Children's cosmetics and mother's products: when is it possible?

The following types of people who do not properly care for their skin are common among cosmetology salon clients. The first ones do not take care of their skin at all. The second are adherents of “simple and natural remedies.” These products, as a rule, are soap and baby cream , various “natural oils”. Moreover, people who use them are sincerely confident that they are giving the best and most correct to their skin, “and not all sorts of chemicals.” And they are very proud that they so cleverly use common cheap products “instead of expensive creams.” But we have to disappoint them... “Chemistry” is just a classic children's cream. And good things - as they always have been forever and ever, and are unlikely to ever change - are never cheap.

Why washing with soap is not the best idea, I have already written in detail earlier. Let me briefly remind you: any soap is a rather aggressive alkali, which greatly degreases and dries the skin (causing it to produce even more oil), but at the same time weakly washes away cosmetics and other contaminants. In the case of problem skin, washing with alkaline soap, wiping the skin with aggressive alcohol solutions, etc. make the skin completely reactive and sensitive.

Features of children's skin

All mothers know what the skin of a small child feels like: incredibly soft, smooth, silky. Its properties are very different from the skin of an adult.

• The mechanism of thermoregulation in a small child is not yet developed; the sweat glands work poorly. This is why it is very easy for a baby to overheat or overcool if the correct temperature regime is not maintained. This is where most skin problems in infants come from;
• The skin of young children is very vulnerable due to the loose epidermis and thin stratum corneum. It is easily scratched or irritated;
• Reduced pigment-forming function. It is extremely undesirable for children to be in the open sun, because they have no natural protection from ultraviolet rays;
• The pH balance of a baby's skin is much lower than that of an adult, and therefore pathogenic microorganisms easily multiply on it. To protect your baby from skin infections, you must carefully maintain hygiene.

The main enemy of children's skin is warm, dry air. During the cold season, be sure to turn on the humidifier.

pharmachologic effect

"Akriderm" is a glucocorticosteroid for external use. In addition to the above-mentioned actions of betamethasone dipropionate, the drug has a vasoconstrictor and antiproliferative effect. The use of this drug prevents the accumulation of leukocytes, and also inhibits the release of lysosomal enzymes and pro-inflammatory mediators at the site of inflammation. In addition, the drug:

• inhibits phagocytosis;
• reduces vascular tissue permeability;
• prevents the formation of inflammatory edema.

Thus, when using Akriderm, the severity of various manifestations of skin diseases, including swelling, erythema, pain, irritation and itching, decreases.

From 6 months to 4 years

At this age, a child’s skin is no longer as vulnerable as that of a newborn, so liquid detergent can be replaced with solid baby soap if desired. And you should wash your hair every 7-10 days with a special baby shampoo.

When your child's first teeth appear, you will need to immediately begin their hygiene. Buy a special children's toothpaste marked “0+”. Toothpaste for young children does not contain fluoride and consists almost entirely of natural ingredients: chamomile extract, seaweed, licorice. Thus, it is absolutely safe if swallowed. If your baby is actively teething, apply the paste with a special silicone brush, which gently massages the gums and relieves itching.

Beauty Recipes

• Nourishing night cream against wrinkles around the eyes is prepared from 1 tbsp. baby cream (preferably fatty or lanolin based), liquid vitamins A, E, group B (B1 and B6), 2-3 drops of essential oil.
• Intensive cream from Tatyana Litvinova consists of 2 tbsp. baby cream 10 drops of rosehip extract, 1 tsp. fresh aloe juice, 5 drops each of jojoba essential oil and vitamin B2. Mix the ingredients until completely homogeneous, place in a prepared container and refrigerate. Distribute 2-3 drops of ointment morning and evening onto clean skin with light massaging movements. Read about some of the tricks of a tightening massage here.
• An anti-aging facial mask can be prepared from 7-9 g of baby product and 15 g of mumiyo. Leave the mixed components for a day, then apply a homogeneous mass for 20 minutes on the cleaned surface. Remove any remaining mask using a paper napkin or cotton pad. Repeat this procedure every week.

Protective cosmetics from wind, frost and sun

The vagaries of the weather have a negative effect on the skin of adults, let alone a small child. The cheeks may become chapped, red and flaky. What to do if it’s cold and windy outside, but you want to go for a walk?

There is a popular myth that you should not apply cream before going outside, but this is only true for regular moisturizers. Special creams against bad weather are made on an oil basis, and it is enough to spread them on the baby’s cheeks 15 - 20 minutes before the start of the walk.

To protect your baby's lips from cracks, use a special baby lipstick based on natural vegetable oils. Even if a child swallows a little of the product, nothing bad will happen.

In the warm season, the sun is the most serious danger to children's delicate skin. No cream will completely protect your baby until he is 6 months old, so you should avoid exposure to open sunlight.

