What makes the best baby balm something parents continue reaching for long after the newborn stage?

For us, it is versatility.

A good baby balm should be gentle enough for very young skin, but useful enough to deal with the everyday dryness that comes with baths, cold weather, swimming, dribbling, crawling and constantly changing seasons.

Vemel Wonder Balm was named Best Baby Balm at The Green Parent Natural Beauty Awards 2024.

What makes that recognition particularly special is that Wonder Balm had already won Best Baby Balm the previous year.

Two consecutive Best Baby Balm awards reflect something very simple: this is a product designed to be used, not just admired on a bathroom shelf.

Why did Wonder Balm win Best Baby Balm again?

Wonder Balm was originally formulated by Vemel Founder & Formulator Agi for her own young son, whose skin was severely eczema-prone.

That meant the starting point was never fragrance, trend-led ingredients or creating a luxurious sensory experience.

The starting point was vulnerable skin.

The formula needed to be simple.

Rich enough to protect.

Gentle enough for young skin.

Versatile enough to use wherever dryness appeared.

That same philosophy is still at the heart of Wonder Balm today.

What should the best baby balm actually do?

Baby skin does not necessarily need lots of products.

But there are times when a richer protective balm can be extremely useful.

The best baby balm should help soften dry skin, provide nourishing lipids and form a protective emollient layer over vulnerable areas.

It should also be easy to use on more than one part of the body.

Wonder Balm can therefore become one of those products parents keep nearby rather than something reserved for one particular skin concern.

Where can I use baby balm?

Wonder Balm can be applied sparingly to areas including:

dry cheeks

chapped lips

rough knees and elbows

dry hands and fingers

weather-exposed skin

areas that become dry after bathing

small eczema-prone patches

dry skin around the nappy area

areas affected by friction from clothing

The aim is not to coat healthy baby skin unnecessarily.

Use it where the skin actually needs additional protection.

Is baby balm useful for dry cheeks?

Yes.

Babies and young children can develop very dry cheeks, particularly during colder weather or periods of wind exposure.

Dribbling can also leave the skin around the mouth and chin repeatedly wet and then dry, which may contribute to discomfort.

A thin layer of Wonder Balm can provide an emollient barrier over these vulnerable areas.

Reapply as needed rather than using a heavy layer.

Can I use baby balm around the mouth?

Yes, sparingly on the surrounding skin.

The skin around the mouth can become dry from dribbling, wiping and cold weather.

Wonder Balm contains no added fragrance or essential oils and can be used on dry skin around the lips and chin.

Avoid applying skincare inside the mouth, and seek medical advice for persistent cracking, infection or unexplained rashes.

Can Wonder Balm be used around the nappy area?

Wonder Balm can be used as a protective emollient on dry or vulnerable skin around the nappy area.

Its rich balm texture helps create a protective layer between the skin and the outside environment.

However, it is not positioned as a medicated nappy-rash treatment.

If the skin is persistently inflamed, broken, blistered or appears infected, medical advice is more appropriate than relying on cosmetic skincare alone.

Can baby balm help eczema-prone skin?

Wonder Balm does not treat eczema.

It was, however, originally created specifically because Agi’s young son had severely eczema-prone skin.

Its rich waterless base provides emollient lipids that soften extremely dry skin and help create a protective layer over vulnerable areas.

Wonder Balm was later independently named Best Eczema Balm at the Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards 2024.

For parents choosing skincare for eczema-prone skin, that distinction matters: support and protect the skin without pretending that a cosmetic balm is a medical treatment.

Why is fragrance-free important in baby skincare?

Young and highly sensitive skin does not need added perfume for a product to work.

Fragrance does not irritate every person, but it can be a source of sensitivity for some.

Wonder Balm contains no added synthetic fragrance, parfum or essential oils.

Instead, its formula is built around nourishing botanical ingredients and traditional soothing herbs including calendula, chickweed, chamomile and oat.

That simplicity is particularly appropriate for a product intended from newborn onwards.

Why doesn't Wonder Balm contain essential oils?

Essential oils are natural, but they contain concentrated aromatic compounds.

For a product created specifically for highly sensitive and very young skin, Vemel chose not to add them.

