Behind the Brand
Dr. Barbara Sturm
When she couldn’t find the products she wanted for her baby’s skin, Dr. Barbara Sturm formulated her own. In celebration of the company’s Mini Molecular line launching on Maisonette, we chatted with the creator of Dr. Barbara Sturm Molecular Cosmetics about the inspiration behind the brand and the best way to care for your little one’s skin.
- Interview By
- Marnie Schwartz
Your company is known for innovative, science-backed ingredients and lack of anything toxic or harmful. What inspired you to branch into products for babies and young kids?
After giving birth to my daughter Pepper in 2014, I decided to formulate some products in the lab for her newborn skin. For the first year, Pepper was the only user of these super-safe and nurturing formulations. Friends asked me to make some for them, and I ultimately decided to make my Mini Molecular Baby & Kids line available to the public, which consists of five products, a Face Cream, Bum Cream, Body Cream, Hair & Body Shampoo, and Bathing Milk. They contain ingredients such as almond blossom extract and jojoba oil to soothe, hydrate, and protect sensitive baby skin.
How has your medical background influenced the way you develop products?
When I began developing my Dr. Barbara Sturm Molecular Cosmetics line, I did a survey of then-available skincare and I was shocked by the options I found, which weren’t based in ingredient science and were full of inflammatory ingredients. I knew anti-inflammatory medicine and I had already created one single, advanced science cream in my lab that was very effective. So, I set out to create the fundamental products in a skincare regimen myself.
The products are totally free from fragrance, mineral oils, and phthalates, and instead are filled with botanicals and natural oils. Why was that ingredient quality so important to you?
So many products out there are full of really harmful ingredients that will irritate our children’s skin. Babies’ and kids’ skin is much more sensitive than adults’ skin, and prone to perioral dermatitis, eczema, allergy, and other skin dysfunctions if we do not take correct care of it. In fact, putting the wrong ingredients or using the wrong approach on children’s skin can trigger or worsen those skin dysfunctions. A baby’s skin does not have a fully formed acid mantle, and therefore has a higher pH than an adult’s – but it is also more sensitive to imbalance, which can occur from the higher alkalinity of tap water and soap.
I’m so intrigued by the bathing milk! Tell us about the inspiration behind that product and how it works.
I love it too! My Bathing Milk hydrates and soothes babies’ skin with a blend of jojoba and sweet almond oils and reduces irritation with calendula. The lactic acid present gently exfoliates dry skin without any abrasiveness. Simply add the Bathing Milk to a bath with a water temperature of 36 degrees Celsius (about 97 degrees Fahrenheit). The milk will rise to the surface of the water in flakes and you can then use the flakes to gently wash and hydrate your baby’s skin for 5-10 minutes.
What are some of the most common skin ailments that children face, and how do your products help prevent them?
Babies' skin is thinner, more fragile, and more sensitive than adults' skin. It is also less resistant to bacteria and irritants such as wool and heat. Common skin conditions can include anything from baby acne, milia, diaper rash, and eczema to cradle cap and contact dermatitis. Adopting a careful bathing routine using mild, unscented, and nourishing products like my Baby & Kids Line will help keep babies’ skin clean, healthy, and soft. If you are worried about persistent skincare conditions you should always speak to your GP.
It’s an especially stressful time for moms right now. How does that affect their skin, and what recommendations do you have for them in terms of taking care of themselves and their skincare?
Quarantine has presented a challenge for all of our skin, and even more so for moms of young children who don’t have time to dedicate to themselves. To get it back on track, I recommend three things; first, adopt an anti-inflammatory lifestyle. Get as much sleep and exercise as you’re able and avoid smoking, excessive alcohol, sugar, processed meats and flour. A diet with enough salmon, avocado, olive oil, tomatoes and dark berries in it will have a major effect.
Second, try to avoid unprotected sun and HEV digital screen exposure. High Energy Visible rays that are produced by your flat screen TVs, computers, tablets, and mobile phones penetrate the skin more deeply than UVA and UVB rays and cause similar damage. I invented Anti-Pollution Drops for topical use, and Anti-Pollution Food as an oral supplement for this precise purpose. And of course, sun protection is essential. My Sun Drops SPF 50 create a broad-spectrum shield on your skin that protects it against UVA and UVB rays while also providing your skin with healing, moisturizing, and anti-oxidative ingredients.
Finally, use ingredient science-based skincare. Skincare is about skin health, but also about feeling great in your skin. The fundamentals of your skincare regime are the same no matter what; thorough cleansing, hydrating, exfoliating and nourishing of the skin with nutrient-rich ingredients should always be a constant. Use your time at home with your baby to avoid wearing any makeup and try to give your skin as much love and protection as possible.
What are some of your favorite products in the line, both from Molecular Cosmetics and Mini Molecular?
