When it comes to caring for our child's skin, we can choose from a wide range of products: it's no wonder that new parents can feel overwhelmed by the vast selection.

 As a pharmacist and natural cosmetics maker, I would like to present some considerations for choosing products and a few ingredients that are safe for your baby.

In general, products marketed as natural cosmetics often contain reliable, natural, and safe ingredients. If you see these terms on the product label or the manufacturer's/distributor's website: vegan, natural, organic ingredients, chemical-free, free from synthetic fragrances and preservatives, and does not contain: petroleum derivatives, PEG, SLS, and SLES, that's a very good sign. Many products also carry the seal of independent certification organizations (Natrue, Cosmos, BDIH, Ecocert, Demeter), which guarantees the quality of the ingredients and the manufacturing process. 

Here are some ingredients that gently cleanse, care for, protect, and regenerate sensitive baby skin.

 

 

Cleansing components: 

Various bath products, such as shower gels, bubble baths, and baby bath products, owe their cleansing effect to so-called surfactants, which are capable of removing greasy impurities from the skin surface. There are several types. Some clean more gently, foam less, and are better tolerated by thin, sensitive baby skin: decyl glucoside, cocos glucoside, sucrose cocoate, glyceril oleate.
 

Nourishing, moisturizing ingredients: 

Body care products containing vegetable oils (apricot kernel oil, sweet almond oil, macadamia nut oil, jojoba oil), butters (shea butter, cocoa butter), plant extracts (oat extract), floral waters (rose water, lavender water), and moisturizing components (vegetable glycerin) are excellent for caring for the skin of babies and children. Ideally, the vegetable oils and butters are cold-pressed and come from controlled, organic farms. You can also use baby oils for massage and even for bathing and body care. Make sure it is a blend of pure, vegetable oils.

Incorporating a pleasantly textured, easily and well-absorbed body lotion containing natural ingredients into the daily skincare routine will certainly be appreciated by the skin, and the results will be visibly noticeable. 

Especially during the winter season, don't forget to care for the little faces and hands.

 

 

Protective, Regenerating Ingredients:

Such components are primarily important in diaper creams, healing creams, and eczema treatments. 

Shea butter protects, capable of shielding the baby's skin from diaper contents. Additionally, it soothes the skin, reduces inflammation, strengthens the skin's protective barrier, and nourishes the skin.

Calendula oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial (antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal), wound healing, antioxidant, and epithelializing effects. It is most commonly found in sun protection and after-sun products, as well as in preparations for treating burns, skin inflammations, skin injuries, eczema, and products intended for diaper rash treatment. 

Evening primrose oil: rich in polyunsaturated, essential fatty acids. It strengthens and protects the skin's protective barrier, and also has moisturizing, skin-softening, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties.
  

Sun Protection Ingredients:

In my opinion, sunscreens containing physical or mineral filters, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (labeled by manufacturers with terms like "mineral" or "contains physical sunscreen"), are truly suitable for children if the zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are NOT in NANO particle size. If the product contains nano-sized compounds, the manufacturer is obliged to indicate this on the label. 

These can often be used from newborn age, but the safest is not to expose your child to the sun at all until six months of age. Besides the sunscreen, it is worth paying attention to the other ingredients as well. Choose a product that contains natural ingredients.

Preservatives, Antioxidants:

Preservatives are needed for water-containing products. They ensure shelf life and protect against pathogens. Antioxidants protect high-oil content products from rancidity. A safe antioxidant example is Ethyl ferulate, Tocopherol.

Various Essential Oils:

You can read about essential oils in a subsequent blog post.