Why Food & Nut Oils Don't Belong in Baby Skincare
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Many natural and plant-based baby skincare products contain ingredients that also come from foods, including oat, coconut, sunflower, shea, almond, avocado and other plant-derived ingredients.
For most families, that may never be something they need to think about. But if you're caring for a baby with eczema, very dry or broken skin, or you're simply trying to make informed choices around food allergies, it's worth understanding what is actually in your baby's skincare.
In 2026, Australian allergy guidance specifically addresses food contact with infant skin. Here's what it says, what to look for on an ingredient label, and why the word "natural" doesn't necessarily tell you whether a product is food-free.
What does Australian allergy guidance actually say?
In January 2026, the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) published its updated Infant Feeding for Food Allergy Prevention guideline.
One of its recommendations specifically addresses putting food on an infant's skin.
ASCIA advises that food should not be smeared onto a baby's skin to test for allergy, because food can cause irritation, redness or contact reactions that do not indicate a food allergy. It also states that frequent skin contact with food allergens without consumption may be a risk factor for allergic sensitisation.
This is important context for parents because skincare is designed to stay in contact with the skin. Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia also explains that food-based skincare used on very dry or damaged skin may contribute to the development of food allergy, particularly where the food is not being regularly eaten.
The guidance does not say that putting almond oil, oat or another food-derived ingredient on a baby's skin will cause a food allergy, but rather, the concern is that repeated exposure to food allergens through the skin, particularly when the skin barrier is compromised, may contribute to sensitisation.
For families who want to take a precautionary approach, particularly when caring for sensitive or compromised skin, choosing skincare formulated without food-derived ingredients is one straightforward option.
Why baby skincare ingredients can be difficult to recognise
One reason is that skincare labels don't usually say "almond oil" or "oat oil" in everyday language.
Instead, ingredients are generally listed using their INCI names - the standardised names used on cosmetic ingredient labels.
That means an ingredient can look completely unfamiliar even when its source is something you recognise from the kitchen.
Food-derived ingredients you may find in baby skincare
| Ingredient name on the label | What it is |
|---|---|
| Prunus amygdalus dulcis | Sweet almond oil - a tree nut |
| Avena sativa | Oat and oat-derived ingredients |
| Glycine soja | Soybean oil |
| Sesamum indicum | Sesame |
| Triticum vulgare | Wheat |
| Cocos nucifera | Coconut |
| Persea gratissima | Avocado |
| Helianthus annuus | Sunflower seed oil |
| Olea europaea | Olive oil |
| Butyrospermum parkii | Shea butter |
| Mangifera indica | Mango seed butter |
| Theobroma cacao | Cocoa butter |
| Argania spinosa | Argan kernel oil |
| Prunus armeniaca | Apricot kernel oil |
| Arachis hypogaea | Peanut |
You may also sometimes see food-derived ingredients such as cow's milk, goat's milk and their derivatives listed by name.
The presence of one of these ingredients does not mean a product is unsafe for every baby. The purpose of learning these names is simply to make it easier to understand what you're choosing.
Why "natural" doesn't necessarily mean food-free
"Natural" can sound reassuring, particularly when you're shopping for a newborn or sensitive skin, but natural does not mean food-free or allergen-free.
Many cosmetic ingredients come from natural sources, including plant oils, butters, extracts and waxes. AICIS also distinguishes between the everyday use of terms such as "natural" and the specific regulatory definition of a "naturally occurring chemical". If avoiding food-derived ingredients matters to your family, the ingredient list is much more useful than the marketing language on the front of the bottle.
Read the ingredient list.
A product can be beautifully marketed as natural, botanical or plant-based and still contain ingredients derived from foods such as oat, sunflower, soy, avocado, shea or coconut.
The same principle applies to claims such as "nut free." A claim like this doesn't necessarily tell you whether a formula contains other food-derived ingredients such as oat, soy, sesame or coconut, but the ingredient list is the best place to see exactly what the formula contains.