Older children, from one to four years old, can stay in the sun for 30 to 60 minutes, but only under the protection of a special product. Here are the basic requirements for sunscreen for young children:

• SPF not lower than 30;
• Age marking. A cream labeled “children’s” is intended for ages from 3 years, so look for the label “from birth”, “from 6 months” or “from 1 year”;
• Hypoallergenic safe composition;
• A trusted manufacturer (it is better to choose pharmacy cosmetics).

Most popular means

Now let's take a closer look at the most famous versions of baby cream, which have the most pronounced effect.

Is Chanterelle cream good for oily skin?

It is the best facial moisturizer that can provide care to the delicate skin of children and adults. Children's cream "Little Chanterelle" has a number of beneficial properties:

• has softening properties;
• saturates the skin with a whole complex of nutrients;
• is a moisturizing cream for dry skin;
• helps normalize water-lipid balance;
• relieves irritation on sensitive skin;
• protects skin from negative environmental influences.

The high effectiveness of this cosmetic product is ensured by the content of the following valuable ingredients:

• sunflower oil (is a natural softening and protective component);
• lanolin - another softening ingredient that gives the skin softness and velvety;
• chamomile extract – has soothing, healing and moisturizing properties;
• vitamin A – has a moisturizing and protective effect;
• eucalyptus oil – has antiseptic and antiviral effects.

The cost of baby cream “Little Chanterelle” varies from 40 to 60 rubles

Can Tik-Tac be used for dry skin?

Tic Tac baby cream is a very popular skin care product. The main effect of this product is due to the presence of natural ingredients in it, as well as oils that provide gentle care for the skin. “Tic Tac” allows you to soften the skin, eliminate the feeling of tightness and dryness that occurs in case of dehydration and chapping. In addition, the cream has soothing properties and successfully copes with irritation and redness. It has a light consistency, ensuring ease and comfort of use. You can find out which cosmetics to choose for newborns in this article. The cream contains natural extracts and oils, and the recipe contains no dyes or parabens. Also, this cosmetic product is rich in valuable components, including:

• thyme extract – has healing properties, successfully copes with inflammatory phenomena;
• yarrow extract – it also has healing and anti-inflammatory properties;
• viburnum extract – has strengthening and bactericidal effects;
• beta-carotene – fights dryness and flaking of the skin;
• lanolin – nourishes the skin, eliminates the problem of dry skin;
• beeswax – has bactericidal and strengthening properties;
• glycerin – deeply moisturizes the skin.

The cost of Tik Tak baby cream does not exceed 50-60 rubles for one tube of product

Is it possible to smear my face with “I Myself” cream?

This product is intended specifically for the delicate skin of infants, but at the same time it can also be used on adult skin. The composition of the children's cream "I Myself" contains the following natural ingredients:

• fir extract;
• emulsion wax;
• soybean oil.

They successfully cope with the appearance of peeling and irritation, and are also distinguished by anti-inflammatory, wound healing, nourishing and softening properties. The composition is similar to Little Fairy cosmetics. If you focus on the cost of this product, then it is similar to the previous option and is in the range of 50-60 rubles.

How to use Freedom cream correctly - how to apply

Cream for babies under the loud name “Freedom” has a universal effect on the skin of babies, therefore it can be used in a number of situations (including for adults). Due to the soft effect and delicate texture of the product, you will not experience any discomfort during its application. Baby cream "Freedom" is designed to cope with the following tasks:

• be gentle on the skin;
• refresh and cool the skin;
• fight sensations of itching and burning;
• soothe irritated skin, prevent new irritations;
• soften, nourish and moisturize.

Cream "Freedom" will cost a little more than previous options, its price starts from 100 rubles

If we talk about the composition of this product, then it contains the following components:

• lanolin is an animal fat that ensures restoration of the water-lipid balance of the epidermis and softening of the surface layer;
• chamomile extract – has calming properties;
• lavender oil – very effective for sunburn, as well as various inflammatory phenomena;
• menthol is a cooling component that is also an antiseptic;
• Vitamin A – helps restore damaged skin and improve its appearance.

Cream “Freedom” will cost a little more than previous options; its price starts from 100 rubles.

Application of Bübchen and its composition

The initial task of the cream is to provide quick and high-quality assistance for irritation, redness and damage to the skin in the diaper area. Chamomile extract, zinc oxide and panthenol help provide these actions. But it will not replace a good face cream after 50 years.

This product also contains shea butter, sunflower and wheat germ, which help restore the protective lipid skin barrier, as well as beeswax, which forms an airtight protective film that prevents the skin from coming into contact with impurities.

Bübchen baby cream belongs to the category of more expensive products; its price starts from 900 rubles for one jar of product. Bübchen diaper cream also works well.

