HEY THERE, BABY FACE
The latest trend in skincare? To pilfer products from newborn s sc or pahs hi e es qt uh. reeschrèiche…
s skoinf tis, a cn lear, poreless ideal most of us never stop chasing, but the latest skincare trend is taking that pursuit to a whole new level. Not content with the myriad options out there to polish, prime and perfect our complexions, women are eschewing grown-up skincare and turning to formulations designed for teeny tots. Pinterest reports a 130% increase in searches for baby skincare in the past month and, according to baby beauty brands, women aren’t just buying these products for their little ones. ‘ We hear from the team in Harrods’ baby department that lots of clients come to buy our skincare products for themselves,’ says Jonna Jalkanen, founder of organic baby brand Sophie La Girafe.
So what would make a grown woman use baby cream on her face when there’s such an array of adult options? Well, the very fact that grown-up skincare is now so damn complex could be part of the reason. In a world of essences, ampoules, serums, peels and LED sheet masks (yes, they’re a thing), a baby beauty routine feels refreshingly simple. If you never found time for the Korean 10-step routine (and seriously, who did?), this trend might be one you’ll want to get behind…
Baby Love
The idea that using baby products will give you the cherub-cheeked glow of a newborn might seem crazy, but there’s a good reason baby beauty is booming. Over half of us now describe ourselves as having sensitive skin and reactions to skincare products are at an all-time high. ‘Baby products tend to be formulated with fewer irritant ingredients,’ says Imelda Burke, founder of Content Beauty & Wellbeing. ‘Even if you use all-natural products, sensitive skins can react to essential oils, so people with very temperamental complexions are gravitating towards baby products.’
A big bonus with baby products is that they tend to be formulated without fragrance, which – whether natural or synthetic – is the number one culprit for complexion flare-ups. Fragrance allergies are on the rise (mainly because nearly everything we’re in contact with now features a scent of some kind) but even if you don’t think you’re a sensitive sort, swerving scented skincare is a smart move.
Your skin might not seem like it’s bothered by the fragranced products you’re using but, according to skincare expert and founder of Paula’s Choice, Paula Begoun, it probably is. ‘Even if you don’t see the damage on the skin’s surface, it can be silently occurring every day, creating inflammation that prematurely ages the skin and causes problems in the long term.’
Quite aside from the fact that it’s bad for skin, not all of us want to use fragranced skincare anyway. ‘A lot of women want to find neutral, unscented products as they have a perfume they love and don’t want it to clash,’ says Imelda. ‘When you think about it, by the time you layer on body wash, shampoo, body lotion, deodorant and hair-styling products, and all of them are fragranced, it can be quite a combination. Add your favourite perfume to that and even if you aren’t scent sensitive, it can be a pretty heady mix.’
Give skin ea yo bu re rank ow se it ah nd the Petit Pai Apple & Mallow Blossom Face & Body Cream, £22, which as well as being fragrance-free has anti-inflammatory ingredients to calm any manner of complexion tantrum. Imelda also recommends Lina Hanson Global Baby/ Sensitive Serum, £48, which is designed for both babies and sensitive grown-ups. ‘It contains no fragrance or essential oils and works really well as a soothing overnight treatment,’ she says.
new Kids on the BLOCK
If the promise of a calm complexion doesn’t convince you to give baby beauty a whirl, the new crop of super-cute brands might well do so. Once upon a time, baby products were gloopy, greasy and definitely not formulated for adult sensibilities. But recently, a host of our favourite brands have brought out minime versions, which are, frankly, too good to be reserved just for babies.
One of the latest comes from Dr Barbara Sturm – her Baby & Kids Mini Molecular Collection is as expertly formulated as her grown-up line, but with a more soothing assembly of ingredients, such as calendula, almond blossom extract and jojoba oil. Anyone who doesn’t fall for the packaging is made of sterner stuff than us, but equally pleasing is the fact that the products are about a third of the price of their (admittedly more potent) adult counterparts. Jurlique’s new Baby Ritual collection is just as covetable, with formulations rich in nurturing plant oils and botanicals from the brand’s organic farm in Australia. And as for Chantecaille Bébé – do we really want illustrations of ducks and elephants on our face creams? Turns out, we do. This organic line combines the sophistication of adult skincare with the gentle touch of a baby product, and the textures are so exquisite, the brand admits that parents frequently snaffle the products for themselves. We’re not judging – they’re seriously good.
Just For Grown- ups
Before you completely replace your adult arsenal with baby booty, let’s get real for a minute. Obviously, using baby skincare won’t magically give you the perfect skin of a baby, any more than using dog shampoo would deliver hair as glossy as a Labrador’s coat. In fact, if you rely exclusively on baby products, you’ll actually be short-changing your skin of the things it needs to stay looking young. ‘When an adult suffers from sensitive skin, using products formulated for babies may be beneficial,’ says Dr Alexis Granite, consultant dermatologist at Mallucci London. ‘But if you’re looking for targeted skincare to help with breakouts or anti-ageing, baby products are not going to be formulated for these types of concerns.’ Skincare specialist Debbie Thomas agrees: ‘Baby creams only really focus on hydration, so although they can be good to temporarily calm and soothe skin, using them long-term would mean you’d miss out on all sorts of actives that keep skin looking youthful, like antioxidants, retinols, peptides and growth factors.’ The bottom line? These products can be brilliant for placating stroppy skin, but if you really want to achieve the peachy-perfect complexion of a baby, don’t ditch the grown-up stuff.
even if you use all- natural products, you can react to essential oils