Since the onset of the California Baby reformulation situation, moms have been asking about other products to ease the discomfort of eczema and dry skin on themselves and their babies without irritation and extra synthetic ingredients.  This is a hard job because no product is going to be the exact same thing.  Based on the feedback I received on Facebook, I’ll provide a list of products that are comparable and varying in availability and price.  Please be aware that I have not tried all of these products so you’ll have to do some experimenting to find something that works for you. Also, if you were using CA Baby products due to sensitive skin or allergies you’ll have to be careful about what you select and test things out to determine if a reaction will occur.  Also, not all of these contain calendula.  I tried to find ones that did but I wanted to provide other solutions that may work as well.

Online / Private Brand Creams

My Mamas Love PEA Cream – This is a natural balm that has only a few simple ingredients.  This might be a good one to try if you have chronic problems with rashes from products. Its desined for Psoriasis, Eczema and Acne.  Allergy friendly formula.  Ingredients: Organic, extra-virgin olive oil; bees wax; organic licorice; organic myrrh; and organic chlorella.

Price: $9.99 for a 1.7oz. jar

Zoe Organics Extreme Cream – I love this company for many reasons but mostly because they are passionate about providing pure products that are effective and safe. Rates a 0 in EWG and uses all organic ingredients, including calendula extract. Ingredients:  butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter*, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil*, rosa rubiginosa (rosehip seed) oil*, persea americana (avocado) oil*, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil*, calendula officinalis (calendula) extract*, althaea officinalis (marshmallow) root*,  rosemarinus officinalis (rosemary) extract*. *certified organic ingredient

Price: 2 oz jar is $18 / 4oz is $32

Botanical Baby Eczema Cream – I don’t know much about this brand but it does contain calendula and seems to get decent feedback. This has nut oils in it though so if you deal with nut allergies you might want to skip this one. Ingredients: * Lavendula angustifolia (Lavender) Hydrosol, *Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, *Prunus Amygdalus, Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, *Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, *Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, *Calendula Officinalis Extract, *Hippophae rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Seed Extract,* Rosa rubiginosa (Rosehip) Seed Extract, Zinc Oxide, Xanthum Gum, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), & *Lavendula angustifolia (Lavender) Essential Oil.

Price: $17.95 for 4 oz.

Bubble & Bee Organic Body Butta Unscented – Bubble & Bee is a favorite around here.  Stephanie really knows her stuff and there is never anything icky or synthetic in her products.  Her Body Butta is safe for babies and while it doesn’t contain calendula, she utilizes oils and butters that are known to soften skin and protect.  This would be one to try out.

Online/Private Brands: Balms

Labalee Bathworks Baby Moisturier- This one is natural and made for dry sensitive skin.  This balm is unscented and doesn’t have any essential oils that may cause allergies or irritation.  It is also readily available to our Canadian readers via My Little Green Shop.  Ingredients: olea europaea oil (organic olive oil), helianthus annuus seed oil (organic sunflower oil), butyrospermum parkii (organic shea butter), cococ nucifera oil (organic coconut butter), cera alba (natural beeswax), simmondsia chinensis seed oil (organic jojoba oil), tocopherol (vitamin E)

Price: $13.95 for a 2.8oz tin

LuSa Organics Booty Balm – LuSa Organics is one of my favorite companies for skin care items.  I’m hoplessly addicted to many of her soaps, lip balms and sugar scrubs.  But I’m here to suggest the Booty Balm for dry skin and eczema.  She also has a great calendula bar soap that’s perfect for babies too. Ingredients: *Olive oil, *jojoba oil, local beeswax, *avocado oil; flowers of *calendula, *lavender, and *chamomile; essential oil blend (lavender, patchouli, peru balsam, and chamomile); and grapefruit seed extract, citric acid, and silver citrate (natural preservatives).

