Apr

25

Go to the Head of the Organic Class: Middle School!

Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Skin Care | 301 Comments

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    Welcome Earth Mama Angel Baby Mama U. Students! Here at SafeMama.com you will learn about Certified Made With Organic Ingredients.  By doing so you can enter to win a prize that includes Certified Made With Organic Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash, Happy Mama Hand to Toe Wash, Calm & Clean Hand to Toe Wash and Natural Non-Scents Hand to Toe Wash!

    So many products, so many labels! The label says “natural,” but does that mean safe? What’s really organic? What’s a toxic ingredient? You almost need a degree to decipher label claims!

    That’s why Earth Mama Angel Baby® is giving you the chance to go to the head of the organic class, win prizes and learn about the five levels of Organic and Natural. You’ll get product label information a concerned consumer can really use, plus earn your Mama U. diploma and a chance to win fantastic prizes all along the way, including a ginormous Grand Prize worth over $650! Earth Mama Angel Baby and five respected bloggers will take you from grade to grade: once you pass one level, you can move on to the next. You can do all five in a day or take your time and do it in a week. Just make sure you go to Mama U. Graduation by midnight Sunday, May 1 to pick up your diploma, your special graduate coupon code, and enter to win the Mama U. Graduates Grand Prize bundle of natural and organic goodies, valued at over $650!!

    Welcome to Middle School!

    We’ve covered “100% Organic” and “Organic”, now let’s go to another confusing label claim: “Made With Organic Ingredients”. The words “Made With Organic” represent a labeling category that can be certified under the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). “Made With Organic” means that 70% or more of the ingredients are certified organic, AND the entire product is produced in a NOP certified facility. The entire product is verified by an independent third party certifier.

    The claim “Made with organic” is very commonly seen on personal care product labels. Surely if the ingredient panel says “Made with Organic Lavender” you can trust that that lavender is organic? Sorry, nope. And because the USDA symbol is not allowed on the “Made With” label, it’s very difficult to tell when something is actually certified.

    So, how CAN you tell if a product that has the words “Made With Organic” is certified? This is a toughie to decipher. The USDA symbol is not allowed on the front or informational panel of the product. The company logo may not include the word “Organic”, even though it is certified. The front label claim can only say, “Made With Organic” whatever the ingredient is. IT’S CONFUSING! But at least 70% of the ingredients must be certified organic, and the remaining ingredients must be on the NOP “allowed” National List.  That means no Genetically Modified Organisms, artificial dyes, fragrances or other potentially harmful synthetic ingredients. (see fig. 1)

    fig. 1

    Earth Mama’s organic certifier is QAI (Quality Assurance International). They agree it’s challenging to properly market “Made With Organic” products and still follow the labeling guidelines.

    “If you see the ‘Made With Organic’ claim, turn the product over and you’ll see a ‘certified by’ statement from an accredited certifying agent such as QAI. That would show that the product is certified by an independent third party. No USDA seal is allowed for ‘Made With’.”

    Some certifiers allow significantly lower standards, for example requiring only that 10% of all ingredients by weight must come from organic farming. If you’re stumped you can always do a little research to find what standard the independent certifier certifies to! Here’s a link to a list of companies that certify to the strict NOP standard.

    Middle School Exam (see Crib Notes here)

    Answer the question in the comments for a chance to win!

    Post your answer to the question below in the comments, and you’ll get a chance to win one each of Earth Mama Angel Baby’s Certified “Made With Organic” Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash, Happy Mama Hand to Toe Wash, Calm & Clean Hand to Toe Wash and Natural Non-Scents Hand to Toe Wash! Open to US Residents only.  Winner with a correct answer will be chosen via Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until May 1, 2011.


    Congratulations commenter #65 Caitlin! Good luck to everyone who entered the contest! Hope you win the big prize!

    Q. How can you confirm that the claim “Made With Organic” is USDA certified?

    Congratulations, you can now move on to High School at Fig and Sage! But first, head over to Earth Mama Angel Baby’s Facebook page to let everyone know, “I just learned how to read a label with the claim USDA Certified Made With Organic Ingredients at http://www.SafeMama.com!”

