I’ve been on a skincare kick lately. It started with my own skin care regime revamp after a trip to the dermatologist for a post-baby “mole patrol” visit. I’m one of the unlucky ones that gets those pesky brown spots during pregnancy and it always takes me awhile to do something about it. The whole experience got me thinking about healthy skin and questioning what I put on my own skin and my children’s bodies as well. The timing couldn’t have been better to start a product overhaul around the house since I was running low on just about everything and when I bumped into Dr. Lisa Kessler, the creator of baby skin care line BecomingBaby, at the recent Babes and Babies event it was just the motivation I needed to take action. She was nice enough to let me interview her so I could report back with some helpful baby skincare tips.
Project Nursery was first introduced to Becoming Baby last year at the ABC Kids Expo and after receiving some samples the product line became one of My Favorite Things this past holiday season. I promised then to bring you more information about the line and to let you know when the Becoming Baby product line was available to purchase and are happy to deliver on that promise! I talked with Lisa about how to go about finding good products for the family. There is so much conflicting information out there and I was in real need of some clarification.
PN: You created Becoming Baby because you couldn’t find anything on the market that as a doctor and mother you could get excited about using on your children. What was missing from current products on the market?
Dr. Lisa: When I had my daughter, I went looking for simple, natural products without a lot of unnecessary extra ingredients in them. Sounds obvious for a newborn, right? I was surprised how many baby products on the market were made almost entirely of petrochemicals, or contained preservatives such as parabens or formadehyde-donors. I didn’t want strong fragrances (overstimulating for babies) or colored dyes (Ever wonder what makes a certain baby lotion that familiar pink color? Red 33. Not something that sounds like it belongs on baby skin to me.) So I looked to the natural brands instead. The ingredients sounded better and more familiar, and many of them were organic too, but putting all those extra botanic extracts and essential oils on my new baby just didn’t make sense to me either. I learned that many of them aren’t at all beneficial for infant skin and some even cause irritation or allergic reactions. As a pediatrician and a mom, I thought I could come up with something better, gentler and safer – that’s how Becoming Baby began.
PN: Which products do you think are most important to splurge on for baby?
Dr. Lisa: Babies really don’t need all that much fancy stuff, but I do think it’s worthwhile to make the safest, healthiest choices you can afford for things like feeding, skin care and bedding. There are so many amazing natural products on the market now.
PN: I keep hearing about Parabens and how we should avoid them. Why and how do you check if they are in products?
Dr. Lisa: Parabens are a class of preservatives that have been used in the cosmetics industry for decades, in everything from shampoo to toothpaste. They became controversial when recent studies showed that parabens were showing up in some breast cancer tumors. Since they are also known to have estrogenic activity, scientists suggested that a relationship might exist between paraben exposure and breast cancer. The actual link is not known. If a product does contain parabens (and many still do) they will be listed in the ingredients – look for names like butylparaben, ethylparaben, methylparaben or propylparaben. I especially avoid sunscreens with paraben preservatives, since there is research that suggests some parabens actually make skin cells more vulnerable to UV damage!
PN: What other ingredients should parents be conscious of when buying products for their children?
Dr. Lisa: If you visit www.becomingbabyskincare.com, there is a list of all the ingredients we chose to avoid in creating our products. There is also a page that lists and explains every single ingredient in our entire product line. We believe that parents have a right to know what they are putting on their babies, so they can make informed, responsible choices.
PN: How do you keep balanced as a mother, doctor and entrepreneur? We are always looking for tips!
Dr. Lisa: I’m still looking for the magic answer to this one! I guess my best strategy is to prioritize, or as we called it in the ER – triage. It helps me make sure that the most important and most urgent things get done first, but still keeps the whole “to do” list moving along.
What I love about the whole line of Becoming Baby products is the simple concept that extra ingredients in products isn’t necessary and therefore shouldn’t be added. That means fragrance, preservatives and coloring.
WIN IT: Becoming Baby is giving away TWO gift sets which include Baby Wash, Baby Lotion, Comfort Creme and Jelly Balm. Visit BecomingBabySkincare.com and then tell us what product you would be most excited to try and why. Contest ends February 18th, 2011 at 11:59 PST.
EXTRA ENTRIES –
1. Become a fan of Project Nursery on Facebook & comment.
2. Follow Project Nursery on Twitter & comment.
3. Subscribe or let us know you are a subscriber with a comment.
CONTEST CLOSED
I like you on FB!
Sorry just realized I am late!!
I already Subscribe.
I Follow Project Nursery on Twitter
I am a fan of Project Nursery on Facebook
The gentle foaming baby wash because it would be so gentle on babies delicate skin. Would hydrated instead of dry.