The botanical ingredients in Wonder Balm are there because of their role within the formulation rather than because they make the product smell appealing.

That distinction is important when choosing the best baby balm for reactive skin.

Is Wonder Balm good after bathing?

Yes.

Bathing can leave some babies and children feeling drier, particularly if the water is hot or baths are frequent.

After bathing, gently pat the skin rather than rubbing it.

Wonder Balm can then be applied to areas that need additional lipid protection.

For larger areas of generally dry body skin, a lighter oil may sometimes be more practical, with Wonder Balm reserved for particularly dry patches.

Can baby balm be used before or after swimming?

Yes.

Chlorinated water can be drying, particularly for children whose skin is already eczema-prone or sensitive.

A small amount of balm can be applied to vulnerable areas before swimming as an additional emollient layer.

Afterwards, rinse the skin with fresh water, pat dry and reapply skincare where needed.

Wonder Balm does not make skin waterproof or guarantee protection from chlorine, but it can help support particularly dry areas.

What about winter weather?

Cold weather, wind and indoor heating can all make young skin feel drier.

Areas such as cheeks, lips, hands and around the mouth are often particularly exposed.

A thin layer of balm before going outdoors can provide extra protection, and another small application afterwards can soften areas that feel dry or tight.

This is one reason a baby balm often becomes useful well beyond the baby years.

Can older children use baby balm?

Absolutely.

Wonder Balm may carry a Best Baby Balm award, but the formulation is not limited to babies.

Older children can use it on dry hands, knees, elbows, lips and areas that become dry after swimming or outdoor activities.

Parents can use exactly the same jar.

This family versatility is also reflected in Wonder Balm winning Best Do Everything Balm at the Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards 2024.

Can adults use Wonder Balm too?

Yes.

The qualities that make a formula suitable for very young sensitive skin can also be useful for adults with very dry or reactive skin.

Parents frequently need rich hand care because of repeated washing.

Wonder Balm can also be used on lips, cuticles, heels, elbows and small dry facial patches.

One jar can therefore move naturally from nursery to handbag to family bathroom.

Why is Wonder Balm waterless?

A waterless balm is built around lipid-rich ingredients rather than a conventional water phase.

For a protective balm, this formulation style makes sense.

Botanical oils, butters and waxes help soften dry skin and form an emollient layer that reduces further moisture loss.

That does not mean waterless products provide water-based hydration.

It means Wonder Balm is particularly focused on nourishment, protection and moisture retention.

You can learn more about Vemel's waterless skincare philosophy.

Is organic baby skincare always better?

Not automatically.

Organic describes the sourcing and cultivation of ingredients, not whether every finished product will suit every baby.

A good baby balm still needs to be carefully formulated.

At Vemel, organic ingredients are part of a wider approach that also considers simplicity, fragrance, essential oils, waterless formulation and sensitive-skin suitability.

You can read more about our approach to organic skincare.

Why are two consecutive Best Baby Balm awards significant?

Independent recognition becomes particularly meaningful when the same product is recognised more than once.

Wonder Balm was named:

Best Baby Balm – The Green Parent Natural Beauty Awards 2023

Best Baby Balm – The Green Parent Natural Beauty Awards 2024

It has also received Best Eczema Balm, Best Do Everything Balm and Best Waterless Beauty Product recognition.

Wonder Balm was also featured by The Telegraph in its guide to “8 best water-free skincare products for better-looking skin”.

Together, those different recognitions tell a consistent story: one simple balm has been independently noticed for baby skincare, sensitive and eczema-prone skin, waterless formulation and genuine everyday versatility.

What makes the best baby balm?

The best baby balm does not need to promise everything.

For Wonder Balm, the strength is its simplicity.

A rich protective texture.

Nourishing botanical lipids.

Traditional soothing herbs.

No added fragrance.

No essential oils.

Suitable from newborn onwards.

And versatile enough to remain useful as a child grows.

Winning Best Baby Balm once was wonderful recognition.

Winning Best Baby Balm again the following year reinforced exactly what Wonder Balm was created to be: a simple, dependable balm that families can reach for whenever delicate skin needs a little more protection.