How To Choose Baby Lotion For Your Face And Your Baby's

Baby face lotion is not just regular lotion in a pint-sized bottle. It’s formulated specifically with a baby’s delicate, precious, and oh-so-kissable skin in mind. But it’s also typically a gentle, hypoallergenic cream that could be perfect for your skin as well.

In this article, we’ll go over what makes baby lotion unique, what to look for when choosing one, and how it can benefit adult skin, too. Then, we’ll wrap up by introducing you to a few baby face lotions designed for particular types of skin.

What Makes Baby Lotion Unique

To understand why baby face lotion is different, we need to learn a bit about the skin. Skin — both adult and baby skin — is made up of three layers.

The epidermis is the outer layer. It forms a “corneal layer” as well as a barrier of sebum, the natural oil of your skin, to help keep it moisturized and protected.

The dermis is below the epidermis and contains elastin and collagen, two of the big components that contribute to your skin’s firmness and elasticity.

Lastly, the hypodermis is the skin’s deepest layer, which is made mostly of fatty cells called adipocytes.

baby lotion face

Your baby’s fragile skin isn’t completely developed and is delicate for a few different reasons.

When your little one is born, the pH of their skin is close to neutral (compared to the more acidic skin of an adult), making their skin more sensitive.

Another factor is that the natural oily layer on the epidermis is thinner in babies, and the corneal layer is more permeable. This means their skin is not as well-protected. The dermis, the middle layer, is also three times thinner.

Finally, when it comes to the need for special baby lotion, it’s important to note that relative to weight, babies’ skin has more surface area than an adult. This means that any toxic substance that makes its way through your baby’s skin will be more concentrated in their body.

With that little science lesson under your belt, it’s easy to see that the lotion you use on your little one’s face should be designed specifically for baby skin.

However, not all baby face lotion is created equal. Let’s cover what to look for, which will then lead us to why baby face lotion might be perfect for your face as well!

What To Look For In Baby Face Lotion

Most baby lotions are easy on your little one’s skin and hypoallergenic. However, it’s always worth checking your baby’s skincare products to be sure that they’re up to snuff. Here’s what you should look for.

Mom holding baby in the air

Hypoallergenic Formula

What exactly is a “hypoallergenic” lotion? It’s specially formulated to minimize the risk of allergic reactions. This is essential for the delicate baby skin that you just read about.

Pediatrician And Dermatologist Testing

Look for a baby face lotion that’s approved by the professionals — both dermatologists and pediatricians.

Here at Mustela, all of our products are developed in collaboration with healthcare professionals and based on scientific research. And all of the baby face lotions we’ll mention at the end of this article are tested under dermatological and pediatric control.

No Questionable Ingredients

Your baby’s skin is sensitive. There’s no doubt about that. And, as you read, their tiny bodies are more susceptible to toxic substances on their skin. That’s why you should always say “no” to questionable ingredients!

Stay away from parabens and phenoxyethanol, which are both preservatives that can have some unwanted effects on the body. Read more about phenoxyethanol here.

You’ll also want to watch out for phthalates. The concern with this ingredient is that it could act as an endocrine disruptor, be connected to neurodevelopmental disorders in children, and contribute to asthma and allergies in children.

If your baby’s skin is very sensitive, you’ll also want to look for a fragrance-free face lotion.

Natural Ingredients

There are certainly several ingredients that you’ll want to steer clear of, but there are also tons of wonderful, natural ingredients that you can embrace! We’re talking about sunflower oil, jojoba oil, aloe vera, olive oil, and shea butter, just to name a few.

B-Corp Certification

A great baby lotion is not only good for your baby’s skin but also good for society and the earth. What does B-Corp certification have to do with this?

B-Corp is an international label that’s awarded to brands that show economic, social, and environmental performance, developing products with a positive impact on society and the environment.

Mustela has been part of this community since 2018, and with B-Corp, we strengthen our four pillars of commitment: the guarantee of the naturalness and safety of our products, respect for the environment, investment in dermatological research, and support for young parents.

How Baby Face Lotion Can Benefit Adult Skin

Baby Face Lotion Can Benefit Adult Skin

So, how can baby face lotion benefit your adult skin, too? We’ll mention two of the important ways.