My products are like my children: I don’t pick favorites and I created them all for a reason. But my Hyaluronic Serum is so fundamental, I call it the “white t-shirt” of my line, and I don’t go anywhere without it. I also couldn’t live without my Face Cream, which moisturizes the skin and nourishes it with valuable oils like grapeseed oil, balancing the skin and protecting it from dehydration.
After giving birth to my daughter Pepper in 2014, I decided to formulate some products in the lab for her newborn skin. For the first year, Pepper was the only user of these super-safe and nurturing formulations. Friends asked me to make some for them, and I ultimately decided to make my Mini Molecular Baby & Kids line available to the public, which consists of five products, a Face Cream, Bum Cream, Body Cream, Hair & Body Shampoo, and Bathing Milk. They contain ingredients such as almond blossom extract and jojoba oil to soothe, hydrate, and protect sensitive baby skin.
How has your medical background influenced the way you develop products?
When I began developing my Dr. Barbara Sturm Molecular Cosmetics line, I did a survey of then-available skincare and I was shocked by the options I found, which weren’t based in ingredient science and were full of inflammatory ingredients. I knew anti-inflammatory medicine and I had already created one single, advanced science cream in my lab that was very effective. So, I set out to create the fundamental products in a skincare regimen myself.
The products are totally free from fragrance, mineral oils, and phthalates, and instead are filled with botanicals and natural oils. Why was that ingredient quality so important to you?
So many products out there are full of really harmful ingredients that will irritate our children’s skin. Babies’ and kids’ skin is much more sensitive than adults’ skin, and prone to perioral dermatitis, eczema, allergy, and other skin dysfunctions if we do not take correct care of it. In fact, putting the wrong ingredients or using the wrong approach on children’s skin can trigger or worsen those skin dysfunctions. A baby’s skin does not have a fully formed acid mantle, and therefore has a higher pH than an adult’s – but it is also more sensitive to imbalance, which can occur from the higher alkalinity of tap water and soap.
I’m so intrigued by the bathing milk! Tell us about the inspiration behind that product and how it works.
I love it too! My Bathing Milk hydrates and soothes babies’ skin with a blend of jojoba and sweet almond oils and reduces irritation with calendula. The lactic acid present gently exfoliates dry skin without any abrasiveness. Simply add the Bathing Milk to a bath with a water temperature of 36 degrees Celsius (about 97 degrees Fahrenheit). The milk will rise to the surface of the water in flakes and you can then use the flakes to gently wash and hydrate your baby’s skin for 5-10 minutes.
What are some of the most common skin ailments that children face, and how do your products help prevent them?
Babies' skin is thinner, more fragile, and more sensitive than adults' skin. It is also less resistant to bacteria and irritants such as wool and heat. Common skin conditions can include anything from baby acne, milia, diaper rash, and eczema to cradle cap and contact dermatitis. Adopting a careful bathing routine using mild, unscented, and nourishing products like my Baby & Kids Line will help keep babies’ skin clean, healthy, and soft. If you are worried about persistent skincare conditions you should always speak to your GP.
It’s an especially stressful time for moms right now. How does that affect their skin, and what recommendations do you have for them in terms of taking care of themselves and their skincare?
Quarantine has presented a challenge for all of our skin, and even more so for moms of young children who don’t have time to dedicate to themselves. To get it back on track, I recommend three things; first, adopt an anti-inflammatory lifestyle. Get as much sleep and exercise as you’re able and avoid smoking, excessive alcohol, sugar, processed meats and flour. A diet with enough salmon, avocado, olive oil, tomatoes and dark berries in it will have a major effect.
Second, try to avoid unprotected sun and HEV digital screen exposure. High Energy Visible rays that are produced by your flat screen TVs, computers, tablets, and mobile phones penetrate the skin more deeply than UVA and UVB rays and cause similar damage. I invented Anti-Pollution Drops for topical use, and Anti-Pollution Food as an oral supplement for this precise purpose. And of course, sun protection is essential. My Sun Drops SPF 50 create a broad-spectrum shield on your skin that protects it against UVA and UVB rays while also providing your skin with healing, moisturizing, and anti-oxidative ingredients.
Finally, use ingredient science-based skincare. Skincare is about skin health, but also about feeling great in your skin. The fundamentals of your skincare regime are the same no matter what; thorough cleansing, hydrating, exfoliating and nourishing of the skin with nutrient-rich ingredients should always be a constant. Use your time at home with your baby to avoid wearing any makeup and try to give your skin as much love and protection as possible.
What are some of your favorite products in the line, both from Molecular Cosmetics and Mini Molecular?
My products are like my children: I don’t pick favorites and I created them all for a reason. But my Hyaluronic Serum is so fundamental, I call it the “white t-shirt” of my line, and I don’t go anywhere without it. I also couldn’t live without my Face Cream, which moisturizes the skin and nourishes it with valuable oils like grapeseed oil, balancing the skin and protecting it from dehydration.