Price: Full Size (1.75-oz. tin) – $7.75

Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm - No list about skin care for babies is complete without Earth Mama Angel Baby. One of my all time favorites and the brand that pops into my head when people ask what’s safe.  EMAB carries a Baby Bottom Balm that features organic ingredients including organic Calendula. Ingredients: Olea europaea (organic olive) oil, Calendula officinalis (organic calendula) extract, Hypericum perforatum (organic St. John’s wort) extract, Stellaria media (organic chickweed) extract, Plantago major (organic plantain extract), Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, Euphorbia antisyphilitica (candelilla), Simmondsia chinensis (organic jojoba) oil, proprietary blend of Lavandula angustifolia (organic lavender) oil, Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and Commiphora myrrha (myrrh) oil

Price: $9.95 (1 oz. jar)

Dimpleskins Sweet Cheeks Body Balm – I’ve tried their Bum Bum Balm and loved it (it’s perfect for cloth diapering, no zinc.  They have this balm for dry chapped skin and patches.  It’s smooth and buttery but goes on like other balms do. Ingredients: Coconut Oil, pure Beeswax, organic Jojoba Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Cocoabutter, Vitamin e Oil, pure Lavender and Vanilla essential oils.

Price: $12 for a generous tin (30g)

MotherLove Green Salve - This is a relatively new discovery for me which I found on a fellow greenie blog Retrohousewife Goes Green. The ingredients are pretty simple which is why I like it.  Less is more they say.  Ingredients: extra virgin olive oil*, beeswax*, plantain herb*,comfrey herb*, marshmallow root*, calendula flower*  *Certified Organic Ingredients

Price: $8.95

Sweet Knee Bun Glaze – I don’t know much about this product line but it came recommended to me by another mom.  This balm is certified organic as well as gluten free which could be a bonus for some. It looks impressive. I have not tried it but looks like a good product to try out. Ingredients: Ingredients: althea officinalis (marshmallow) leaf*, plantago major (plantain leaf)*, cal. officinalis (calendula)*, matricaria recutita (German chamomile) flowers* infused in olea europaea (olive) oil*, helianthus annus (sunflower) oil*, theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter*, beeswax.

Online / Private Brand Lotions

Poofy Supernaturals Ciao Eczema Lotion – I discovered Poofy Organics last summer from a green blogger friend (Hi Lori) and I love their commitment to being as natural as possible.  This is  lotion that does utilize Calendula.  Ingredients: Distilled water, Organic Wheat Germ Oil, Organic Calendula Oil, Organic Unrefined Shea Butter, Organic Vegetable Glycerin, Emulsifying Wax, Vitamin A & D, Organic Vitamin E, Organic Evening Primrose Oil, Organic Rosemary Extract.  Poofy notes that they started adding benzoin gum to extend the shelf life to 5 months but they are made to order and arrive fresh with an expiration date.

Price: $17.00 for an 8.5 oz bottle

Babo Botanicals Oatmilk Calendula Lotion - I love Babo Botanicals products and their organic ingredients.  This silky lotion might do the trick on winter dry skin. It’s fragrant in a powdery baby sort of way. Ingredients: Purified Water (Agua), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil*, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax NF, Glyceryl Stearate SE (Vegetable) , Glycerine (Vegetable), Colloidal Oatmeal, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Glucono Delta Lactone (Sugar), Organic Calendula Officinalis*, D-Alph Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Glyceryl Caprylate (Vegetable & Fruit), Carrageenan (Red Seeweed), Evening Primrose (Oenothera Biennis) Oil, Beeswax, Vegetable Cetyl Alcohol (Coconut), Organic Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract*, Wildcrafted Nasturtium Officinale (Watercress) Extract*, Organic Pueraria Lobata (Kudzu) Root Extract*, Potassium Sorbate (Food Grade Preservative), Natural Essential Oil Blend of Vanilla and Cedarwood *Certified Organic Ingredients

Price: $16.50 for 8oz bottle

Episencial Soothing Cream – Episencial kind of specializes in skin care for bothered skin.  The creator made this product for dry, bothered, itchy, dry skin and I know that her products are pretty gentle and mild so this could be a great possibly solution for eczema. Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis (ORGANIC Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract, Glycerin (Plant Derived), Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Oleosomes, Octyldodecanol, Simmondsia Chinensis (ORGANIC Jojoba) Seed Oil, Beeswax, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil Unsaponifiables, Persea Gratissima (ORGANIC Avocado) Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf (ORGANIC Neem) Extract, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Lactobacillus/Milk Ferment Lysate Filtrate (Yogurt Derived Probiotic), Cucumis Sativus (ORGANIC Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Matricaria (ORGANIC Chamomile) Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (ORGANIC Safflower) Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis (ORGANIC Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis (ORGANIC Marigold) Flower, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Borage (Starflower) Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus (ORGANIC Raspberry) Juice, Sclerotium Gum, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Capryl Hydroxamic Acid (Natural Preservative), Ethylhexylglycerin (Plant Derived Preservative), Caprylyl Glycol (Natural Preservative)

Price: $10.99 for 8oz

Chain Store Brands

Many of you have asked me to provide some suggestions on product lines that are readily available at local stores.  If you are looking to switch brands, I have a Safer Skin Care Cheat Sheet full of options varying from boutique to mainstream brands.  Be aware that chain store brands, while more accessible, may contain a synthetic chemical or two so read your labels to determine if they are acceptable to you.

I haven’t come across too many store brand creams that feature calendula oils in their formulas.  So I’ll list some brands that are accessible, but again, you’ll have to experiment and see what fits.

Badger Baby Balm - I really don’t need to tell you how great Badger products are when it comes to safety.  They made a Badger Baby Balm that does feature calendula and is a simple few ingredients.  It’s a balm, not a cream, so there is that but whatever works.  I use their balms on my feet and hands all the time. Love the Vanilla Coconut… but I digress. USDA Certified: Ingredients: *Olea Europaea (Extra Virgin Olive) Oil, *Ricinus Communis (Castor) Oil, *Cera Alba (Beeswax), Essential Oil of *Anthemis Nobilis (Roman Chamomile), and CO₂ Extract of *Calendula Officinalis (Calendula). * = Certified Organic

Price: $10 for 2 oz. tin (you can probably bargain shop for this one)

Aveeno Baby Organic Harvest Lotion  - This is a new line from Aveeno that I discovered.  The price point is about what you would expect but the ingredients list is very impressive.  Not to mention tear free, and allergy tested.  Here is the ingredients list from the lotion - Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Water, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Glycerin*, Tapioca Starch*, Acacia Senegal Gum*, Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Beeswax*, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract*, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, *Certified Organic.  The foaming wash and shampoo as well as the diaper cream both have excellent ingredients lists.  FINALLY someone has been listening. The lotion is also USDA Certified and available right now at Target and other stores.

Price: Each product retails for about $12 for 8oz.

Shea Moisture Baby Lotion - This line appeared in the last year at my Target store locally and features a body wash, lotion and a thicker cream/balm.  They do have a respectable ingredients list.  The only flag that came up for me was for Japanese Honeysuckle which was a discussed ingredient a year ago.  I’ll link to that here so you can read about it.  In a nutshell, it probably has estrogenic properties like parabens do. I’ll leave the decision up to you. Ingredients: Deionized Water , Raw Butyrospermum Parkii Oil (Shea) , Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter (Cacao) , Mangifera Indica Seed Butter (Mango) , Olus Oil , Argania Spinosa Nut Oil (Argan) , Centhera Biennis Oil (Evening Primrose) , Borage Officinalis Oil , Simmondsia Chinensis Oil (Jojoba) , Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil (Rosehip) , Tocopherol (Vitamin E) , Boswellia Serrata Oil (Frankincense) , Chamomile Extract , Myrrh Extract , Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract (Honeysuckle and Japanese Honeysuckle)

Price: $7-9 ber 8oz bottle

Weleda Calendula Baby Cream – This is a thicker cream made by Weleda that does feature Calendula in the formula.  Some people have issues with the ingredients in this product so you’ll have to take a look and see if it meets your requirements.  Weleda is more readily available than other brands.  Benzyl Benzoate and Benzyl Salicylate a little suspect to me… found in nature but ruined during processing is a possibility.  Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Lanolin, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Kaolin, Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Beeswax, Glyceryl Linoleate, Silica (Silica), Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Matricaria (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Fragrance (Parfum)*, Limonene*, Linalool*, Benzyl Benzoate*, Benzyl Salicylate*, Geraniol*. * from natural essential oils

Price: $12 for a 2.6 oz tube (you can bargain shop for this one too)

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This is not a list of every product out there that is a suitable for dry skin and eczema… just a list of the ones I inspected and deem a safe alternative.  If you know a brand of calendula or comparable cream/lotion that may belong here, please email me and let me know soI can check it out!

There has been some drama going on around Facebook regarding a reformulation of the product line by California Baby. Before you panic I wanted to present the facts to you so that you may make an informed decision.  Since I’m Mrs Bad News Bear around here I’ll just simply fill you all in and you can do what you want with that information.

Several months ago a friend/reader (Hi Cecelia!) messaged me on Facebook asking me if I noticed that California Baby Shampoo now contained sodium benzoate, when before, it did not.   I wasn’t fully aware but I checked and sure enough this was the case.  I don’t follow each skin care line and monitor their ingredients lists daily so this was news to me.  I didn’t think enough of it at the time until yesterday when I wandered on to California Baby’s Facebook page and saw a large quantity of angry comments about relabeling and calendula creams and miscommunication and changing of calendula and burns and …. wow.  It’s a little out of control so I want to sort out the information provided to us.

• CA Baby added sodium benzoate to their shampoos and body washes, hand soaps, and bubble products.  It’s not in every product  but several now feature this ingredient.  They have an explanation as to why this ingredient was added in their statement (which has now been deleted). Updated:  Many of the products have been reformulated but these are the ones who have had sodium benzoate added. Other ingredients have also been changed with the new labeling so please check your products if you are having any concerns.
• Some products have had up to 10 ingredients changed or altered.  (Thank you Kaitlyn!)
• CA Baby changed some ingredients in their calendula creams, including preservatives (no sodium benoate but caprylhydroxamic acid and glyceryl caprylate which are “naturally derived from coconut”)
• They removed safflower oil and replaced it with “organically grown canola oil”.
• They switched their calendula oil to a more concentrated calendula oil that they make in-house – it’s darker in color and has a slightly different smell.  They are using less of it because of it’s increased potency and moved it down the ingredients list accordingly.
• CA Baby did not announce any reformulations immediately which caused some uproar on the Internet. They have apologized and made a statement on their FB Wall (It was deleted).  They said they have updated all the ingredients lists on their website.  The only list I see missing is for the hair detangler.
• Comments regarding reactions to their creams and complaints were posted to the CA Baby facebook wall and deleted.
• Many parents contacted CA Baby to complain about the reactions and say that their complaints were waved off and the company has told them that it was the “same great product it has always been” instead of informing them of a reformulation. (This is what I’ve been told by parents, I’m not stating it as a fact. Just to cover my butt legally – I did not witness these calls.)

You can read about the above points in California Baby’s Facebook statement. (Deleted.)

I got a handful of emails from moms telling me that their babies were experiencing burns and rashes after using their new formula calendula creams and body washes, etc.  CA Baby addressed it in their statement which is now gone,  but I cannot say for certain why a reaction has occurred. (Because I wasn’t there – it would be false of me to make assumptions.. I’m not suggesting I don’t believe you that you had a reaction, because I do. I just can’t comment on why you had reactions.)

Updated: I can only say, if you are experiencing this, stop using it and try something that doesn’t contain any essential oils. (I’m suggesting this because if you are having a reaction to any cream or lotion, switching to something very basic is a good idea.  There is also Rosemary, Lavender and Clary Sage oils in the Calendula Cream as listed. There is no telling what is to blame.  All we know is that this product caused a reaction for some people.)   I had always previously recommended their calendula cream for rashes and eczema and if its working for you I don’t see any reason to stop. (Unless you are purely disgusted by their practices then by all means!)  But if you are not comfortable with it, there are other safe skin care products and techniques you can try.

Stephanie of Bubble & Bee Organics also has posted a very poignant article called Why Companies Reformulate that talks about why things like this occur.

Melinda from one of my favorite companies Earth Mama Angel Baby has published an article on the topic of reformulations as well.

 Updated: I want to mention that I was not aware of the severity of the complaints being removed or about  the responses from the CA Baby company when they received complaints.  I think CA Baby made some very bad mistakes in handling this situation and it is disappointing.  My goal with this post was to help answer a few questions I was receiving regarding the formulas, not to defend CA Baby.  I am on your side and my only mission on SafeMama is to help people find answers.

I am compiling some recommendations on creams that may be suitable replacements for the CA Baby Calendula Cream.  In the meantime, if you are in search of a new product line to use, please visit my Safer Skin Care Cheat Sheet for ideas.

One of my New Year’s resolutions this year was to green my kitchen.  I go through the trouble and expense to buy organic food and use safer dishware, but that  all goes out the window if I’m using a pan that could be leaching harmful toxins into the food I’m preparing. (I am no Eric Ripert but I do fry an egg or two around here.)  I, like you, am skeptical of all the new “green” cookware on the market.  Which ones are really safe? Which brand is the best?

Logic Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet by Lodge Cast Iron

Are they really that safe at all?  One of the safest cooking surfaces is cast iron.  But I’ll be honest here… I tried it and failed miserably.  I had one small cast iron skillet to try out and I was clueless on how to season it or store it… it rusted and our food started to taste weird.  I knew I was doing it all wrong.  I decided to ask Kristen from MightyNest to clear my head on all of it, and she did.  They recently added an entire Kitchenware section to their store so I knew they’d be able to help.  I’m sharing with you my mini-interview with MightyNest.

Q. There are a lot of “green” pans and cookware on the market. How does a consumer know which ones are truly safer?  

This one is tricky as well.  The first step is to avoid Teflon, or other conventional non-stick coatings  a synthetic polymer called polytetrafluoroetheylene (PTFE), also known as Teflon. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), is a chemical used to bond the coating to the pan. Toxic fumes released from heated teflon-coated pans (at medium to high temperatures) cause enough air pollution to kill a pet bird!  These fumes can also cause people to develop flu-like symptoms called “Teflon Flu.”

The “green” pans we have researched say the information is proprietary and won’t disclose what the polymer they are using is.  It is still a synthetic coating, although a better option that teflon, I don’t feel like I can fully recommend it since I don’t understand exactly what they’re using. At MightyNest we only sell products that we know everything that is in them, so we haven’t pursued these products.   Many companies explain the coating as “ceramic.”  You would still want to verify that the pan has no PFOA’s or PTFE’s, and they didn’t simply add ceramic particles to the coating.  If you find a “green” pan you are interested in contact the manufacturer and try to ask as many questions as you can and see if you feel comfortable enough with the responses to make a purchase.

Q. What are the best alternatives to nonstick cookware?
Good old-fashioned cast-iron is the best alternative.  It it has great heat retention, affordable and is extremely durable.

Q. Do you have any tips on using cast iron? I have a small one and it rusted, what did I do wrong?
Cast iron is a safe alternative to conventional non-stick, but it does require a little more maintenance and it is heavier.  We use Lodge cast iron pans.  They are made in the USA and come pre-seasoned (with Kosher certified soy-vegetable oil) so they are ready to use.  Before cooking, apply a vegetable based oil to the cooking surface of your pan and pre-heat the pan slowly (always start on low heat, increasing the temperature slowly).  Another tip is to avoid cooking very cold food in the pan, as this can promote sticking.

Cleaning Tips: After using it,  clean your pan (don’t let it sit there for a couple days!) using hot water and a stiff bristled nylon brush (no soap!) – We have a separate brush just for cast iron pans, that way it doesn’t have any soap on it from washing other things.  If you have some really stuck-on food you can put some water in the pan and boil it a bit to loosen it up (although I have never had to do this).  Also to prevent rust, dry the pan with a towel before putting it away.  You may need to re-season your pan if it is not releasing food easily.  To remove rust - scour off the rust using a very fine grade of sandpaper or steel wool and then follow re-seasoning steps below:

To re-season a cast iron pan: 

1. Wash the cookware with hot, soapy water and a stiff brush. (It is okay to use soap this time because you are preparing to re-season the cookware).
2. Rinse and dry completely.
3. Apply a thin, even coating of MELTED solid vegetable shortening (or cooking oil of your choice) to the cookware (inside and out).
4. Place aluminum foil on the bottom rack of the oven to catch any dripping.
5. Set oven temperature to 350 – 400 degrees F.
6. Place cookware upside down on the top rack of the oven.
7. Bake the cookware for at least one hour. After the hour, turn the oven off and let the cookware cool in the oven.

THANK YOU Kristen from MightyNest for these great tips and advice on safer cooking. MightyNest carries a wide variety of safer cooking products and accessories.  Check out their cast iron selection and their somewhat new Kitchenware section on MightyNest.com.  Stay tuned for part of of our interview where we discuss utensils and bakeware!

Hi everyone! I’ve been so busy but I am researching my little heart out so bear with me.  I have gotten a ton of email from all of my loyal SafeParents on what I thought of the new products that were launched this week by Jessica Alba and Christopher Gavigan’s new company The Honest Company.  I have been waiting with baited breath for the launch of their products and I know many of are wanting to know my thoughts…

Are the products really good? Or greenwashing? Is it worth buying? What do you think about the ingredients? Would you buy it? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I can answer some of those questions, but I have not received any advance samples of any of the products so I can’t give you any first hand information.  But I have spent some time reading their website and can provide some insight based only on what they have published.

A little back story… Jessica Alba has been a wonderful representative for mothers everywhere who want and demand better regulation of chemicals in our every day products.  As a mother herself she has gone to Capitol Hill to use her influence to lobby for these changes.  She teamed up with Christopher Gavigan of Healthy Child Healthy World to bring safer products to the main stream. I love them both for doing this.  As SafeMama I really do support their efforts because I know they are coming from a good place… but I also have my loyalties rooted in you, my readers.  My obligation is to you, to ensure that you get a straightforward idea of products that you use for your families. So The Honest Company, while I am supportive and happy to see their appearance on the market, will get put through the SafeMama Ringer just like everyone else.  No special treatment.  First, the positive:

Cleaning Products

I don’t have much to gripe about with the cleaning products.  They look safe and effective and have a very limited amount of ingredients which is a plus.  The dish soap simply states its made of  ”Ingredients: Water & coconut oil derived surfactants”. It seems a little vague but it’s all we can tell so far. I’m really curious to see how they perform.  Will get back to you at a later date and possibly a separate review of those.

Diapers & Wipes

The Honest Diapers are adorable and I am curious to check them out. They are made with plant based materials with a core of corn starch and acrylic polymers.  The outer shell is comprised of plant fibers and spandex.  They are a safer alternative to regular disposables.  Do not be fooled into thinking they are biodegradable though.  If I had a choice between these and Pampers, you are right in assuming these would be a much safer choice for baby. There are no phthalates from perfumes or dyes and no PVC or chlorine.  They look promising if you are not into cloth diapering, these might be a good choice for the price.

The Honest Wipes are biodegradable and they look great, but there is not a detailed ingredients list published so I can’t comment on the ingredients until I have them in my hands.

Skin Care Products

The positive: All the Honest Company skin care products are free of SLS, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances & dyes, formaldehyde, petrochemicals & common allergens.  Plus!

I am pretty happy with their approach, using organic ingredients when possible and focusing on making a product that isn’t loaded with petro chemicals.  However, in a few products here and there I found some things that I know you try to avoid, as do I, so I might be more selective about which ones I order. (I hate that this is taking on a negative approach but what can I do).

The baby skin care mainly is decent and chock full of lovely acceptable ingredients like Organic aloe and shea butter but  did find a few minor things that bothered me.  Sodium Benzoate (some experts believe that the presence of a benzene ring mixed with other ingredients, like vitamin C, could create a carcinoenic by product – that may not be the case here but there is a tangerine ingredient and citric acid present with it so I thought it was worth mentioning.  Studies have shown Sodium Benzoate to be safe, but because of the other ingredients listed I was weary. ) is present in a few products, the hand wash contains Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Phenoxyethanol - both of which I have struggled with and had many arguments with product makers over the safety of them.  I still firmly maintain that they are not ideal.  They’re not awful in the grand scheme but if you’re being picky….

These discrepancies are found in the types of products most natural product makers struggle with: Water based products and foaming products.  Products that require water as an ingredient are to make the product thinner like lotions.  The drawback is that it requires a preservative and that’s where we tend to find trouble. Sodium benzoate is a preservative, Phenoxyethanol is a preservative and so are parabens.  Preservatives are needed in water based products to lengthen the life of a product and to keep harmful bacteria from developing.

Products that need to have a foaming action are another one.  You need a surfactant to make that luxurious bubbly foam we all enjoy.  But many times those surfactants (usually it’s SLS in mainstream products) that are the troublemakers.  Companies reached for Cocamidopropyl Betaine as a “safe” alternative but I’ve read otherwise.  Some people might not find it troublesome.  Some do.  That decision is yours.

When it comes to the easier products like Healing Balm, The Honest Company has come through. But safe healing balms and rash creams are easier to find. Theirs is Certified Organic which is a nice bonus.  I’m also relatively pleased with their new Honest Sunscreen which uses non-nanoparticle databa zinc.  Some will argue that the Vegetable Emulsifying Wax is undesirable and should have a higher score in the EWG Skin Deep database but I don’t have a firm opinion on that yet.

Overall, some skin care products look great, – fantastic even, and others look like they tried and fell short on a few ingredients by probably listening to a chemist that said “phenoxyethanol is better than parabens so you can use that”.  Which is correct, but if we’re going for 100% safe we want nothing remotely controversial in our baby’s skin care.

Would I buy them?

So.  Again, I respect the intentions of this company… transparency of ingredients and practices, their mission to provide more affordable safer products to parents, is wonderful and I support them in this endeavor.  But I always promise, like The Honest Company, to be HONEST with you about the products you use and buy.  I will hopefully be able to examine things more closely in the future and I hope this answers some of your questions about what I think of their new products.

I would buy some of their products, yes. Are they perfect? I think that’s an unreasonable expectation. but not everyone agrees with my perspective on things.  For some, it might be exactly what they are comfortable with.  If it’s a matter of The Honest Company versus Johnson & Johnson … The Honest Company wins hands down every time.

I was given some really nice things this year for Christmas.  Guess I was a good girl in 2011, huh? Mostly. Anyway I wanted to tell you about one of my favorite new things which was a stainless steel 16 ounce pint cup by Klean Kanteen. I have replaced a lot of my plastics with glass and I never really thought to get any stainless dishware.  But I’ve made good friends with my new pint cup for many reasons.

Aside from the fact that it’s made with high quality non-leaching stainless steel that won’t ruin my concoctions (or let’s face it, my good beer) with BPA or other plastic chemicals, it’s just really nice to use.  I drink a lot of smoothies at home despite my piece of junk blender that I’d like to throw out the window.  But smoothies are an ways way for me to get vitamins and unsuspecting protein into my kids and myself.  Have you ever drank your smoothie out of stainless steel? It changes the whole experience! It feels like you’re indulging in an even more sinful treat  - much like the effect of getting a milkshake served in one of those tall steel cups.It somehow feels colder and more satisfying, even if it is just a mind trick.

I’ve also used it for drinks, and snacks and actually whipped it out at Panera the other day to use for water instead of taking a disposable plastic cup.  I used nothing disposable for the entire meal which was pretty cool considering how tough that can be when dining out.  It’s a cool product and worth the investment especially if you bring it with you when out and about.

Where To Find: You can purchase single 16oz cups at The Glass Baby Bottle!

Happy 2012!  I had a little down time over the holidays to reflect on what I’ve done with SafeMama.com the past 4 years and I am always overwhelmed with lovely emails from readers thanking me for the content on this site.  I have a lot of ideas and subjects I want to research this year and I will also plan on re-releasing some of the usual cheat sheets to add new products as I go.  If there is a cheat sheet you think bears some fresh attention or one I haven’t tackled yet (or if you want to help with one) I am always open to your thoughts and ideas.  Without you, this site wouldn’t keep chugging along.  So new content is ahead.  I have some new things I want to review and introduce you to as well as some fun giveaways too – just to keep things light around here.

I’m not one to make “New Years Resolutions” because they feel like false promises to myself that I create guilt when life doesn’t allow me to live up to them.  Instead I try to make small improvements in my living through the year and then celebrate the successes I had when  a new year starts.  But it’s always nice to have a positive outlook on the months to come and to plan to make small adjustments.

For those of us trying to improve on a healthy lifestyle or a greener approach to living, this is the best time of year to make a list of things we’d like to do to take another step toward a less toxic world.  For me, those items look a lot like:

• Plant a small garden, even if it’s just in pots on the deck.  I’ve slacked off on doing this and would really like to grow some of my own food.
• Be less wasteful. Be more careful about recycling. I’ve gotten a bit careless about it and I lose sleep over it.  I want to have another garage sale, I want to give a new life to the toys and things my kids don’t use.
• Make my kitchen safer.  I still have not completely “greened” up my cooking utensils and would like to gradually find better ways to cook food safely.  It will result in some cheat sheet updates I’m sure.

I’m thankful and grateful for the progress we have made this year regarding issues like toxic chemicals and I love watching organizations and bloggers grow more interested in living a less toxic life.  We’ve made waves.  This year is time for a tsunami (not a real one) in changing the way the world views chemical safety and just protecting our planet in general.

What are your goals for 2012?  What would you love to see covered here on SafeMama.com?  Thank you all for being continued readers and supporters of me and my sponsors – who without, I could not keep SafeMama.com going.

Hey everyone! Are you all getting jingled out like I am?  My preparations are almost done and now the kids are off from school.  They even slept late this morning so they are all revived and ready to drive me nutty! But I secretly love it. We have cookies to bake and neighbor gifts to construct.  But I also have some safety procedures to do each year.

