Baby skin is naturally, irresistibly fragrant. We all know the familiar baby scent of our wonder little ones, and it's something we can't get enough of (counting out the nappy bombs, of course!). Putting fragrances on our little ones, therefore, are somewhat unnecessary. Most hospitals or pediatricians don't really recommend it, especially those with alcohol content that are potentially irritating to our babies' squishy soft skin.
Out of curiosity, I saw a highly-rated product when browsing the Lazada homepage of Mustela Philippines. As of this writing, Mustela's Skin Freshener, has 478 ratings with an average of 4.9/5. Pretty impressive. Wandering into the Reviews Section made me want to try this product on my baby too.
Mustela states that this product is 'scented water' ideal for:
Refreshing and delicately perfuming baby skin
Helps style baby's delicate hair
As with most Mustela products, this freshener also contains avocado extract which, as the company claims, is ideal for maintaining and protecting the baby's sensitive skin barrier. They also claim that this is hypoallergenic, high tolerance, and contains no harmful substances such as parabens, phthalates, and phenoxyethanol. Upon perusing the ingredients, I found that it contains a type of alcohol derived from caprylic acid, called caprylyl glycol, naturally found in palm and coconut oils. This is okay, provided used in very small amounts, and if the formulation is well-balanced, it can be beneficial as this works as a humectant (keeps moisture on the skin for longer), aside from its function to improve the shelf-life of the product.
It's pretty pricey for such a fancy, perfumed water, with a 300 ml spray bottle costing a regular price of P450. But is it that worth it?
My Verdict
This lightly scented water, with its airy, subtle fragrance is adorable, but the scent does not last long. Upon application or spritz, scent may linger for up to two hours, or even less if baby sweats a lot or if the weather is dry. We love it since Day 1 though! Baby Ayu seems to perk up when she gets a bit of freshening throughout the day.
We have a no-fragrance use policy for Baby Alexa, but there are a few exceptions like this one, and Mustela's Musti, another fragranced water from Mustela. Mustela's Skin Freshener is not a perfume or a cologne, but you use it to gently fragrance your baby's skin and hair. Don't expect that the scent will last long, though.
So far, we have not encountered any skin sensitivity with using this product on our baby's hair and skin. Aside from that, there are no other baby products that I know that are marketed with the label 'skin freshener', so I think this product is also one of its kind.
How we use it:
We use it everyday to style Alexa's fine but voluminous hair, after bath and a few times during the day. We spray three to four spritzes and comb her hair afterwards, and those cute, little wavy strands will be more manageable to style.
As a skin freshener, it's a nice-to-have, though not really essential. It has little moisturizing effect. If your baby's skin is more on the dry side, I don't advise using this freshener as a moisturizer alone. For normal skin types that don't need a lot of moisturization, this can be a very good pampa-presko product. It also fits nicely in our bag, and we find it nice to freshen Ayu whenever we take her outside (for medical checkups only!), especially when the outdoor weather is sunny and hot.
From time to time, I also use it as a diaper changing spray whenever we change her nappies, especially when those poop bombs need some 'offsetting' or countering! A spray or two on those cute baby butt cheeks, and wiping them off with wipes, can somewhat freshen up her diaper area. I think it's not designed to be used that way though (the product does not mention that), and we avoid spraying it on her genital area because it might not be suitable.
Scent Profile:
Its cute, baby scent smells really good on Baby Ayu, and not offensive to the nose. The scent has a background, super-light citrusy note with a dainty, fresh accent that floats and then vanishes after a short while. It doesn't last long, like I said. Maybe two to three hours, if it isn't too hot.
The Verdict
But it's just a lightly scented water, really! For a hefty price like that, it's a nice-to-have, but not really necessary. If you want to freshen up your baby during the day, wiping your baby's face, neck area and body with lightly fragranced baby wipes can do the same. A quick punas-punas with a moist towel with a wee bit of scented baby wash can also make your baby presko.
Do I recommend Mustela's Skin Freshener though? Not really, but you may find that the scent of this product is just perfect for your baby. It's a First-Time Mama (FTM) Nice-to-Have, but Not Recommended.
We have to admit though: my partner and I love this product, and we have never skipped a day without using it on our little one!
Do you have any product recommendations for baby skin fresheners? Comment below and share your experiences!
If you want to request a product review, please let me know by commenting below or sending an email at ftmom.ph@gmail.com. (Don't worry, I don't charge fees!)
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