Best Of...Baby Skin Care 2008

I know how difficult it can be to find a product that is "right" for you AND good for your (or your little one's) body. So... I set out to find what was behind the labels. I've compiled, in an easy to read list - form, some great products - complete with links, size, pricing, their rating, and a little about how they feel and smell and our panel's overall impressions.


Please note, although we'd love to give every company a "10," these ratings were reserved only for the best of the best products. Each and every product that made it onto this list is indeed worth trying, but some ranked higher than others.


Good luck on your search!




BEST OF... BABY SKIN CARE FOR 2008


Shampoo, Body Wash, and Cream Bath Products

Product: Calendula Cream Bath
Brand: Weleda
Size: 6.8 oz
Price: $15.00
Rating: 9.5
Comments: Luxurious cream bath with the spicy aroma of calendula. Perfect for dry, patchy skin. Leaves skin feeling baby-soft, no matter its age. Our only complaint? The scent was a little strong at first, but became less intense after the first use (and opening of the bottle).


Product: Baby Wash
Brand: Nature’s Boundaries - Little Lamb
Size:
Price: $7.95
Rating: 9.5
Comments: Great baby wash with medium skin moisturizing effects. Lathers well and has a great scent - Vanilla with a subtle note of mandarin.


Product: Baby Wash
Brand: Nurture My Body
Size: 8.5 oz.
Price: $16.50
Rating: 9
Comments: Gentle gel with a pleasant geranium-lavender scent.


Product: Friendly Face Wash
Brand: TruKid
Size: 4 oz
Price: $8.00
Rating: 9
Comments: Great face wash, especially for older children. Light citrus scent and great cleansing, without stripping skin of all oils.


Product: Calendula Shampoo & Body Wash
Brand: Weleda
Size: 7.2 oz
Price: $10.00
Rating: 8.5
Comments: Same spicy aroma of calendula as the rest of the Weleda baby products. This product was a good shampoo/body wash and was slightly moisturizing.


Product: Shampoo and Body Wash
Brand: Nature’s Baby Organics
Size: 8 oz or 16 oz
Price: $9.95 or $17.95
Rating: 8
Comments: Comes in Lavender & Chamomile or Vanilla Tangerine scents. Cream-based shampoo/body wash and suds well.


Product: Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash
Brand: Earth Mama Angel Baby
Size: 5.3 oz
Price: $12.95
Rating: 8
Comments: Foaming shampoo/wash with a subtle citrus (orange) scent. Great for scrubbing clean a dirty baby. This is not a moisturizing cleanser, it seemed to strip the oils off of skin.


Product: La La Baby Wash and Shampoo
Brand: Mama Rose’s Naturals
Size: 6.5 oz
Price: $9.00
Rating: 7.5
Comments: Thinner consistency with little to no scent. Great for skin in good condition that need no extra moisturizing and for noses sensitive to scented products.


Product: Baby Shampoo
Brand: Nurture My Body
Size: 8.5 oz
Price: $16.50
Rating: 7
Comments: Delicate baby shampoo. Scented with marshmallow root and roman chamomile essential oil.




Baby Bar Soaps


Product: Unscented Soothing Soap
Brand: Emily Skin Soothers
Size: 4 oz
Price: $6.00
Rating: 9.5
Comments: Great lather, very moisturizing, and unscented.

Product: Bubbly Body Bar
Brand: TruKid
Size: 4 oz
Price: $6.00
Rating: 9
Comments: Great lather, unscented.

Product: Lavender Meadow Soap
Brand: Mountain Girl Botanics
Size: 5.5oz
Price: $6.49
Rating: 7.5
Comments: Great lather with a lavender scent.

Product: Oh! Baby Soap - Calendula Castile
Brand: Oh! Baby by Creating Harmony LLC
Size:
Price: $6.00
Rating: 7
Comments: Unscented, not a great lather.

Product: Baby Bar Soap
Brand: Nurture My Body
Size: 3.5 oz
Price: $5.97
Rating: 7
Comments: Unscented with slight lather.




Other (Bath)

Product: Angel Baby Bath Blossoms
Brand: Earth Mama Angel Baby
Size: 1.5 oz or 3 oz
Price: $7.95 or $12.95
Rating: 10
Comments: An organic herbal bath blend that is naturally comforting - great for fussy babies and/or a distressed mama. Smells wonderful, and soothes sensitive skin as it moisturizes. Comes with a muslin bag for steeping, which can double as a washcloth. Perfect.

