The Best Baby Shampoo for Sensitive Skin – 2023 Reviews and Top Picks

The Best Baby Shampoo for Sensitive Skin
[pullquote align=”normal”]“In our commitment to help you safely care for your skin and that of your baby’s, we’re presenting this list of the best baby shampoos for sensitive skin after more than 21 hours of studying and reviewing more than a dozen of products. The shampoos that made it to the list were carefully selected based on ingredients, ability to cleanse and compatibility with sensitive skin.”[/pullquote]

At A Glance: Our Choices for The Best Baby Shampoos for Sensitive Skin

If you are looking for something vegan and chemical-free, Baby Shampoo Body Wash and Bubble Bath by Lil Leona definitely fits the bill. Apart from how well it works on sensitive skin, it's also affordable.

Plus, it's a multi-purpose product, too.

Mustela Gentle Baby Shampoo contains 93% plant-based ingredients. It has no parabens and phthalates to irritate sensitive skin.

It is scented which can be a deal breaker for some.

Weleda Calendula Baby Shampoo and Body Wash is a good choice if you are looking for an organic product. Its calendula ingredient is harvested straight from Germany.

It is naturally scented but may still offend people who aren't into fragranced products.

For a baby wash that is tear-free, you have to consider CeraVe Baby Wash and Shampoo. It has ceramides to soothe sensitive skin and vitamins to nourish it.

Infused with calendula oil and oatmilk, Babo Botanicals Moisturizing Baby Shampoo and Wash is a great option for removing cradle cap. It doesn't have the best scent but it works exactly as promised.

2017’s Reviews of The Best Baby Shampoos for Sensitive SKin

Rankings

Brands

Content

Packaging

Editor’s Rating

#1

16 ounce

Bottle

#2

6.8 ounce

Tube

#3

6.7 ounce

Bottle

#4

8 ounce

Bottle

#5

8 ounce

Pump bottle

Lil Leona

Baby Shampoo Body Wash and Bubble Bath by Lil Leona is a good choice if you are looking for something that’s paraben- and chemical-free.You’ll love that it also has a vegan formulation.

The product is actually a multi-purpose item. You can use it as a shampoo and body wash for your little one. You can even use it for bubble baths.

The shampoo creates nice bubbles and smells nice. The best part is that the scent isn’t something chemical-based.

For someone with sensitive skin, you know how hard it is to find a nice smelling product that won’t irritate your skin, right?

You only need a small amount of it which means the bottle can last you for quite a while. For some, it actually lasted for several months.

Considering how long a bottle can last you and the product’s price, I’d say it’s a great bargain. Plus, the product performs well, too.

What We Like:

  • Scent isn’t chemical-based
  • Affordable
  • Multi-purpose product
  • Has vegan formulation
  • Lasts long

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Scent is a bit strong for others
  • A few claims that it isn't completely tear-free
Mustela

Mustela Gentle Baby Shampoo promises to cleanse your baby’s skin without stripping it of its natural oils. It’s gentle enough to use on delicate skin and scalp.

What I particularly like about this product is that it’s made of 93% plant-based ingredients.It has no parabens and pththalates.

It’s specifically formulated to be hypoallergenic and is dermatologist tested, too.

The product smells nice. It doesn’t come with an intense floral scent like most baby shampoos are.

When a shampoo has a strong fragrance, bathing becomes uninteresting, especially if your kid has sensitive skin. Instead of enjoying, you’ll end up rushing bath time in fear of triggering sensitivity reactions.

Another thing you’ll like about this product is that it comes from a brand that is known to not using alcohol in their products. Alcohol tends to be drying which is why they aren’t really recommended for sensitive skin.

What We Like:

  • Has plant-based ingredients
  • Dermatologist tested
  • Has no parabens
  • Cleanses well

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Scent can still be an issue for some
  • A bit expensive for its size
Weleda

Weleda Calendula Baby Shampoo and Body Wash is a tear-free product that comes with essential oils to make your baby’s bath time more fun. As the name implies, it has the goodness of calendula which is known anti-inflammatory properties.

The best part is that its organic calendula is harvested straight from the company’s garden in Germany.

Apart from the said ingredient, the product also has surfactant made from sugar and coconut oil. This means that you can cleanse your skin without having to worry about any chemicals stripping it.

The shampoo and body wash is naturally scented. It has a hint of floral which I find relaxing.

It has very minimal suds but it is nice and thick. You only need a small amount of product to get your baby clean.

The product comes in a tube and offers 6.7 ounce of content. Considering its size, this one is a bit expensive.

What We Like:

  • Can cleanse both skin and hair
  • Has organic ingredients
  • Gentle on the eyes
  • Has natural scent

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Not for people who dislike scented products
  • Costly
 CeraVe Baby

Babo Botanicals Moisturizing Baby Shampoo and Wash Oatmilk Calendula is made from plant-based ingredients. It promises to cleanse and nourish.

It works well in removing cradle cap as well as cleansing skin struggling with dry patches.

