Luxury fashion house Dior is best known for its $100,000 ball gowns and iconic brand handbags.
But now the designer brand is entering a bizarre new space: cosmetics for babies.
The company announced the new venture earlier this week, which was met with fierce criticism online.
The new products – which include a $230 scented water and a $95 cleanser – are said to be aimed at people, ‘with more dollars than sense,” and “exploiting gullible, vain, status-seeking idiots.”
Among the responses on Twitter and the popular forum Reddit were accusations that the items could be not only unnecessary but also harmful.
The company has launched “scented water and skin care for little ones,” with products for “sensitive skin” ranging from $95 for cleansing water to $230 for scented water baby perfume
“I thought it was common sense that you shouldn’t use fragranced products for babies?” wrote one Reddit user.
Now skin health experts have reported their concerns to DailyMail.com, warning that using the boujie lotions could increase the risk of skin problems.
Although no problems have yet been reported, fragrances, preservatives and foaming agents all pose potential harm to a child’s skin, according to the three dermatologists who spoke to this website.
There are four products in the range: a scented water, $230, said to leave young children smelling “smooth and fruity.”
There’s a hydrating milk, $115, which “soothes dry areas, soothes feelings of discomfort and visibly reduces redness,” a cleansing foam, $95, which “protects skin and fine hair from external stressors” and a “refreshing and soothing” no -rinse water cleanser, $95.
The design house, known for its Baby Dior clothing collection, where hooded teddy bear coats cost $1,000 and tiny onesies cost $520, is now getting into the children’s skincare business.
According to the company, all four products have been subjected to rigorous testing and in-depth analysis under the supervision of dermatologists.
The baby care line, including its signature scent, features the fashion house’s signature toile on the bottles
But experts say these products may not be completely harmless to every child.
Firstly, all four products contain fragrances, the nature of which is not stated on the label.
Cosmetologist Ghanima Abdullah from Chicago, Illinois, told DailyMail.com: ‘Fragrance can basically be anything – there is information on the bottle about exactly what the fragrance is made of.’
Dior claims that up to 99 percent of its ingredients, including fragrances, are of natural origin.
Natural fragrances use aromatic raw materials from nature, including trees, raw fruits, animal extracts, herbs, leaves and seeds.
But dermatologists say even fragrances derived from natural extracts can wreak havoc on a child’s skin if it is particularly sensitive.
Skin health experts have warned that using the boujie lotions could increase the risk of developing red, painful rashes on little ones’ skin
Dr. Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, a double-certified dermatologist from New York City and owner of the Dermatology Circle clinic, told DailyMail.com, “It is crucial to note that even natural extracts can cause side effects in sensitive children.”
Dr. Green said odors are not “inherently bad, but are a common source of itchy rashes in babies with skin irritations such as eczema.”
It is estimated that approximately 9 million American children suffer from eczema, and one-fifth develop contact dermatitis due to cosmetics.
Dermatitis is an itchy red rash caused by direct contact with a substance or an allergic reaction to it.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that fragrances are one of the most common allergens in cosmetic products.
The website states: ‘In addition to allergic contact dermatitis, fragrance ingredients can also affect the respiratory tract because they are essentially vapor and can be inhaled. This is especially true for patients with asthma, allergic rhinitis and viral respiratory infections.
‘For people who are sensitive to certain odors, inhaling them can result in shortness of breath, choking sensations, coughing, phlegm, runny or stuffy nose, headache, chest tightness and wheezing.’
Kazlouskaya added: ‘Scented water (necessarily) raises questions, as babies generally have a wonderful natural smell.’
‘It’s actually a kind of perfume for babies, but that’s not necessary at all. I think every dermatologist in the world will be strongly against that.’
Other ingredients are also causing concern among skin specialists.
Ms Abdullah highlighted pentylene glycol, mentioned in all four products, which is a skin softener and preservative.
Although it is not toxic, it has been linked to irritant and allergic contact dermatitis at levels as low as two percent, according to the Environmental Working Group.
And in the cleansing foam, Dr. Kazlouskaya said that coco betaine, which is commonly used in foam products for babies, “is known to be a rare cause of contact dermatitis and eye irritation.”
Dr. Green said some of the ingredients in the product may be helpful.
“Glycerin, found in all four new Dior baby products, is a powerful humectant that locks moisture into the skin for long-lasting hydration,” she said.
‘Malva sylvestris extract, extracted from the blue mallow flower, contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to soothe and protect irritated skin.’
Mallow extract can be found in the moisturizing milk, the cleansing foam and the cleansing water.
However, all experts agree that there is no need to pay high prices for your baby’s skin care.
Dr. Kazlouskaya said: ‘Dior offers nothing unique.
“Pharmacies are full of great products for babies and children that cost $10-20 at most.
‘Brands such as Eucerin, Aveeno, Cerave and Vanicream work closely with dermatologists and have numerous products for babies and children.
‘Babies only need a gentle shampoo, cleanser and moisturizer.’
Dr. Abdullah said that if parents are looking for fragrant water for their baby, they should simply try orange blossom water.
She said: ‘You can find it in most international stores as it is used to make sweets. It’s just water made from distilling flowers and there are no added chemicals like some of the other waters I’ve seen, like Dior’s.”
As for a moisturizer, Dr. Abdullah said she uses Shea Moisture’s Raw Shea Chamomile & Argan Oil Baby Lotion for her son, which costs $10.
DailyMail.com has contacted Dior for comment.