Product: Comfort Bath Oil
Brand: Demeter (Eco Beauty Organics)
Size: 3.5 oz
Price: $34.00
Rating: 9
Comments: A lightly scented oil for the bath. Easy to use and great for relaxation and tummy troubles. Another great resource for colicky babies.

Product: Conditioner & Detangler
Brand: Nature’s Baby Organics
Size: 8 oz and 16 oz
Price: $10.95 and $17.95
Rating: 7.5
Comments: Comes in Lavender Chamomile or Vanilla Tangerine. Very thin but creamy consistency. Great for finer hair. Is good for light conditioning, and the consistency is also great for “leave in” conditioner. Can be used and either left in or rinsed out.




Baby Oils


Product: Organic Baby Oil - Mandarin Coconut (scent)
Brand: Nature’s Baby Organics
Size: 4 oz
Price: $10.95
Rating: 9.5
Comments: USDA organic. Vegan, Paraben, Nut, and Gluten Free. Hypo-allergenic. Great lightly scented oil for moisturizing delicate skin.

Product: Angel Baby Oil
Brand: Earth Mama Angel Baby
Size: 1 oz or 4 oz
Price: $5.95 or $12.95
Rating: 9.5
Comments: Oil made from good-for-you ingredients with little to no scent. Great moisturizing oil with no nut oils (so, no worries about about nut allergies). Perfect for sensitive skin.

Product: Birth & Baby Massage Oil
Brand: Mother Love
Size: 2 oz or 4 oz
Price: $8.50 or $14.95
Rating: 9.5
Comments: Little to no scent oil. USDA certified organic. Made with lavender flower and apricot oil. Great for perineal massage during labor or infant massage (because it has no essential oils).

Product: Organic Baby Oil
Brand: Nature’s Boundaries - Little Lamb
Size:
Price: $6.95
Rating: 9
Comments: Wonderfully (yet lightly) scented oil. Works great. However, does contain almond oil.

Product: Calendula Oil
Brand: Weleda
Size: 6.5 oz
Price: $13.00
Rating: 8.5
Comments: Little to no scent. However, does contain almond oil.




Lotions and Creams


Product: Calendula Baby Cream
Brand: Weleda
Size: 2.6 oz
Price: $10.00
Rating: 10
Comments: Lightly scented, Intensive (VERY heavy) cream for seriously dry skin. (Think: heavy cream ointments). Wonderful product for when regular lotions just won’t do the trick.

Product: Angel Baby Lotion
Brand: Earth Mama Angel Baby
Size: 8 oz
Price: $19.95
Rating: 9.5
Comments: lightweight, twist open/close pump, Light vanilla and orange scent. Think Orange Creamsicles. Mmmm...

Product: Organic Calendula Lotion
Brand: Nature's Boundaries - Little Lamb
Size: 8.5 oz
Price: $9.95
Rating: 9.5
Comments: Great lotion with a medium consistency and wonderful scent with a hint of vanilla and mandarin. Great moisturizer without being too heavy.

Product: Lavender Meadow Body Mouse
Brand: Mountain Girl Botanics
Size: 4 oz
Price: $11.99
Rating: 9.5
Comments: Deeply moisturizing lavender scented body mouse. Feels great! Moisturizing and light all at once? Wow!

Product: Happy Face and Body Lotion
Brand: TruKid
Size: 4 oz
Price: $8.00
Rating: 9
Comments: Fruity scent. Lightweight. Non-greasy.

Product: Lullaby Lotion
Brand: Mama Rose’s Naturals
Size: 6.5 oz
Price: $10.00
Rating: 9
Comments: Thick non-greasy lotion with a lavender scent. Great product!

Product: Face and Body Moisturizer
Brand: Nature’s Baby Organics
Size: 8 oz
Price: $11.95
Rating: 9
Comments: “Fragrance free”, but not unscented. Very thick cream consistency. Scent: Rose. Good for really dry skin, may not be a good everyday moisturizer if your skin is not otherwise really dry.

Product: Calendula Cream
Brand: Demeter (Eco Beauty Organics)
Size: 1.8 oz
Price: $27.00
Rating: 9
Comments: Thick, lightly scented, but highly moisturizing calendula cream.

Product: Baby Lotion
Brand: Nurture My Body
Size: 8 oz
Price: $20.90
Rating: 8
Comments: Lightweight baby lotion with an orange citrus spice scent.

