Diaper cream used as anti-aging skincare? British women have taken “skin soft as a baby’s bottom” to a whole new level. Is Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter something special?
For the past few years British mums have been swearing by Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter. But not only for their baby’s bums. Nope, women have been using the cream on their faces. With reportedly fantastic results.
As a matter of fact, Baby Bottom Butter outsells all other facial moisturizers at British Waitrose supermarkets. More than any other higher end anti-aging products. Reporting super soft and smooth skin, women are snapping up the butt balm like crazy. Some users even claim it works better than cult beauty cream Crème de la Mer, which clocks in at a whopping $175 per 50 ml jar.
The cream sells at Waitrose markets for around $5 per jar and has recently arrived in New Zealand, where it goes for about $9. It is also sold on Amazon.com for $35.31(with free shipping), which may seem like a steep price tag for diaper cream, but is a real bargain compared to many anti-aging moisturizers. Before you get yourself a jar, let’s take a look at what makes this cream so special. Or not.
It is a fairly simple mixture – mainly olive oil, lavender, and chamomile – created to moisturize, protect, and calm irritation. Waitrose launched the cream in 2005 as part of its endeavor to remove parabens, petrochemicals, and artificial colorants from its line of baby products.
The ingredient listing is short. Usually a good thing. All ingredients are of natural origin, but it is the second one on the list that is of concern. Hydrogenated Olive Oil sounds natural enough, right?
Most natural balms and creams are made with plant oils thickened with a wax or butter, like beeswax or shea butter. Waitrose Baby Bottom Butter is made with hydrogenated olive oil. Hydrogenation is a chemical process that changes the molecular structure of the oil, causing it to become thicker. Perfect for use in a balm type product.
The problem is, the hydrogenation process generates trans fats. And we know from research in foods that trans fats are not good for us when consumed. But what about when applied to skin? Trans fats affect lipids. Lipids are important in protecting skin from moisture loss. Then, of course, there is the chemical processing aspect of hydrogenation to consider. While the verdict is still out on a link between trans fat and cancer, why be the guinea pig? There are healthier cosmetic ingredients to use in place of hydrogenated oils.
Why are so many women seeing big benefits when it comes to using this cream as skincare? What this really boils down to is not a magical mix of simple ingredients, but rich moisturization. Women’s lives are stressful, and we are often tired and slightly dehydrated. This causes skin to look less than its best and, well, older. Proper hydration is key to plumping skin up and reviving the complexion.
There are many healthy balms and creams made with all natural ingredients, minus the hydrogenated oils. One Love Organics Skin Savior contains coconut oil and mango seed butter for rich hydration, and oat extract to soothe skin. You could also use it on your baby’s bottom if you want. Or take a look at our top skin balm picks.
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Image by Hamish Darby at Flickr.com