    Check Earth Mama’s Go to the Head of the Organic Class page for blog locations, prize information, and the Crib Sheet for your open book tests. We’ll announce locations, prizes and winners on Facebook and Twitter too.


    Sep

    4

    Maclaren Beginning Skin Care for Mom & Baby

    Filed Under Product Reviews, Skin Care | Comments Off

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      I’m sure you recognize Maclaren from their popular strollers.  That’s how I know them… so when they contacted me about their new line of natural skin care for pregnant moms and babies I was really intrigued.  Maclaren sent me their entire line, called Maclaren Beginning, to check out and wow was I ever impressed with these great products.

      First, I have to say that the entire line looks and feels very elegant and much like a pampering experience.  One of my favorite items is the Nurturing Bath Milk for mom and Calming Bath Milk for baby.  They made up of Certified Organic essential oils and come in a special coated glass bottle.  The bottles feel soft and are thus shatter resistant (it won’t shatter all over the place).  What is really nice is it looks like a massage oil but when you pour a few cap fulls into the bath it turns a milky white color. The scents are subtle and calming and a small bit goes a long way.

      I was also really taken by their Supporting Belly Balm.  Typically, belly balms are really oily or sticky which I guess aides in providing moisture to the skin to stay supple and flexible for the changes it is going through during pregnancy.  The Maclaren Supporting Belly Balm is made with essential oils, shea butter and rosehip to help prevent stretchmarks.  It comes in a little pot with the most fabulous tiny wooden spoon.  It goes on like whipped butter and absorbs immediately so you’re not sticking to your clothes (which was a huge peeve of mine with belly oils). I’m not pregnant anymore but I started using it anyway on my hands and elbows – I love it that much!  And no strong scent… its very light and airy.

      One other product I wanted to highlight is the Protecting Nappy Change Balm.  For one, it comes in a massive 8.4 oz tube – I don’t think you would ever need to reorder it.   It’s goes on much like a thick lotion and is zinc free so it would be perfect for cloth diaperers.  It’s virtually unscented and for $12 it would last a lifetime. I haven’t even put a dent in the tube I have here.

      The Maclaren Beginning line has a large range of products including gift sets.  The baby items include the Protecting Nappy Change Balm, Calming Bath Milk, Absorbing Dusting Powder, Cocooning Massage Oil, Comforting Room Mist and Soothing Delicate Soap (which really is delicate and moisturizing).  The line for mommies includes candles, 3 essential oils, a Balancing Facial Mist (great after a work out), Alleviating Leg Lotion and a Connecting Massage Oil.

      These are really nice products that would be perfect as a gift for a baby shower or just for a friend, since they have such a pretty and delicate feeling, like a special treat for mom and baby.  They providing perfect gift sets on their website for mom to-be and baby. I have to note that these are not chemical free products (some are close like the oils and milks) but they do contain a couple things here and there.  They do make our Skin Care Cheat Sheet and provide ingredients lists on their website.  The line is however free of the biggies like parabens, phthalates, PEG’s, and propylene glycols.

      Get It: You can get the entire Maclaren Beginning line on their website but it’s also available through Diapers.com, Drugstore.com and some independent retailers.

      Jul

      19

      Review: Broody Chick Natural Products

      Filed Under Product Reviews, Skin Care | 2 Comments

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        I reviewed Broody Chick’s compostable diapers a while back and really loved them.  They’re soft which has always been a peeve of mine with eco-friendly diapers. They’re kind of scratchy.  Anyway, after loving her diapers I wanted to see what else she made and was so pleased to find out she had a line of bath care products!  I was excited to check out the whole line.  Broody Chick is a company based in Sidney,  British Columbia.  And the “chick” is a mother of 3 boys who was tired of looking for skin care without chemicals.  So she made her own.  Using local ingredients and selling from her family run cottage based business, Broody Chick continues to provide products to Canadian stores and online shops through their website.

