Your baby's delicate skin requires special care to stay soft, healthy, and comfortable. Baby skin remains immature until around the age of 2, making it significantly more prone to external stressors like harsh weather, pollution, and irritants. From the first weeks of life, proper hydration helps protect against dryness, irritation, and sensitivity that can affect your little one's wellbeing. Choosing the right moisturiser and understanding when to start your skincare routine makes all the difference.
Is moisturiser necessary for babies?
Baby moisturiser serves a vital role in maintaining your little one's skin barrier function. While newborn skin naturally contains protective oils, these diminish quickly after birth, leaving the surface vulnerable to moisture loss and environmental irritants.
Daily moisturising becomes particularly beneficial for babies experiencing dryness, flaky patches, or sensitivity. The thinner structure of infant skin means it loses hydration faster than adult skin, making regular application a practical necessity rather than luxury.
Choose products specifically formulated for babies, featuring gentle and natural ingredients. Fragrance-free options prove especially suitable for babies with sensitive skin or those showing early signs of irritation.
When to start moisturising your newborn's face and body?
Most paediatricians recommend beginning moisturising routines around 24 to 48 hours after birth, once your baby has had their first proper bath. During this initial period, the protective vernix coating naturally absorbs into their skin, providing temporary hydration.
Watch for visual cues that indicate your newborn needs moisture support. Dry patches appearing on elbows, ankles, or cheeks signal the perfect time to introduce gentle moisturising. Similarly, if you notice mild peeling or flaky areas developing after the first week, this natural shedding process benefits from supportive hydration.
Environmental factors also influence timing. Air-conditioned rooms, heating systems, or frequent bathing can accelerate moisture loss, making earlier intervention helpful. For premature babies, consult your healthcare provider before starting any skincare routine, as their developing skin requires extra consideration and professional guidance.
At what age can you use baby moisturiser?
Baby moisturisers remain safe from birth onwards, with dermatologists confirming that gentle formulations pose no age restrictions for newborns and infants. Your little one can benefit from appropriate moisturising products immediately after their first bath, typically within the first few days of life.
Premature babies require extra caution, so consulting your healthcare provider ensures the safest approach for their delicate skin needs. Full-term babies, however, can use specially formulated baby moisturisers without concern, as these products undergo rigorous testing for infant safety.
The key lies in selecting age-appropriate formulations rather than worrying about minimum age requirements.
Best baby moisturiser for newborn and infant skin types
Natural moisturising creams
Mustela Hydra Bebe Body Lotion combines sunflower oil rich in essential fatty acids, vitamin E for environmental protection, and plant-based glycerine to lock in moisture. Its signature ingredient, Avocado Perseose®, helps strengthen your baby's skin barrier while preserving cellular resources. This lightweight, non-greasy formula absorbs instantly, leaving skin silky-smooth and subtly scented.
For facial care, Mustela Hydra Bebe Face Cream delivers 24-hour hydration specifically designed for your baby's delicate facial skin. Enriched with jojoba oil and shea butter alongside the same protective Avocado Perseose®, this cream penetrates effortlessly without leaving residue. The melting texture makes daily application gentle and comfortable for both you and your little one.
Both products provide immediate and long-lasting moisture from birth onwards, making them excellent choices for establishing a consistent skincare routine. The natural formulations minimise the risk of irritation while effectively protecting against dryness and environmental stressors that can compromise your baby's developing skin barrier.
Fragrance-free options for sensitive skin
When your baby shows signs of very sensitive skin - such as redness, tingling, or tightness from everyday stressors - Mustela's Soothing range offers fragrance-free baby moisturiser products specifically designed to calm and protect reactive skin from birth.
For body care, Mustela Soothing Moisturising Body Lotion offers the same gentle, fragrance-free protection across your baby's entire body. This baby moisturiser combines Schizandra extract with Avocado Perseose® to strengthen the skin barrier while soothing red and tingling spots that characterise very sensitive skin.
Mustela Soothing Moisturising Face Cream provides targeted care for your baby's delicate facial skin. This fragrance-free formula contains 97% natural ingredients, including Schizandra berry extract - a key ingredient used in traditional medicine to reduce redness and soothe tingling sensations. The lightweight, second-skin texture shields against daily environmental stressors while delivering immediate and long-lasting hydration to calm tight, uncomfortable areas.
These fragrance-free options prove particularly beneficial for babies whose skin reacts instantly to environmental factors like temperature changes, hard water, or everyday stimuli that wouldn't typically affect normal skin types.
Choosing safe moisturiser for eczema and dry skin
For babies experiencing eczema or extremely dry skin, Mustela's Stelatopia range offers specialised care designed to soothe, replenish, and protect the skin barrier. This range targets the specific needs of eczema-prone skin with fragrance-free formulations that provide relief from itching, redness, and discomfort.
Mustela Stelatopia+ Lipid-Replenishing Cream serves as the cornerstone moisturiser for babies with eczema-prone skin. This emollient cream immediately and continuously nourishes extremely dry skin for up to 24 hours, scientifically proven to soothe itchy sensations and help minimise the frequency of recurring irritation. The rich, non-greasy formula contains sunflower oil distillate to restore essential lipids and Avocado Perseose® to strengthen the skin's natural protective barrier.
For delicate facial care, Mustela Stelatopia Emollient Face Cream provides targeted relief where eczema commonly begins - with 80% of baby eczema starting on the face. This specialised cream can be safely applied around the eyes and eyelids to instantly relieve itching and tightness while delivering long-lasting hydration to prevent flare-ups.
Key tips for using Stelatopia products effectively:
- Apply daily to clean, dry skin, even during calm periods to prevent flare-ups
- Use gentle patting motions rather than rubbing to avoid further irritation
- Combine with Stelatopia Cleansing Oil for complete eczema-prone skin care
- Continue regular application as part of your baby's skincare routine to maintain skin barrier strength
Clinical studies demonstrate that consistent use of emollient creams like Stelatopia can reduce the risk of developing eczema by 33-50% when applied daily from birth in children with family history of the condition.
