Vaseline and other additives prohibited for baby frost cream

Rule 1: kids don’t mean safe

It seems to us that if the packaging says “for children”, this obliges the manufacturer to avoid ingredients harmful to the child. In fact, unscrupulous manufacturers do not mean anything under the word “children’s”, they just want parents to pay attention to the product. Therefore, taking care of the health of the baby’s skin is, first of all, the concern of moms and dads, who should be guided at least a little in the composition and ingredients.

Rule 2: only natural ingredients

Look for natural creams made with beeswax, natural oils and natural herbs.

Various oils will nourish the skin while protecting it from cooling and chapping. Natural herbs will restore the skin, soften and moisturize it: for example, calendula oil, shea butter and chamomile. 

Panthenol in the cream works as an anti-inflammatory and regenerating agent. It can also heal possible microcracks arising from severe frosts, winds, due to contact with snow or fabric.

Some get scared if they see any alcohols in the composition. However, cetearyl, stearyl and cetyl are the so-called fatty alcohols. They are used in creams to bind water and oil bases. Fatty alcohols do not dry out the skin and may not be avoided as ingredients. The main thing is that they do not appear as the main ones in the first place in the line-up.

Rule 3: avoid toxic ingredients

In both baby and adult creams, parabens, dyes and artificial fragrances should be avoided. You also need to be wary if mineral oil and petroleum products are declared in the baby cream. If the baby cream contains paraffin, it is better to refuse it. Paraffin is an artificial wax substitute that is literally made from oil. Such a substance should definitely not be absorbed into the delicate skin of a small child. The polyethylene glycol in the cream can also be toxic. 

Rule 4: petroleum jelly can cause frostbite

Vaseline, harmless at first glance, can also have a bad effect on baby skin during severe frosts. Petroleum jelly creates an impenetrable film on the skin, and if the temperature drops below -5 ° C, the lack of moisture and air in the skin can cause frostbite. Creams containing petroleum jelly are best used in cool and windy weather, but as soon as freezing begins, it is better to replace it with creams with a different composition.

Also, pay attention to the silicone in the composition – it is not needed at all in a baby cream. And the zinc in the composition dries out baby skin, so it is also better not to buy creams with this ingredient for babies.

Rule 5: even a good cream won’t work without proper application

Any cream, especially one that contains water, must be applied to all exposed areas of the body at least 20 minutes before going outside. During this time, the cream will be well absorbed and will give the skin all the beneficial properties, preparing it for stress – going out of a warm room into the cold. This rule is especially relevant and obligatory in severe frosts. The water that is part of the cream, if it did not have time to be absorbed, can freeze at low temperatures and turn into crystals right on the skin.

Rule 6: the colder it is outside, the fatter the cream

Simple moisturizers can be used up to about 0 ° C. They will protect the delicate skin of babies from the cold wind. As soon as the frost comes, it is necessary to switch to nutritious, more fatty creams with a dense consistency and rich compositions. During frosts and direct contact with snow, such products will protect, nourish and restore the baby’s skin. However, after a walk, such creams must be washed off with plain water. 

Rule 7: check before use

Even if the cream says “hypoallergenic” and “natural” on the label, it must be checked first. It may turn out that the baby is allergic to one of the components, for example, to some herb or oil.

Take a small amount of the cream and apply to the crook of your elbow at night. If in the morning there is no reaction, even minimal redness, you can safely use it on your face and other parts of the body.