Baby-Safe Cosmetic Checker
Check shampoos, lotions, sunscreens, and bath products against pediatric-dermatology guidance for infants and small children. Flags fragrance, sulfates, parabens, formaldehyde releasers, chemical sunscreens, dyes, and adult-only actives like retinol and salicylic acid.
What's flagged for babies
Fragrance & essential oils
Infant skin is more permeable and more reactive
Sulfates
SLS, SLES, ALS strip the skin barrier
Parabens
Methyl/ethyl/propyl/butylparaben
Formaldehyde releasers
DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Quaternium-15, Bronopol
Chemical sunscreens
Oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, octocrylene, avobenzone — mineral filters preferred under 6 months
Synthetic dyes
FD&C / D&C / CI numbers
Adult-only actives
Retinol, retinyl palmitate, salicylic acid, propylene glycol
Phthalates & talc
Flagged by default for infant products
Why babies need a stricter filter
Infant skin has a thinner stratum corneum and a higher surface-to-mass ratio, so the same product delivers a proportionally larger dose. Pediatric-dermatology guidance (AAP, AAD) recommends fragrance-free, dye-free formulas with mineral-only sunscreens for the first 6 months.
Frequently asked questions
Is "tear-free" the same as baby-safe?
No. "Tear-free" only means the formula passes an eye-stinging test — it can still contain fragrance and other infant irritants.
What sunscreen should I use on my baby?
Under 6 months: keep them out of direct sun and use clothing. From 6 months on: a mineral-only sunscreen (zinc oxide / titanium dioxide) without chemical filters or fragrance.
Are essential oils safe for babies?
Most pediatric dermatologists recommend avoiding essential oils on infants. They're potent allergens and can cause respiratory irritation. We flag them conservatively.