Choosing the Best Skin Care for Kids

From proper hand washing to flossing tiny teeth, it’s our job to teach kids good habits. The importance of healthy skin care habits should also be part of the conversation – because personal care is a big part of healthy hygiene.

With so many options available, finding the safest children’s products can feel like a minefield. We’re here to teach you the basics of safe skin care for kids, which ingredients to avoid, and the best products for healthy, happy skin.

It’s tricky enough navigating products and ingredients for adults, so adding a relatively new niche of skin care for kids to your list might feel daunting at first. Since every skin type has different concerns and preferences, knowing when to start or stall skin care can vary from kid to kid. Thankfully, there’s a myriad of safe, natural ingredients available to look for in baby products and up.

Babies and toddlers have super delicate skin, so it’s best to start supporting their precious dermis as early as possible. Start with natural, non-toxic ingredients for soaps, lotions, potions – and sunscreen!

As growing pre-teens, many skin care specialists will agree that starting teens on a regular skin care regimen is crucial to help protect against hormonal changes that affect the skin. Of course, it’s never too early to start practicing a routine that will ensure you have healthy skin well into your adult – and senior – years. Let’s take a closer look at the best skin care for kids!

The key to safe, effective skin care for kids is simple, clean products that are free of harmful ingredients. First you’ll need to unlock which toxic ingredients are commonly found in the OTC aisle. Kids’ skin – especially baby skin – is more susceptible to irritants than adults’.

Here’s a list of ingredients that you’ll want to avoid when buying skin care for kids:

Synthetic Fragrance
Everyone loves the idea of their baby or tiny pint smelling like powder with notes of vanilla and rose, but products with fragrances are a smell-no! Fragrances are often associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory problems, and other potentially negative side effects. Fragrance-free ba-by!

Parabens
Bens there, done that – and they’re no good for you or children. Parabens are often used as preservatives in cleansers, body washes, and shampoos to keep them sudsy and bubbly. We don’t mean to burst your bubble, but they can cause irritations and allergies in young children, so it’s best to avoid these.

Formaldehyde
We’re all pretty aware of what formaldehyde is and how it’s used – so it seems fairly evident to avoid it at all costs. Though it’s sometimes used to help prevent bacterial growth, this chemical can also lead to allergies and irritation and may even be harmful to the immune system.

Sulfates
Beware of these sneaky cleansing agents -sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)/sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). SLSs can irritate the eyes, skin, and lungs, and the ingredient sometimes interacts poorly with other chemical products. Sulfates also saps skin of natural oils and disrupts skin barrier function.

FD&C or D&C Dyes
You may have seen these listed as a bunch of numbers and colors – like Red No. 40 – and questioned why it took so many colors of the rainbow to simply make red. If you see this, don’t pass go and hope to collect a pot of gold at the end. Some brands use artificial dyes to give their products color or flavor. Don’t taste that rainbow! Kids products especially are colored with synthetic dyes, in order to attract their interest.

Sunscreen Chemicals
Chemicals are commonly found in sunscreen and operate as agents to absorb ultraviolet light, but the consequences are unknown if a large amount is absorbed. Avoid using sunscreens that include chemicals like benzophenone, avobenzone, PABA, homosalate, and methoxycinnamate. Instead, opt for zinc or titanium-based sunscreens and mineral actives.

The most important thing to keep in mind when selecting skin care for kids is to keep it simple. Let’s explore a few products that will nourish and protect your little one’s delicate dermis!

Face
Start (and end) each day with a gentle face wash. Our top picks for this for kids are our Rose Water Gel Cleanser and Cucumber Cloud Foam Cleanser. Our rose water cleanser is deeply hydrating with balancing rose hydrosol and a blend of calming florals to replenish dry skin. Cucumber foam cleanser replenishes skin with cucumber juice, aloe, and rose hydrosol, while calming dry skin with chamomile and calendula.

Babo Botanicals’ Sensitive Baby Lotion is great for children with dry, sensitive, irritated or eczema-prone skin. This gentle fragrance-free lotion is packed with nourishing oils and vitamins, and is lightweight and fast absorbing. Every adorable inch of your kid’s skin will be moisturized, hydrated, and soft.

Sun Protection
The lightweight Babo Botanicals Daily Sheer Sunscreen is especially formatted for extra sensitive skin, and offers SPF 40 protection from minerals. This fragrance-free, antioxidant-packed formula features organic aloe vera plus avocado and jojoba oils to soothe and moisturize skin. This kids sunscreen is also reef-safe!

We all want the very best for our kids, and we’re here to help you find just that. Did you know that our Nourishing Body Cream has better ingredients than competitor kids’ body lotions? It’s true! Our rich, soothing body cream is packed with good-for-you ingredients like cocoa butter, rose hydrosol, vitamin C, vitamin E, and aloe juice.

Plus, they come in delicious scents your kids (and you!) will love. Try the blood orange scent for a refreshing morning pick-me-up. Vanilla bean and French lavender are great for both you and your little one to unwind after a long day of school and work and before bedtime.

If you’re looking for a rich, creamy body lotion for kids that does wonders for dry skin, look no further than Tubby Todd Dream Cream. Featuring organic ingredients and plant extracts, this decadent cream is gentle enough for babies and perfect for sensitive-skin types. Key components shea butter, sweet almond oil, citrus and mint will have their skin feeling (and smelling) oh-so-dreamy!

Dry Patches
Balms are saviors for dry patches, which is why we created our Intensive Nourishing Balm. Since balms tend to be more concentrated than moisturizers, they can nourish your kiddo’s most stubborn rough patches on knees, elbows, and feet. Calming lavender oil and shea butter help to relieve itchy, flakey, or inflamed skin – especially helpful if your little one is suffering from eczema. Balms away!

Starter Kit
We know the skin care market is saturated with products, and finding the safest and most effective products can be overwhelming. That’s what makes the Ready, Set, Gro! kids skin care set so desirable. It’s the perfect starting point for transitioning kids into their first skin care routine! Featuring clean ingredients, natural fragrances, and engaging packaging, these adorable products are sure to nourish and delight your little one.

Though the skin care products we choose for our kids may vary as they age, one important element remains the same: it’s crucial to pay attention to labels. The key to successful skin care for kids is to keep it simple, keep it clean, and keep them interested in caring for their skin.