Homemade, All Natural Baby Oil

December 8, 2009 in Acne, Aromatherapy, Baby / Infant, Bath / Shower, Chemicals / Toxic, Eco-Friendly, Essential Oils, Family Health, Kids, Make My Own, Massage Oils, Natural, Natural Health, Quality / Pure, Recipes, Skin Care, Therapeutic-grade Essential Oil, Using Essential Oils, Wellness, Young Living Essential Oils by Tammy Baile | No comments

kids-lavender-farm-people Article contributed by Shayla.

There is a controversy over the main ingredient in baby oil, some say it is fine-even beneficial for the skin, and others say it is very bad for you. A closer look at the ingredients (mineral oil) is all it takes to find out if this is a product you really want to be using on yours and/or your baby’s body. So what is “mineral oil” anyways? It sounds harmless, even beneficial, after all aren’t minerals good for us? According to sources such as the Environmental Working Group, and www.naturalhealthway.com, Mineral oil is “petrolatum, petroleum, liquidum paraffinum – also known as posh mineral oil.” They go on to say that mineral oil is;

” A by-product of the petroleum industry, it comes from crude oil and is used in products as an emollient, giving “slip and slide” to a product. Popular because it is incredibly cheap. Also used by industry as metal-cutting fluid.

WHY AVOID? Sits on the skin surface and may “suffocate” the skin by forming an oil film. May aggravate acne and slow down skin function, resulting in premature ageing. May be contaminated with cancer-causing PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons).”

www.naturalhealthway.com says

“Baby oil is 100% mineral oil. This commonly used petroleum ingredient coats the skin just like plastic wrap. The skin’s natural immune barrier is disrupted as this plastic coating inhibits its ability to breathe and absorb the Natural Moisture Factor (moisture and nutrition). The skin’s ability to release toxins is impeded by this ‘plastic wrap,’ which can promote acne and other disorders. This process slows down skin function and normal cell development causing the skin to prematurely age.”

So to sum what these sources say, mineral oil is basically a man-made chemical product (see these web definitions from Wikipedia on petrolatum, petroleum, liquidum paraffinum), and it is made with flammable ingredients that come from non-renewable sources. Even if mineral oil was proven as perfectly safe (and let’s just pretend it is for a moment), what about the second ingredient? That’s right! Most of us don’t even notice the second ingredient, but you didn’t think mineral oil had that delightful scent that everyone adores all by itself did you? The second ingredient is vaguely described as “Fragrance”.

Whenever you see “Fragrance” listed as an ingredient you are best off to run. The word is a colossal weak point in the labeling laws present today, and can include literally thousands of toxic chemicals.

“Although companies are required by law to list all chemicals ingredients in a product, a special loophole allows them to hide what’s in the “fragrance” component[1]. And what’s hidden in that simple word can include complex mixtures of up to hundreds of chemicals that studies show may be linked to a variety of health problems, including allergies, skin reactions, endocrine/hormone disruption, and possibly even birth defects. Companies are not required to test cosmetics for safety before they are sold. The label is the primary protection we have to make decisions about products we rub, pour, and lather on our skin and hair. Yet when it comes to fragrances, we don’t even have this simple protection.” Scented Secrets, EWG

As an informed mother, I have never, and would never use mineral oil on one of my children, and am so saddened when I see this and other chemical filled products on other mama’s changing tables. Childhood allergies, cancers, and other diseases including ADD and other learning disabilities are too common, and in a chemical filled world I feel it is a mother’s right and duty to be informed and at least try to protect her child as best as she possibly can. I believe that inevitably, all is in God’s Hands, but I also believe that a wise mother would make every effort to responsibly steer away from as many chemical and “chancy” products as she can.

I for one, beleive that God is the Master Chemist and Physician. This is why I LOVE therapeutic grade essential oils, and pure, natural ingredients like olive, almond, and coconut oils. It doesn’t get much more pure and back to nature then that! Essential oils are simply the essence, life force, or “bloodstream” of the plants. A simple, all-natural baby oil is far too easy to make, and well worth the value of not having to worry that you are putting something dangerous on yours or your baby’s skin that will soak into the body.

All-Natural Homemade Baby Oil Recipe

1 cup almond, avocado, or jojoba oil
15 drops Young Living’s Gentle Baby essential oil blend

I like Gentle Baby because it smells most similar to the classic “baby oil fragrance” that everyone loves! You could substitute the almond/avocado or jojoba oil for Young Livings V-6 Massage Oil. If you do this, simply add the Gentle Baby straight to the bottle of V-6.

If you have questions or would like to order these and other therapeutic-grade essential oils please select one of the Young Living Circle distributors.

Gentle Baby is a delightful and relaxing blend consisting of pure, therapeutic grade Rosewood, Geranium, palmarosa, lavender, Roman chamomile, ylang ylang, lemon, jasmine, bergamot, and rose oils. It is wonderful for skin, I have actually used this oil on my belly during my pregnancies, and did not get even one stretch mark. The Young Living Product Information states;

“Gentle Baby™ is a soft, fragrant combination of essential oils designed specifically for mothers and babies. It helps calm emotions during pregnancy and is useful for quieting troubled little ones. It is also soothing to tender skin. Many of the essential oils in this blend are used in elite cosmetics to enhance a youthful appearance.”

One must be careful where you get your essential oils from because many essential oil producers heat up the oils too much in their hurry to make a profit, others add synthetic chemicals to extract the oil or “water it down”. Presently there are no labeling laws in the United States regulating the use of the word “pure” and “all-natural” on essential oils (see Aromatherapy Labeling Fraud for more info on this subject). The term “Therapeutic grade” on essential oils is what to look for. Young Livings Therapeutic Grade essential oils are the best essential oils in my opinion as they are tested for purity (to make sure they are chemical free) and potency (to make sure they contain adequate healing properties). The last thing you want in trying to eliminate chemical products from yours and your baby’s lives are more chemicals from a lesser quality essential oil that is not pure! The owner of Young Living has been noted to discard whole batches of essential oils that did not test perfectly for purity and potency.