        Broody Chick carries a great range of bath products including a very gentle and mild Bath Bar and Every Body Wash, Every Body Lotion and baby care items like her awesome Boody Balm and Wonderbalm.  I have been using her products for some time (this review is long overdue!) and really love the pure, clean and effective nature of them.  Not to mention they are essentially chemical free.

        I use the Every Body Wash on my 1 year old and I just love the way it makes him smell.  It’s not heavily scented at all but it does have this really clean scent.  The kind you was to keep sniffing later. It makes me want to snuggle up with him and take a nap. It works in a foaming pump so I can use it all over and as a baby shampoo too.

        The Boody Balm is another favorite.  It comes in a big jar and looks like frosting, and even applies creamy and smooth.  It protects really well and doesn’t irritate my sons skin like some natural diaper creams can.  I know some of you have had trouble with CA Baby being irritating.  Boody Balm is also zinc free, so cloth diaper-ers will love it.  I just really like the texture of this stuff… it’s very soothing.  I’ve used it on myself too when I’ve gotten chaffing or irritation from workouts.

        Broody Chick also makes a very nice Sniffs and Snuffles balm that has a light eucalyptus scent for those days when your young ones have a cold.  Ditch the Vicks folks… this stuff is mild and safe.

        Rating: I also want to mention that Broody Chicks products kind of deserve to be in the Top Picks of our 2010 Safer Skin Care Cheat Sheet.  The only thing holding it in the Better Choices Section is the stearic acid which is only in the Boody Balm and the Every Body Lotion.  Other than that one minor thing this line is essentially chemical free and I highly recommend it.  All her products works and feel amazing and I use them on myself and my kids. Love.

        GET THEM: You can purchase Broody Chick bath care products and her compostable diapers and wipes at a variety of online retailers.  Check her website for online retailers and if you are in Canada (Hello Canadian readers!) you can find them at several Canadian stores.

        Jun

        24

        Review: Babo Botanicals Hair Care

        Filed Under Product Reviews, Skin Care | 4 Comments

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          When I was working on the new edition of the SafeMama Skin Care Cheat Sheet for 2010 I came across several new brands that were worthy of the list.  One of those was Babo Botanicals.  They carry a full line of shampoo and skin care for babies and kids that is free of many of the ingredients we try to avoid such as parabens, phthalates, sulfates, 1,4 dioxane, formaldehyde, mineral oils, synthetic fragrances and dyes and propylene glycol.  What IS in Babo Botanicals is carefully selected plant and vegetable based ingredients and organic oils and extracts.

          Babo Botanicals sent me samples of their entire line (which I was really grateful for!) and I was really impressed with the presentation. These would make awesome shower gifts.  You can purchase gift sets and they come in cute little jute handle bags.

          Another thing I found cool is their Rosemary Tea Tree Lice Repel shampoo and leave-in conditioner.  I get questions all the time about handling lice naturally.  This is a great way to deal with lice problems (and perhaps to keep them from spreading if you have multiple children). It’s also clinically proven 95% effective which sounds pretty good.

          I really like how they provide “solutions” with their products, like their Clean Sport Shampoo for sun and swim or their Berry Primrose for tangly or unruly hair.  What’s great is these are all color safe for mom too.  I used them on my own chemically highlighted hair (I know but seriously? Come on) and had good results.

          The scents, I’ll admit are a tiny bit stronger than I’m used to with other natural brands but they get great feedback on all their products.  My personal favorite is the Berry Primrose!  I also packed the Clean Sport detangler in my beach bag for post-swim comb outs.

          What I really love is the care and consideration that goes into this line of products. Their entire line is made on a certified organic farm in New York. They do products in small batches to ensure the highest quality and it really shows in their delivery.  The products came to me wrapped up in colorful tissue in a jute bag.  I felt like I was opening a box of expensive candy rather than shampoo.  Very classy.  Babo Botanicals ingredients earned them a respectable spot on our Skin Care Cheat Sheet.

          Get It: You can order any of their products on their website Babobotanicals.com!

