Why Food-Grade Skincare Is the Safest Choice for Baby Skin

When it comes to your baby, everything you put on their skin matters. But here’s the scary truth: most baby skincare products on store shelves—even the ones labeled “natural”—contain ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin, disrupt the skin barrier, or worse, expose infants to unnecessary toxins.

At Brooklyn Skin Food, we believe in protecting baby skin with the same standard you'd use for food—because your baby’s skin deserves real nourishment, not chemical fillers.

Baby Skin: More Absorbent, More Vulnerable

Your baby’s skin is structurally different from adult skin. It’s thinner, more permeable, and still developing. That means it absorbs substances more easily, and it’s less able to detoxify or protect itself from irritants.

• A study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology confirms that infant skin has reduced barrier function, meaning it’s more vulnerable to irritation and environmental toxins.¹

• Research also shows that topical products applied to infants can be absorbed systemically, potentially exposing them to harmful substances.²

🧪 Sources:

1. Infant Skin Barrier Function – PubMed

2. Percutaneous absorption in infants – PubMed

The Problem with Conventional Baby Products

Despite soft branding and gentle-sounding labels, many baby products include questionable ingredients, such as:

• Fragrance/parfum – A common skin irritant and potential endocrine disruptor.³

• Phenoxyethanol – A synthetic preservative linked to skin irritation and neurotoxicity in infants.⁴

• Propylene glycol – A petroleum-derived humectant associated with contact dermatitis.⁵

• Industrial seed oils – Common in “natural” lotions, these oxidize easily and may promote inflammation.

🧪 Sources:3. Fragrances in cosmetics and allergic contact dermatitis – PubMed4. Phenoxyethanol safety in infant skincare – PubMed5. Propylene glycol as an irritant – PubMed

Why Food-Grade Skincare Is Ideal for Babies

Food-grade skincare means every ingredient is safe enough to eat—so it’s certainly safe enough to put on your baby’s skin. At Brooklyn Skin Food, we carefully craft our Baby Dew Tallow Balm using:

• 100% grass-fed tallow – Rich in skin-identical fats and vitamins A, D, E, and K, essential for skin development and repair.⁶

• Virgin coconut oil – Naturally antibacterial, antifungal, and moisturizing without any chemical additives.⁷

• Arrowroot powder – Helps absorb excess moisture and soothe chafed skin, naturally.

Unlike conventional lotions that rely on cheap seed oils, artificial thickeners, and preservatives, our balm contains only the most stable, nutrient-dense, non-toxic fats—ideal for delicate skin and especially effective for eczema, diaper rash, dry patches, and everyday baby care.

🧪 Sources:6. Fat-soluble vitamins and skin health – PubMed7. Coconut oil in dermatology – PubMed

The Bottom Line

Your baby’s skin is a sponge—make sure you’re feeding it the right ingredients. Food-grade skincare offers a safer, more nourishing alternative to conventional baby products, supporting your baby’s skin health without compromise.

At Brooklyn Skin Food, we make our Baby Dew Tallow Balm with the same standard you'd expect for food: clean, functional, and truly safe.

Because what goes on your baby goes in your baby. Let’s make it count.