Don't Despair, Repair!

shampoo & bodywash & conditioner • For 0-6 month old infants • Skin contact 🧴

shampoo & bodywash & conditioner

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Is this safe for 0-6 month old newborns to use Don't Despair, Repair!?

🚫

NO - AVOID

Danger Score: 72 (Lower is safer)

Quick Answer: Don't Despair, Repair! contains 30 ingredients. 2 avoid, 6 concerning, 8 caution. Avoid - Contains Dangerous Ingredients 🚫 Always consult your pediatrician for newborns.

Check for Different Age (6 available)

Ingredients Analysis (30 found)

Malic Acid

🚫8/10

For newborns and babies (0-6 months), malic acid can irritate the skin and is best avoided. It can sting, cause redness, or make skin more sensitive.

Banned - Health Canada lists limits on its use in cosmetics, and an industry safety panel says it should only be used in limited ways (for example as a pH adjuster). Because government regulators and safety reviewers restrict how it can be used in personal care products, this is a regulatory concern parents should know about.

Irritant - A safety review found strong evidence that this ingredient can irritate skin, eyes, or lungs in people. Since it is used on the skin, it can cause redness, stinging, or rashes—especially on sensitive or young skin.

Confidence: HIGH

Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil

🚫8/10

Cardamom seed oil is an essential oil that is generally considered low risk for long‑term toxicity by regulatory agencies when used in small amounts. But for infants (0-6 months) the main concern is skin irritation or allergic reaction because baby skin is very sensitive. That means it is not recommended to put this oil directly on newborn or young baby skin.

No Known Risk - Government food-safety and environmental reviews find cardamom seed oil safe for its normal uses, and toxicity checks do not show organ, reproductive, or environmental harm. Common concern screens for this ingredient are rated low, so no specific health risks have been identified for typical topical use.

Confidence: HIGH

Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil

🚨7/10

For newborns and infants (0-6 months), this ingredient is not recommended for direct use. It’s an essential oil that can irritate or cause allergic reactions in very young babies, who have more sensitive, absorbent skin.

Organ Risk - A Canadian health agency listed this oil as a medium human-health priority for non-reproductive organ effects. That means there is some official concern it could affect organs (like liver or kidneys) with repeated exposure. Another review from the same agency said it was not expected to be toxic, so the findings are mixed but there is enough concern to flag organ risk.

Long-Term Risk - A U.S. food authority notes this oil is used in food or as a food additive and is allowed for limited uses. Because people can meet it from more than one source (for example, food plus skin products), small exposures can add up over time. This raises a low-to-moderate concern for long-term, repeated exposure.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Santalum Album Oil

🚨7/10

Santalum Album Oil is sandalwood oil which may cause skin irritation or sensitization in infants and is not recommended for 0-6 months babies

Irritant - Sandalwood oil can cause skin irritation, redness, or rashes, especially on sensitive baby skin or if used undiluted.

Confidence: HIGH

Undaria Pinnatifida Extract

🚨7/10

For infants (newborns and babies 0–6 months), this seaweed extract is best treated with extra caution. The ingredient itself is not flagged for cancer or allergy problems, but it can carry impurities like iodine and heavy metals that are more concerning for very young babies.

Organ Risk - The ingredient record flags high contamination concerns for iodine, arsenic, and lead. Arsenic and lead are known to harm organs (kidneys, liver and others) when people are exposed repeatedly. This entry lists those contaminant risks, so organ damage is a real concern for repeated topical use.

Builds Up - The same record calls out arsenic and lead contamination. Those metals can accumulate in the body over time with repeated exposure, so the extract may lead to build-up of harmful metals.

Absorbed - This ingredient is used on the skin and the record highlights contamination by iodine, arsenic, and lead. Contaminants on skin-applied ingredients can be taken up into the body and reach the bloodstream, so absorption is a real pathway for risk.