          Jun

          23

          Summer Skincare DIY Tips from Soapwalla

          Filed Under Guest Articles, Skin Care | 3 Comments

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            The creator of Soapwalla, Rachel Winard, has so graciously provided the following tips and DIY recipes for battling summer skin woes. Her product line, Soapwalla is one of my absolute favorites so I know you’ll appreciate her bountiful knowledge –   Enjoy!

            It’s officially summer! That means lazy days, walks on the beach, drippy ice cream cones and blueberry-stained fingertips, as well as the accompanying – and annoying — bug bites, rashes, and sunburns. Luckily, the most effective remedies for the itchier side of summer can be found in your kitchen cupboards!

            Think of the recipes below as your natural summer first-aid kit! (Please test any new ingredient on the inside of your wrist to ensure you don’t have a sensitivity or allergic reaction.)

            Bug Bites

            Bites and stings cause localized skin irritation, generally due to the insect venom that remains under the skin. If you or someone close to you has general swelling and/or difficulty breathing, call 911 immediately. This can be a life-threatening reaction and should not be taken lightly.

            For the more common itchy, painful bite or sting, try the following:

            • Blend a handful of cilantro with a small amount of water (2-4 Tbs). Strain the pulp and apply directly to the affected area and let sit for a few minutes. The cilantro pacifies itching.*
            • For stings: mix equal parts baking soda and water to make a smooth paste. Apply directly to the bite, and let sit until completely dry. Baking soda helps neutralize the venom in the sting.
            • A drop of tea tree oil on the bite or sting will disinfect the area and help prevent infection.

            DIY Insect Repellent

            To avoid bites in the first place, whip up this super easy and effective DIY insect repellent. This is gentle enough to be used daily, and can be reapplied as needed:

            • ½ cup jojoba oil, sweet almond oil or even olive oil from your kitchen
            • 10 drops each of the following essential oils: lemongrass, geranium, citronella, rosemary
            • 5 drops each of the following essential oils: eucalyptus, cedar
            • The oil from two Vitamin E capsules

            Pour all the above in a clean and completely dry spritzer bottle, shake vigorously and let sit for 2-4 hours before use. Shake before each use, then spritz and massage into arms, legs, etc.**

            Rashes

            Treatment varies on type, location, and duration of rash. However, the below is a set of general guidelines and tips. If a rash lingers or is accompanied by fever, nausea or increased pain, please see a doctor.

            • Hike through a nettle forest? These suckers can hurt, are nearly invisible, and scratching only makes things worse. The quickest, easiest and cheapest cure: lightly rub mud onto the affected area (you can use French green, kaolin, or red Moroccan clay mixed with water or milk, or simply grab some mud from your backyard – as long as it hasn’t been treated with pesticides). Let dry completely, then gently wash off. The mud draws out the stingers, leaving you with much happier skin!
            • Apply neem oil directly onto hives, contact dermatitis, or eczema breakouts. Neem oil can be purchased from your local Indian grocery, or online at Mountain Rose Herbs.
            • Try an oat bath: blend ½ cup oats in blender or food processor until finely ground (you can substitute oat flour to save a step).  Pour into running bath water, mixing with your hand to dissolve large clumps. Soak for at least 15 minutes, then gently pat dry.  For localized treatment, make a paste with oat flour and water, packing it onto the rash and gently removing with tepid water after 15 minutes.

            Sunburn

            A sunburn is an acute inflammation of the skin cells because of overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Sunburnt skin may blister and peel, both of which are painful and distracting.

            • Pure aloe vera gel (no preservatives) or even better, the inner gel and juice from a piece of freshly cut aloe vera, can instantly ease heat and itching. Make sure to avoid the yellow sap that sometimes seeps from freshly cut aloe; use only the clear gel and liquid.  Cold aloe vera (stored in the fridge) packs a greater pain-relieving punch.
            • Sunburns are severely dehydrating; make sure to drink lots of water as well as coconut water, which has high concentrations of potassium and electrolytes.
            • Coconut oil effectively soothes burnt areas. Massage lightly into the burn directly after bathing.
            • Create a healing spray by mixing 1 cup pure distilled water plus 15 drops each lavender and blue chamomile essential oils. Store in a mist bottle, shake and spray directly onto sunburned areas to relieve inflammation.**
            • Add 2 cups apple cider vinegar to tepid bath water and soak for 15 minutes. Make sure you use high quality vinegar with no added chemicals or preservatives – I’m partial to Braggs’. You can also use cool vinegar compresses placed directly on particularly burnt areas.

