Why Your Skin Deserves More Than Soap And Water - Busting Myths About Kid's Skincare Basics

Hey there mommies and daddies!

There might be some people, who would not be aware of the fact that your skin is the largest organ of your body? What we consider as ‘just skin’ is actually an organ. 

Now answer honestly – how many times have you thought, ‘Oh it’s just skin, all you really need to keep it clean is soap and water”?

Well, your amazing skin deserves more love than that – your skin deserves more than just soap and water. When you take the time to pick and choose the right facewash and skin serums, why not for your kids too? And if you thought that skincare for kids was something that people just talked randomly about, think again, because it is a real thing. 

Today, we are going to talk more about why skin needs an immense amount of love, especially the skin of kids and along the way, we are also going to bust some myths!

Busting the 6 most common myths about kids skincare

We know that there are plenty of things that you and probably your little ones hear – some from the people around you, some what your friends talk about and then there are so many things that you see on the television or on social media. 

But how do you understand what is right and what is not? How do you know which are the myths and which are the facts? As parents, even you might feel confused by the overload of conversations around you. 

Well, we have put together the 6 most common myths and the facts behind them too; because we know that information is the key to making better choices!

Myth 1: Soap and water are enough to keep your skin clean

Okay, let’s start with the big one: “Soap and water are all you need.”

Well, soap and water are great, but they are not the skin superheroes they are made out to be! 

Think of it like this – do you not make sure that your family eats a variety of food, each day? 

Why? 

Because your body needs a variety of nutrients and that is what your skin needs too. 

Did you know that most soaps can actually strip your skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry, irritated, or sometimes even itchy? When you use soap, your skin might feel clean, but it might have been left really dry. Now imagine, if soap is doing that to your adult skin, what it could do to the skin of your little ones?

So, what do you do?

You need to get a soap or cleanser that is made for kids and will clean your skin gently, without removing those essential skin oils. 

Myth 2: Why do kids need skincare? That’s for grown-ups!

How many times have you heard this?

Skincare is just for adults! 

Well, guess what? 

That’s a HUGE myth! 

A skincare routine for kids is just as important as that for adults – everyone who has skin needs a skincare routine, right! 

It’s very simple – if you teach your kids how to take care of their skin at an early age, and they learn how to do it right, they will have healthier skin as they grow up. 

Myth 3: The more you scrub, the cleaner you get 

Nope! If you think that scrubbing your skin really hard will make it extra clean, you are so wrong! As kids, our mothers might have used a natural loofah or a towel to scrub us, during bath time, but that might not have been the best idea. 

Scrubbing too hard can actually harm the skin of your kids, by causing tiny cuts or irritation. Their skin isn’t a floor that needs scrubbing; it is really sensitive and needs gentle care. Kids have skin that is so gentle that even adult facewash might be too harsh. So, all you really need to do is pick a mild facewash for them, and then use a damp wash cloth to gently wipe their face and then pat dry. 

Myth 4: Moisturizing is needed only for dry skin

Does your skin ever feel tight, dry, or even slightly itchy? 

That probably is your skin asking for some hydration! 

It is pretty much the same case with the skin of kids too. 

So, here is the myth – only dry skin needs moisturization. The truth - even if your skin isn’t dry, it still needs moisture. 

Yep, even if it seems like your child has normal skin or even oily skin, moisturizing is super important.

Think of it like this – when you plant a flower, you don’t water it only when the soil looks dry, right? You water it regularly because you want the plant to grow up healthy and strong. Moisturizing the skin is kind of the same – by using a gentle, non-greasy moisturizer, you are locking in the hydration and keeping yur skin happy and healthy!

Here is a tip – when you are looking to pick a good moisturiser for your kids, look for naturally hydrating ingredients such as cocoa butter or avocado or aloevera.

Myth 5: You might feel hot in the sun, but your skin won’t get hurt 

They are kids, they will enjoy running around outdoors, no matter how harsh the sun is. 

But here is the thing that you know as a parent – the rays of the sun are actually quite sneaky, because they can make you feel warm and comfortable, but they can also give you sunburns. 

As a parent you know about UV rays, and how they can harm your skin even when you are not feeling hot and sweaty. Over time, if your kids are spending too much time in the sun, they are putting their skin into some serious trouble. But, if you apply a good quality sunscreen on a daily basis, you are giving their delicate skin the layer of protection it needs. 

And yes, sunscreen is not just a beach day thing - it’s an everyday thing!

Myth 6: If it’s natural, it will be safe

Ok, now this one might surprise you. 

There are a lot of skincare brands and products that ‘claim’ to be “all-natural” or “organic” and although they might have some natural ingredients, they need not be safe. 

For example, lemon juice is natural, but putting it on your skin can actually make it more sensitive to the sun and cause irritation. Same with coconut oil – it is a great moisturizer for some, but for others, it could clog the pores of the skin and even lead to breakouts. 

The lesson here? Be careful about choosing products and pick items that are made for kiddie skin. 

Kids these days tend to have packed routines - there is school, sports coaching, music classes, birthday parties and so many other things. In between all this, how are they supposed to find time to take care of their skin?

Well, you have to, you just have to. As a parent, your responsibility is not just to educate them and give them good values; it is also about taking care of their physical self. Think of proper skincare as laying the foundation – you teach them how to build healthy habits now and it will just become a natural routine over time and eventually they will have wonderful looking skin. 

And now that we have busted at least a handful of skincare myths for kids, you can head to Tikitoro and get some good quality skincare products, which are made exclusively for kiddie skin.