What You Need To Know 

In almost any store you’ll find shelves and shelves of body lotion. But which ones are truly safe to use, particularly on your newborn or child? Here are some tips: 

AVOID  

• Synthetic antioxidants, like butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), are ethoxylated ingredients and can contain trace amounts of carcinogenic byproducts, notably 1,4-Dioxane. They can be tricky to spot on a label, but checking for polyethylene glycol compounds (PEGs) or ingredients such as sodium laureth sulfate and chemicals that end with ‘-eth’ (like laureth, ceteareth or steareth) is a good start. 

• Certain preservatives, like parabens, and many antimicrobial agents work to prevent microbial growth by releasing formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen (a substance capable of causing cancer).  

• Chemical UV filters filter out ultra violet rays, but also can lead to dermal sensitization, persist in the environment and cause harm to aquatic life.  

• Synthetic fragrances contain phthalates to boost the scent’s staying power. The phthalate commonly used in fragrance products is diethyl phthalate, or  DEP. Sometimes this won’t be listed, so be cautious if you simply see ‘fragrance’ as an ingredient. Some phthalates are known to be carcinogenic (having the potential to cause cancer) and others may contribute to reproductive and neurodevelopmental problems. 

• Two pure essential oils, tea tree and lavender, often added for fragrance, have been shown to have estrogenic properties that could impact reproductive health. Other essential oils have not been tested to date for these properties so it is unknown whether or not there may be reason for concern.  

• Retinyl palmitate, a derivative of Vitamin A, has been associated with increased risk of cancer in mice exposed to sunlight. It’s not clear if it can impact humans the same way, but probably best to avoid it. 

• Ethanolamine compounds (MEA, DEA & TEA), like triethnolamine, are amino alcohols that are used to balance pH levels in personal care products. They are also used as emulsifiers and foaming agents. Studies suggest these may irritate skin and respiratory system and may raise the risk of cancer with chronic exposure.  

BETTER CHOICES  

• Pure shea butter, cocoa butter and jojoba oil without additives or fragrances generally do not contain any harmful contaminants. Note that the production of these butters and oils can have adverse environmental impacts. 

DIY 

You can find plenty of online recipes with different combinations of jojoba oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil and/or olive oil. Ideally, use organic ingredients and make sure they don’t have fragrances and other additives.