“Cool cream,” my toddler said, and then she asked to play “roly poly” with the container of Coterie Bun Balm. That makes sense: it’s shaped like a bulbous round double-blob.

It wasn’t a toy set: it was just Coterie’s newest launch, the Skincare Essentials Set and the cloud-like container for the diaper balm, called Bun Balm. We had just taken a bath with the Coterie First Wash and done a full-body rub of the Soft Cream lotion. There’s nothing better than a freshly-washed baby or toddler, especially when it’s with skincare from one of your favorite diaper brands!

In this review, learn about the Coterie Skincare line, as I was one of the first to try it after it hit the market and became available for sale. Learn about the washing experience with these products, and if they’re worth it (I’ll be honest!).

Key takeaways in this review

  • Coterie’s new baby and toddler skincare line includes 3 products: the body wash/shampoo, body lotion and diaper balm.
  • While the price tag may be surprising, it falls in line with all of Coterie’s standards for their products (Hypoallergenic, Fragrance free, Dermatologist tested), just like their diapers.
  • I’ll compare the Coterie skincare essentials to Tubby Todd’s Regulars bundle for those who are interested in one versus the other.
  • Lastly, see the highlights of my use so far of the Coterie skin products for babies (bath time lathering, the smell of the products and the feel of them).

What I got

I got the entire Coterie Skincare Essentials set (”The Skin Essentials”), which includes the three skincare products.

All are currently offered only in unscented versions at the Coterie website.

I did not try The Minis travel-sized set. The items in the Minis set are the same as in the Skincare Essentials set, just in “mini” form (1.69 fl oz for the wash and skin cream, 1.41 oz for the balm).

First impressions

I got Coterie’s The Skin Essentials set in the mail, and inside a shipping box was the Coterie Skin Essentials set box. Upon opening it up, I found the following:

  • Wrapped in translucent paper
  • Each item boxed
  • That minimalist Coterie branding that millennial parents love
  • A perfect amount of unwrapping if you were to give this as a gift to a new parent

That being said, this would make an amazing gift for a new mom, or something to put on a baby registry for a second child if you already “have everything” from your first.

Highlights of each skincare product

Let’s go product by product and I’ll tell you how it went using these with my toddler.

First Wash

This is my #1 pick among the Coterie Skincare Essentials. I’ll outline the reasons we like it.

  • It is thick for sure. It makes it feel like an upscale and quality bath time product for that reason.
  • The lather is effortless. By this I mean that i lathered it up in my hands and immediately, we had a huge pile of fluffy lather in my toddler’s hair in the bath. It was great for weeding through knots, pulling out a small wood chip (?) that got into her hair from some playground play at preschool
  • It really helped with knots in my toddler’s hair. I could tell that there was a difference in combing her hair with our Frida brush after the bath when compared to a basic Johnson & Johnson shampoo. This was the best part of using the First Wash.

Soft Cream

I was a little bit let down here, mostly because we’ve been using Tubby Todd Everyday Lotion in both the scented and unscented varieties, as well as a basic Johnson & Johnson baby lotion that my toddler enjoys, day after day.

The Coterie Soft Cream was a bit thin, but that’s only because I’m comparing to Tubby Todd. Those are the only downfalls, though. It moisturized fine, it was scentless and it’s a quality lotion that has not had any allergic reactions or sensitivity issues for us this far.

As I’ll mention below, I also had a ton of trouble getting the squirt top to work on the First Wash.

Bun Balm

I like the Bun Balm from Coterie! I think what I like most is that of all the diaper creams I’ve used (Aquaphor, Vaseline, Tubby Todd Diaper Paste, A&D, Desitin), this one is the smoothest, least oily and least fragrant. It is completely unscented, and it feels nice on adult hands, which is half the equation, right?

Going onto a child’s skin, it is not too thick and not too thin, it’s soft and slides on well and rubs in nicely. It was not gross on my hands afterward. I just used some instant sanitizer and was good to go before doing a proper wash with soap in the sink.

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Coterie calls it ‘silky’ and I think that’s actually the best way to describe it. Plus, you can use it for other parts of a child’s body (chafed areas, or spots that need some moisture) in addition to the diaper region. Note: it goes on completely clear with no other colors and it’s not even too shiny.

Can you use Coterie Skincare products with a newborn?

Absolutely you can, yes. I’d for sure have used these with both my children when they were newborns (not too long ago!) because of the very transparent nature of Coterie products, as well as the dye-free and fragrance-free qualities.

I’m typically not picky with the products we use in the bath and on skin, but the “cleaner” the better, especially for families whose children have conditions like eczema, sensitivities or allergies.

Criticism

My only real critiques are here.

Squirt tops on the large bottles

I could not and cannot, for the life of me, get the top of one of the large bottles to squirt. I had to open them both originally by screwing off the entire cap with the squirt nozzle and the tube, and use them like that.

For that reason, too much First Wash came out (we had a very lather-full bath) and not enough Soft Cream came out when we were lotioning up.

Maybe the squirt tops need a bunch of twisting and turning? Dan also was not able to get them to unscrew and pop off so that we could squirt out the product. I finally got the Soft Cream one to work.

Soft Cream is just a dab thin

I was assuming that the Soft Cream would have a consistency more like the Everyday Lotion from Tubby Todd, which we have been using until we got the Coterie Skincare Essentials. If you read my Tubby Todd Skincare review, you’ll see how happy I am with this stuff!

