Skincare Products for Kids & Babies

While everyone's skin is unique, skin care experts group babies' skin into four categories based on its characteristics.
These categories are:

•  Normal
•  Dry
•  Very sensitive
•  Eczema-prone

Your baby is still growing and changing, so their skin might not fit into one category perfectly. To determine your little one's skin type, observe their skin for a few days and note any changes you see.

Some common characteristics to watch for include:

• Normal: Soft, smooth skin with no visible signs of dryness
• Dry: Rough, flaky skin that gets worse in cold weather
• Very sensitive: Skin that turns red quickly and develops frequent rashes
• Eczema-prone: Extremely dry skin with raised red patches that itch.

Compared to adults, children have sensitive skin. Their skin is thinner, meaning ingredients can penetrate its natural barrier more easily. Some formulas designed for adults will be too harsh for a child's skin.
When you use adult skincare products on your little one, you might notice:

• Redness
• Dryness
• Itchiness
• Discomfort or pain, especially if the product gets into their eyes

To avoid these problems, always select products designed for children.

While some parents use adult skincare products on their children, skin care experts don't recommend it. Many ingredients that are safe for adults are too harsh for a child's delicate skin. Using them could irritate or even damage their skin's natural barrier.

In addition, children don't typically have the same skin concerns as adults. For example, they don't experience acne or aging like adults do. Some products designed to treat these specific problems contain ingredients that are unnecessary and potentially harmful to kids.

Your baby's skin is immature and delicate. As such, it requires gentle care.

Here are a few of our top tips for keeping your baby's skin healthy:

• Choose products specially formulated for a baby's skin
• Select cleansers rather than harsh soaps
• Look for a gentle shampoo that won't irritate your baby's eyes
• Apply a baby-friendly moisturizer each day to keep their skin supple
• Add a few drops of baby oil to their bath water to hydrate their skin
• Keep your baby out of direct sunlight as much as possible, and use a small amount of mineral sunscreen if they have to be out in it
• Avoid using hot water in the tub
• Change your baby's diaper frequently and apply diaper rash cream as needed
• Bundle your little one up if you go outside in the winter; the elements can wreak havoc on their skin
• Select clothes made with natural fibers
• Avoid baby powder and other potentially irritating products
• Use unscented laundry detergent to wash your little one's clothes

Mustela creates clean, gentle skincare products that utilize natural ingredients. Our lotions and cleansing products, such as micellar water and wipes, can be used from birth on. However, a few of our products are better suited for slightly older children.

For example, our Shampoo Body Cleansing Bar is for children three and up. And our Arnica Gel shouldn't be used on newborns, but it's safe for babies nine months and up.

Each of our product pages lists age recommendations so you can check on a specific item from the Mustela line of gentle and natural skincare products.