It bubbles up nicely without causing eye irritation. It does, however, come with a scent which may take quite a while before you get used to.

If you can get past its off-putting scent, this product can really leave the hair soft and smooth.

A small amount of the product is enough to create a nice lather. It rinses easily without leaving any sticky film in your baby’s head.

I also like its bottle since it’s narrow. It’s easy to hold unto, even with soapy hands.

What We Like:

  • Good in eliminating cradle cap
  • Easy to rinse
  • Nice packaging
  • Affordable

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Scent is a bit strong
Babo Botanicals

CeraVe Baby Wash and Shampoo isn’t only a great baby shampoo for sensitive skin because it’s hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, but because it’s also loaded with ceramides and vitamins. It’s also tear-free.

You can use the product in washing your baby from head to toe, without having to worry about hurting his eyes.

It has no parabens, sulfates and even phthalates.

It does a good job in cleansing extra sensitive skin because of its gentle formula. However, if you are planning on using the product on excessively oily skin or scalp, it might not be able to deliver great results.

For adults, this one can also work as a body wash.

The shampoo comes in a pump which is a nice help when your bathing kids. It lessens the mess and helps you get just the right amount of product you need.

What We Like:

  • Tear-free
  • Can be used as a body wash for adults
  • Comes with a pump
  • Has ceramides

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Not for extremely oily scalpNot for extremely oily scalp

Reviews of The Best Baby Shampoos for Sensitive Skin

Rankings

Best Overall

2nd choice

3rd choice

4th choice

5th choice

Top-Rated Baby Shampoos for Sensitive Skin 2017

Lil Leona
Mustela
Weleda
CeraVe Baby
Babo Botanicals

Brand

Key Ingredient/s

Chamomile leaf extract, aloe barbadensis leaf juice

Chamomile extract and Avocado Perseose

Calendula

Oatmilk and calendula oil

Ceramides, hyaluronic acid and vitamins

Scented

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Tear-free

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Get Started

Can Adults Use Baby Shampoos?

Of course.

Baby shampoos are actually great, especially if you have really sensitive skin or you are allergic to sulfates. They are also helpful in slowing down thinning hair.

The idea is that if a shampoo is gentle enough to be used on baby’s hair, it would sure be safe for your skin, too.

Adult shampoos typically come with special ingredients to create lather. While a good lathering product can help you get a cleaner feel, it actually isn’t that great.

Take, for example, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or SLS.

Although SLS comes from coconuts, the problem is how it is processed. In fact, its EWG rating is marked as “moderately hazard”.

A safer alternative to SLS is Sodium Laureth Sulfate or SLES (Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate).

Baby shampoos don’t normally have these ingredients. Instead, they have amphoteric surfactants which can cleanse the skin without the same effects as SLS or SLES.

As a result, your hair and scalp won’t turn out extremely dry.

Take note, however, that although amphoteric surfactants can cleanse the skin, they may still not be enough. This is particularly true if you are spending a lot of time outdoors and if you are constantly exposed to pollution, oil and sweat.

If this sounds exactly like you, make sure to spend a couple more minutes massaging the product on your skin to really get rid of the dirt and oil.

For extremely oily and greasy skin, it’s best if you can find a stronger shampoo for your skin type.

A Quick Guide: Choosing The Right Baby Shampoo

Baby shampoos are expected to be gentle enough for kids and toddlers. Unfortunately, not all that they claim are true.

Even if a product says it’s gentle, it’s a good idea to check and double check.

One way to make sure is to read product labels. Fragrance can be your sensitive skin’s worst enemy so steer away from products that have “parfum” and “fragrance” in them.

Although it’s a good idea to buy shampoos that are gentle, you should still consider how much cleansing your scalp needs. Using a shampoo that can’t get rid of the oil and dirt on your scalp can lead to buildup.

As a result, you won’t only get sticky hair and flaky scalp, but you can also end up with an unpleasant smell.

You also have to consider your hair. Choose a product that can thoroughly cleanse your scalp but be sure that it won’t leave your hair dry and brittle.

This can lead to further hair loss and limp, lifeless hair.

Shampoos that contain coconut oil and shea butter are some of your best options as they are moisturizing.

Conclusion

Whether you are dealing with your baby’s delicate skin or your own sensitive skin, you have to be very careful about the products you use. As much as possible, they should truly be hypoallergenic- without chemicals, fragrance and any other irritating ingredients.

For this roundup of the best shampoos for sensitive skin, we’re highly recommending Baby Shampoo Body Wash and Bubble Bath by Lil Leona. It has a vegan formulation that is also affordable.

Since it’s a multi-purpose product, you won’t have to invest in a separate body wash. It offers a good 16 ounce of product which can last you a really long time.

The best part is that it’s also good for sensitive adult skin. If it works well on babies, you won’t have any problem using it.

Related Post

Dr Kathleen May Eusebio-Alpapara

A board-certified dermatologist who practices both medical and cosmetic dermatology

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