Natural Baby Beauty

Baby products are the one budget loophole, where men and women alike consider spending beyond their means in the pursuit of safety and education. It’s obvious babies don’t need beauty products, but sunscreen is an ongoing debate in the beauty sector, where marketing drives most the sales behind the scores of mediocre products. This is not the case with the new baby collection from women-owned California-based Lavanila Laboratories.

The company expanded into the baby sector and has secured an enviable spot as the baby collection at LVMH subsidiary Sephora. The collection includes a baby wash, lotion, baby butter, baby bottom and block, the sunscreen. All products are free of petrochemicals, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oil, silicones, synthetic dyes, sulfates and parabens.

Tested and approved by a pediatrician, the line took about two years to develop. It is hypoallergenic, tested for sensitive skin, and contains 30 vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, B, C and E, noni juice, calendula and aloe. But, what differentiates this product even more is that it doesn’t have a “baby scent.”

Most products absorb quickly and have a consistency that is thick enough but not heavy. The lotion, baby balm and butter all seem to overlap a bit, but boast better quality ingredients than most mass-produced lines. The baby block is a great sunscreen that combines titanium dioxide and micronized zinc, for true broad spectrum coverage that is PABA free. When tested on a two-year-old, it went on evenly and absorbed without leaving a thick opaque film.

At prices ranging from $14-20, Lavanila offers affordable luxury products that are truly kid-safe.

Shop at Sephora, Sephora.com and Lavanila.com

CONTEST: Through June 1, Sephora and Lavanila are holding a contest to find a face for the healthy baby brand. If you have a child between the ages of six months and four years, login to your  Sephora Beauty Insider account, enter a link (URL) to a photo of your baby, and enter their name, sex and age. Lavanila will choose three kids and then an online poll will let the public choose the winner. Click here for more details on how to apply and prizes for the winners.