Coming to a store near you: Dioxane-free Seventh Generation April 29, 2009

Last year, my first blog post was about my search for a 1,4-Dioxane free liquid dish detergent. 1,4-Dioxane can be found in claimed natural and non-certified organic products, including dish detergents. 1,4-Dioxane is a “byproduct of a process used to soften harsh detergents”, according to the LA Times. This chemical is believed to cause damage to the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys. On January 1, 1988, California recognized it as a chemical that can cause cancer.

I listed a few options with their levels of 1,4-Dioxane according to a study by the Organic Consumers Association. I started using Seventh Generation’s Natural Dish Detergent because it seemed to have the lowest traces of it and was an option I could find easily. Seventh Generation responded to the findings right around the time of the report, acknowledged that their product contained 1,4-Dioxane, and stated that they want to eliminate it  as soon as they can. On their web site they stated:

“The compound wasn’t highlighted on our web site nor detailed in our corporate responsibility report. In this, we had failed.”

I contacted Seventh Generation last week and asked them if their Naural Dish Detergent still contains 1,4-Dioxane. I was informed that it does. However, a new 1,4-Dioxane free formula has been created and you can expect to see it on store shelves at the end of the summer with labeling stating that it’s the new formula. Here is the statement I received from them:

In 2008, the Organic Consumer Association released a report that indicated low levels of 1,4-dioxane in our Dish liquid. As the OCA reported, the compound is a byproduct of a process used to improve the degreasing agent in detergents – not an ingredient.   While our levels were fifty times lower than another so-called “natural” brand, we agreed that 1,4-dioxane doesn’t belong in our products and worked with our supplier to eliminate it entirely. I’m happy to report that in March 2009, the OCA reported our products as “None Detected“  for 1,4-dioxane.  Even better, this initiative has spurred many in our industry to follow our lead. The reformulated Seventh Generation Hand Dish Liquid will be available to consumers by end of summer.

Seventh Generation's Natural Dish Detergent

You can see the full list of soap, shampoo, and cleaning products tested by the Organic Consumer’s Association dated March 6, 2009, with their 1,4-Dioxane levels here.

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.

No more toxic baths! April 6, 2009

My blogger friend Sommer from Green and Clean Mom wrote a fantastic post the other day on the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics issuing a report of known carcinogens (formaldehyde and 1,4-Dioxane) in baby bath products and Johnson & Johnson announcing its Big Bubblin’ Star YouTube campaign.

According to “No More Toxic Tub” Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Shampoo contains levels of formaldehyde [200 and 210 ppm] that could be enough to cause skin reactions in sensitive people, like babies with their delicate skin. Now J&J is asking parents to film their “cutest baby” in tub using their products so they can be entered for a chance to win $10,000.

Sommer and a list of other “Green Moms” are trying to get the word out about what you can do to help change things so that we can all know exactly what’s  in the personal care products we buy for our children.

Go on over and see how you can get involved.

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.

Another Non-toxic and organic dish detergent found! April 1, 2009

Last year my first blog post was about my search for the safest dish detergent I could find. What can I say, I was washing baby bottles non-stop then and it made me think about what I was using. 1,4-Dioxane can be found in claimed natural and non-certified organic products, including dish detergents. 1,4-Dioxane is a “byproduct of a process used to soften harsh detergents”, according to the LA Times. This chemical is believed to cause damage to the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys. On January 1, 1988, California recognized it as a chemical that can cause cancer.

I started using Seventh Generation’s Natural Dish Detergent because it seemed to have the lowest traces of it, according to testing by Organic Consumer’s Association. It also seemed to be the easiest to locate. Seventh Generation responded to the findings right around the time of the report and acknowledge that their product contained 1,4-Dioxane and that they want to eliminate it  as soon as they can. The stated, though:

“The compound wasn’t highlighted on our web site nor detailed in our corporate responsibility report. In this, we had failed.”

Right after I wrote this post, I learned about Dapple, which does not contain 1,4-Dioxane. Now I’ve learned about another product that also doesn’t contain it.

Babyganics Foaming Dish and Bottle Soap

Yesterday, while I was shopping at Buy, Buy, Baby, I found Babyganics. Babyganics Foaming Bottle and Dish Soap is non-toxic, organic and doesn’t contain 1,4-Dioxane or ethoxylated materials. It’s even concentrated so you use less of it.