Banned - The ingredient entry shows it is restricted by a product safety verification program and notes industry/government guidance (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) on safe use and impurities. That means some programs will not allow this ingredient without proof it is safe, so it is effectively restricted in verified products.

Confidence: LOW

Pogostemon Cablin Oil

🚨7/10

Pogostemon Cablin Oil is patchouli oil which can cause skin irritation and sensitization in infants likely used for fragrance

Irritant - Patchouli oil is an essential oil that can cause skin irritation, redness, or rashes, especially on sensitive baby skin or when used undiluted.

Confidence: HIGH

Sandalwood Oil

🚨7/10

Santalum Album Oil is sandalwood oil which may cause skin irritation or sensitization in infants and is not recommended for 0-6 months babies

Confidence: HIGH

Fragrance

🚨6/10

Premium Fragrance Oil is a vague term for fragrance blends that may contain allergens or irritants not disclosed. Fragrances often cause skin sensitivity in babies under 6 months.

Irritant - Fragrance mixtures often contain chemicals that can cause skin irritation, redness, or rashes, especially on sensitive baby skin.

Eczema - Fragrances are known triggers for eczema flare-ups and can worsen symptoms in babies with sensitive or atopic skin.

Asthma - Fragrance chemicals can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may worsen asthma or breathing issues in babies and children.

Hormones - Some fragrance ingredients, such as certain phthalates, are suspected endocrine disruptors that may interfere with hormone development.

Absorbed - Certain fragrance chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and detected in the bloodstream, raising concerns for systemic exposure.

Breast Milk - Some fragrance components, including phthalates, have been detected in breast milk, indicating they can pass from mother to baby.

Banned - Some fragrance ingredients are banned or restricted in the EU and other countries due to health concerns.

Builds Up - Certain fragrance chemicals, such as some phthalates and musks, can accumulate in the body over time with repeated exposure.

Long-Term Risk - Long-term exposure to some fragrance chemicals has been linked to chronic health effects, including hormone disruption and allergic diseases.

Confidence: HIGH

⚠️5/10

Not evaluated

Confidence: LOW

Rose Extract

⚠️5/10

Rose extract may cause irritation or allergy in infants skin safety data for 0-6 months is limited often used for fragrance

Irritant - Some components in rosa extract may cause skin irritation, especially on sensitive baby skin, though this is uncommon.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Rose Flower Oil

⚠️5/10

Rose oil is a perfume ingredient that can irritate or sensitize baby skin. For infants under six months it is not recommended.

Irritant - Rose oil contains natural fragrance compounds that can cause skin irritation, especially on sensitive baby skin.

Confidence: HIGH

Galbanum Resin Oil

⚠️5/10

Galbanum Resin Oil is a natural resin oil used for fragrance and skin benefits but may cause irritation or sensitization in sensitive baby skin especially under 6 months.

Confidence: MEDIUM

2-Hexanediol

⚠️4/10

For infants and newborns (0–6 months), this ingredient is probably low risk in the tiny amounts usually used in products, but we are extra careful with babies. Some studies and regulators note it can cause skin, eye, or lung irritation at higher levels. Some product programs ask for extra safety proof before allowing it in baby‑label products.

No Known Risk - Independent safety reviews (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) and the European Chemicals Agency do not find serious health hazards for normal skin use. They note only limited evidence of skin, eye, or lung irritation at higher doses and point out some data gaps, so overall the ingredient is rated low risk for typical topical use.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Tocopheryl Acetate

⚠️4/10

Usually fine in tiny amounts on a newborn’s healthy skin, but infants are extra sensitive. Some babies can react, and there are concerns about tiny impurities in some sources.

Irritant - A cosmetic safety review panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) found strong human evidence that this can trigger skin allergy. That means it may cause redness, itch, or rash, especially on sensitive baby skin.

Immune system - Moderate concern for allergy and immune reactions on skin was flagged by a cosmetic safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). Some kids may have an immune response like hives or swelling.

