No to Petroleum
Petroleum is likely the most commonly found ingredient in skincare products. According to the Environmental Working Group, 40% of all baby lotions and oils contain petroleum. Just as it sounds, petroleum is just a derivative of petrol, a non-renewable hydrocarbon made from crude oil. Often termed “mineral oil”, petroleum will coat your baby’s skin with a contaminated sheath making it impossible for your baby’s skin to breathe. It slowly clogs pores and slows down the skin’s ability to release toxins, which is just as dangerous for a little body as is absorbing toxins. It can bring about skin disorders, allergies, and even cause your precious baby’s skin to prematurely age.
No to Dioxins
Finally, dioxins are an extremely toxic group of chemical compounds, that usually occur as an unintentional by-product of chlorine. Although primarily found in the food chain, it often creeps into skincare and personal care products during manufacturing. It’s never listed as dioxins, but is rather a side effect of antibacterial ingredients such as triclosan, emulsifiers, PEGs and industrial cleaners. Often, even the plastic bottle containing the product will also carry dioxins. The danger with dioxins consists of their high toxicity level and the extreme amount of time they remain in our bodies, as they are highly stable chemicals that absorb into fat tissues. The World Health Organisation estimated that the half-life of dioxins is 7 – 11 years. More recently, the EPA agency in the USA acknowledged dioxin as a human carcinogen, and indicated that there is no safe level of exposure – meaning any level can be cancerous. Thus they are what is considered a Group 1 carcinogen – a proven source of cancer.
Yes to Natural & Organic
So after all that frightening information, what should you look for when buying skincare products for your children?Most importantly, watch out for the dangerous parabens, petroleum and dioxins. The obvious choice here is to always choose certified organic and natural products for baby’s skin, free from synthetic preservatives, fragrances and colours and are hypoallergenic. But in addition to avoiding all the nasties, look for products with natural food and plant based ingredients, which will nourish your baby’s skin by way of nature.
Manuka Honey is a natural anti-bacterial agent and works wonders with little bodies to moisturise and sustain hydration in their skin. This, in addition with aloe vera extract is a wonderfully natural way to soothe and hydrate little skin. Another wonder in baby products is lavender oil which works magic in soothing little bodies off to sleep. When using powder, always avoid the toxic talc, and instead look for body powers that use tapioca powder instead. Most lotions have some sort of synthetic oil base, so opt instead for natural food extract oils such as sweet almond oil, macadamia nut oil, avocado oil and sweet orange oil, which are all super gentle and beneficial whilst naturally fragrant.
Your baby’s skincare is just as important as their food and both play a vital role in their future health. Luckily, organic products and skincare don’t have to break the bank these days. Keep an eye out for certified organic and natural children’s products. Keep it simple, pure, natural and organic. Watch out for those nasties, and ensure the best possible skincare for your baby, and for you.
At Skinfood we’ve lovingly created a range of natural products for you and your little one that will have you feeling nourished, cleansed and revitalised. Our products are natural based and free from parabens, dioxins, fragrances, petroleum and any nasties – the perfect natural based beauty for you and your littlies.