            Rachel Winard is the Brooklyn-based creator of Soapwalla, a line of luxury organic face and body products made with the highest quality organic and food-grade ingredients, never questionable additives such as sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens or harsh and synthetic additives.

            *Dr. Vasant Lad, The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies.

            **Basis of recipe courtesy of Organic Body Care Recipes, Stephanie Tourles

            Mar

            15

            SafeMama’s Safer Baby Skin Care Cheat Sheet

            Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Product Safety, Skin Care | 1 Comment

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              Welcome to the next generation of the Safer Baby Skin Care Cheat Sheet! As we’ve grown and learned, we have become more aware of other ingredients, aside from parabens and phthalates, we wish to avoid. We also realize that there are different trains of thought (how many chemicals you’ll tolerate) and budgets to consider so we decided to simplify this list and split it up. For more detailed information on why we avoid certain ingredients please check our glossary. Below is a listing of brands we recommend. (Last Updated January 31, 2012)

              Notice: Please do not redistribute this list anywhere without our prior written consent. If you would like to share this information with your readers, please use the handy little button we created for doing just that and link back here. I  spent time away from my kids, pouring over ingredients lists, digging in the Skin Deep Database and learning about chemicals and processes. Please help me make that worth my time and energy by not copy/pasting my work on other websites, communities, forums or blogs without permission. Thank you!

              Want to know about skin care & beauty products? Check out LovelyMama for product reviews and recommendations.  Us Mommies need safe skin care too!

              BEST CHOICES: SafeMama’s Top Picks

              The following brands are, according to the latest ingredient information, mostly chemical free (or as close to chemical free as possible). They also rate well in the EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics database and are responsible companies. These are listed in alphabetical order for each rating group and not in a preferential manner. [Key: Brand Name, (Skin Deep rating range for baby items only, if available - Skin Deep ratings start at 0 being the best and goes up to 9 being the most hazardous)]

              BETTER CHOICES

              These are also really GREAT Choices: All baby care items are FREE of Parabens, Phthalates, PEG’s, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Benzoate, Dimethicone, SLS and a bevy of other chemicals I won’t bother listing. Brands exhibit a very respectable ingredients list. (Note: In some brands cases they carry several products that are chemical free however have one or two items that were not.) I personally use many items from brands in this section.

              GOOD CHOICES

              Brands are Paraben, Phthalate, Propylene Glycol, PEG Free though had one or more products containing cocamidopropyl betaine, dimethicone, sodium benzoate, and/or phenoxyethanol. Some of these brands had traces of just one questionable ingredient and others had several, or contained more chemically processed ingredients than I was comfortable with. These are still far better choices than most mainstream baby products and would recommend them. You will need to investigate the products yourself and make a judgment call.

              Gluten Free Brands

              These brands are gluten free according to their informational materials, for those needing to avoid gluten in their skin care. (Not comprehensive)

              • 100% Pure Kids
              • California Baby
              • Earth Mama Angel Baby
              • Episencial
              • Nature’s Paradise Organics
              • TruKid Skin Care

              Basic Skin Care Tips:

              Read labels carefully. Beware of the basics -paraben, fragrance, PEG’s, and propylene glycol. Use our list as a guide.

              Shopping at a “natural” store doesn’t mean everything is paraben and phthalate free. Read labels, know how to decipher the ingredients by reading our glossary and don’t be fooled by the word “natural” or “organic” on the label. These words are not regulated the way food is… just because it says natural/organic doesn’t always mean it is.