Its ingredients are:

Various naturally derived plant based cleaning agents (coconut, palm kernel, corn & sugar based surfactants), water, preservative (less than 0 .1%)

An added bonus is that it was half priced at Buy, Buy, Baby because the cashier said the packaging is changing soon! To find other locations where you can purchase Babyganics products, click here.

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.

Giving Back to the Environmental Working Group December 8, 2008

It’s this time of year that I’m reminded by the holidays to make sure I’ve supported my favorite causes and organizations. With the change in the economy this year, many of us may be thinking they may need to be skipped. Try not to go this route if you can and instead give less rather than none.

One group you can consider is the Environmental Working Group (EWG). I myself use one of their sites, Skin Deep, often and use much of the information given there as a resource for many of my blog posts. At Skin Deep, you can find thousands of specific personal care products rated for safety by their ingredients. If you haven’t been there, you should check it out and see how your own personal care products rate.

The EWG also keeps us informed about issues with the environment, children’s health, and much, much more. They also work hard on Capitol Hill to help change policies that affect our health.

This year, consider donating to the EWG to help support what they do for us. If you give $135 or more, your gift will be matched by generous supporters and you will receive their 2008 Polution Solutions Holiday Gift Bag. In it, you will find:

2008 Pollution Solutions Holiday Gift Bag

• Jumbo Enviro-Tote (100% recycled plastic) printed with EWG’s Pollution Solutions
• 6-piece Pyrex glass container set 27 oz. Klean Kanteen stainless steel bottle
• Box of 6 Crummy Brothers organic chocolate chip cookies
• $25 in free product coupons from companies like Seventh Generation & Stonyfield
• EWG cosmetics guide, pesticide magnet, notepad and bookmark

Donating to the EWG will help with funding the group so they can continue to provide us with information that will allow us to make better choices in keeping our families and environment safe.

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.

Product Review – Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash October 9, 2008

Two months ago, I wrote about the importance of making safer choices when choosing your baby’s shampoo and soap products. I tried to suggest an inexpensive item that you could easily find in your local drug store but was unable to do so due to the fact that they all contain toxic ingredients such as parabens, sodium laureth sulfate, propylene glycol, dioxane or artificial fragrance – all of which have been shown to be very hazardous over time. I used The Environmental Working Group’s site Skin Deep to show you how many specific products found in drug stores rate using their scale of 0 – 10 for safety, “0″ being the safest.

My suggestion at the end of the post was instead to go to a local health food store and purchase a soap that rates lower on the safety scale. California Baby Shampoo & Bodywash Tea Tree & Lavender soap with a “low hazard” score of “1″ was something I recommended and used for my daughter from birth through about 9 months. One bottle lasted that long due to the fact that it’s really concentrated. I continue to be very pleased with the product.

When it was time to buy her something new, though, I decided to try another “low hazard” rated item. This time I chose Angel Baby Shampoo and Body Wash by Earth Mama Angel Baby with a score of “0″. All of the ingredients in this product have a very low score of “1″ or “0″. The soap comes out in a foam from a pump bottle which makes it very easy to use when one of your hands is spotting a squirmy baby! It has a pleasant citrus, orange scent and creates a sudsy texture on a washcloth. Unlike the California Baby soap, Angel Baby is not tear free. They both cost about the same and although I can’t say that it will last as long as the California Baby soap but I’m still pleased with product and would highly recommend it.

Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.

Hooray for Target! September 26, 2008

Have you heard the news? Some Target locations are now carrying Green By Nature products. What’s the big deal, you ask? Green By Nature products are “over 95% natural, and free of parabens, sulfates, DEA, petroleum, propylene glycol, sacchrine, dioxin, and phthalate.” That’s a whole lot of toxic stuff you don’t have to worry about! Their products also contain 6 bio-renewable ingredients consisting of beeswax, aloe leaf extract, shea butter, rosehip oil, pistachio oil, and grapefurit seed extract.

Green By Nature makes products for lips, body, hands and feet. I’d love to get my hands on some but I’m not near a Target that carries them, unfortunately. Maybe you’ll have better luck. Go to their site to see if they’re carried new you. If you’ve tried these products, let us know what you think of them.

