Boudreaux's Butt Paste vs Desitin is a contest between the two best-selling zinc oxide diaper creams, and in their maximum strength versions they contain the same 40 percent zinc oxide. The difference is everything around it: texture, scent, how it spreads, and how it comes off. Here is how they compare and which one parents tend to stick with.
Quick Verdict
Desitin Maximum Strength is thicker and stays put longer, which makes it the better overnight barrier for a bad rash. Boudreaux's Maximum Strength is creamier, spreads with less effort, wipes off more easily, and has a milder scent, which makes it the one parents prefer to use day after day. For treatment power they are equal; for pleasantness, Boudreaux's wins, and that is usually what decides it.
Boudreaux's Butt Paste vs Desitin at a Glance
| Boudreaux's Butt Paste Maximum Strength | Desitin Maximum Strength | |
|---|---|---|
| Zinc oxide | 40% | 40% |
| Texture | Creamy paste, spreads smoothly | Very thick paste, dense |
| Scent | Mild, slightly sweet | Noticeable medicinal |
| Removal | Wipes off with moderate effort | Hard to remove, stays on skin |
| Free of | Dyes, parabens, preservatives, talc | Parabens, dyes |
| Also available | Original (16% zinc) and Natural | Daily Defense (13% zinc) |
| Amazon rating | 4.8 stars, 29,000+ ratings | 4.8 stars, 51,000+ ratings |
| Price | About $9 for 4 oz | About $8 for 4.8 oz |
Treating a Rash
With identical zinc oxide levels, both form a strong barrier that protects inflamed skin from urine and stool so it can heal. Desitin's denser formula holds on longer through a wet night, which is the one situation where it has a practical edge. Boudreaux's, applied generously, does the same job and most parents see a rash improve in a day or two with either.
Applying and Removing
This is where the two part ways. Desitin is stiff in the tube and can be a wrestle to spread on a squirming baby, and at the next change it clings. The standard advice is to leave the clean layer in place rather than scrub, but it still makes changes messier. Boudreaux's spreads like a thick lotion and comes off with a few wipes, so each change is quicker and less irritating to skin that is already sore.
Scent and Ingredients
Desitin has a distinct medicinal smell that some parents dislike. Boudreaux's has a mild, faintly sweet scent. Boudreaux's Maximum Strength is free of dyes, parabens, preservatives, and talc; Desitin Maximum Strength is free of parabens and dyes. Both are hypoallergenic and pediatrician recommended.
Price and Sizes
Per ounce they cost about the same. Desitin's 4.8-ounce tube is slightly bigger than Boudreaux's 4-ounce tube at a similar price, and both come in larger jars for home use.
Who Should Buy Boudreaux's Butt Paste
Parents who want maximum strength zinc oxide in a cream that is easier to apply and remove and nicer to smell. The one most families keep using.
Check Boudreaux's Butt Paste Price on Amazon
Who Should Buy Desitin Maximum Strength
Parents dealing with a severe rash who want the thickest, longest-lasting barrier for overnight, and anyone who does not mind the texture.
Check Desitin Maximum Strength Price on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boudreaux's Butt Paste the same as Desitin?
The maximum strength versions have the same 40 percent zinc oxide. The bases differ, which changes texture, scent, and how each spreads and removes.
Which is better for everyday prevention?
Neither, really. For daily use, a petrolatum ointment like Aquaphor or A+D, or the lower-strength Boudreaux's Original or Desitin Daily Defense, is easier to live with. Save the 40 percent pastes for active rashes.
Can you use either with cloth diapers?
Zinc oxide pastes can coat cloth fibers and reduce absorbency. Use a disposable or fleece liner, or a cream labeled cloth-diaper safe.