              Be wary of the term “fragrance”. Synthetic fragrances are a phthalate culprit so if you can, try to use products with organic or natural essential oils only if you are unsure. Unscented products can also contain phthalates by using a fragrance masking agent.

              Use less products. This seems like a no-brainer but many people use way more than they need. Babies are born with the most perfect skin (usually) and it will never again be as perfect as it is when they’re babies.  Their skin is also sensitive and susceptible.  They don’t need to be slathered in lotions and powders. A little warm water and a washcloth is all they really need. When kids get older and grimier (like mine) a little soap and warm water does the trick and you can spot treat any dry skin problems or rashes.

              Make Your Own: Some Castille Soap and water goes a long way!

              Note: We support all the brands listed above regardless of what rating they have received.  We also realize everyone has their own standard of “greenness” and feel that there is a product to suit the needs of every child.  Experiment and mix and match until you find which brands work best for you, your family and your budget.  If there is a brand you think is missing from this list, please contact me and let me know and I would be happy to review it for inclusion.

              When my son was first born, I probably got sixty bottles of different types of Johnson’s Baby Wash. They had one for every day, one for calming, one for colds. It seemed like they had just about everything I needed. Not having any idea what a paraben or a phthalate was, it was my staple. Once I started doing research (you would think that I would have done this prior to having my baby, but then again, you wouldn’t think they would make a baby shampoo that was laden with chemicals. Fool me once…), I was horrified to learn that I was using something harmful on my son’s delicate skin. I stopped using it immediately and sought other alternatives. I will admit though, I became so used to the smell of the Johnson’s calming baby wash, that I kept a bottle, just for the tactile memory. Every now and then, I’ll give it a little sniff, and it transforms me back to those early days of his newborn baby head. Since then, I’ve done A LOT of research on baby shampoo, and have tried many brands. When my daughter was born, I even brought my own body wash to the hospital and refused to let them use what they had on hand (most likely Johnson’s). Between Kathy and I, I’m pretty confident that we’ve tried just about every brand that’s out there. We’ve pored over ingredients and compared lathering capabilities. And here’s what we’ve come up with.

              Jan

              30

              Safer Skin Care: How Far Do You Go?

              Filed Under Skin Care | 17 Comments

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                When I have some extra cash (which is not often) I sometimes go through our list of Safer Skin Care and purchase a sampler set of something I haven’t tried yet. It gives me a chance to try something new first hand as well as keep up with any reformulations that might occur as time goes on.  Recently I decided to buy a sample gift set from Mama Rose’s Naturals.  Their brand has been on our cheat sheet for a while since their website touts natural and lists the ingredients for each item.  Their SPF 50 chemical free sunscreen remains on our Sunscreen Cheat Sheet.

                I was dismayed to discover that a few of their basic baby skin care contains a little propylene glycol.  It has been a while since we’ve discussed ingredients on SafeMama so let me refresh our memory of why we try to avoid it.  Propylene Glycol is a penetration enhancer which is basically a vehicle to bring other materials into your skin. It’s also a suspected immune system toxin, neurotoxin, reproductive toxin, respiratory toxin, and skin toxin.  I should also mention its a chemical (classified as a hazardous material) they use to de-ice planes.  My go-to gal, Stephanie from Bubble & Bee, for ingredients has a better explanation of why it should be avoided on her Chemical of the Day blog.

                I’m not sure what bothered me more… that it was in the products (even in a tiny amount) or that they don’t list it on their website in the ingredients.  I purchased a few items based on the ingredients they list on their website only to find out that its more of a “generalization” of the ingredients rather than an exact list.

                So how safe is safe enough? Maybe there is trace amounts of it in a few products.  Is that ok?  Here at SafeMama I try to find the safest of the safest but I am also realistic.  Not everyone wants to drop a wad of cash on organic skin care.  Or do they?

                When it comes to my kids I try to find the safest stuff I can (that works) but I want to also consider skin care that may be free of the biggest threats (parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, etc) and not 100%  chemical free… because I am not everyone and I recognize that.  Some of you want something cheaper and “safer” and some of you want the “safest”.   My personal conflict lies in where to draw the line here on SafeMama.com.  The more I learn about ingredients, the more natural and organic I demand for safety.  Unfortunately that leaves less to select from as my list of requirements grows.

                Is there such thing as too safe? Some kids have allergies to natural ingredients or terrible eczema that can only be controlled with mainstream synthetic creams or prescriptions.  What then? Are we all taking it too far?

                What do you think? Readers… how safe is safe in your eyes? Would you rather see SafeMama put on the full throttle of safety in our skin care recommendations or do you want more options? Would you prefer a rating system? I’ll be releasing a new cheat sheet for baby skin care this year and would love some input from our loyal readers.  How far is far enough? I give the floor to you… I’ll be interested to hear everyone’s perspective.

                Sep

                14

                Rocky Mountain Soap Company (Review & Giveaway)

                Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Product Reviews, Skin Care | 76 Comments

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                  tinytotAs I get more particular about what products touch my kids skin, the less options I seem to find myself faced with.  However, serendipitously I was contacted by Rocky Mountain Soap Company because a few of our wonderful readers contacted them asking if we’ve reviewed their products.  You have been holding out on me folks! I was so thrilled to find their products were 100% natural using only essential oils and natural healing ingredients like vitamin E to help us moisturize and soften safely!  Now, I have to say there was one product they sent me to try that I absolutely fell head over heels in love with which was their Tiny Tot Foaming Wash.

                  It works as both a shampoo and a body wash, and comes in a self foaming pump which makes bathing wiggly kids a little easier.  It has a light chamomile scent and cleans great… even those grubby preschoolers will be squeaky clean after using it.  You get a pretty big bottle – even after using it daily for the last 2 weeks I’ve only really begun to put a dent in it.  There are no harsh ingredients or preservatives so they get a hearty thumbs up from SafeMama.com.

                  I tried out some of their fantastic Body Butter in Unscented which is designed for Eczema sufferers, but the ingredients lend themselves to moisturize just about any skin type.  All their Body Butters come in tidy push up package that is totally recyclable. I kept in on my nightstand and used it to soften feet, elbows and especially knuckles due to the obsessive hand washing I’ve been doing lately.

                  rocky mountain baby soapI was also lucky enough to get a sample of their Baby Body Butter!  Luckily my new little one has been blessed with perfect skin, no rough spots on that kid.  So honestly I swiped it for myself.  But after using it a few times (I love the scent) I think this would be the perfect thing for their little dry patches when they pop up.  This one is a bit softer than the others so it makes applying easier.  They recommend rubbing it on your arm first to warm it up.

                  Rocky Mountain Soap Company has tons of great products from skin care to aromatherapy and even deodorant (which I’m curious to test out!).  They even carry hand soaps for those of you looking for a safe hand soap to keep near the skin.  We get that question a lot!  Rocky Mountain is a great place to start if you’re looking to replace a product with something safer and natural… here you don’t have to worry about hidden ingredients.  They display ingredients lists for every product and you won’t find anything icky listed there.  Thanks Rocky Mountain!

                  Giveaway!

                  Rocky Mountain provided us with some yummy products to give to our readers so we’ll be giving away some products here on SafeMama and some over on LovelyMama in the next day or so.  But right here and now we’re giving away:

                  • A Baby Gift Set – This includes a full size Baby Body Butter, a bar of their delicious Baby Bear Soap and a cute little bath toy.
                  • Belly Body Butter – A grapefruit, lavender and rosewood scented full size butter to help keep your skin supple!

                  Contest Closed! Congrats Sarah!

                  Leave a comment on this entry after visiting RockyMountainSoap.com letting us know what products you’d like to try out!

                  For Extra Entries (please leave a comment for each extra task so we can count your extra entries):

                  • Follow us on Twitter (@safemama)
                  • Join our Facebook Group
                  • Tweet about the giveaway! (Example: @safemama Win bath goodies from Rocky Mountain Soap on SafeMama.com – http://tinyurl.com/oln6rz )
                  • Add our button to your website or blog

                  One winner will be selected at random.  Entries will be accepted until midnight EST on September 18, 2009.  Open to US residents.  Good luck!