How Safe Is Your Toothpaste? September 23, 2008

The Environmental Working Group has a website called Skin Deep. This site is an excellent resource for consumers in that it lists thousands of personal care products in an organized way and rates them on how safe their ingredients are.

“Skin Deep pairs ingredients in more than 25,000 products against 50 definitive toxicity and regulatory databases, making it the largest integrated data resource of its kind.Why did a small nonprofit take on such a big project? Because the FDA doesn’t require companies to test their own products for safety.”

At Skin Deep, you can find hundreds of specific items for hair, skin, eyes, nails, baby, oral care, fragrance, and makeup rated from 0-10, zero being the safest. Each item’s score is explained in detail and safer options are given.

In today’s post I’m listing safer toothpaste choices from Skin Deep’s site that can easily be found at your local drugstore. I’ve also listed some common items with higher (not safe) scores as comparisons. It should be noted that although Skin Deep gives products a “low hazard” or “moderate hazard” score, some of them contain the chemicals below with cautions from testing results of these chemicals:

PEG – 12 (Dioxane)- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Contamination concerns
Propylene Glycol – FDA says is safe for general use but can cause cancer and contains toxins that affect reproduction
Proplyparaben, Methylparaben  (parabens) – hormone mimicking properties; may cause breast cancer
PEG/PPG 38/8 Copolymer, PEG/PPG 116/66 Copolymer (Dioxane)- Organ system toxicity
Flavor - Ingredient not fully labeled – identity unknown
Sodium Fluoride - Cancer, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption,
Sodium Hydroxide – Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
Hydrogen Peroxide – Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
Triclosan (Dioxane) – Endocrine disruption
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate - Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
Hydrated Silica – Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife and humans
Mentha Piperita (Peppermint Oil) - Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns
Polyethyene (Dioxane) – Cancer, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
Sodium Monofluorophosphate – Developmental/reproductive toxicity

Toothpaste with a score of 1 having a “low hazard”:

Tom’s of Maine Anti-Plaque Plus Whitening Clear Gel Peppermint- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Hydrated Silica

Tom’s of Maine Natural Toothpaste with Propolis & Myrrh, Fennel- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Tom’s of Maine Natural Liquid Toothpaste for Children, Goofy Grape – Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Hydrated Silica

Toothpaste with a score of 3 having a “moderate hazard”:

Crest Sensitivity Protection Toothpaste – Sodium Fluoride, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Hydrated Silica

Sensodyne Maximum Strength Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth and Cavity Protection – Propylene Glycol, Sodium Monofluorophosphate, Flavor, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Colgate Toothpaste, Regular- Sodium Monofluorophosphate, Flavor, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Hydrated Silica

Toothpaste with a score of 4 having a “moderate hazard”:

Crest Tartar Protection Tartar Control Gel Toothpaste- Sodium Fluoride, Flavor, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Arm and Hammer Peroxicare Toothpaste Baking Soda and Peroxide Freshmint – Sodium Fluoride, PEG/PPG 38/8 Copolymer, PEG/PPG 116/66 Copolymer (Dioxane), Flavor, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Crest Kids Spider-Man Super Action Liquid Gel- Sodium Fluoride, Flavor, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Hydrated Silica

Orajel Toddler Training Toothpaste, Fruit Splash – Flavor, Proplyparaben, Methylparaben  (parabens, Propylene Glycol

Toothpaste with a score of 5 having a “moderate hazard”:

Colgate Kids 2 in 1 Toothpaste & Mouthwash Strawberry – Sodium Fluoride, PEG – 12 (Dioxane)

Toothpaste with a score of 6 having a “moderate hazard”:

Colgate Total Plus Whitening Toothpaste – Sodium Fluoride, Triclosan (Dioxane), Propylene Glycol

Mentadent Toothpaste, Advanced Clean – Sodium Fluoride, Sodium Hydroxide, Flavor, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Crest Sensitivity Toothpaste Whitening Plus Scope – Polyethyene (Dioxane), Sodium Fluoride, Flavor

Visit Skin Deep and check out how your own toothpaste rates if it’s not listed above. Then decide if you need to make some changes to one with a lower score.

Take a look at earlier posts of mine on how safe is your deodorant, bar soap, baby shampoo and soap, mascara, and shampoo and conditioner.

How Safe Is Your Mascara? August 28, 2008

It’s time to buy new mascara so I’m passing off all of my research.