I would like to try the Baby Nourishing baby oil.
I’d love to try the gentle foaming baby wash- sulfate free!
Baby nourishing Body Oil for massaging baby
love to try bodywash for or my dry, sensitive skin.
I have subscribed via google reader Erin Cook
I am following project nursery on twitter @cooks1978
I like project nursery on facebook and left a comment Erin Cook
I like the baby wash
I’m an email subscriber.
Following you on twitter: hillfam2005
I’m your fan on Facebook.
I’d love to try the gentle foaming BABY WASH b/c it is “pH-balanced to support skin’s natural defenses against environmental stress.” Thanks for the chance.
simple soothing BABY LOTION because we use lotions in this house
I am a fan on Facebook.
I subscribe.
I would most like to try the Gentle Foaming Baby Wash. My daughter has such sensitive skin and I love how this wash is for those whose skin is extra sensitive.
I follow you on twitter @pridelandmama
pridelandmama@hotmail.com
i am excited about the gentle foaming baby wash because I like things that are gentle on my baby’s skin for my newborn.
pridelandmama@hotmail.com
I would like the gentle foaming baby wash.
im already a subscriber
im a fan of project nursery on fb. jennifer harriman
i want to try the gentle foaming BABY WASH, it looks so great and it doesnt take the extra time to suds up, my baby hates being naked so the quicker i can get the soap on and off the better!
following on twitter
I am a subscriber
I like Project Nursery on fb
I LOVE the jelly cream!
I am a subscriber to the emails!!
I follow PN in twitter, my name is @amberstarr
I am a fan of project nursery on FB!
I would love to try the gentle foaming baby wash. We all have sensitive skin in our house!
I am so excited for the Baby nourishing Body Oil because I plan to give my baby massage and rub it all over their baby skin. I also would love to use it on my dry skin after getting out of the shower! The sunflower and vitamin E oil is so good for you skin!
i’m following Becoming Baby on twitter
@msilba
would love to try the baby foaming wash!
I’m most interested in the body wash because I think it would be great for my dry, sensitive skin.
I’m a subscriber of your newsletter/emails! I love hearing what’s going on!
I follow you on twitter as ct_designs.
I’m a fan of Project Nursery on Facebook!
I’d love to try the simple soothing BABY LOTION b/c our winters are so harsh on our skin, especially the babies. I’d like to see if the lotion could help keep my baby’s skin moisturized for a longer period of time.
Becoming Baby is wonderful! I have tried this product on my kids and it is great. Everyone should try it!!
I’m a fan of project nursery on twitter and facebook as well as a subscriber! I would love to try the simple soothing BABY LOTION-so nice to see a product out there with all the yucky chemicals =)
I “like” Project Nursery on Facebook.
kimkmc at yahoo.com
I would like to try the gentle foaming BABY WASH. I like that it can be used on both the skin and hair so you only need one product.
kimkmc at yahoo.com
And i like you guys on facebook!
I also follow on twitter
I’m also a subscriber to your weekly emails
Id probably like to most try the diaper cream.. Since every baby needs it at some stage, and I’m due with my first in a couple of months :)
i am a fan of PN on facebook too
i am a PN subscriber
I would love to try the jelly balm. Sounds like a great product
I would love to try the jelly balm. Sounds like a great project!
I would want to try the diaper care comfort cream.
I am a fan of project Nursery on Facebook :)
I get your email newsletter :)
I would like to try the gentle foaming wash.
I follow Project Nursery on twitter (@jjak2003)
I’m a Project Nursery facebook fan (Jessica Miller)
I would love to try the foaming wash because I love the simple ingredients and the foam dispenser seems like it would cut down on wasted product.
I’d like to try the diaper care COMFORT CREAM.
I’m following Project Nursery on twitter.
I became (Like) a fan of Project Nursery on Facebook.
I want to try the petroleum free JELLY BALM the most.
I’d love the baby lotion! My daughter is due any day now.. perfect!
diaper care COMFORT CREAM becaus eit is hard to a easy washable product
I love the idea of a natural diaper cream. I am a fan of both sites on FB and I am also a PN Subscriber!
I also subscribe!
I am a fan on facebook!
The jelly balm sounds great!!
I follow PN on Twitter!
I like PN on FB!
I would like to try the diaper care cream for my son! I’d love to win this pack to gift to my bff due with her first baby in just 2 months!!
I am also your latest fan on FB!
Would love the gentle foaming BABY WASH!
I’m a fan of both on twitter & fb!
I would love to try the moisturizing lotion. My son’s skin is so sensitive, especially to perfumes, and it is so hard to find lotion that is perfume free!
