I never would have thought I’d use a baby wash as a face cleanser. I’ve seen so many recommendations of baby products for the face, and so I decided to try Aveeno Baby Wash.
Baby products generally have a higher pH, so at first I was a bit reluctant as higher pH products means it can dry my skin out.
Firstly on application it was very gentle with minimal to no foaming. It spread quickly and took my makeup off with no problem. My face felt so smooth and moisturised after rinsing.
The only downside is that the product is very thick and hard to squeeze out of the bottle.
Now lets look closely at the claims and breakdown the ingredients list.
Ingredients breakdown
| Ingredient | Function |
|---|---|
| Water | Solvent |
| Cocamidopropyl Betaine | Cleanser |
| Glycerin | Humectant |
| Sodium Lauroamphoacetate | Cleanser |
| Coco-Glucoside | Cleanser |
| Sodium Chloride | Thickener |
| Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate | Thickener |
| Citric Acid | pH Adjuster |
| Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer | Thickener |
| Glyceryl Oleate | Moisturiser |
| Sodium Benzoate | Preservative |
| Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer | Opacifier |
| Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil | Moisturiser |
| Polyquaternium-7 | Skin Conditioner |
| Sodium Hydroxide | pH Adjuster |
| Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour | Skin Conditioner |
So what does each ingredient mean? Click here to find a little summary about it! .
What makes this baby wash a good face cleanser?
1.The Cleansers
Firstly I must say this baby wash uses very mild and gentle surfactants (cleansers). The three cleansers (Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate and Coco-Glucoside) are naturally derived either from palm or coconut.
These cleansers create a light creamy lather without the tightening effect like when using cleansers with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES).
2.The Moisturisers/ Skin Conditioners
Four wonderful moisturising ingredients combined with Glycerin to help attract and retain moisture on the skin.
Glyceryl Oleate: is a lipid enhancer and is made from a reaction between Glycerin and Oleic Acid. This ingredient is oily and deposits onto the skin to moisturise. Not only that, it also allows the penetration of wonderful active ingredients like Sunflower Oil.
Sunflower Oil: high in Linoleic and Oleic Acid which helps hydrates and improve the skin barrier. Combined with Glyceryl Oleate for extra hydration!
Polyquaternium-7: usually found in hair products but also used in skin to provide softness and moisturisation. Quat-7 (and other quats) generally have a bad reputation, because it is contains Acrylamide as an impurity. However, it is deemed safe when it is present as an impurity at very low amounts (<10ppm).
Oat: it contains oat, need I to say more? Everyone knows that oat is soothing and moisturising for the skin, (if you were to bathe in it or apply it as a lotion).
In a rinse off formulation, the contact time is not that long which means it is not enough time for the oat to soothe and moisture your skin. However, with the addition of Glyceryl Oleate (lipid enhancer/penetrator) it helps provide these benefits onto the skin! Very smart aye?
3. The pH
At first I did assume the pH of this cleanser was high purely because its a baby product. But I deduced it could not have been over pH 5.5 because of the preservative (Sodium Benzoate). Only because Sodium Benzoate is effective at below pH 5.5. All in all, the pH level was well suited to my skins natural pH level.
The Verdict?
Honestly, this baby wash/ face cleanser is one of the best! The moisturising actives combined with the cleansers and pH, makes this face cleanser perfect. I would totally continue using this baby wash as a face cleanser, it definitely set the bar high.
Original post: November 2019
Have you used a baby wash as a face cleanser? Comment below on which ones you recommend and I’ll do a review!