What it is and what it is for?
Despite the delicate and soft texture of the baby's skin, it requires hydration, as it is thinner than an adult's and as such loses hydration up to five times faster.
Dry skin is one of the main causes of atopic dermatitis and can then lead to more serious problems.
Baby moisturizers have been developed with a more regulated pH compared to regular moisturizers. These moisturizers do not contain intense fragrances, as they can be too aggressive for the baby's skin.
What are the most used ingredients and their function?
Baby moisturizers have several ingredients, the most common of which are:
Propylene glycol, a chemical compound that attracts water, helping the skin to maintain moisture.
Stearic acid, which acts as an emulsifier, helping in the texture of moisturizers to ensure a creamy texture.
Ceramides, lipids that keep the skin barrier strong and healthy, sealing moisture in the skin, which promotes intense hydration.
Essential fatty acids or healthy fats, which are ingredients to help retain moisture in the skin, in order to keep it healthy and shiny. Some examples of these fats are: olive oil, avocado, almond oil and shea butter.
Which types exist and what are their differences?
Baby moisturizers are a skin care that has several types: creams, balms, lotions, oils and milks.
The great difference between these moisturizing cares is its texture, some of which are more suitable than others for each type of skin.
Creams and balms, as they are more incorporated and thicker, are indicated for dry skin, which needs more intense hydration, such as Baby Barrier by Aveeno and Nutraisdin Cold Wind Facial Balm by Isdin.
The lotion has a light texture and is absorbed more easily, providing a moderate moisturizing effect, such as Bébé Moisturizing Lotion by Klorane.
As for moisturizing oils, they promote a high hydrating power, being a good option for dry and very dry skin, such as Huile De Massage by Uriage.
Milk is inconsistent and highly absorbent, but is richer in nourishing and protective active ingredients, such as ABCDerm Lait De Toilette Nettoyant by Bioderma.
What is the most used packaging format and what are the most frequent sizes?
The packaging of baby moisturizers suffers little variation and is usually found in the form of a dispenser or tube.
In the case of the dispenser, the quantities vary between 75ml and 1000ml, being more frequent in the format of 500ml.
In the case of tubes, the quantities vary between 30ml and 1000ml, the most common being 100ml.
What to take into account when choosing a baby moisturizer?
When choosing a baby moisturizer one of the most important factors is the pH of the product, due to the fragility of the baby's skin. The ideal is to opt for a product with a slightly acidic neutral pH.
It is also necessary to check the degree of absorbency of the moisturizer, and the higher it is, the less likely it is to attract substances that could be harmful to the baby's skin.
What are the recommendations for use and tips?
In order to maintain a hydrated and healthy skin, it is important, at the time of the bath, not to extend the duration too much, because the longer the baby stays in the water the more dehydrated it will become.
You should also heat the space where the bath occurs, instead of overheating the water as it also promotes dehydration.
Apply the products after bathing, or in cases of extremely dehydrated skin, after changing the diaper. The ideal is to focus on the driest areas, but without forgetting the rest of the body.
What are the pros and cons of using a baby moisturizer?
The use of baby moisturizers improves the condition of the skin, since it is effectively hydrated, but we must also take into account the disadvantages.
If there is an overuse of moisturizers, irritation can be caused due to excess moisture.
If care is not taken when choosing the product, moisturizers may contain ingredients that cause allergies and or irritation.
