Healthy Begins Here

Do you know what’s in your kids’ moisturizer?

Petroleum and mineral oil, both derived from fossil fuels, are common ingredients in cosmetics, particularly lotions, foundations, cleansers, lipsticks and lip balms. Propylene glycol, a chemical additive that carries moisture in cosmetics, comes from petroleum, while petroleum distillates, possible human carcinogens, are found in several U.S. brands of mascara and other products. (Look for the terms petroleum or liquid paraffin.) Most of the fragrances in these products also come from crude oil, as do parabens.

The long-term health effects of petroleum products are not yet known, but we have some hint of their potency from other applications. (Propylene glycol is also an ingredient in antifreeze and paint!)

Even beauty experts who aren’t particularly green often encourage people with sensitive skin to use water-based rather than petroleum-based lotions and creams, because oil can lock moisture against the skin, blocking pores. That’s all the more reason to seek water-based formulas made with naturally derived moisturizers like shea butter and jojoba.

Same goes for kids and teens, especially as they enter that dark tunnel of self-awareness known as adolescence. Since youthful oil glands are more active than adult oil glands, teens may not need to moisturize anyway, but you can help them pick out a non-petroleum-based cream if they need it during drier winter months.

Baby skin (apart from the business end) arguably doesn’t need moisturizing, either. Even mild baby creams can dry out skin and contain fragrance that may be sensitizing. In the dry dregs of winter, though, after a bath choose natural oils like olive, almond, apricot kernel and avocado. Or use vegetable glycerin, shea butter or soy lecithin.

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Taken from Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home. Reprinted by arrangement with Plume, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright (c) 2009 by Healthy Child Healthy World.