We all know our own skin type, from what kind of products work best for us, to dryness/oiliness, to how it changes throughout each month! It’s easy to know our own skin, but what about our children’s? Just like adults, kids can suffer from dryness, acne, and other skin issues that are important to treat properly – and it’s never too early to teach your little one about skincare! Kids have sensitive skin that, especially during the summer, is constantly subjected to the scorching sun, salt water, chlorine, and dry air conditions, all of which can cause their skin to become dry and itchy. But we’ve got good news for you: there are plenty of natural, effective ingredients out there that you will feel good about putting on your kid to help their skin stay healthy!

Prevention

Kids can experience dry skin just like adults, so daily moisturizing is very important to start at a young age! To prevent drying out your child’s skin, try the following:

-Make sure your child is hydrated! Offer water constantly throughout the day to help keep moisture in their body.

-Kids love swimming pools, but the chlorine in them tends to cause dryness and can potentially burn sensitive skin. Rinse your child off when they’re done in the pool to remove the chlorine from the skin, and apply a moisturizer.

-Use warm water (instead of hot) when bathing your child, and avoid putting soap directly into the water. Soap tends to strip the skin of its natural oil, which causes the skin to dry out.

-The soap you use to bathe your child should be mild and fragrance free to prevent irritation.

-As soon as your kid is out of the bath, pat them dry and apply a gentle moisturizer, like our fragrance free Luscious Lotion.

Moisturizers

Coconut Oil

As we always say – if you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin! That sentiment rings true with coconut oil, which is used for cooking, haircare, and can be used as a skincare product on your child! Apply to their skin immediately after bath time to help lock in the moisture.

Honey

Any Winnie the Pooh fans out there? Honey is not only a beloved Pooh bear treat, it is also a wonderful, gentle cleanser and moisturizer! Rub onto your child’s skin and then rinse it off – their skin will feel amazingly soft when they snuggle up for some tales from the Hundred Acre Wood.

Oatmeal

We don’t mean for breakfast! If your child suffers from dry, itchy skin, try adding some oatmeal to their bath to help moisturize and soothe. Remember to check the water temperature so it isn’t too hot.

Avocado

Healthy fats are wonderful for skin health. If you can get your child to eat avocados (guacamole, anyone?), this will help keep their skin moisturized! If they aren’t a fan, try rubbing it directly onto dry knees, elbows, and feet.

Aloe Vera

We all know where to turn for sun burns, but did you know that Aloe Vera is a good moisturizer even for people who aren’t accidentally pink? Apply it to your child’s skin to help with dryness.

Vitamins and Minerals

Does your child have a healthy, balanced diet? Try to encourage your child to eat a diet that is rich in nutrients like omega-3 and Vitamin E. If your child is healthy on the inside, it’s more likely they’ll be healthy on the outside, too!

Water

Drink water, drink water, drink water!! We cannot stress this enough. Staying hydrated is the single most important thing you can do for your child’s skin. Teach them to drink 64+ ounces of water a day, especially if they run around and sweat a lot. Buy them fun water bottles, stop constantly for water breaks, and make a game out of it! Hint: kids love doing almost anything that earns them a sticker.

As the last few weeks of summer pass by, remember that keeping your child’s skin healthy will keep them happy!