Doubtfire or a Magnolia buttercream cupcake. Then I go to sleep, and when I wake up the next morning, my face is as soft as my baby’s butt.”

A case study published last year found that applying a face mask containing a zinc-oxide-based cream for 10 minutes helped restore hydration after a patient underwent laser treatment for acne scars.

The study authors noted that zinc oxide boasts anti-inflammatory properties, and research has shown that the compound increases collagen production and accelerates wound healing.

“My diaper cream of choice is Triple Paste,” Idriss told Yahoo Life this week. “Along with 12% zinc oxide, it has a mix of cornstarch and oat kernel extract. The cornstarch is beneficial for your pores if you are dry, but get a bit oily or acne-prone in your T-zone. Oat kernel extract is also anti-inflammatory and a natural humectant to help attract moisture to your skin.”

As you peruse the baby aisle of the drugstore, be sure to look at the ingredients in the cream before purchasing.

“Diaper creams can contain ingredients like lanolin, mineral oil, wax or petroleum jelly,” Dr. Elizabeth Houshmand, a dermatologist and fellow at the American Academy of Dermatology, told Yahoo Life. “These ingredients can cause facial irritation, clogged pores and acne. You can achieve better results with a rich facial moisturizer and products that help with the skin barrier.”

The “face basting” movement stems from Idriss’ “lip basting” technique, which involves “buffing” your lips by applying a small amount of exfoliating acid and then “basting” them with a rich ointment like Eucerin to heal dry, cracked kissers.

In a follow-up video this month, Idriss noted that “face basting” is different from “face slugging,” which is leaving petroleum jelly or Vaseline on your skin overnight.

She says she applies the cream after washing her face and removing her makeup. She advises face basters to avoid applying retinol beforehand as it “can be irritating.”

Commenters shared their experiences with the unusual hack in the comments section of her demonstrations.

“I love basting and hearing my husband say ‘HELLOOO!’” one commenter exclaimed, referencing an infamous scene from “Mrs. Doubtfire.” “It’s so much fun when we laugh at my basted face, chest, hands, feet, arms and legs! Thank you. It totally works.”

“I’ve been face basting with triple paste for less than a week (since learning about it from you on TikTok) and I’m in AWE of how much it has improved my redness and even my sebaceous filaments on my nose,” another person disclosed.

“I’ve done this twice with this same exact cream and yes, my face was soft, but I also woke up with huge zits both times,” someone else lamented.

“I did this and I broke out in hives (just my experience though),” another sighed.

Houshmand warned to Yahoo Life that “face basting” “may only exacerbate oiliness and flare your acne.”

It’s best to consult with a dermatologist before embarking on a new skincare routine.