Video about selection rules

Therapeutic cosmetics for special care

Overheating, food allergies and heredity are the most common causes of skin problems in young children. Usually these are redness, rash, dry patches on the face or body. Be sure to show your baby to a dermatologist and pediatrician and do not forget about proper home care.

For atopic dermatitis, the baby should be washed and bathed using hypoallergenic mousses or gels with a neutral pH (5.5). When dermatitis worsens, special softening oil is added to the water. The baby's skin should be lubricated several times a day with atopic creams (Topicrem, Trixera, Atoderm and others).

Diaper dermatitis is a “wet” rash and redness in the buttocks area that occurs due to constant contact with feces and urine and overheating of the skin under the diaper. It is necessary to change the diaper or diaper as often as possible, arrange air baths and use protective cream. Zinc-based products (for example, Desitin, zinc ointment) will help dry wet areas, and healing balms (Bepanten and others) will help relieve inflammation.

But prickly heat - small blisters on children's skin - does not require special creams. It is better to replace them with powder, which will absorb excess moisture and allow the skin to breathe. To prevent infection from bursting blisters, rinse the affected areas with a decoction of bay leaves.

Fighting acne

The anti-inflammatory and drying qualities of baby cream allow many to consider it as a means to combat pimples on the face and body. In addition, it can benefit problematic skin due to the presence of:

• Vitamins A and E. These components help strengthen the protective qualities of the epidermis and accelerate regenerative processes.
• Ceramides. These substances are important components of cell membranes.
• Extracts of medicinal plants. In particular, it is possible to include plantain, chamomile, calendula, etc.

When treating acne, baby cream should be used only in limited quantities. If any undesirable reactions occur, you should discard this remedy.

It is difficult to answer the question of whether baby cream helps with acne. The body's reaction to such a remedy can be purely individual.

How to choose children's cosmetics

The first rule of a caring mother is not to replace children's cosmetics with adults. Oils, creams and other products for babies are created taking into account the characteristics of children's skin, while adult cosmetics may contain toxic substances and allergens.

At first glance, everything is simple: we go to any store and take from the shelf a cream labeled “from birth.” However, not all manufacturers can be trusted.

Here is a list of harmful ingredients that should not be on the label:

• Mineral oils, petroleum jelly and paraffins;
• Parabens;
• Tensides;
• Synthetic fragrances;
• Phenoxyethanol;
• Aluminum salts;
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone.

If you don't want to carefully study labels every time, buy certified organic cosmetics that consist entirely of natural ingredients. Look for logos on the packaging that read: BDIH, NATRUE, ECOCERT, DEMETER, COSMOS, ICEA, NSF and USDA.

What to avoid in ingredients

Harmful components of decorative cosmetics:

• Bentonite is a porous clay made from ash of volcanic origin. Used in powders and foundations. Absorbs water from the skin, forms a film on the surface and clogs pores.
• Phthalates are cosmetic solvents. Contained in hair and nail polishes, lipstick, mascara. A study by scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine found that phthalates cause early puberty in girls.
• Microcrystalline wax - paraffin obtained from petroleum, is part of lipsticks. Causes allergic reactions: rash, redness of the skin.
• Imidazolidinyl urea is a preservative used in powders, eye shadows, and baby shampoos. Breaks down to the toxic carcinogen formaldehyde.
• Mineral oil and its derivatives. They form an oily film on the skin, leading to acne and allergic rashes.
• Aminomethyl propanol is a gelling agent and emulsifier contained in mascara. Causes irritation to skin and mucous membranes.

In 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration banned the sale of Claire's and Justice brand children's beauty products. According to the results of the examination, asbestos was found in their composition - a substance from the first group of carcinogens that reliably causes cancer in humans.

Bay leaf

A decoction of it is an excellent antibacterial agent that relieves inflammation and redness. Rinse your baby after bathing or add the broth directly to the bath.

Essential oils are not recommended for use undiluted. Test them on a small area of ​​skin before use.

The main rule to follow when choosing cosmetics for your baby is that less is better. A few high-quality hypoallergenic products will be enough for a child, but dozens of creams and gels for different parts of the body are completely unnecessary. Be healthy and save wisely!

Is there an alternative?

On sale you can find high-quality baby body creams that do not contain lanolin and other components with similar qualities. In particular, Chicco and Bubchen products, as well as Jonson's Baby, have similar qualities. Many girls consider them safer and claim that they can be used occasionally as a replacement for various emollients and nourishing agents, used for the treatment and prevention of burns, allergies to cold, etc. It is believed that such compositions saturate the skin with vitamins and other benefits, as well as help smooth out wrinkles. Cream without lanolin can sometimes be: