Ingredients to Avoid in Baby Skin Care Products

Here are some things you should avoid when selecting baby skin care.

• If you can’t pronounce or understand the ingredients, keep looking.
  If the manufacturer doesn’t bother to put it in (simple terms) it is likely something included to benefit their bottom line, not your baby’s bottom.

  In most cases, these mystery ingredients preserve the shelf life and make the product look and smell more appealing so you’ll want to buy it.

• Mineral oil/Petrolatum/paraffin are byproducts of crude oil, and they are cheap to use.
  Baby oil is 100% mineral oil. It holds in moisture, but prevents your body from releasing unwanted toxins. Mineral oil can also block the body’s absorption of essential vitamins and nutrients.
• Parabens (methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl).
  These preservatives and antibacterials are used in shampoos, creams and baby lotions to extend product shelf life. They are petroleum-based and can cause dermatitis and other allergic reactions.

  Parabens are thought to alter estrogen levels and the Environmental Protection Agency issued a report expressing concern about parabens showing up in our sewage systems (from humans) and posing a risk to aquatic life.

• Talc powder.
  The Cancer Coalition states that talc is a toxic carcinogen that can cause ovarian and lung cancer with repeated exposure. It is also used in soaps, deodorants and in food processing.
• Phthalates
  These have been in the news lately. They are found in fragrances in shampoos, lotions and powders, but their true intention is to make plastic soft. They can leach out of plastics so why would anyone want them on their skin?

  According to TIME.com, studies have been done on phthalates in urine from babies’ diapers. They are toxic, carcinogenic and have been linked to infertility.

  Note that companies are not required to list the ingredients of fragrances, so the product could have them and they not show up on the label.

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Ammonium Lauryl Suflfate are foaming agents found in many shampoos and hair conditioners.
  They can be disguised in labels as “comes from coconut” You can find these in other garage floor cleaners and engine de-greasers. They have been linked to eye injury as well as cell membrane and immune system damage.
• Isopropyl alcohol SD 40.
  It is not only drying, but it strips the skin of natural acids, making the skin more vulnerable to bacteria, molds and viruses. SD 40 comes from propylene and may promote brown spots and premature aging of skin.
• Glycol is used as a humectant.
  It comes in several forms and is carcinogenic and mutagenic.
• FD&C Color Pigments are synthetic colors made from coal tar.
  They contain heavy metal salts that deposit toxins in the skin. Animal studies have shown them to be carcinogenic (causes cancer).
• Here are some more ingredients to avoid.
  Aerosol propellants
  Aluminum by-products
  Benzoates
  Diethanolamine (DEA, TEA)
  DMDM hydantoin or MDM (a form of formaldehyde)
  Flouride
  Nitrates, nitrosamins and sulfur compounds
  Quaternium 15 (also a form of formaldehyde)
  Toluene
  Triclosan
  1, 4-Dioxane (a known carcinogen)

In closing, I will tell you that you can find information justifying the use of each of these chemical ingredients in baby skin care products.

However, why take the chance when there are more natural organic skin care products available for you and your baby?

Skin Changes in Stages: From Baby to Adult

Does a child need a skincare routine? When should a teen begin using acne products? At what age is an anti-aging product necessary? Our guide on skin changes for everyone from baby to baby boomer gives you these answers and more!

Baby skin

Skincare starts at day one. A baby’s skin is naturally more sensitive to environmental factors like sun damage and dehydration. Plus, skin irritations or product reactions are common. So knowing how to treat an infant’s fragile, delicate skin is key. Caring for a baby’s skin requires developing a gentle, simple routine, and reading labels to avoid harmful ingredients lurking in shampoos, cleansers and lotions.

Childhood

Kids’ skin can be sensitive, too, making it tougher to find the right products. With so much time spent outside in the dirt and mud, kids need a non-irritating cleanser that removes all traces of dirt and grime. Bruises, bug bites and rashes are also common during childhood. Don’t forget to take them into account when learning to care for a child’s skin.

The “in-between” phase

“Tweens—kids between eight and 12 years old—differ drastically in their skin concerns. Some tweens don’t experience any changes, while other tweens start to notice more adult-like skin problems, such as acne, flakiness or irritation. It’s important to help your tween design a routine that’s simple and gentle enough to maintain every day.

Teens

Let’s face it — your teen may be more concerned about experimenting with makeup than creating a daily skincare regimen. But even if she (or he) has clear skin, the teenage years are the perfect time to customize a skincare routine and foster healthy skincare habits like applying sunscreen. Teens can skip complicated “adult” products like serums, eye creams and anti-aging products. Most teens do great with a basic daily regimen.

