Baby Skin Care Centre

How safe are the ingredients in your baby skin care products?

So you're presented with your precious new baby and the only thing you can think of is how to keep them safe.

We've all heard the scare stories about the ingredients in cosmetics and skin care products, and while it's easy to turn a blind eye to the strange ingredient lists on your own expensive body lotion, suddenly when you have a baby to think about, it seems to be more important that you know exactly what you're using.

But is there any real danger from using baby skin care products?

According to the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), there is a distinct lack of research studies looking into the use of baby skincare products. There are also no standardised skincare policies or guidelines developed in the UK.¹

Advice from the RCM is that if you decide to use a baby cleanser or moisturiser, it should be very mild and pH neutral. They also suggest that any potential irritating or sensitising substances that aren't needed for hygiene purposes should not be included in any baby cleansing or moisturising products.¹

Any products that are intended for use on children under three years old have to pass a specific safety assessment.² So you can take comfort in the fact that baby skin care products are safe for use on babies and young children.

Chemicals and long names

The sheer number of different baby skincare products on offer can be overwhelming. According to Euromonitor, the baby care market is one of the fastest growing of the whole cosmetics and toiletries industry, second only to sun care,² and as a result the supermarket shelves are groaning with dedicated baby care products, from basic baby oils and nappy creams to products that you may never even have known you needed until you saw them as part of a well known baby range!

You don't have to go mad and buy everything though - with a few well chosen products you can take care of baby's skin from a very young age, and make sure that you protect them against common causes of irritation like nappy rash. For example, a hydrating ointment that seals in moisture while keeping out ammonia from urine and faeces is something you shouldn't skimp on in favour of yet another camomile scented bath product.

Again, as any skincare products specifically designed for babies will have passed rigorous safety tests, there shouldn't be anything that's actually proven harmful in any baby skin care products that you buy in this country.² Even so, it's a good idea to try and avoid highly scented baby products which might cause allergies and irritation, and instead opt for fragrance free products without additional chemicals such as preservatives, colours and antiseptics.

Going Organic?

With some of the scare stories about chemicals in skin care products, you might choose to opt for organic and 'natural' baby skin care products instead.

In 2000, the Council of Europe's Committee of Experts on Cosmetic Products issued a set of guidelines on natural cosmetic products, and there has been a definition of the word 'natural' for those purposes since 1981. There are a number of reputable organic certification schemes for cosmetic products and a couple of schemes for natural products.⁴

The problem is that organic and natural certification for cosmetics is enforced by law. Having your cosmetics and skin care producers certified as organic costs the manufacturer's money, and because it's not compulsory, some companies call their products natural or organic without any kind of certification.⁴ Choose organic products which have been certified by The Soil Association or similar.

What to look for:

• Choose products from a reputable company with a name that you know and trust
• Do your research into ingredients - look for fragrance free products with no added colours, preservatives or antiseptics to avoid the risk of irritation.
• Remember that just because a product is natural, doesn't mean it's better. If you go organic, choose a reputable, well known brand with certification from the Soil Association
• Make your baby's skincare routine count, by using essential products such as a good barrier ointment with Pro Vitamin B5, which helps moisturise and repair skin while protecting against nappy rash.