Caldesene Baby Cornstarch Powder with Zinc Oxide
Quick verdict
- Verdict
- Caution
An OTC skin-protectant drug powder: cornstarch 81% and zinc oxide 15%, with fragrance and kaolin. A different kind of product from ordinary powders.
- Caution
- A loose medicated powder retains the inhalation pathway.
- Contains fragrance and kaolin.
- Good
- The Drug Facts label states the active ingredients (cornstarch 81%, zinc oxide 15%) and warnings clearly.
- Specific away-from-face application directions.
What we could not verify
- Crystalline silica/mineral phase characterization
- pesticide/botanical purity panel
- Heavy metals: No public product-specific heavy-metal panel (laboratory, method, lot and numerical result) was located.
- Asbestos: No product-specific asbestos report was located for this clay- or mineral-containing product.
- Microbiology: No public product-specific microbiological limits or report was located.
- Dust and inhalation: No product-specific particle-size, dustiness or aerosolization study was located.
- Other testing: No public data located for: crystalline silica/mineral phase characterization; pesticide/botanical purity panel.
Why we reached this verdict
Verdict: Caution (reasonable, with trade-offs), as an OTC skin-protectant drug powder. Caldesene Baby (5 oz, NDC 63736-305-05) is not an ordinary cosmetic powder. It is sold as an over-the-counter skin protectant with a Drug Facts label, so it should not be compared to cosmetic powders without that context.
The formula. The current DailyMed label lists the active ingredients as Cornstarch 81% and Zinc Oxide 15%, both as skin protectants. Inactive ingredients: Aloe Vera Gel; Chamomile; Fragrance; Kaolin; Tricalcium Phosphate. The label directs that it be kept away from the child's face and mouth to avoid breathing it, and applied close to the body, away from the face, into the diaper or the hand.
In its favor. The Drug Facts label states the active percentages and warnings clearly, and it gives specific away-from-face directions. No active recall was identified for this exact current product.
Against it. A loose medicated powder keeps the inhalation pathway. It also contains fragrance and kaolin, and no public product-specific heavy-metal, asbestos, crystalline-silica, microbiological or pesticide report was located. Its label is unusually detailed, but that detail is about the label, not contaminant testing.
Where it sits. A reasonable option for a specific purpose. For routine diaper-rash prevention, a fragrance-free barrier cream or ointment does the job without an airborne powder, and a pediatrician is the right person to ask about active diaper rash.
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Check PriceAmazon · Paid linkWhat we like and what concerns us
- Caution
- A loose medicated powder retains the inhalation pathway.
- Contains fragrance and kaolin.
- Good
- The Drug Facts label states the active ingredients (cornstarch 81%, zinc oxide 15%) and warnings clearly.
- Specific away-from-face application directions.
Why we reached this verdict
Verdict: Caution (reasonable, with trade-offs), as an OTC skin-protectant drug powder. Caldesene Baby (5 oz, NDC 63736-305-05) is not an ordinary cosmetic powder. It is sold as an over-the-counter skin protectant with a Drug Facts label, so it should not be compared to cosmetic powders without that context.
The formula. The current DailyMed label lists the active ingredients as Cornstarch 81% and Zinc Oxide 15%, both as skin protectants. Inactive ingredients: Aloe Vera Gel; Chamomile; Fragrance; Kaolin; Tricalcium Phosphate. The label directs that it be kept away from the child's face and mouth to avoid breathing it, and applied close to the body, away from the face, into the diaper or the hand.
In its favor. The Drug Facts label states the active percentages and warnings clearly, and it gives specific away-from-face directions. No active recall was identified for this exact current product.
Against it. A loose medicated powder keeps the inhalation pathway. It also contains fragrance and kaolin, and no public product-specific heavy-metal, asbestos, crystalline-silica, microbiological or pesticide report was located. Its label is unusually detailed, but that detail is about the label, not contaminant testing.
Where it sits. A reasonable option for a specific purpose. For routine diaper-rash prevention, a fragrance-free barrier cream or ointment does the job without an airborne powder, and a pediatrician is the right person to ask about active diaper rash.
Explore materials & ingredients
Explore the evidence
The ingredients in the record
Cornstarch 81%
- Active ingredient
- Cornstarch 81%
Zinc Oxide 15%
- Active ingredient
- Zinc Oxide 15%
Aloe Vera Gel
- Inactive ingredient
- Aloe Vera Gel
Chamomile
- Inactive ingredient
- Chamomile
Fragrance
- Inactive ingredient
- Fragrance
Kaolin
- Inactive ingredient
- Kaolin
Tricalcium Phosphate
- Inactive ingredient
- Tricalcium Phosphate
Product identity
| Brand | Caldesene |
|---|---|
| Exact variant | OTC Skin Protectant |
| Size | 5 oz |
| UPC, SKU or code | NDC 63736-305-05 |
| Availability | Listed as available. CURRENT / AVAILABLE |
| Powder base | Cornstarch + zinc oxide |
Ingredients and formula
Active ingredients
- Cornstarch 81%
- Zinc Oxide 15%
Inactive ingredients
- Aloe Vera Gel
- Chamomile
- Fragrance
- Kaolin
- Tricalcium Phosphate
What the formula does and does not contain
| Ingredient | Listed? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Talc | No | Not recorded |
| Cornstarch | Yes | Not recorded |
| Arrowroot | No | Not recorded |
| Clay (kaolin, bentonite or other) | Yes | Not recorded |
| Zinc oxide | Yes | Not recorded |
| Fragrance or parfum | Yes | Not recorded |
| Essential oils | No | Not recorded |
Manufacturer application instructions: DailyMed: keep away from child's face and mouth to avoid breathing it; apply close to body, away from face, into diaper or hand.
What testing is public
Loose powder can become airborne, and no talc-free powder should be treated as free of an inhalation pathway. No product-specific particle-size, dustiness or aerosolization study was located for this product.
No public product-specific report was located for heavy metals, asbestos, crystalline silica, microbiological, pesticide residues, pfas or total fluorine.
What we still don't know
5 open questions
- Heavy metals. No public product-specific heavy-metal panel (laboratory, method, lot and numerical result) was located.
- Asbestos. No product-specific asbestos report was located for this clay- or mineral-containing product.
- Microbiology. No public product-specific microbiological limits or report was located.
- Dust and inhalation. No product-specific particle-size, dustiness or aerosolization study was located.
- Other testing. No public data located for: crystalline silica/mineral phase characterization; pesticide/botanical purity panel.
Price
| Price tier | $ Relative cost per ounce among baby powders. $ is under $1.50 per ounce, $$ is $1.50 to $4.50 per ounce and $$$ is over $4.50 per ounce. |
|---|---|
| Cost per ounce | $ per ounce |
Regulatory and historical notes
- FDA and regulatory history
- Active OTC monograph skin-protectant drug listed on DailyMed; no active recall identified for this exact current record.
Sources
- Baby Cornstarch Powder with Zinc Oxide, OTC Skin Protectant Caldesene. Published or updated: not stated. Accessed 2026-09-19. (S18 in the source list)
Read the category’s editorial sources
Final verdict against our baby powder standard
Caution Published as Reasonable, with trade-offs (Caution tier) under the published standard for baby powder, based on the specific, dated findings above. That standard was written before this or any other product on the page was evaluated, and doesn't change to fit a favorite See the full site-wide standard for how every category is held to the same process.