Absorbed - Tests note enhanced skin absorption for this form of vitamin E. This means a small amount can pass through the skin and enter the body after use.

Long-Term Risk - There is a high concern for a trace impurity (hydroquinone). European health regulators and other agencies restrict that impurity because of safety worries with long-term use.

Environmental - Environment Canada lists it as a suspected environmental toxin, though data are limited. It may harm water life if it builds up in waterways.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Fragaria Ananassa Seed Oil

⚠️4/10

Limited safety data for Fragaria Ananassa Seed Oil on infants under 6 months possible allergen may be a misreading or typo

No Known Risk - Strawberry seed oil is generally considered safe for topical use, with no evidence linking it to irritation, hormone disruption, cancer, or other health risks in babies. There are no known reports or studies indicating adverse effects when used on infant skin.

Confidence: LOW

Sweet Almond Oil

⚠️4/10

Sweet almond oil may cause allergic reactions in infants especially those with nut allergies used as emollient but caution is needed for 0-6 months

Confidence: MEDIUM

Dicaprylyl Carbonate

✅3/10

For infants and newborns (0-6 months): this ingredient is generally low risk but has only limited testing. Because babies’ skin is very delicate, it’s best to be cautious.

No Known Risk - Available safety reviews show only very low concerns for this ingredient. Tests found limited, mild eye or skin irritation in some studies, but no stronger links to cancer, hormone or brain effects, organ damage, or reproductive problems. Because the evidence of harm is low, this ingredient is not flagged as a real health risk for children in normal topical use.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Dicaprylyl Ether

✅3/10

Safety information not properly formatted for easy understanding

Confidence: MEDIUM

Ethyl Macadamiate

✅3/10

For newborns and babies 0–6 months: this ingredient is a softening oil made from macadamia nuts and is generally considered low risk in safety data. But there isn’t much testing done specifically in very young infants, so we should be careful.

No Known Risk - The available ingredient safety summary for Ethyl Macadamiate lists only low-level concerns for cancer, allergies/immunotoxicity, developmental/reproductive effects, and use restrictions for topical use. No higher-level hazards (such as organ damage, hormone disruption, absorption into the body, or buildup) were identified in the reviewed assessment. For typical topical use there are no known health risks based on the provided safety information.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Prunus Domestica Seed Oil

✅3/10

Prunus Domestica Seed Oil is plum seed oil used as an emollient limited data for infants under 6 months but generally low risk in topical use

No Known Risk - Plum seed oil is generally considered safe for topical use, including on sensitive baby skin. There is no credible evidence linking it to irritation, hormone disruption, cancer, or other health risks in babies. It is not known to be absorbed in harmful amounts, nor is it banned or associated with long-term or cumulative risks. Therefore, based on current research, no risk labels apply.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Rosa Canina Fruit Oil

✅3/10

Rose hip (Rosa Canina) fruit oil is generally low risk, but for newborns and babies 0–6 months we are extra careful because there is limited information about effects in very young infants.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Tocopherol

✅3/10

For newborns and babies (0–6 months): tocopherol (vitamin E) is usually low risk when used in small amounts on the skin, but baby skin is very delicate. There are some safety notes about possible contamination and a rare chance of skin allergy, so take extra care with infants and newborns.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer

✅2/10

For newborns and infants (0–6 months), this ingredient is generally considered low risk when used on the skin. Safety reviews list very low concerns for cancer, allergies, and effects on growth or reproduction. Because infants’ skin is more sensitive, we remain a little extra careful.

No Known Risk - This skin ingredient has safety summaries that list only low-level concerns for cancer, allergies, reproductive/developmental effects, and use limits. No higher-level hazards were reported in those assessments, so there are no specific health risks identified for children based on the available safety information.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid

✅2/10

For newborns and babies 0-6 months, this ingredient is a skin moisturizer and is usually low risk. However, there is limited research specifically in very young babies, so we should be careful.

