Baby Soap Formula for Dry, Sensitive Skin

Based on your proposed formula and the considerations for dry, sensitive baby skin:

Your initial formula uses a suitable total concentration of gentle surfactants (around 20%) for baby skin. Ingredients like Glycerin, Allantoin, Niacinamide, and Vitamin E are good additions for skin conditioning.

However, the primary issue with this formula type is the inclusion of oil-based ingredients such as Shea Butter and Skin Defense at 5% each. These concentrations are too high for this water-based system and will likely lead to separation. For this formula base, it would be more effective to use water-soluble moisturizing or skin-conditioning ingredients.

A critical step for any baby cleansing product is adjusting the pH. Your formula, particularly with Lauryl Glucoside, may be alkaline. It is essential to adjust the final pH to approximately 5-6. This pH range is closer to the natural pH of healthy skin and significantly reduces the risk of irritation for sensitive baby skin.

An alternative approach is to formulate using an Oil Soap base, like MIPA Laureth Sulfate Oil Soap. This base is designed to effectively incorporate oils, allowing you to include ingredients like Shea Butter and other oil-soluble skin conditioners at higher levels without separation.

Regarding the type of Shea Butter, for an Oil Soap formula, Shea Butter Light Oil is generally recommended for its ease of use and stability. If you wish to use the butter type Shea Butter (Certified Organic), use it at a low percentage. Higher amounts of the butter type can cause the product to solidify at lower temperatures. Increasing the percentage of the Oil Soap base can help keep the butter type shea butter dissolved.