Fewer Chemical Ingredients

In general, baby lotion will contain fewer chemical ingredients. Or at least that’s the goal. And although your adult skin is more developed than a baby’s, toxins are still toxins and aren’t good for anyone!

If you’re turning to baby face lotion for the sake of fewer chemicals, it’s still a good idea to check the ingredient list to be sure it’s free and clear of anything you want to avoid.

Fewer Allergic Reactions

One of the other big advantages of using baby face lotion for adult skin is that it’s hypoallergenic. This could mean that it’s just what you need for easily irritated or very sensitive skin.

That said, your adult skin sensitivity could be caused by something totally different than your baby’s skin sensitivity. The needs of each person’s skin are individual, and it may be a matter of trying various products to see what works for your skin.

Baby Face Lotion For You And Your Little One

Mom using baby face lotion on daughter after shower

Without further ado, we’ll leave you with five great baby face lotions that are designed for different skin types from normal to very sensitive and eczema-prone. We have no doubt you’ll find the one that fits your and your baby’s needs.

Hydra Bebe Facial Cream

Made for normal baby skin, our Hydra Bebe Facial Cream contains plant-based glycerin to deliver 24-hour hydration to their delicate skin. It’s composed of 97% naturally derived ingredients, including jojoba oil, sunflower oil, vitamin E, and our signature avocado perseose.

Never heard of avocado perseose? It’s a unique ingredient extracted from avocado that works in perfect affinity with baby skin, helping to preserve the unique cellular wealth of babies’ skin. Learn more about it here.

This non-greasy lotion is perfect to combine with Hydra Bébé Body Lotion for all-over hydration and moisture. Like all of the baby face lotions that we’ll mention here, it’s hypoallergenic and free of phthalates, phenoxyethanol, and parabens.

Mustela Soothing Moisturizing Face Cream

Soothing Moisturizing Face Cream

Our baby face lotion for very sensitive, rashy, or reactive baby skin, Soothing Moisturizing Face Cream is an EWG Verified formula designed to protect and relieve skin.

Made with natural ingredients that include avocado perseose and schizandra, a berry extract that soothes skin tingling and tightness, this fragrance-free cream provides long-lasting moisture.

Stelatopia Emollient Face Cream

If your baby has eczema-prone skin, Stelatopia Emollient Face Cream and our whole Stelatopia line is the way to go.

Crafted specifically to replenish, soothe, and restore the delicate skin on your baby’s face, this fragrance-free cream is gentle enough to use even on your baby’s eyelids and newborn skin.

It contains sunflower oil distillate to replenish lipids, avocado perseose to help protect and hydrate, and licorice extract to reduce visible redness and inflammation.

Certified Organic Hydrating Cream with Olive Oil and Aloe

Our Organic lotion, Certified Organic Hydrating Cream with Olive Oil and Aloe, is a lightweight cream for both the face and body of baby and adult skin. Gentle and safe enough for the little ones and effective enough for you, too!

It’s composed of 99.6% naturally derived ingredients, including organic olive oil that is sourced from family-owned olive groves in the South of France. The olives undergo a cold-pressed extraction process to maximize potency and skin-nourishing properties.

This product is formulated with the environment in mind. The packaging is made from sustainably sourced sugar cane, and we’ve gotten rid of secondary cartons. Good for you. Good for the planet.

Moisturizer With Cold Cream

If you’re looking for a cold cream for your baby’s dry skin, we offer Nourishing Cream with Cold Cream and Nourishing Stick with Cold Cream.

Both contain 96% naturally derived ingredients and are rich moisturizers that protect your baby’s skin from environmental conditions, like cold air and wind, which can dry skin in no time.

Baby Face Lotion For The Family

dad kissing baby face

Baby face lotion is crafted with the particular needs of baby skin in mind. But since it’s hypoallergenic and typically free of a lot of the questionable chemical ingredients in adult face lotion, it may also be a good choice for your skin.

Opt for a natural baby face lotion, like our Hydra Bebe Facial Cream, Soothing Moisturizing Face Cream, Stelatopia Emollient Face Cream, or Certified Organic Hydrating Cream, knowing that baby lotion can also be amazing for the whole family!