No Known Risk - The supplied safety review for Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid shows every checked concern (cancer, allergies/immunity, developmental or reproductive harm, and use restrictions) rated at 'low' and there are no other flagged hazards in the ingredient record. It is listed for topical use and the file contains no higher-level risks, so no specific warning labels apply based on the provided data.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Squalane

✅2/10

Squalane is a mild oil that helps moisturize a newborn’s skin and is usually well tolerated. For most babies it is low risk, but because infants are very small and still developing, we recommend cautious use.

Confidence: MEDIUM

Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil

✅2/10

Records for this oil show very low hazard, but because it is an essential oil and babies under 6 months have very sensitive skin and airways, we treat it with extra caution. For newborns and infants, avoid putting this oil directly on the skin.

No Known Risk - Safety checks for this topical oil show only low-level concerns across cancer, allergies/immune effects, developmental or reproductive effects, and use limits. No specific ingredient hazards were identified in the available assessment, and there are no concerns rated above low. Based on that information, no real risks were found for typical topical use.

Confidence: HIGH

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

✅1/10

This ingredient is a gentle, lightweight oil used to moisturize skin. For newborns and babies (0–6 months) it is generally safe when used in normal baby lotions or wipes.

Confidence: HIGH

Ceramide NP

✅1/10

For newborns and babies (0–6 months), Ceramide NP is generally very low risk. It is a skin-like fat that helps moisturize and repair the skin, and most safety notes rate it as low concern. However, infants have thinner, more sensitive skin, so we should be careful.

No Known Risk - Authoritative reviews and studies do not identify any health hazards above a low level for typical topical use. A cosmetic safety review notes only guidance/restrictions for use, a European chemicals authority reported limited evidence of mild irritation, and scientific papers note this ingredient can increase skin penetration and produced allergenic responses only at high doses in animal tests. Taken together, there are no higher-than-low concerns for children when this ingredient is used as intended.

Confidence: HIGH

Panthenol

✅1/10

Panthenol (provitamin B5) is generally safe for infants and newborns. It helps moisturize and soothe baby skin and is rarely irritating. Studies and government reviews do not show it to be toxic when used on skin.

No Known Risk - Health and regulatory reviews (including Canadian and U.S. assessments and industry safety panels) find panthenol has no reported hazards above a low level for topical use. It is not expected to harm organs, does not appear to build up in the body or the environment, and common concerns (cancer, allergies, reproductive effects) were rated low. There are some industry notes about safe use levels and a few data gaps, but no higher-level health risks were identified.

Confidence: HIGH

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil

✅1/10

Sweet almond oil is commonly used in baby products for its moisturizing properties and is generally safe for 0-6 month babies in topical use.

No Known Risk - Sweet Almond Oil is widely used in baby skincare products and is generally considered safe for topical use on babies. There is no strong evidence linking it to irritation, allergies, or other health risks in the general population, except in rare cases of nut allergies. For most babies, it does not pose any known health risks based on current research.

Confidence: HIGH

Common Questions About Don't Despair, Repair!

Is this newborn-safe? Don't Despair, Repair!

Don't Despair, Repair! is not recommended for 0-6 month old babies due to potentially harmful ingredients.

What ingredients should I watch out for?

We analyzed 30 ingredients in Don't Despair, Repair!. 2 avoid, 6 concerning, 8 caution. Check the detailed analysis above for specific concerns.

When can newborns start using shampoo & bodywash & conditioner?

The appropriate age depends on the specific ingredients. This analysis is for 0-6 month old babies. Use the age selector above to check other ages.

⚠️ Important Disclaimers

Product Recognition: Product names are identified programatically and may be incorrect. Always verify product identity yourself.

Safety Analysis: Evaluations are for research only - consult pediatricians for medical decisions. Do not rely solely on this analysis.

No Guarantees: Results may be incomplete or inaccurate. Do not rely solely on this analysis.