Product: Organic Baby Cream
Brand: Nature’s Boundaries - Little Lamb
Size: 2 oz
Price: $6.49
Rating: 8
Comments: “Cream” is in balm form (solid until you rub it or press it), but is thick all the same. Has the wonderful vanilla and mandarin scent. Great for moisturizing, but does feel a bit oily after applied (like shea butter).

Product: Calendula Lotion
Brand: Weleda
Size: 6.8 oz
Price: $12.00
Rating: 7
Comments: Spicy herbal scent. Thin consistency (like sunscreen), but a little sticky feeling afterwards.

Product: Cherish Your Baby Lotion
Brand: Cherish Your Baby by Green Valley Herbal Enterprises
Size: 5 oz
Price: $5.90
Rating: 6
Comments: Thick lotion with strong earthy scent.




First Aid/ Healing


Product: Sunny Days Face Stick
Brand: TruKid
Size: 0.6 oz
Price: $10.00
Rating: 10
Comments: Light, moisturzing, UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum SPF 30 mineral sunscreen for faces. In a tube. Great product, very convenient, and still that light citrus scent.

Product: Ah Choo! Chest Rub (Eucalyptus)
Brand: Nature’s Baby Organics
Size: 2 oz
Price: $10.95
Rating: 10
Comments: Great salve that helps relieve chest and sinus congestion. USDA certified organic and eucalyptus scented. Great product and I’d recommend it for your medicine cabinet.

Product: Children’s Cold & Flu Essential Oil
Brand: Aromatic Health
Size:
Price: $10.00
Rating: 10
Comments: A great mix of oils to help alleviate colds and the flu the “natural” way. Use this mixture in a bath, massage, or simple inhalation.

Product: Organic Soothing Stick
Brand: Nature’s Baby Organics
Size: .63 oz
Price: $9.95
Rating: 9.5
Comments: GREAT product! Wonderful for rashes, burns, cuts and scrapes, bug bites, and anything else you could think of. It’s a first aid kit in a stick! Keeps fingers clean, and is packaged perfectly for travel.

Product: Sunny Days Mineral Sun Screen
Brand: TruKid
Size: 4 oz
Price: $14.00
Rating: 9.5
Comments: Love this mineral sunscreen (UVA/UVB broad spectrum with an SPF of 30). It’s light, wonderful, and has a pleasant fruity scent. - Which is great because what good is sunscreen if you can’t get the little ones to apply it?

Product: Soothing Salve
Brand: Emily Skin Soothers
Size:
Price: $14.00
Rating: 9.5
Comments: Works great, wonderful for any skin irritations. Works great for itchy skin, as well. Very earthy smell.

Product: Hero Stick
Brand: TruKid
Size: 0.6
Price: $10.00
Rating: 9
Comments: Great for rashes, cuts, burns, scrapes, bug bites. It’s like a first-aid kit in a stick form! Easy to carry in a purse or bag, and no mess for fingers.

Product: Peaceful Baby (colic or teething)
Brand: Mama Rose’s Naturals
Size: 1 oz dropper bottle
Price:$12.00
Rating: 9
Comments: A great alternative to some of the other mainstream drops for colic and teething. And, alcohol-free.

Product: Joy’s Special Blend Tea
Brand: Cherish Your Baby
Size: 18 bags per package
Price: $4.20
Rating: 9
Comments: Herbal tea made from mint, lemon verbena, nettle, and chamomile.

Product: Spiffy Spearmint Lip Balm
Brand: TruKid
Size: 0.15 oz
Price: $3.50
Rating: 8.5
Comments: Moisturizing with a light spearmint scent and slight “sweet” taste. Great to get children to wear lip balm. No menthol for kids.

Product: Aromatherapy Calming Spray in Lovely Lavender
Brand: Nature’s Baby Organics
Size: 4 oz
Price: $8.95
Rating: 8
Comments: Softly scented “lavender” spray to be used on linens or wherever to help calm baby. Both the spray and the scent are light. However, if you are looking for a true lavender scent (and, lavender alone), you may be disappointed.




Diaper Care (deodorizers, diaper rash cream, etc)


Product: Diaper Rash Salve
Brand: Mother Love
Size: 1 oz
Price: $9.50
Rating: 10
Comments: light - no scent. Great salve, and works great! Can even be used for rashes possibly caused by yeast.