Food on skin is not the same as food in the diet
Eating a food and applying a food-derived ingredient to the skin are two different types of exposure. Current allergy guidance recommends introducing common food allergens into an infant's diet during the first year of life when developmentally ready. This is important for food allergy prevention.
At the same time, ASCIA advises against smearing food onto a baby's skin to test for allergy and notes that frequent skin contact with food allergens without consumption may be a risk factor for sensitisation.
So this isn't about avoiding foods in your baby's diet, but understanding that exposure through the skin is different from eating the food, particularly when the skin barrier is inflamed or broken.
What to look for in baby skincare
If you want to minimise food-derived ingredients in your baby's skincare, a few simple checks can make choosing products easier.
1. Look beyond the front label
"Natural", "botanical", "plant-based" and "nut free" don't tell you everything about a formula. Always turn the bottle over and read the INCI (full ingredient) list.
2. Look for a short, transparent formula
A shorter ingredient list isn't automatically a better formula, but it can make it easier to understand exactly what you're applying and identify ingredients if your baby's skin reacts.
3. Consider food-free formulations
If avoiding food-derived ingredients is important to you, look for products that explicitly formulate without food and nut oils rather than assuming that "natural" means food-free. This can be a straightforward choice for families who want to take a precautionary approach, particularly when caring for eczema-prone or compromised skin.
4. Consider fragrance-free skincare
For babies and sensitive skin, fragrance and essential oils are another consideration. They aren't necessary for the skin-supporting function of a product, and avoiding added fragrance can simplify the formula.
5. Choose ingredients for their role in skincare
Plant-derived ingredients can have a useful place in skincare without needing to come from common food oils.
For example:
- Jojoba is technically a liquid wax ester that mimics the skin's natural sebum rather than a conventional vegetable oil and is widely used as an emollient.
- Camellia seed oil is a lightweight botanical oil used in skincare.
- Evening primrose oil and rosehip oil provide plant-derived fatty acids and are used as emollients.
- Calendula is a botanical extract commonly used in skincare formulations.
Why Berre is formulated without food or nut oils
Berre was created to provide gentle, natural skincare for sensitive family skin, formulated without food-derived ingredients.
Our skincare products are formulated without food or nut oils, fragrance and essential oils, alongside a considered list of other ingredients we choose not to use. We also aim to keep our formulas intentionally minimal, with each ingredient serving a clear purpose.
We believe you should be able to understand exactly what each ingredient is, and why each ingredient is there.
For example, our multi-purpose Liquid Gold contains just six ingredients:
Jojoba · Camellia · Evening Primrose · Rosehip · Calendula · Vitamin E
No food-derived ingredients, no added fragrance or essential oils.
Five of those ingredients are certified organic, and each has been specifically selected for its role in the formula.
If your baby's skin is already broken or inflamed
If your baby's skin is broken, bleeding, weeping, severely inflamed or not improving, speak with your GP, paediatrician, maternal and child health nurse or dermatologist.
If your baby already has a diagnosed food allergy, speak with your child's healthcare professional about which topical products are appropriate for their individual history.
This article is general educational information only and is not medical advice. Berre products are not medicated and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
The takeaway
Australian allergy guidance now specifically recognises that frequent skin contact with food allergens without consumption may be a risk factor for allergic sensitisation, and advises against smearing food onto an infant's skin.
For families who want to take a precautionary approach, checking the ingredient list is a simple place to start.
Look past the marketing. Read the INCI. Know what you're putting on your baby's skin. Choose skincare that aligns with what matters to your family.
Keep learning
How to Read a Baby Skincare Ingredient List
Understand the botanical names, common allergens and ingredients worth knowing before you buy.
What Does Fragrance-Free Really Mean?
A closer look at fragrance, parfum and essential oils in sensitive skin products.
Why We Formulate Berre Without Food & Nut Oils
The thinking behind Berre's food-free formulation philosophy.