Making Sense of Children's Skincare Product Lingo

Johnson's offers a varied range of gentle skincare products for babies

Every parent wants to use safe and gentle skincare for their children, but one look at the back of a shampoo bottle can be enough to confuse you. We’ve made things a little easier by unpacking four frequently used terms to help you choose the safest and most gentle products for your child.

From natural origin

In the pursuit of a healthier and greener life, there’s growing demand for products to be natural, not only when it comes to toiletries but across the board. According to the International Organisation for Standardisation, ‘natural origin’ refers to products that derive more than 50 per cent of their ingredients from natural sources, namely plants or minerals.

We’re already seeing how demand for greener products is shaping the way the industry operates through big developments from leading brands like Johnson’s. The baby skincare expert reformulated its entire product range earlier this year to make it as gentle as it can be. Now, 96 per cent of the ingredients in Johnson’s washes, lotions, and shampoos are from natural origins.

Fragrances

In the move towards gentler products, fragrances have erroneously been categorised as another ingredient to avoid when they are, in most cases, safe. But more than this, the fragrance in products plays a key role in creating a multi-sensory experience that is important to child development. Studies have shown that when bathed with a scented bath product, babies demonstrated 30 per cent more engagement cues with their parents, compared to babies bathed in unscented products — which is why Johnson’s continues to use gentle scents, free from all known fragrance allergens.

Sulphates

Sulphates was a regular ingredient in many kids’ shampoos and washes to produce that all important creamy lather, but the growing demand among parents for more naturally derived ingredients has seen it disappear from bottles. Thankfully, creators of child skincare formulas have found a way to drop sulphates without removing the much-loved foaming effect.

Research has shown that lathering helps create an interactive and stimulating bath experience where toddlers develop communication and social skills. So, look out for those sulphate-free products that still foam up nicely during bath time, like Johnson’s new Cottontouch™ bath wash.

Preservatives

When it comes to food, preservatives have a pretty bad reputation these days, considered to be another manufactured additive your nutritionist would want you to avoid. But what about in skincare products, where they’re also prevalent? Preservatives are actually integral in making sure products intended for your little ones remain safe to prevent mould and bacteria from growing in the formula. The preservatives used in Johnson’s reformulated babycare range have passed strict safety assurance processes and are verified by doctors, nurses, and scientists. They have also been tested by thousands of volunteers around the world so you can have complete confidence when using it on your baby’s skin.

With many makers of baby and child skincare products turning towards more natural and gentle formulas, understanding the lingo among the ingredients list will help you pick the kindest products for your little one.

We’re already seeing how demand for greener products is shaping the way the industry operates through big developments from leading brands like Johnson’s. The baby skincare expert reformulated its entire product range earlier this year to make it as gentle as it can be.