The Environmental Working Group has a website called Skin Deep. This site is an excellent resource for consumers in that it lists thousands of personal care products in an organized way and rates them on how safe their ingredients are.

“Skin Deep pairs ingredients in more than 25,000 products against 50 definitive toxicity and regulatory databases, making it the largest integrated data resource of its kind.Why did a small nonprofit take on such a big project? Because the FDA doesn’t require companies to test their own products for safety.”

At Skin Deep, you can find hundreds of specific items for hair, skin, eyes, nails, baby, oral care, fragrance, and makeup rated from 0-10, zero being the safest. Each item’s score is explained in detail and safer options are given.

In today’s post I’m listing safer mascara choices from Skin Deep’s site that can easily be found at your local drugstore. I’ve also listed some common items with high (not safe) scores as comparisons. It should be noted that although Skin Deep gives products a “moderate hazard” score, some of them contain the chemicals below with cautions from testing results of these chemicals:

PEG-10 Dimethicone and laureth-12: Also known as 1,4-Dioxane: Endocrine disruption, identified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Propylene Glycol: FDA says is safe for general use but can cause cancer and contains toxins that affect reproduction

Alcohol Denatured: Cancer, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

Benzyl Alcohol: Neurotoxicity

Parabens: May cause breast cancer due to hormone mimicking properties

Sodium laureth sulfate: Can cause skin and eye damage

Phenoxyethanol and Potassium hydroxide- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), eye irritation

Butylene glycol – Eye irritation

Panthenol – Alcohol

Triethanolamine, Polyethylene – Cancer concerns

Midazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15 and imidazolidinyl urea – Formaldehyde

Oryza sativa (rice) starch - Pesticides

Ethylacrylate and Methyl methacrylate – Cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity

Mascara with a score of 3 having a “moderate hazard”:

Boots No. 7 Lash and Brow Perfector (clear) – Parabens, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium hydroxide, Panthenol, Butylene glycol

Max Factor Stretch No color Mascara – Triethanolamine, Midazolidinyl urea, Parabens

Almay Bright Eyes Mascara, Waterproof Black Brown and Black – Polyethylene, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Parabens, Phenoxyethanol

Almay One Coat Mascara, Thickening Black Brown and Blackest Black – Quaternium-15, Imidazolidinyl urea, Parabens

L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara Waterproof Black – Oryza sativa (rice) starch, Parabens

Maybeline Sky High Curves – Waterproof Mascara, Very Black and Brownish Black – Oryza sativa (rice) starch, Parabens

Mascara with a score of 7 having a “high hazard”:

Cover Girl CoverGirl LashExact Mascara – Triethanolamine, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium laureth sulfate, Parabens, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol Denatured

Cover Girl Super Thick Lash Mascara, Black Brown and Soft Black – Triethanolamine, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium laureth sulfate, Parabens, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, laureth-12

Mascara with a score of 8 having a “high hazard”:

Maybelline Illegal Lengths Washable Mascara, Black Onyx; Brownish Black (old formulation) – Ethylacrylate, Methyl methacrylate, Polyethylene, Triethanolamine, Parabens, Propylene Glycol

There were many more popular mascaras listed with a score of 3 – 7. Visit Skin Deep and look up what you’re using. Then decide if you need to choose a safer option with a lower score next time you’re running low.

Take a look at earlier posts of mine on how safe is your deodorant, bar soap, baby shampoo and soap, and shampoo and conditioner.

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How safe is your deodorant? August 19, 2008

The Environmental Working Group has a website called Skin Deep. This site is an excellent resource for consumers in that it lists thousands of personal care products in an organized way and rates them on how safe their ingredients are.

“Skin Deep pairs ingredients in more than 25,000 products against 50 definitive toxicity and regulatory databases, making it the largest integrated data resource of its kind.Why did a small nonprofit take on such a big project? Because the FDA doesn’t require companies to test their own products for safety.”

At Skin Deep, you can find hundreds of specific items for hair, skin, eyes, nails, baby, oral care, fragrance, and makeup rated from 0-10, zero being the safest. Each item’s score is explained in detail and safer options are given.

