Paw Paw Ointment vs Natural Paw Paw Cream
Looking for the Best Paw Paw Ointment? Meet the Natural Alternative Every Australian knows paw paw ointment (also spelled pawpaw or papaw, and known as papaya, popo, or botanically Carica papaya). It’s in handbags, first-aid kits and bedside drawers across the country. But here’s something most people never read on the label: many of the popular paw paw ointments are mostly petroleum jelly, with only a small amount of fermented paw paw added. At Real McArthur, we do it the other way around. What’s actually in a paw paw ointment? A traditional paw paw ointment is usually a petrolatum (petroleum jelly) base — often more than 95% — with a small percentage of fermented papaya. Petroleum jelly is a by-product of the oil industry. It sits on top of the skin as a barrier, which is why ointments feel thick and greasy. Our approach is different: we start with fresh Australian paw paw and build the product around it. The natural alternative: fresh paw paw, not petroleum Our Paw Paw Magnesium Body Cream is built on a high concentration of fresh paw paw, blended with magnesium and aloe vera. No petroleum. No beeswax. No animal ingredients at all. That means: Plant-based and vegan — most paw paw ointments and balms are not Petroleum-free — made from fruit, not fossil fuel by-products Fast-absorbing — a cream that moisturises into the skin, rather than a greasy layer that sits on top Australian made — made in New South Wales, Australia Real paw paw extract — from Australian organic growers, never an imported powder Ointment, salve, balm or cream — what’s the difference? You’ll see all four words on shelves, and they’re not the same thing. An ointment is the thick, greasy one — usually petroleum-based, sitting on the skin as a seal. A salve is similar but softer, traditionally made with waxes and oils. A balm is the firm one in tins and sticks — most lip balms are balms, and they’re usually made with beeswax, which means they’re not vegan. A cream is the lightest of the four: it absorbs into the skin rather than sitting on top, with no greasy film left behind. We make a cream — on purpose. It carries more fruit, less grease, and it’s the only one of the four that feels like skincare rather than sealant. Ointment or cream — which should you choose?  Traditional paw paw ointment Real McArthur paw paw cream Main ingredient Petroleum jelly Fresh paw paw Feel on skin Thick, greasy barrier Light, absorbs in Vegan Usually no Yes Added extras — Magnesium + aloe vera Made in Varies Australia If you love the idea of paw paw ointment — that gentle, old-fashioned Aussie skincare — but you’d rather it came from the fruit itself instead of a petroleum base, a natural vegan paw paw cream is the natural next step. How people use it, day to day Lips — a light layer whenever they feel dry, without the waxy balm feel Heels, elbows and knees — the rough patches that drink up moisture Hands and cuticles — especially after washing up, gardening or a day in the shed After a day outdoors — when skin feels dry and tight, a cream that absorbs beats a barrier that smears All-over body moisturiser — light enough for every day, gentle enough for the whole family What to look for on any paw paw label (ours included) Wherever you buy — even if it’s not from us — here’s how to read a paw paw label like a pro: Where does paw paw sit on the ingredients list? Ingredients are listed in order of amount. If petrolatum or paraffin is first, you’re mostly buying petroleum. Is the base plant-derived or petroleum? The word “petrolatum” is the giveaway. Vegan or beeswax? Balms and many ointments use beeswax — fine if that’s your choice, but it’s not plant-based. Where is it made? Australian made means Australian standards. Are the ingredients listed openly? Ours are, in full, on our ingredients page — including certified organic aloe vera juice where most creams use plain water, and less than 1% preservative in the whole formula. A family business Real McArthur is run by Darren McArthur — son of Tom McArthur, known to many Australians as the Paw Paw Man. Darren carries on the family business with his father’s blessing. Our products are our own, made in New South Wales, Australia. You can read our full story here. Frequently asked questions Keep reading Paw Paw vs Papaya: What’s the Difference? What Is Paw Paw Cream? (And What Should Be in a Good One) The Benefits of Paw Paw as a Food and as a Cream Real McArthur Paw Paw Products — natural, vegan, petroleum-free skincare made in Australia from fresh paw paw. Keep reading: natural paw paw cream vs petroleum ointments · what belongs in a good paw paw cream Related reading: Paw Paw Salve vs Paw Paw Cream: What’s the Difference?
Paw Paw Cream vs Vaseline & Petroleum Ointments: The Honest Difference
Turn over the most famous paw paw products (also spelled pawpaw or papaw, and known as papaya, popo, or botanically Carica papaya) in Australia and read the first ingredient. On many of them — and on a tub of Vaseline — it isn’t paw paw. It’s petrolatum, better known as petroleum jelly. Often more than 90% of the tube. What is petroleum jelly (and Vaseline)? Vaseline is the best-known brand of petroleum jelly — petrolatum, a by-product of oil refining, the same industry that fuels cars. It has been used in skincare for over a century because it’s cheap, extremely stable, and forms a waterproof seal over the skin. To be fair and honest: petroleum jelly is permitted in cosmetics and considered safe by regulators. This isn’t a scare story. It’s a choice story. Paw paw cream vs Vaseline: two philosophies Vaseline and petroleum-based ointments work by sitting ON your skin — a thick, greasy barrier that seals things in (and out). The fruit content, if there is any, is usually a small percentage carried in that petroleum base. A natural paw paw cream works differently — the plant oils and the fruit’s own goodness soak into the skin as well as protecting it, with no petroleum base. The fruit isn’t a garnish; it’s the point. What’s the difference between paw paw cream and Vaseline? Honestly, they’re different tools. If you want a plain waterproof seal, petroleum jelly like Vaseline does that one job. But if you want skincare made with real paw paw on a plant base — that absorbs rather than just sitting there greasy, and is petroleum-free — that’s a different product built for a different reason. That’s the choice we made. How we make ours Our Paw Paw Magnesium Body Cream contains no petroleum — it’s built on an organic aloe vera base, not a petroleum jelly base like Vaseline. It carries 60% real Australian paw paw from Australian organic growers, certified-organic aloe vera juice where most creams use plain water, magnesium, and natural plant oils and butters — with less than 1% preservative in the whole formula. It’s a paw paw cream and a magnesium cream in one — a combination you won’t find in the big-name petroleum tubes. Vegan and cruelty-free throughout, made in New South Wales. Every ingredient is on our ingredients page. Which should you choose? Vaseline / petroleum ointment Real McArthur paw paw cream First ingredient Petrolatum (petroleum jelly) Paw paw and plant ingredients Base Petroleum jelly Organic aloe vera (petroleum-free) Paw paw content Small % (if any) 60% Feel Thick, greasy seal Absorbs in, still protects Origin of base Oil refining Plants, grown in Australia Vegan Usually no Yes If you want a waterproof seal, a petroleum ointment like Vaseline does that job. If you want skincare that feels like it came from a fruit rather than a refinery — that’s why we exist. We’ve written a full paw paw ointment vs cream comparison here. Quick answers From the fruit, not the refinery.Shop natural paw paw cream → Keep reading: paw paw ointment vs natural cream · why we blend magnesium into our paw paw cream · paw paw salve vs cream