Product: Love That Baby Bum Bum Balm
Brand: Sunflower Hill
Size:
Price: $7.95
Rating: 10
Comments: Balm with a very light, fresh scent.

Product: Sunshine Spray
Brand: Mama Rose’s Naturals
Size: 4 oz
Price: $12.00
Rating: 9.5
Comments: This sunshine spray is unbelievable! Spray on a soft cloth to use when changing baby (as a wipe), spray on diapers to help deodorize, spray on linens, in the air, use on irritated skin (including minor cuts, burns, bites, etc). It really is for everything! Wonderful product - I’d love to see it with more choices for scents.

Product: Diaper Cream
Brand: Nature’s Baby Organics
Size: 4 oz
Price: $11.95
Rating: 9
Comments: Great diaper cream. Goes on well, isn’t hard to remove and helps with rashes.

Product: Silky Dusting Powder
Brand: Nature’s Baby Organics
Size: 4 oz
Price: $9.95
Rating: 9
Comments: This powder was lightweight and had a rose chamomile scent.

Product: Bottom Salve
Brand: Cherish Your Baby
Size: 2 oz
Price: $5.00
Rating: 9
Comments: Salve with a light scent (combination of evening primrose, tea tree, lavender, and rosemary).

Product: Birth and Baby Spritzer
Brand: Mother Love
Size: 2 oz
Price: $8.50
Rating: 9
Comments: little to no scent spritzer. Great for refreshing baby, as a room spray, or for mom while in labor.

Product: Angel Baby Bottom Balm
Brand: Earth Mama Angel Baby
Size: 2 oz
Price: $14.95
Rating: 9
Comments: Works wonderfully for rashes (including diaper rashes), cuts, scrapes, burns, insect bites. A little greasy but goes on smoothly and helps to quickly clear up skin. Tea tree oil scented.

Product: Stardust Baby Powder
Brand: Mama Rose’s Naturals
Size: 4 oz
Price: $9.00
Rating: 9
Comments: A light powder with arrowroot and baking soda base with a light and pleasant scent.

Product: Baby Nappy Balm
Brand: Demeter (Eco Beauty Organics)
Size: 3.5 oz
Price: $30.00
Rating: 9
Comments: Lightly (fresh) scented tub of “balm” for baby’s bottom. It’s like a cream and balm all in one. It looks creamy, but goes on smoothly and evenly like a balm.

Product: Oh! Baby Petroleum Free Diaper Balm
Brand: Oh! Baby by Creating Harmony LLC
Size: 2.5 oz
Price: $9.00
Rating: 8.5
Comments: Diaper balm with an earthy scent and a creamy texture. Great for bottoms that need a little extra loving and more moisture.

Product: PU All Purpose Deodorizer
Brand: Nature’s Baby Organics
Size: 4 oz
Price: $11.95
Rating: 8
Comments: Lavender Chamomile or Vanilla Tangerine scented. Works great, removes smell and leaves a light scent. -Great for nursery, bathroom, or anywhere else that needs some odor control.

Product: Magic Touch Baby Balm
Brand: Mama Rose’s Naturals
Size: 2 oz
Price: $12.00
Rating: 8
Comments: Diaper Rash Salve with an earthy scent.

Product: Mountain Baby Butt Balm
Brand: Mountain Girl Botanics
Size: 4oz
Price: $15.99
Rating: 8
Comments: Salve with an earthy scent. Easy to remove from baby’s bottom (it just soaks in, no residue). Would have received higher rating if unscented or had a more pleasant scent.

Product: Calendula Diaper Care
Brand: Weleda
Size: 2.8 oz
Price: $10.00
Rating: 8
Comments: Cream diaper rash ointment in spicy Calendula scent.

Product: Linen Spray
Brand: Cherish Your Baby
Size: 2 oz.
Price: $4.00
Rating: 7.5
Comments: VERY strong lavender scent. Could be great if diluted a bit.

Product: Hemp Bum Butter
Brand: Aromatic Health
Size: (30G)
Price: $12.00
Rating: 7
Comments: Product is balm based with a light earthy scent (not overpowering). Goes on smoothly. It comes in a tin with a loose lid (the type of container chosen, not defective), not good for traveling, purses, or bags.

Product: Powder
Brand: Cherish Your Baby
Size: 5.8 oz
Price: $6.50
Rating: 6
Comments: Scent - a combination of arrowroot, lavender, and tea tree oil. Nice consistency, but low marks for the scent.