In today’s post I’m listing safer deodorant choices from Skin Deep’s site that can easily be found at your local drugstore. I’ve also listed some common items with high (not safe) scores as comparisons. It should be noted that although Skin Deep gives products a “low hazard” score, some of them contain the chemicals below with cautions from testing results of these chemicals:

Aluminum Chloride: Organ system toxicity, in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results, reproductive effects at moderate and high doses, and animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at high doses

Aluminum Chlorohydrate: Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Neurotoxicity

Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine: Strong evidence of human neurotoxicity when product is airborn

Gylcerin: One or more animal studies show kidney or renal system effects at very low doses, mammalian cells show positive mutation results, animal studies show reproductive effects at moderate doses

Diproplyene Glycol: One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at high doses

1 PEG-14 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG – 18/18 Dimethicone, PEG-8 Distearate, and Triclosan: Also known as 1,4-Dioxane: Endocrine disruption, identified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Propylene Glycol, which the FDA says is safe for general use but can cause cancer and contains toxins that affect reproduction

Alcohol Denatured: Cancer, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

Butane and Propane: Allergies and immunotoxicity

fragrance: often means Diethyl Phthalate or DEP: endocrine disruptor that has been linked to reproductive and abnormalities

PEG/PPG – 18/18 Dimethicone - Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

Benzyl Alcohol: Neurotoxicity

Silica: Cancer, Allergies/immunotoxicity

Deodorant with a score of 0 having a “low hazard”:

• Crystal deodorant stick, roll-on, and spray

Deodorant with a score of 1 having a “low hazard”:

• CVS Ultra Dry Anti-Perspirant Roll-On Unscented – Aluminum Chloride,
• Ban Antiperspirant & Deodorant Original Roll-On Unscented – Aluminum Chlorohydrate
• Ban Classic Original Antiperspirant & Deodorant Original Roll-On Unscented – Aluminum Chlorohydrate:
• Almay Antiperspirant & Deodorant, Clear Gel; Fragrance Free – Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Gylcerin, Diproplyene Glycol
• Almay Antiperspirant & Deodorant, Clear Gel – Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Gylcerin, Diproplyene Glycol
• Almay Antiperspirant & Deodorant Fragrance Free (Powder Fresh and Soothing Aloe) – Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Gylcerin, Diproplyene Glycol
• Lady Mitchum Clear Gel Antiperspirant & Deodorant Unscented – Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Diproplyene Glycol,
• Mitchum Antiperspirant & Deodorant Clear Gel – Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Diproplyene Glycol
• Almay Stay Dry Hydro Solid Antiperspirant & Deodorant, Fragrance Free – 1 PEG-14 Dimethicone, Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Diproplyene Glycol

Deodorant with a score of 7 having a “high hazard”:

• Right Guard Sport Deodorant – fragrance, Triclosan, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol Denatured
• Right Guard Sport Deodorant Aerosole, Original – fragrance, Triclosan, Propylene Glycol, Butane and Propane
• Dry Idea Antiperspirant Clear Gel Powder Fresh – fragrance, Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol Denatured
• Dry Idea Antiperspirant & Deodorant Clear Gel Powder Fresh – fragrance, PEG/PPG – 18/18 Dimethicone, Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol Denatured
• FDS Feminine Deodorant Spray White Blossom and Baby Powder – fragrance, Benzyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol

Deodorant with a score of 8 having a “high hazard”:

• Secret Platinum Antiperspirant & Deodorant Invisible Gel Powder Fresh Scent – fragrance, Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol Denatured
• Dove Invisible Solid Antiperspirant & Deodorant, Powder Fresh – fragrance, Silica, PEG-8 Distearate, Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Propylene Glycol

Last week, it was time for me to buy new deodorant (this post is research I did in anticipation of this). I had always heard of “crystal deodorant” but it I just couldn’t understand how it could possibly work. Well, I’m very pleased to say that it does. I’ll be honest, though, it wasn’t perfect but I don’t know of a deodorant that is.  It’s nice to know that a deodorant with one of the safest scores works as well as others. By the way, according to the packaging, the crystal stick can last up to a year!

Visit Skin Deep and check out some of your favorite products to see how they rate. Then decide if you need to make some changes. If you do, don’t feel you need to do it all at once. Just make changes as you run out of things.

See my other posts on how safe is your bar soap, shampoo and conditioner, and baby soap and shampoo.

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Copyright © 2008. Trying To Be Greener. All rights reserved.

