Baby and kids cosmetics: what to look for on the INCI list
Products for babies and children follow the same EU law as other cosmetics, with some extra rules. How to read the ingredient list of a baby wash, nappy cream or kids’ sunscreen, which label warnings mention age, and what “for babies” on the pack really means.
Updated: 31 October 2026 · Reviewed by: Kamil Pyziak
Same law, extra attention
In the EU, cosmetics for babies and children are covered by the same Cosmetics Regulation as products for adults. Every product needs a safety assessment, and for products intended for children under three years of age the assessment has to take their specific situation into account. A few ingredients also have restrictions or warnings that refer specifically to young children.
Words like “for babies”, “gentle”, “dermatologically tested” or “hypoallergenic” on the front are manufacturer claims, not legally defined categories. They have to be truthful and justified, but the most concrete information is still the INCI list on the back. This guide explains how to read it; questions about your child’s skin or health belong with a paediatrician or pharmacist.
Fragrance and short lists
Many baby products are fragrance-free or only lightly scented. To check, look for Parfum (or Fragrance), for essential oils under their botanical names, and for fragrance allergen names such as Linalool, Limonene or Geraniol near the end of the list. A product without any of these is a good starting point if you want to avoid scent.
A short ingredient list makes it easier to see what you are applying and to compare products, but it is not automatically safer than a longer one. What matters is which ingredients are used and how the product was assessed – not only how many names there are.
Baby wash, shampoo and wipes
Cleansing products for children usually rely on mild surfactants. Typical names are Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate and Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, often combined with Glycerin. Some products also contain Sodium Laureth Sulfate in a milder blend; its presence alone does not make a product unsuitable, but if you prefer to avoid it, you will find it on the list.
“Tear-free” or “no tears” describes how the formula was designed and tested for eye contact, not a guarantee that it will never sting. Wet wipes are mainly water with a mild cleanser, a humectant and preservatives; because they stay on the skin unless rinsed off, it is worth reading their list as carefully as that of a cream.
Nappy creams and barrier products
Nappy-area products usually form a protective layer on the skin. The classic ingredient is Zinc Oxide, often combined with Petrolatum, Paraffinum Liquidum, Lanolin or plant butters, and soothing ingredients such as Panthenol, Bisabolol, Allantoin or Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract. If zinc oxide is used in nano form, the list must show “Zinc Oxide (nano)”.
EU rules do not allow Propylparaben and Butylparaben in leave-on products designed for the nappy area of children under three. Note that some nappy-rash creams are medicinal products rather than cosmetics: they carry a leaflet and an active-ingredient declaration instead of a plain INCI list. If a rash does not improve or the skin looks infected, ask a pharmacist or doctor.
Label warnings that mention age
Some ingredients come with mandatory label warnings. Products containing Salicylic Acid, other than shampoos, must state that they are not to be used for children under three years of age. Powders based on Talc intended for children under three must warn to keep the powder away from the child’s nose and mouth. Hair dyes state that they are not intended for persons under 16.
These warnings are easy to miss on small packs, so it is worth reading the back label of any product you use on a child, including products made for adults. An adult cream is not automatically unsuitable for a child, but you cannot assume it was assessed with children in mind.
Sunscreens and play make-up
Children’s sunscreens use the same list of permitted UV filters as adult products. Many are fragrance-free and based on mineral filters such as Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide, but organic filters are also used. Look for the SPF, the UVA logo and the water-resistance claim rather than the word “kids”. Health authorities generally advise keeping babies out of direct sun; for sun protection in infants, ask your paediatrician.
Play make-up, face paints and nail polish for children that are sold as cosmetics have to follow cosmetics rules too, including a full ingredient list and permitted colorants, which appear as CI numbers. A product without an ingredient list or a responsible person’s address in the EU is a reason to be cautious.
What the label does not tell you
The INCI list shows what is in a product but not how much of each ingredient, how the safety assessment was carried out or for which age it was designed, unless the label says so. Claims such as “natural”, “organic” or “pediatrician-approved” are the brand’s wording and cannot be checked on the list.
Children’s skin, like adults’, varies a lot. If your child has eczema, frequent rashes or a known allergy, a paediatrician, dermatologist or pharmacist can tell you which products and ingredients are appropriate.