So when the Soft Cream came out with a slightly thinner consistency, I was a big surprised. It’s totally fine in the end.

No fragrance, if that was what you wanted

For now, the Skincare line from Coterie has NO fragrance. If you are the type to like your child to smell like lavender, or rosemary, or “powder fresh” after the bath, then the Coterie skincare products are not for you. Each of them has zero scent.

What you could do is use one at a time, so you could use a scented shampoo from another brand, with Coterie’s Soft Cream after the bath, if you wanted your baby or toddler’s hair to smell like something fragrant at bedtime.

Comparison: Coterie vs. Tubby Todd skincare products

I went to bed last night trying to play out in my head the exact differences between the main products of each brand’s skincare items for babies and toddlers. The two have a lot in common, from the hypoallergenic ingredients to the absence of parabens. So what is the difference?

If I were to compare them in some quick takeaways:

First Wash (Coterie) vs. Tubby Todd Hair + Body Wash

Coterie’s First Wash makes a fluffier and thicker lather than Tubby Toddy’s Hair + Body Wash (which, don’t get me wrong, is a favorite in this house)

Soft Cream (Coterie) vs. Tubby Todd Everyday Lotion

The winner here is the Tubby Todd lotion. I found Coterie Soft Cream to be a little runnier. If you want fragrance, Tubby Todd is also the route to go because they make a few scents. I am wondering if Coterie will follow suit for the scent-forward crowd.

Bun Balm (Coterie) vs. Tubby Todd Diaper Paste

They’re different; the Bun Balm is a clear more Vaseline-like substance, whereas the Tubby Todd Diaper Paste is more of a thick and white diaper cream that is similar to Desitin Extra Strength. I like the Bun Balm as an everyday every-change diaper balm.

The plus is that it can also be used for skin. My other main complaint with Tubby Todd’s Diaper Paste is that the tube is hard to empty and you have to keep squeezing it. The Bun Balm container is easy to use and dip into, and you could effectively scrape out every last drop when you’re nearing the end of your container of it.

Bun Balm (Coterie) vs. Tubby Todd All Over Ointment (AOO)

They’re different as well. The Bun Balm from Coterie can be used for skin creases or for moisturizing (Coterie emphasizes the multi-use of it). Tubby Todd’s viral AOO has a very different feel because it’s thick, sticky and more like a super-strength moisturizing lotion that wouldn’t be used in diaper areas. But a lot of my friends swear by the AOO for treating and soothing baby/child eczema.

My Tubby Todd skincare review gives an intro to a lot of the TT products, if you’d like to have a clear look at that.

Is the Coterie Skincare line worth it?

I was chatting with my friend who has a baby the same age as my son, commenting how the First Wash was absolutely fantastic for my toddler’s hair. We joked that our infants don’t yet have much hair at all, and that any good old baby wash will do, if we’re putting hair needs aside.

So that’s the main question, if you’re wondering if the Coterie Skincare collection is worth it for your child. It depends if you want to spend for the price tag on all the items, knowing that Coterie made them hypoallergenic, fragrance free, dye free, dermatologist tested and the works (check out the Coterie site for full details on that).

I’ve talked at length about what newborns really need, and that goes for babies as well: the truth is, it’s bath wash, a good and safe lotion and some diaper balm that can be used on other areas of skin. The Coterie Skin collection nails that.

In order of “worth it,” here is where I’ll emphasize the value:

  • First Wash: I thought the lather was fantastic, and made washing more fun, as well as combing through toddler hair easier.
  • Bun Balm: this diaper and skin balm is NOT oily, sticky, thick or annoying. It’s nice, if I can be very honest about how it goes on smooth and doesn’t get under your nails.
  • Soft Cream: probably my least favorite of the bunch, and pricy, but some families whose children have skin sensitivities may require an oil-less, alcohol-less and paraben-free body lotion to share across various little ones, as well as parents. I just hoped it would be thicker.

How to get the Coterie Skincare line at a discount (or on sale)

While Coterie rarely has sales, there are some hacks up my sleeve for getting the skincare line at a small discount right now.

  • If you buy the First Wash, you’ll save 12% when you also buy the Soft Cream or Bun Balm, getting them for $35.00 (regular price is $40) when you add a Diaper or Pant Auto-Renew.
  • Use our exclusive Half Half Home Discount code: Use the Coterie discount code “HALFHALFHOME” at checkout for 15% off (Coterie website only) new customer subscription purchases with a min. spend of $40.
  • Get FREE shipping on the Coterie website by looking at your cart, and seeing where the blue text says, “You are $XX away from free shipping.” Add to your cart, and get the whole order to ship free with the tips above.

Why I like Coterie

Considered the “Rolls Royce of diapers,” Coterie is a well-known brand among parents. You can see exactly what I think about Coterie diapers at my Coterie diaper review. I’ve also tried Coterie’s wipes, and they’re among the best of the best out there!

Coterie focuses a lot on ingredients and how their products are made. They also come at a cost, and I discuss in my list of the best and worst diapers that you absolutely get what you pay for when it comes to diapers for your child.

The same goes for skincare solutions for babies, toddlers and kids: safe and reputable ingredients and quality don’t come as cheap as the run-of-the-mill big box stuff.

So in any case, I hope you enjoyed this review and learned a few things about Coterie’s skincare line and how it worked out for me and the kids.