Every mother wants the best for her child. From the choice of school and hobby to what your child eats: you weigh and choose with the best intentions. Strangely enough, we often think less about what we put on their bodies.
Smart cosmetics giants do everything they can to get you excited about their products. Many care lines for children make promising claims such as 'hypoallergenic' and 'dermatologically tested'. Unfortunately, the legislation surrounding the use of claims is a lot less strict than you might think. Manufacturers indeed have a 'dermatologically tested' product tested by a group of people under the supervision of a dermatologist. But who are the test subjects, what is the condition of their skin and what was the test result? You will hardly find any information about that. Just to say that it is best to take nice words with a grain of salt.
How do you choose a good care product for your child?
My golden advice? Stay away from harmful chemicals as much as possible. More and more scientific studies point out the dangers of chemicals in cosmetics, especially for the little ones. Many everyday products such as lotions, shampoos and wipes contain risky substances that easily penetrate the sensitive baby and children's skin. And that is not without danger.
Beware of endocrine disruptors
Perhaps you have already heard of the term hormone disruptors? Even in very small amounts, these synthetic chemicals can mimic or even alter and block the action of our natural hormones. The biggest problem with these chemicals? You find them everywhere: in plastic, clothing... and also in care products. Young children (and certainly babies) are an important risk group. After all, their bodies are still developing, which makes them more susceptible to harmful external influences. Endocrine disruptors can affect the growth and development of children, even in small amounts. The WHO (World Health Organization) links hormone disruptors to many health problems such as reduced fertility, obesity, diabetes, immune disorders and even cancer.
How do you recognize these harmful substances?
Read the ingredients list carefully. Hormone disruptors often come with complex names such as Methylparaben, Ethylparaben... Do you see the term 'paraben' on the packaging? Get rid of it! It is also better to avoid phthalates. Pay attention to abbreviations such as BzBP, DEP and DMP, and of course phthalate compositions. You should also avoid products containing Bisphenol A (BPA), Triclosan, Benzophenone, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Butylheydroxyanisoe (BHA) and Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC).
How do you recognize these harmful substances?
Read the ingredients list carefully. Hormone disruptors often come with complex names such as Methylparaben, Ethylparaben... Do you see the term 'paraben' on the packaging? Get rid of it! It is also better to avoid phthalates. Pay attention to abbreviations such as BzBP, DEP and DMP, and of course phthalate compositions. You should also avoid products containing Bisphenol A (BPA), Triclosan, Benzophenone, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Butylheydroxyanisoe (BHA) and Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC).
At SELF we believe in the power of nature.
We consciously ban artificial colors or fragrances, parabens and other chemical ingredients and only use the best nourishing ingredients from mother nature. By the way, your child does not need any special care products at all. Our products work for the most sensitive problem skin and are therefore just as good for every skin! Also for delicate children's skin!
What do you do to keep harmful chemicals away from your child? Let me know! I like to learn from other moms!
love,
