Cosmetics can wreak havoc on your child’s tender skin. Photos: Getty Iamges“Can you put some lipstick on my lips too? I want the eyeliner, can you do it on my eyes like that girl in the movie yesterday?” Your little doll comes up with ideas galore the moment she spots you bringing out your makeup box, doesn’t she?
Like most mothers rushing out to work in the mornings you will most likely dab a little face powder on those downy cheeks to please her and head out. But chances are she will sneak in and do her own makeup. Not that you will have the heart to scold her even if you find out, as she smiles triumphantly with lipstick smeared all over the mouth and saucer-sized circles of Kajol around her wide-eyes.
The worry creeps in when you spot blotches, blisters or redness on her skin or in the eyes. You might not readily want to accept that the cosmetics have caused an allergic reaction in your little girl since they are all from your most trusted brand. Well, here are some unconcealed truths about introducing cosmetics to kids.
Cosmetics can wreak havoc on your child’s tender skin. And it simply isn’t a wise idea to share your makeup products with your child. The same cosmetic products that you find safe can be harmful to your children.
This is because children have sensitive and fragile skin which is significantly less resistant to bacterial growth compared to the skin of adults. The skin of infants and children up to 12 years of age is easily susceptible to injury and toxicity through absorption of chemicals in personal care products.
The exposure to potentially harmful formulations often begins with choosing products that are harsh on infant skin. A common practice best avoided is dusting talc all over a newborn; allergies like sneezing and other respiratory problems are most often caused by accidental inhalation of powders.
While picking products to care for infants and children – bathing solutions, shampoo and creams – make sure that they don’t exceed the neutral pH value of 5.5. Same goes for cosmetics like kohl/kajal. It is safer to use home-made ayurvedic formulations than the shop-bought ones. Products like kajal should be exclusively kept aside for the use of the baby/child and not shared by anyone. Make sure that you apply it in their eyes with clean hands.
Facials and spa treatments a strict no-no until 18
Tailing mommy to spas or beauty parlors can make your adolescents want a share of the pampering too. With more and more men paying attention to grooming and personal care, adolescent boys are booking their facial sessions with salons too. But moms and dads, do get a grip on this fact – salon treatments can damage the near perfect skin of your under-eighteens.
Parents are increasingly beginning to think of facials, threading, and spa treatments as innocuous treats they can give their children once in a while or on special occasions like birthdays. Until the age of 18, all they need is a strictly home-based skin care routine which includes oil massages and home-made bath scrubs. After 12 years, teenagers might start worrying about acne, blackheads and whiteheads on their previously flawless skin.
Instead of running to salons and exposing their naturally supple skin to harmful chemical treatments, you can help your teen battle the beauty woes with some home remedies.
Make a bath scrub with finely ground green gram, Bengal gram or rice powder. To get rid of dandruff, you can make them a natural shampoo using aloe vera pulp, lemon juice and egg white. A hot oil massage once a week will keep your growing children’s hair healthy and naturally lustrous.
Home-made hair care and the benefits of keeping it short
Little girls often ask to be allowed to grow their hair long. It’s best to let the tresses remain short and manageable until they are old enough to care for it. When they are still in school, moms must keep a close watch to ward off lice outbreak, split ends and fungal infections. If they are expected to tie or braid their hair when in school, make sure it is completely dry before tying it up.
Depending on how oily the scalp is and how frequently a thorough cleansing is required, you can set a shampooing routine for them. Shampoo washing is not recommended more than once a week. Choose a mild shampoo which you can mix in a mug of water and follow it up with a kid-safe conditioner.
Threading and waxing can wait
Threading and waxing can damage hair follicles and cause premature wrinkles. It can wait for as long as it can and definitely till 18 years of age. Let the natural suppleness and elasticity of young skin stay intact. It can also cause darkening of the skin. Tell your girls that their eyebrows and downy skin are beautiful as they are.
However, we highly recomend you doing this.
(The original article was published in Vanitha. Information courtesy: Dr. G. Nandakumar, Asst. Professor, Pathology, Govt Medical College, Trivandrum; Magline Jackson, Her Choice Beauty Parlour, Kochi)
