Founder Q/A - How did you come up with the 'baby acne treatment'?

Interview by Jan Davidson, head of BEB Organic customer service. She hears all the questions and interviews Kim to get you answers!

 Q: How did you come up with what people now call the ‘baby acne treatment’?

Let’s start with this: it’s not a baby acne treatment. At BEB Organic, we’re careful with how we talk about our products—and for good reason. While our Soothing Serum was originally developed during a moment when I was thinking deeply about how to support baby skin struggling with baby acne, it isn’t a medical treatment. That’s not how we position it, and it wouldn’t be appropriate from an FDA standpoint to make that claim. What we can say is that it helps skin look and feel better—calmer, more hydrated, and more balanced. And yes, parents naturally reach for it when they see tiny bumps show up on their baby’s face. I understand why, but what it’s really designed to do is support the skin’s overall health—every day, and especially when it needs a little extra care.

Q: What inspired the creation of Soothing Serum as a treatment for baby acne?

Honestly, it started with frustration—and a little eavesdropping.

I was sitting in on a conversation between a pediatrician and a new parent. The baby had tiny red bumps across their cheeks—baby acne—and the doctor casually said, “Don’t worry about it. It’s normal. There’s nothing you can do.”

That didn’t sit right with me. Not because I don’t trust doctors—I do. But because I’ve spent my life in skincare, and I know that “there’s nothing you can do” usually means “we don’t have a good option yet.” At BEB Organic, that’s never been a stopping point. It’s a starting line.

Soothing Serum (formerly called Healing Gel) was born from a belief that baby acne is worth caring for—gently, safely, and effectively.

Q: What makes baby acne different from adult acne—and why is treatment still important?

Baby acne looks mild, but it’s not meaningless. In many cases, it creates tiny open lesions that leave fragile baby skin vulnerable to infection and irritation. And beyond the physical, there’s the emotional side. When your baby is struggling—even with something small—it can feel huge. You want to help. You want something that works.

But you don’t want to use aggressive adult products full of drying agents, steroids, or other chemicals that could do more harm than good. I knew there had to be another way.

That’s where Soothing Serum comes in. It’s gentle enough for preemies—and powerful enough to work.

Q: How did your background shape the development of Soothing Serum?

I’ve lived at the intersection of natural skincare and clinical settings my entire life.

My dad founded Epicuren, one of the early brands to bridge holistic ingredients with high-performance skincare. I grew up immersed in that world, and later trained as both a naturalist and a medical esthetician. I’ve educated dermatologists in Athens, Greece and trained clinical teams in Beverly Hills. I’ve helped hospitals integrate natural products into neonatal and pediatric care protocols.

That background gave me a different lens. I knew it was possible to create a product that combined clinical-grade performance with the gentleness of natural care. And I knew that for something to work on a newborn—especially one born prematurely—it had to be both exceptionally pure and exceptionally effective.

That’s the bar I set for Soothing Serum.

Q: What makes Soothing Serum work so well for baby acne?

It’s all about supporting the skin’s natural healing systems, not fighting against them.

Most acne products are designed to strip, dry, or “kill” the problem. That’s not what fragile baby skin needs. In fact, it can make things worse.

Soothing Serum takes a different approach:

• Balances the microbiome. We include a probiotic ferment that helps nurture the developing skin microbiome—essential for immunity, healing, and resilience.

• Restores hydration. We use low molecular weight hyaluronic acid that penetrates deeply to calm and hydrate from within.

• Reduces inflammation. The formula includes organic arnica, rosehip, calendula, aloe, and other botanicals long used for their anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing benefits.

• Supports pH and barrier repair. Baby skin is still forming its protective barrier. Our serum supports that process with a mildly acidic pH and gentle humectants to seal in moisture without clogging pores.

It's completely free from essential oils, fragrance, and known irritants, making it safe enough even for preemies.

Q: What is the science behind baby acne—and why is pH, moisture, and microbiome so important?

Baby acne is more than skin-deep. It often stems from a mismatch between a baby’s developing microbiome, their skin’s pH, and external stressors (think: detergent residue, skincare products, pollution, hormonal shifts from birth).

We now understand that skin is an ecosystem. That ecosystem needs balance. Disruption—whether from dryness, bacteria, or inflammation—can lead to acne and other conditions.

So rather than treat baby acne as a problem to “clear up,” Soothing Serum treats it as a signal that skin needs support. Our formula works with your baby’s biology—not against it—to bring the skin back into a calm, resilient state.

Q: Do parents use Soothing Serum for anything else besides baby acne?

Yes—and not just for flare-ups. Soothing Serum is designed for daily use to help prevent irritation before it starts and to strengthen the skin’s natural defenses against everyday environmental stressors.

While we originally developed it to address baby acne, it quickly became a go-to for parents managing everything from cradle cap to dry patches, minor scrapes, bug bites, and eczema-prone areas. Many parents even use it on themselves—under moisturizer or after shaving—because it calms, hydrates, and balances the skin without any heaviness.

When something is gentle enough for preemies, but effective enough to make a visible difference, it doesn’t just solve problems—it becomes a trusted part of your family's daily routine.

Q: How does Soothing Serum reflect BEB Organic’s broader philosophy?

Everything we make starts with one simple question: What would it take for this to be safe enough for a baby born at 28 weeks?

That’s our filter. From formulation to sourcing to packaging. It’s why Soothing Serum is:

• Third-party tested for safety and allergens

• Made with 95% certified organic ingredients

• Top-rated by the EWG

• Non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free

• Free from fragrance, essential oils, parabens, and harsh synthetics

We also care deeply about how products feel. Texture matters for neurodevelopment. Touch builds connection. Soothing Serum is lightweight, quick to absorb, and leaves no sticky or greasy residue—perfect for a baby’s skin and your fingertips.

This serum is part of a larger mission: to support families in creating loving, healing routines that build skin resilience and emotional connection. That’s the heart of BEB Organic.

Q: Final thoughts for parents navigating baby acne or skin challenges?

You’re doing better than you think. If you’re here, researching, reading, and trying to understand your baby’s needs—you’re already doing something beautiful.

Don’t let anyone tell you that your concerns are too small. If it matters to you, it matters. Baby acne might seem like a tiny thing, but when we tend to these “tiny things” with care, consistency, and love, they become part of something much bigger: a relationship of trust, bonding, and healing between you and your child.

That’s why I created Soothing Serum—not just to treat bumps on the skin, but to support something deeper. A moment of connection. A gentle touch. A small act of care that can change everything.