                  Aug

                  10

                  Review: Fresh Organics

                  Filed Under Product Reviews | Comments Off

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                    fobalmWe were lucky to get a preview of the new product called Fresh Organics for baby.   Fresh Organics has quite a line of products for adults, that are all natural.   And I’m always a sucker for a new baby product.

                    The shampoo conditioner combo lathers nicely and has a very subtle smell to it, which I like.  A lot of natural products are still pretty pungent and I’ve noticed that my nose can’t handle strong smells anymore.  But this leaves a nice light scent on my little girl that I’ve come to grow fond of during one of the many billions of times I sniff her sweet smelling baby head during a day (seriously, if I could bottle that smell up, I’d wear it all the time).   The lotion also smells nice and light, spreads nicely without being greasy.

                    The bubble bath, like many other natural and organic bubble baths doesn’t produce the mounds of bubbles I was used to as a kid, but this is one of the pitfalls of any natural bubble bath.  But it’s enough for my son, who doesn’t seem to mind, or know any different.   I do wish it came in a bigger container though, as it seems to go pretty fast.

                    One of the good things about Fresh Organics is the price.  It’s not overly expensive and it works well for the price.  Can’t beat that during tough economic times.

                    Get it: You can order any of the Fresh Organics products directly from Fresh Organics website.  They have products for Mamas and Daddys too!

                    May

                    29

                    Review & Giveaway: Dimpleskins Naturals Bum Bum Balm Diapering Salve

                    Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Product Reviews, Skin Care | 51 Comments

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                      bumbalm1I’ve been lucky that my son doesn’t really get diaper rash often (and let’s hope his new baby sister follows suit on that) but when he does, anything with zinc in it tends to irritate his skin more.   We also cloth diaper, and while I do use disposables on occasion, I need something that I can use while using cloth, so that I don’t have to use even more disposables.    So when I got the opportunity to try Dimpleskins Bum Bum Balm, I jumped at the chance.   Bum Bum Balm is completely all natural, zinc free and also safe for those who cloth diaper.  Score!   This is not your typical diaper rash cream.   As I’ve stated, it’s zinc free, so you don’t have that typical white smelly paste that you have with regular diaper rash creams.  Zinc can leave an almost waterproof residue on cloth diapers when they get washed, ruining their absorbency so this is a great alternative for those who are cloth diapering.   Since this is a balm, it goes on nice and light and doesn’t seem to coat the skin where it can’t breathe, yet the beeswax acts as a barrier to keep moisture away from rashes.

                      Bum Bum Balm’s ingredients are completely all natural.   With less than ten ingredients, all of which I know and can pronounce, I feel good knowing that I’m not putting any unnecessary chemicals on my children. Check out the DimpleSkins Naturals website – they have some great products!   Bum Bum Balm gets a hearty thumbs up from SafeMama.com!

                      Get it: You can order Bum Bum Balm directly from Dimpleskins website.  Get 10% off online orders through http://www.dimpleskinsnaturals.com by entering the code SAFEMAMA at checkout, offer expires July 1/09!

                      Bonus Giveaway!

                      The wonderful ladies at Dimpleskins have offered to giveaway a free tin of Bum Bum Balm to one lucky winner!  How nice!

                      To enter:

                      1. Leave a comment on this entry telling us what diaper rash cream you currently use and why it’s your favorite or why it’s not working out for you at the moment.

                      For bonus entries do one or all of the following and leave a separate comment for each (so your extra entry will get counted!)

                      • Add our SafeMama button to your site (get the code on the lower right)
                      • Retweet this giveaway @safemama and follow @safemama on twitter
                      • Blog about this giveaway and leave us the link to your entry

                      Entries accepted  until 10pm EST on June 5th, 2009.  Contest open to US residents.  One winner will be chosen at random.  Good luck! Giveaway Closed.

                      Congratulations Mandy for picking up the tin of Bum Bum Balm!  Thanks to everyone who entered!

                      Next Page →

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