Organic Mama, remember the Johnson & Johnson scandal with their baby shampoo? 

Popular “natural” baby wash and conditioners are made with controversial ingredients, harsh preservatives, ammonium film formers, parfum, polyethylene glycols (PEGs), mineral oil, phenoxyethanol, and more. 

 

Conventional Baby Washes

Avoid controversial baby washes made with surfactants and other ingredients that are too strong and strip the baby’s skin oil and microbiome. These toxic ingredients cause problems with a baby’s scalp and skin.

❌ “tear-free” conventional products contain ingredients commonly used to make products tear-free and they are actually harmful to the eyes. These ingredients include anesthetizing agents such as synthetic alkyl polyethoxylates and/or alkylphenol polyethoxylates.

❌Alkyl ingredients temporarily numb the eye so that the sting of the shampoo is not felt, and prevents the eye from forming a tear to flush away irritants. These ingredients are typically used in pesticide products to anesthetize insects, and they can penetrate the skin and cause organ toxicity in people.

❌Fragrance: The word “fragrance” or “parfum” on the product label represents an undisclosed mixture of various scent chemicals.👩‍🔬Fragrance mixes have been associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress, and potential effects on the reproductive system! It is not required that manufacturers disclose fragrance ingredients. The International Fragrance Association has a list of over 3,000 ingredients found in fragrance mixes.

❌ Phenoxyethanol: Classified as an irritant and allergen even in concentrations as low as 1%, toxic, and harmful Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses. Can have adverse effects on the central and peripheral nervous systems. Phenoxyethanol is linked to allergic contact uritica and dermatitis. Made with a reaction of highly corrosive phenol with carcinogenic ethylene oxide.

❌ Ethylhexylglyceryn:  Classified as an irritant, Harmonized classification: This substance causes serious eye damage, Severe eye damage observed in animal testing, classified as a mild skin irritant based on animal tests.

❌Ethoxylated: may contain residues of carcinogenic 1,4-dioxane

❌ Tetrasodium EDTA: There have been some case reports of sensitive individuals developing eczema after using cream with tetrasodium EDTA, and it’s known to be a potent eye irritant. Listed also with these names: Edetate sodium, Tetrasodium edetate, Tetrasodium salt, TEA-EDTA.

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Greenwashing Baby Washes 

Greenwashing is when a brand pretends to be natural, eco-friendly, green, or safe when it is not. They use misleading marketing claims to convince you to buy their products. They may have some natural or even a few organic ingredients mixed with these controversial ones:

❌ Natural fragrance: Natural fragrance without listing its component ingredients. Since the word “natural” is not regulated by U.S. law, if the brands don’t disclose what is in it, they may have something to hide! You could still find unsafe ingredients such as solvents, pesticides, and preservatives conventionally found inside synthetic fragrances.

❌ Sodium Benzoate: It has the ability to convert to benzene, a known carcinogen. Benzene can form in soda and other drinks that contain both sodium benzoate and vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Exposure to heat and light, as well as longer storage periods, can increase benzene levels. Classified 3 on ewg.org, identified as capable of causing contact urticaria

❌ Potassium sorbate: This is considered a skin, eye, and respiratory irritant. 

❌ Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract (GSE): considered toxic. Multiple, additive exposure sources (low), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low), and Contamination concerns (high) 

❌ Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine: makes the product to foam. Made by reacting sodium bisulfite and epichlorohydrin with fatty acids from coconut oil (mainly lauric acid). It is created with carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds. Epichlorohydrin is an organochloride and probable carcinogen. (Source) Sodium bisulfite is an irritant and mutagen. (Source) 

❌ Cocamidopropyl Betaine: May cause sensitization by skin contact. Suspected to be an environmental toxin. Toxicity of the amphoteric surfactant, cocamidopropyl betaine, to the marine macroalga, Ulva lactuca.

❌ Benzisothiazolinone:  Classified as irritant

❌ Cetrimonium Chloride: human toxicant or allergen, reproductive toxicity in animals, environmental toxin.

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Organic Baby Washes 

They are made by the more responsible brands that list clearly each ingredient and they source the safest options available.

Approved Cleaning agents:

• ✅ Decyl Glucoside

• ✅ Sodium Cocoate (Organic Coconut Oil & Sodium Hydroxide)

• ✅ Potassium Hydroxide

• ✅ Sodium Hydroxide

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Here you will find safer and milder shampoos formulated with organic and plant ingredient shampoo to respect the delicate skin of your baby. Simply use a washcloth or bath visor to keep the soap from getting in the eyes. 🌸 👼

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My number one Baby Wash brand recommendations are:

• 🌿 Alteya 

• 🌿 Earth Mama

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