Teen acne

This is probably the biggest concern teens have about their skin. If your teen is suffering from oily skin and acne, help him or her choose lightweight, oil-free products that will combat acne without over-drying. Find out how to create a specific acne-fighting regimen here.

College

The college years can be a tricky time for skincare. Most young adults are so preoccupied with studying and socializing that skincare typically takes a backseat. Find out how to work skincare into your busy schedule by using double-duty products and money-saving formulas. Here’s more on designing a skincare regimen just for the college years.

20s

For 20-somethings, for the most part, skincare is a breeze. Most don’t need anti-aging products quite yet, so the key to great skin in the 20s is protecting it from damage that can result in wrinkles, uneven skin and dryness later on. Banish bad habits and build your ideal routine in just a few simple steps.

Adult acne

Unfortunately, acne can still persist well into the 20s. In fact, acne affects about 50 percent of women and 25 percent of men. Learn some specific tips for fighting adult acne here.

30s

The trick to radiant, healthy skin in your 30s is to build upon good habits, and add a few powerful anti-aging formulas to address fine lines. Retinoids, alpha hydroxy acids and vitamin C can effectively treat the skin, targeting fine lines and other telltale signs of aging like sun damage and roughness. Serums, high-performance moisturizers and eye creams are all great additions to a skincare regimen in the 30s.

40s

Frustrated by dull, flaky, wrinkled skin? The 40s are the perfect time for a skincare overhaul. Some women notice that their skin type begins to change in the 40s, often becoming more prone to dryness and dehydration. Take a closer look at your skin and consider what you’d like your products to do. You might also consider in-office treatments to boost your skin. Get the details on both products and procedures here.

50s

Skincare in your 50s can be frustrating as wrinkles deepen and the skin becomes noticeably thinner and less resilient. But having healthy, happy skin is possible when you take good care of it with a consistent routine and potent anti-aging formulas. Options such as minimally invasive procedures, injectables and traditional cosmetic surgery are also available. Read more here.

Your skin experiences many changes throughout different stages in your life. So don’t be surprised if you’re frequently adjusting your routine to keep up with skin’s natural fluctuations. Also, keep in mind that individuals differ markedly in how their skin acts. In other words, there’s no “right” way to care for your skin at any given age. When creating your routine, keep the above in mind as guidelines. And be sure to listen to your skin and evaluate it regularly. If you’re still stumped on how to approach your skincare, consider visiting a dermatologist, who can help you create a custom routine.

Johnson & Johnson Refuses to Remove Cancer Causing Chemicals from Baby Products

A letter signed by 50 groups representing about 1.7 million people was sent to William Weldon, the CEO of Johnson & Johnson.

The letter was asking the company to reformulate it’s iconic baby shampoo and other care products to be free of the cancer causing chemicals 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde.  The widespread response it in reaction to a recent study showing many J&J products as containing small amounts of these dangerous chemicals.

The response from Johnson & Johnson response was that they have no immediate plans to take steps toward removing the chemicals and that their are many regulatory agencies in the world that consider the trace levels of these chemicals to be safe.  There are others of course who do not.  The true concern is not that Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo in and of itself has dangerous levels of 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde, but that it in combanation with the many other care products from Johnson & Johnson among other companies eventually will add up to dangerous levels.  The chemicals could be removed from the products at additional cost, as in Japan where regulations prevent the use of chemicals that will create formaldehyde.  J&J products do not contain formaldehyde in Japan.

At the very heart of this ordeal is the fact that although cosmetic care products are obsorbed into our bodies they are not regulated for safety in the United States, a fact that cosmetic companies have lobbied hard to maintain.

Mom’s Skincare Baby Body Lotion Made with Love

Baby Body Lotion by Mom’s Skincare

Dangerous Chemicals in Common Baby Care Products

Here is some rather startling information put fourth recently by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report, “No More Toxic Tubs”.

The CSC commissioned an independent laboratory to analyze the contents of 48 products marketing for use by babies for the two cancer-causing chemicals formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.  The real concern is not neccessarily that one product may contain small amounts of these dangerous chemicals but that many of them would and the small amounts would add up and potentially lead to illness.  Both of these chemicals are known carcinogens and are associated with a number of health problems.  Many countries have laws restricting the use of these chemicals in care products, the United States is not one of those countries.  Formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane are not intenionally added to products.  Formaldahyde is a by-product of many commonly used preservatives.  1,4-dioxane is a by-product of chemical processing and can be removed from the product but manufacturers are not required to do so under current law.  Common ingredients likely to be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane include PEG-100 stearate, sodium laureth sulfate, polyethylene and ceteareth-20.

source: The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics