One of our readers Kelly asked if Mamma Raj could review baby skincare products and any recommendation on chemical free products. Mamma Raj is always willing to help and thank you to all the parents who provided their great wisdom and insights for this review.
The best insight gained from this review was that all children are different.
You might be going ‘yes so what’ but when it comes to skin care products nothing can be more true. Even if a product is chemical free or organic it may still have a reaction with some children’s skin’s and we would always recommend to test a small section of the skin first before use. (Try and get a sample, its the best way not to have to fork out for a whole bottle and to test it first).
Whist our hormones are often going crazy, our babies also react to hormones and this in turn affect the skin in so many different ways.
The following top 5 skin care products have been voted by parents and although this review says “Baby skincare products” there is no doubt you can use this on children of all ages.
1. Aveeno
Parents believe this products beats Sorbolene cream any day. Over 50% of parents shared they thought this was one of the best products on the market. Parents share it was”Hydrating” and “Clears up mild skin problems”.
Its secret is a finely milled (colloidal) oatmeal that forms a protective barrier on the skin to help soothe dry, irritated skin conditions and protect against external irritants. The Aveeno site states that natural colloidal oatmeal lotions have been clinically proven to moisturise and soothe skin. Oatmeal also gently cleanses and helps maintain skin’s natural moisture, to prevent further moisture loss. A natural hidden secret!
Check out the Aveeno site –http://www.aveeno.com.au/Pages/Baby
2.GAIA
Australian made and based on natural and organised essential oils, parents loved GAIA’s “fresh smell” and that does not dry out or irritate their baby’s skin. In particular their hair and body wash was seen a multipurpose, good to pop in the bath and last for quite some time. As one mother says “If its used in one of Sydney’s best hospitals, it’s good enough for me.”
The massage oil was also recommended with no petrochemicals like other baby oils and less grease!
- artificial fragrance
-
petrochemicals and mineral oils
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lanolin and phthalates
- soap, sulphates and other drying agents in our cleansers
- paraben preservatives and propylene glycol
- and other commonly used ingredients that can be irritating or drying to skin
Check our their site http://www.gaiaskinnaturals.com/
3. Eco store
A bit more expensive than the other brands but you only need to use a little for it to go a long way. Baby Sleepytime bath was recommended to help soothe and look after your baby’s delicate skin.
They promote themselves as having no nasty chemicals, giving priority to plant and mineral based ingredients that are from natural and or renewable resources, are biodegradable and have the lowest hazard rating in terms of health and environmental safety. They do use Palm Oil but they also explain why here http://www.ecostore.com.au/pages/palm-oil
Check out their site http://www.ecostore.com.au/categories/baby-care
Their baby essential gift pack is also featured below – totally cute and a great present!
4. QV products
A skincare favorite due to the cost effective price point and readily available in most chemists. Parents commented it was “safe” “a product you can trust” “the best thing to buy for your baby if they have skin problems – or if they don’t”.
The most interesting thing I found about this product was this was developed especially for the Queen Victoria Hospital. They approached a well-known chemist Gerald Oppenheim in 1975 and asked him to create a specialist skincare product for use in their dermatology wards. Gerald agreed and provided them with what would later become known as QV Bath Oil. The QV Bath Oil has also been voted the Canstar Blue – Parent Pick – Best Baby Bath Oil 2013.
http://www.qvskincare.com.au/
5. Mustela
Parents loved that Mustela was “not greasy” and although a little more expensive than other products they felt it “lasted for a long time to justify the cost”.
Made from an average of 92% ingredients of natural origin and formulated to be free from parabens, phenoxyethanol and phthalates, they give babies’ skin everything it needs and protect it right down to its cells. All products are hypoallergenic, alcohol free to give you baby the best start in life.
Check out the Mustela site http://www.mustela.com.au/
A word of warning…..
There was a clear trend of parents recommending NOT to touch Johnsons bath products due to many reactions they have encountered with their children. I would say handle with care and definately try before you buy.
Chemical Free options
Children are much more susceptible to toxins and pollutants than adults. It can take several months for a baby to develop a natural barrier function for their skin, so parents need to be careful what they use on their skin when bathing, washing hair, changing nappies and moisturising.
Parents recommend the following chemical free skincare product ranges:
1. Eco store – http://www.ecostore.com.au/categories/baby-care
2. Baby Organics – http://www.babyorganics.com.au/
If you are interested in learning more about what are the specific nasties and why, the Eco Store page shares some great information (it is scary how many bad ingredients are out there!) http://www.ecostore.com.au/ingredients
Is there anything we have missed? Let us know!
Renee Wilson says
That’s a great list you have there. I used QV when the kids were younger and used Aveeno a couple of times too. I was very happy with both. Interesting to learn what QV stands fore
[email protected] says
Yeah I thought that was interesting too. Thanks for sharing!
Sarah Kate says
ooooo loved reading this and i have saved! Thank You so much! I have purchased a couple of eco store products to start my ‘collection’ before baby is born but ill try the others as well
[email protected] says
Glad it is of help!! If you have anything else you are looking for, to be reviewed then just let me know
Toni @ Finding Myself Young says
My bub has very sensitive skin and we’ve found the best products have been GAIA and QV.
SarahD @SnippetsandSpirits says
Ohh delicious lotions and potions for precious baby skin. I tried Johnsons with both boys and they both had an allergic reaction. I love the aveeno stuff.
Hope says
Great review! I love the range from both GAIA and Baby Organics.
[email protected] says
Thank you so much for sharing!
Emily @ Have A Laugh On Me says
We use Curash the non-soap one – in fact since our kids were little we never used chemicals. Even as newborns we just used those flannels with warm water. I’ve never been one for smelly products, I mean their skin is born perfect right? Plus hubby has psoriasis and i often get dermatitis so we wanted to have little products as possible
[email protected] says
Thanks Emily and yes you always have to be more careful when it is genetic! Thanks for your insights and tips!
Grace says
We’ve used most of these products and loved them! Especially QV and Mustella. One of the twinions had eczema and sensitive skin so QV was abundant in our house. I loved how Mustella worked so well for cradle cap.
I use Aveeno’s Facial Cream. Love, love, LOVE it!