I follow PN on Twitter ~ thanks for the great product share! ~Margaret
I follow PN on FB.! :-)~Margaret
Hi, Great product! I would be interested in the Oil for my 6 year old daughter who has very, very dry skin and/or the Soothing Lotion. It would be wonderful for my 3-1/2 year old as well…we all seem to have very dry skin! Thanks~ M
I would like to try the body lotion.
i would like to try the simple soothing BABY LOTION. I would like to try that because i like my skin to feel soft and smell good so i would like my baby Adelynn to feel smooth and smell good too and plus its good for her skin =)
i also did all the extra enters! =)
i like the jelly balm cuz it has vitamin e
I am most excited to try the Gentle Foaming Baby Wash since it would be so gentle on the baby.
I would love to try the petroleum free jellu blam, as it has so many uses.
I’m a fan on FB and I’m a subscriber!
I’m most interested in the jelly balm, it seems so versatile in soothing many different issues.
I’m a fan of PN on FB (as LS) Thanks!
I’d like to try the gentle foaming wash – This is the most used product in my house so it’s the one I’d want to try the most.
I follow project nursery on twitter @caedmen
I would love to try the baby wash because I have been on the lookout for something more natural for my son but have been hesitant about most natural products because they are not no tear formulas. This one is so I would love to try it out.
I am a subscriber / Paula Caudill
I like Project Nursery on Facebook / Paula Caudill
I follow Project Nursery on twitter at sexyknickers68
The Comfort Cream for the bottom, this would be great to try! My little one gets diaper rash and I would love to have this to soothe it.
I’m a subscriber!
I follow Project Nursery on Twitter! (@ampaetka)
I’m most excited to try the gentle foaming baby wash because it will get baby clean without drying out her skin!
Like PN on Facebook, love this line…cant wait to use it!
i subscribe to projecy nursery :)
i would love to the jelly balm on my baby boy dry skin!
Like on FB.
Subscribe via google reader.
These products look great! I would most like to try the baby oil for my little girl’s super dry skin.
Lovely products …
I am a follower on Facebook
I would like to try the baby lotion so I can bond with my baby by giving him a little lotion massage.
I am a subscriber
AND
Posted a comment on FB about how excited I am to try Becoming Baby!!!!
I would love to try them all! My son has allergies/eczema, the body wash is soap free…so we can use it!!! He had cradle cap when he was younger, the oil would have been great for that. I am really excited after checking the ingredients…He could really get pampered using these products!
I am a newsletter subscriber!
I am excited to try their gentle foaming BABY WASH! I love that it is made for sensitive skin!
camillekirch(at)gmail(dot)com
I ama FB fan!
I am excited to try their gentle foaming BABY WASH! I love that it is made for sensitive skin!
camillekirch(at)gmail(dot)com
I am excited to try their gentle foaming BABY WASH! I love that it is made for sensitive skin!
camillekirch(at)gmail(dot)com
I am a lovely subsriber. The jelly balm looks great!
The Jelly Balm looks great.
subscribe by email
follow pn on twitter as @green_twiggy
like PN on fb – Tannis W
I’d be most excited to try the body oil
I subscribe on my Google feed.
I’d love to try the lotion!
Would love to try the comfort lotion. My daughter has very sensitive skin and I cant seem to find the perfect lotion.
I am a subscriber :)
I am a PN subscriber :)
I follow PN on Twitter
I’m a fan on FB
The jelly balm would be fun to try–I like that it has multiple uses…seems like a great all around product for the diaper bag or changing table!
I follow PN on fb
The foaming body wash would be nice to try
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Project Nursery, Project Nursery. Project Nursery said: Giveaway: Becoming Baby Skin Care: I’ve been on a skincare kick lately. It started with my own skin care regime … http://bit.ly/eu4tpJ […]
I FB follow
Jhil2626@yahoo.com
I am a fan on Facebook already…..I’d love to try the comfort cream most of all, both my children have dry skin and we live in the desert!
The comfort cream, my son’s skin gets irriated very easy and I would love to try this.
Jhl2626@yahoo.com
i want to try the comfort creme
How could I possibly pick only one to try? I’d love to try all of them! If I really had to pick one I think I’d say the lotion. I have really dry skin and when my little my baby girl arrives in May I’m thinking she might have it too. (I’m subscribed to your blog in my google reader)
I’d love to try the Comfort Creme.
13cls13 at gmail dot com
I am a subscriber!
I would try the body oil!
I would like to try the JELLY BALM. My son has dry skin and we’re trying to find something to help it.
I follow project nersey on twitter @mellanhead
I am most exctied to try the baby nourishing BODY OIL