DIY: How to Make Your Own Natural Baby Oil
Thursday, April 19, 2018
Baby
oil is one of the essential products in a mother’s baby care kit. It is often
used as a medium for baby massage and for keeping the baby skin soft and
supple. Compared to an adult skin, the baby’s skin is thinner and more
sensitive to external irritants so it is very important for a mother to choose
the right baby oil that is mild and nourishing to the delicate skin of the
baby. Unfortunately, most baby oils available in the market are made from
mineral oil with synthetic fragrance added to it.
Mineral
oil (also known as petrolatum or parafinnum liquidum) is often used as base
ingredient in baby oil because of its low cost and long shelf life (it doesn’t
go rancid unlike plant-based oils). It is an effective moisturizing ingredient
but it is a bit greasy to be used on baby’s skin. It also doesn’t contain
skin-loving vitamins and antioxidants as compared with plant-based oils.
Depending on the purity and cosmetic grade of the mineral oil used in baby oil,
it might also clog the pores of the baby’s skin. Not to mention, mineral
oil is a by-product of petroleum so it is definitely not mother earth friendly!
Having
said that, let’s start to learn how to formulate a natural version of baby oil.
It involves
- Replacing mineral oil with plant-based oils (carrier oils)
- Replacing synthetic fragrance with essential oils
It
is important to note that not all plant-based oils and essential oils are
suitable to be used on babies.
For
the base oil, select oils that are rich in linoleic
acid. Oils high in linoleic acid are lightweight (non-greasy), fast
absorbing and has anti-inflammatory properties which are perfect for the sensitive
skin of babies.
Examples
of Oils Rich in Linoleic Acid
- Sunflower oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Safflower oil
- Hemp seed oil
Also,
avoid using oils that are derived from nuts as a safety precaution especially
if you have family history of nut allergies.
Examples
of Nut-based Oils
- Sweet almond oil
- Macadamia oil
- Hazelnut oil
- Kukui oil
Aside
from linoleic-rich oils, the following oils can also be used on baby’s skin:
- Jojoba oil
- Fractionated coconut oil (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
Now,
let’s move on with adding natural scent to baby oil using essential oils.
Essential oils must not be used on infants less than 3 months old. Moreover,
not all essential oils are safe to be used on babies.
Here
is a list of essential oils that are safe for babies as young as 3 months.
- Lavender oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Roman chamomile oil (Anthemis nobilis)
- German chamomile oil (Matricaria chamomilla)
- Mandarin oil (Citrus reticulata)
As a
rule of thumb, the total amount of essential oil(s) in a baby oil formulation
should be 0.1 – 0.2%. This is where a digital scale (with 0.1 gram accuracy) comes
in handy. It’s because measuring essential oil in drops won’t give you an
accurate and consistent result. Worst is you might end up putting too much
essential oil than the allowed dermal limit recommended for babies.
For example:
In 50
gram baby oil, you want to add 0.2% essential oil(s).
(50
x 0.2) / 100 = 0.1
You
need a total of 0.1 gram of essential oil(s) in your baby oil formulation.
Let
me now give you an example recipe for a 50 gram Bedtime Baby Oil using a combination of 3 base oils and lavender
essential oil for its sedative and calming effects.
|
INGREDIENT
|
WEIGHT
(%)
|
WEIGHT
(g)
|
|
Sunflower Oil
|
59.8
|
29.9
|
|
Fractionated Coconut Oil
|
30
|
15
|
|
Jojoba Oil
|
10
|
5
|
|
Lavender Essential Oil
|
0.2
|
0.1
|
|
TOTAL:
|
100
|
50
|
NOTE:
Before using this baby oil, make sure to do a patch test on your baby’s inner
arm. Check for redness or any allergic reaction after 24 hours. “Natural” doesn’t
always mean “risk-free”, so this step is very important.
References:
Baby
Massage Oils. Retrieved from https://maternityconsultancy.com/2012/12/06/baby-massage-oils/
Your
Baby’s Skin: What is the Best and Safest Oil to Use for Baby Massage. Retrieved
from https://www.blossomandberry.com/safe-practice-of-infant-massage-what-oils-are-safe-to-use-on-the-skin/
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