Now is as good a time as any to make sure your home and your gifts are safe so you can enjoy your holly jolly self into the new year.  Please check out my latest article 5 Holiday Safety Tips For Your Home on the Allstate Community Blog!  I appreciate your support and hope you find it helpful!  Ho ho ho

Gift giving for kids, especially the older crowd can get tricky.  Especially when you want to chose things that are safer.  If it’s not an iPod or a DSxi or whatever the gadget du jour is, they don’t want to know about it. But that isn’t always true and one of my new favorite places to shop for fun gifts for kids is with Lavish & Lime! They have tons of unique ideas, some of which I featured in my 2011 Holiday Toy Guide this year.

They carry the Green Science line of learning toys that my son and I love.  We have a couple of their projects now and although my son is 6, which is younger than they recommend, he and I still enjoy doing these together.  The Green Science Potato Clock Kit is a perfect one to start with.  It provides all the pieces and instructions you need, you supply the potatoes.  Once your scientist has the potato clock working they can try to discover what other materials will make the clock operate.  Green Science has several projects, including this Recycled Bottle Light Kit which looks totally awesome!  I love showing kids the possibilities that develop simply by reusing something.

Speaking of science, Lavish & Lime also has project kits that any kid would love (like my own who really enjoyed doing this project with me) such as the Make Your Own Lip Balm Kit.  What is so great is that it’s all safe ingredients, no harmful chemicals and it’s easy to do with a small group of kids.  Included is essential oils, Shea butter, Safflower oil and Beeswax to melt and mix.  It’s pretty easy, and fun to do.  Considering most kids are home for the holidays and by then will be driving us all bonkers, having a project handy is a good idea.  (My kids are already driving me bonkers and school isn’t even out yet!)

Check Out Lavish & Lime!  My Canadian readers will love that they are based in Vancouver, Canada! They carry a great variety of eco-friendly kids gift ideas as well as skin care, kitchen and practical gifts for adults. (I’m loving the Animal Print Envirosax!!! Dear Santa…)

Win!

Lavish & Lime is giving one lucky reader a $25 Gift Card to spend!  Just in time for the holidays…

Here’s How To Enter (Required):

Visit Lavish & Lime and tell me in the comments what you found there that would be a great gift for someone over the holidays!

For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count and you must have already completed the required entry method above):

• Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
• Fan/Like  LavishandLime on Facebook (first name, last initial)
• Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
• Follow @LavishandLime on Twitter (Twitter name)
• Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments): Enter to #win a $25 gift card for eco-gifts from @LavishandLime on @SafeMama http://tinyurl.com/d7k9cmt

One winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Open to Canadian and US readers!  Entries will be accepted until Dec 15, 2011 at midnight EST.  Good Luck!

Congratulations to Courtney D commenter #25!

Happy December 2nd! Shopping is in full swing! I’m not nearly done and I’m sure some of you are right there with me.  I pubished this years picks for safer toys in case you need some suggestions for gifts for the kids. I planned on having this out sooner (and I did give a sneak peak to the Facebook Fans and Twitter followers.  So if you aren’t following along on one of those, please do so you can get first looks at all my new cheat sheets and guides when they come out!).  We traveled over the Thanksgiving holiday and I had a sick kid on my hands along with lots of sitting in traffic.  Not making that mistake next year!

The guide is divided up into ages and provides links to where you can find them to purchase. If you can support a small business with your shopping this year, even on one item, it makes a big difference.  Please also try to support our SafeMama Sponsors with clicks or purchases.  Without them this site would not be possible!  Thank you to all my readers and loyal friends who help keep this site going. I hope to bring you another year full of useful information and new cheat sheets.  I love you all!  Without further ado, here is the 2011 Safer Holiday Toy Guide! Ho Ho Ho!!!

I just returned from a grueling 11 hour drive home after visiting family for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Car travel can be brutal but staying safe while traveling is the most important factor.  Especially when it comes to car seats.  Car seats often times are recalled without you knowing about it, which could put your child in danger on the road. Good news…. It’s easy to stay on top of it though.

Check out my tips for Keeping Up With Car Seat Recalls over on the Allstate Community Blog. You’ll find my tips for making sure your car seats are safe and say that way for the life of the product!  Safe travels!