Baby Skincare
Skincare for babies, and young children, is an area of particular concern for many people, and rightly so.
There are many products and ingredients which are potentially harmful to young skin, and my aim here is not provide a comprehensive account of what to buy and what to avoid, but rather to highlight some key facts and ingredients to consider before applying anything to your baby's skin.
The baby's skin is much more fine and delicate than an adult and most of the unnatural substances applied on it can damage it or can be absorbed internally via the skin and interfere with the inner metabolism.
Some of them are called endocrine disruptors and they mimic the human hormones disrupting their balance.
In the babies they can be quite harmful.
Others are indirectly linked with cancer.
Therefore on a baby's skin only organic ingredients such as vegetable oils, some safe herbal extracts or talc free powders should be applied.
The vegetable oils are very similar to babies' skin chemistry (and adults too!) and will act as deep penetrating moisturisers without harming it.
Vaseline and other products derived from petroleum (you will read "petrolatum" on the INCI label) should be avoided due to their ability to coat and clog the skin pores together with most man-made chemicals added to cosmetics for different purposes e.
g.
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES), Parabens, Fragrances (can produce skin reactions, allergies...
), Formaldehyde, etc.
Although there are some rules and regulations for selling skincare products for babies, they are, in my opinion, inadequate: Many products on the market, such as designated "Baby Oils" are made from petroleum.
Instead of petroleum-based products, I recommend you choose baby products made with light organic vegetable oils such as almond, sunflower, olive, etc.
Interestingly, these ingredients are present in folk traditions of many countries.
Ideally, if you are pregnant, you should also be mindful of everything you apply to your skin: This is such an important moment both for the mother and the future baby.
All the new cells produced to build up, like bricks, the new body, come from the food the mum eat and from her internal chemistry.
It goes without saying that unnatural ingredients applied to your skin, can interfere with this wonderful process, even cosmetics that can partially be absorbed via the skin in the system.
Why would you want anything other than the best possible start to life for your baby?
There are many products and ingredients which are potentially harmful to young skin, and my aim here is not provide a comprehensive account of what to buy and what to avoid, but rather to highlight some key facts and ingredients to consider before applying anything to your baby's skin.
The baby's skin is much more fine and delicate than an adult and most of the unnatural substances applied on it can damage it or can be absorbed internally via the skin and interfere with the inner metabolism.
Some of them are called endocrine disruptors and they mimic the human hormones disrupting their balance.
In the babies they can be quite harmful.
Others are indirectly linked with cancer.
Therefore on a baby's skin only organic ingredients such as vegetable oils, some safe herbal extracts or talc free powders should be applied.
The vegetable oils are very similar to babies' skin chemistry (and adults too!) and will act as deep penetrating moisturisers without harming it.
Vaseline and other products derived from petroleum (you will read "petrolatum" on the INCI label) should be avoided due to their ability to coat and clog the skin pores together with most man-made chemicals added to cosmetics for different purposes e.
g.
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES), Parabens, Fragrances (can produce skin reactions, allergies...
), Formaldehyde, etc.
Although there are some rules and regulations for selling skincare products for babies, they are, in my opinion, inadequate: Many products on the market, such as designated "Baby Oils" are made from petroleum.
Instead of petroleum-based products, I recommend you choose baby products made with light organic vegetable oils such as almond, sunflower, olive, etc.
Interestingly, these ingredients are present in folk traditions of many countries.
Ideally, if you are pregnant, you should also be mindful of everything you apply to your skin: This is such an important moment both for the mother and the future baby.
All the new cells produced to build up, like bricks, the new body, come from the food the mum eat and from her internal chemistry.
It goes without saying that unnatural ingredients applied to your skin, can interfere with this wonderful process, even cosmetics that can partially be absorbed via the skin in the system.
Why would you want anything other than the best possible start to life for your baby?
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