Dior Sparks Backlash Over New Baby Products—'Are They Joking?'

Dior has recently launched a new line of infant skincare called Baby Dior, which is being marketed as "a complete skincare line for little ones"—but people online aren't happy.

The line is a four-piece collection that is a reimagining of the luxury brand's infant perfume line that originally launched in 1970. The first product is a $230 "scented water" called Bonne Étoile that has notes of pear, wild rose, and white musk. Next up comes Le Lait Très Tendre, a $115 face and body moisturizer with a pear aroma.

Next, the collection includes L'eau Très Fraîche ($95), a cleansing water that Dior claims is "infused with mallow flower extract and composed of 98 percent natural-origin ingredients," and La Mousse Très Fondante ($95), a cleansing foam for the face, body, and hair.

While Dior has said the fragrance is suitable for babies' delicate skin, researchers at the Technische Universitat in Dresden, Germany, found that the natural scent of both mother and child is important for establishing a bond.

Newsweek reached out to Dior's parent company, LVMH, for comment via email on Monday.

People on X, formerly known as Twitter, have also criticized the launch, with many saying it seems unnecessary and out of touch.

"Are they joking? Babies don't need skincare," one person wrote.

"This is insane. Babies naturally smell good in fact a part of their good smell is intended to help their parents and other potential caregivers bond faster; feel the desire to care for them," wrote another.

A third person added: "Let kids be kids. Everyone is willing to make money out of anything now."

And another user wrote: "i hate ppl so much ur all so afraid of aging youd give a damn infant a skincare routine like theyre a insta beauty guru."

However, not everyone is unhappy with the announcement of the line, with some people saying they're looking forward to buying the products.

"Baby Dior seems nice..." one person posted on X.

"I will be needing it," wrote another.

A third added: "I will be buying this."

People have also criticized the brand for releasing the line after it replaced former ambassador Bella Hadid with Israeli model May Tager, with people assuming it was due to the runway star's comments on the Israel-Hamas war.

On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, which responded with airstrikes and a ground assault on the Gaza Strip. As of November 12, at least 1,400 people had been killed in Israel, while more than 11,070 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Associated Press.

The 27-year-old daughter of Palestinian-American real estate mogul Mohamed Hadid has long been a vocal supporter of Palestinians. On October 27, Bella Hadid took to Instagram to share her thoughts on the conflict and people assumed her leaving the brand had to do with her social media post.

"They openly support Israel please don't buy it," one person wrote on X.

"While supporting genocide which is actively killing thousands of children in Gaza right now. F*** Dior!" wrote another.

"We don't want their genocidal skin care products #FreePalestine," someone else posted.

However, the real reason for Hadid's exit from the French fashion house is unrelated to the conflict. A source told the Associated Press that Hadid actually left Dior Makeup in March 2022 after almost six years when her contract ended, which was long before the latest conflict.