How safe is your baby’s shampoo and soap? August 8, 2008

The Environmental Working Group has a website called Skin Deep. This site is an excellent resource for consumers in that it lists thousands of personal care products in an organized way and rates them on how safe their ingredients are.

“Skin Deep pairs ingredients in more than 25,000 products against 50 definitive toxicity and regulatory databases, making it the largest integrated data resource of its kind. Why did a small nonprofit take on such a big project? Because the FDA doesn’t require companies to test their own products for safety.”

At Skin Deep, you can find hundreds of specific items for hair, skin, eyes, nails, baby, oral care, fragrance, and makeup rated from 0-10, zero being the safest. Each item’s score is explained in detail and safer options are given.

My goal in this post was to give you some safe, inexpensive choices for baby shampoo and soap. Unfortunately, I am unable to do this. I will list common items with their score and hazardous ingredients only to bring it to your attention, especially if you use these items. However, please bear with me and continue through this post to the end for my recommendation.

It needs to be noted that although Skin Deep gives products a “moderate hazard” score, some of them contain parabens, which one study suggested may cause breast cancer due to hormone mimicking properties, fragrance, which can often mean Diethyl Phthalate or DEP, which is an endocrine disruptor that has been linked to reproductive and genital abnormalities, propylene glycol (Disodium PEG-12 Dimethicone sulfosuccinate), which the FDA says is safe for general use but can cause cancer and contains toxins that affect reproduction, and sodium laureth sulfate, which can cause skin and eye damage. PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, and PEG-150 Distearate unless vacuum stripped, are contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which has been identified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). PEG-150 Distearate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine can also cause allergic reactions. Quaternium-15 may release formaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen and can cause contact dermatitis from preservatives. Citric Acid can cause burning in the eyes. Items containing any of these are noted.

Shampoo with a score of 3 having a “moderate hazard”:

Huggies Baby Wash, Extra Sensitive, Fragrance Free – PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Disodium PEG-12 dimethicone sulfosuccinate, PEG-150 Distearate, Quaternium-15, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid

Shampoo with a score of 4 having a “moderate hazard”:

Johnson & Johnson Johnson’s Baby Head-to-Toe Baby Wash, Original – PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Fragrance, PEG-150 Distearate, Quaternium-15, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Citric Acid

Johnson & Johnson Johnson’s Buddies Instant-Foam Easy Rinse Shampoo – Fragrance, Quaternium-15, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid

Huggies Natural Care Wash – PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Fragrance, PEG-150 Distearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Johnson & Johnson Johnson’s Original Baby Shampoo – PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Fragrance, PEG-150 Distearate, Quaternium-15, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid

Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo, Tear Free – PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Fragrance, PEG-150 Distearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo – PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Fragrance, PEG-150 Distearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Shampoo with a score of 5 having a “moderate hazard”:

Huggies Baby Wash Extra Gentle – PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Fragrance, PEG-150 Distearate, Quaternium-15, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Citric Acid

Gerber Grins and Giggles Baby Wash for hair & Body, (Lavender and Oatmeal) – PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Fragrance, PEG-150 Distearate, Quaternium-15, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid

Shampoo with a score of 6 having a “moderate hazard”:

Mustela Bebe Foam Shampoo for Newborns – Fragrance, Propylparaben, Citric Acid, Butylparaben, Methylparaben, Ethyparaben

Mustela Bebe Baby Shampoo – Fragrance, PEG-150 Distearate, Butylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylene Glycol, Magnesium Laureth Sulfate, Ethyparaben

If the item you use for your child is not listed here, take a look at the ingredients and see if any of the ones listed above are in it. Or, go to Skin Deep and see how it is rated.

As I stated, the goal of this post was to give you inexpensive baby shampoo and soap choices. I just feel that the above items are no bargain when you see what’s in them and who they’re for. Therefore, I recommend that you go to your local health food store and purchase something with a lower score from Skin Deep. In some cases, you will be getting a safer item that’s not as expensive as you may think. For example, I’ve been using California Baby Shampoo & Bodywash Tea Tree & Lavender (with a safer score of “1″) since my daughter was born almost 8 months ago. I still have about a month’s worth left after giving her a bath just about everyday because it’s concentrated. It cost me about $10.00 which means I’ll have paid a little more than $1.00 per month to use it. Safer and inexpensive – priceless.

See earlier posts of mine on safer bar soap and shampoo and conditioner.

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