This is a list of companies that I do not recommend using, due to several harmful chemicals in their products. Some of these companies claim being "green and safe" while it is NOT. The common term is GREENWASHING.
With this reviews, I want to learn with you how to decipher labels and identify toxins.
Amway/Artistry– NUMEROUS ingredients of concern in every label I looked at. Here’s a shampoo label, which contains Retinyl Palmitate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Polyquaternium-7, Glycol Stearate, Tetrasodium EDTA, PEG-150 Distearate, to name just a few red flags. Body wash: Water, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide MEA, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Oat Protein, Fragrance, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone. I don’t know that they make any “green”/natural claims, but I was asked about them so I’m sure others have heard of them too, and may be curious.
Arbonne– If I had to point to the worst of the worst of the worst, this company would be it. Of course they do not list ingredients on their website, you must get them from a consultant which is incredibly frustrating to say the least! A mama on the page got me the ingredient lists for the baby shampoo & baby lotion. THE WORST ingredients I’ve ever seen in any product. I’ve NEVER seen a baby line include Retyinyl Palmitate (rated 8 in EWG, as a known human reproductive toxicant, One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at low doses, Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics, One or more animal studies show tumor formation at very low doses!!!!!). Here are just a few of their BABY lotion ingredients- marketed for babies with extremely sensitive skin: cetyl lactate, glyceryl stearate, isopropyl palmitate, sorbitan stearate, glycine soja (soybean) oil polysorbate 61, dimethicone, stearic acid, retinyl palmitate, ascorbyl palmitate, tocopheryl acetate, hydrogenated lechitin, citric acid, oleic acid, stearoxytrimethylsilane, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, carbomer, triethanolamine, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, butylene glycol, hexylene glycol, disodium EDTA, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, sorbic acid. That’s about 1/2 of the ingredients, to view the entire list see following link: http://www.arbonnemarketing.com/PK/dl/pk/851_us_eng.pdf. Baby wash ingredients of concern, again marketed for babies with extremely sensitive skin: cocamidopropyl betaine, PEG-80 sorbitan laurate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Butylene Glycol, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl palmitate, tocopheryl acetate, hydrogenated lechitin, triethanolamine, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, hexylene glycol, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, sorbic acid, limone, to view entire list, here’s the link: http://www.arbonnemarketing.com/PK/dl/pk/850_us_eng.pdf. I absolutely loathe this company, and it’s marketing of their products as pure, safe and beneficial… To see what their ingredient labels look like: http://ecofriendlyusa.wordpress.com/2013/11/07/arbonnethe-longest-ingredient-lists-ive-ever-viewed/
Aveda– ingredients not listed on their website. I asked for photos of products & received several which told me what I needed to know. Very long labels with numerous ingredients of concern: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=812202325462076&id=397517646930548
Avon Naturals Kids- Body wash: WATER/EAU, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, SODIUM TRIDECETH SULFATE,
PEG-80 SORBITAN LAURATE, SODIUM LAUROAMPHOACETATE, PEG-150 DISTEARATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, DISODIUM EDTA, CITRIC ACID. Enough said. The rest of the line is more of the same. I would never, ever use or recommend any of these products!
Babyganics– Best of their products rate a 1, and that’s 3/32 in EWG, rest 2 , with several 3 & 4. Ingredients of concern from baby shampoo & bubble bath: Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosine, Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Sodium, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Lauryl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine,Trisodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate. Several products contain fragrance (which alone ranks 8 in EWG).
Beauty Without Cruelty—116 products in EWG, only 3 rate at 1, the rest 2 or above. They use ingredients such as Retinyl Palmitate which rates 8, and oxybenzone & propylparaben which rate a 7—I don’t trust any company that would use such ingredients in even 1 product.
Charlie’s Soap– 5 products in EWG cleaning guide, 1 rates D, the other 4 F. Main concern= undisclosed surfactants: http://www.ewg.org/guides/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=Charlie%27s+soap&x=0&y=0&page=1&per_page=15.
Dapple—Several ingredients rate 3 or higher in EWG- here’s a list of ingredients they use, with links to EWG ratings: http://www.dapplebaby.com/ingredients.php
DoTERRA personal care (I don’t evaluate essential oils) You have to get ingredient labels from a consultant, which is incredibly aggravating. Numerous ingredients of concern in the shampoo & lotion labels shared with me- many have NO data in EWG: Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Laurylamidopropyl, Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Acrylates Copolymer, Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone, C11- 15, Pareth -7, C12-16 Pareth-9, Glycerin, Trideceth-12, Butylene Glycol, Fragrance, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Retinyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol (listed twice in the lotion), polysorbate-20 (these were ingredients of concern from 3 labels shared with me: shampoo, lotion, foaming hand soaop). Like many other companies, the bar soaps look just fine, no ingredients of concern.
Earth’s Best— No ingredients included on website- so going by what EWG says: 16 products rate 1-5. 3 products rate at 1 (sunscreen, and 2 baby wipes). 9 products rate 3-5 (moderate hazard) for the following ingredients of concern: fragrance, retinyl palmitate (non-petroleum jelly) (both rate an 8), octinoxate (6). The following all rate at 4: unspecified flavor, calcium lactate, homosalate, benzyl alcohol, cocamidopropyl betaine, phenoxyethanol, linalool, limonene, and the following at 3: disteareth-75 IPDI (1,4-Dioxane!), polysorbate-60, potassium sorbate, tocopheryl acetate, ethanol. No results in EWG for cleaning products, and since no ingredients are included on their website, which is VERY frustrating, I cannot comment on that aspect. If anyone concerned with/using this line can send me some ingredient labels, I’d love to take a look. Based on what EWG has to say, this is definitely not a line I recommend! Update: I did some digging and found an ingredient label from a 3rd part site, here’s the baby shampoo, which confirms the ingredients of concern listed in EWG: Aqua (Purified Water), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Gel*, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Di-Steareth-75 IPDI, Coco-Betaine, Vegetable Glycerin, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernal Oil, Beta-Glucan, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vit.E), Anthemus Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract*, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract*, Calendula Officinalis (Marigold) Flower Extract*, Panthenol (Vit.B5), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citric Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate.
Ecos- Out of 30 products in EWG, 2 rate B (all-purpose cleaner, window & mirror cleaner), the rest C-F. Laundry detergent uses methylisothiazolinone, which includes moderate environemental conern due to acute aquatic toxicity. Many ingredients which score F’s… http://www.ewg.org/guides/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=Ecos&x=0&y=0&page=1&per_page=15
Eco Store USA– shampoo includes these ingredients: Sodium Methyl 2-Sulfolaurate (and) Disodium 2-Sulfolaurate, Cetyl Betaine, Lauryl Lactyl Lactate, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate-20. Body washes use Phenoxyethanol as a preservative (rated 4 by EWG).
Essante Organics- They have been reported to the National Organic Program for violating labeling of their products. There are things that don’t add up. I do not recommend them. Many products contain sodium benzoate and/or potassium sorbate which would normally land them on the so-so list.
Jordan Essentials– not in EWG. I read ingredient labels for numerous products & didn’t see one that I would recommend. All contain fragrance, and nowhere does it state it comes from essential oils (fragrance is rated 8 in EWG), in addition there are NUMEROUS ingredients of concern in just about everything I looked at (several products such as deodorant do not have ingredients listed)- shampoo: Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Hydrogenated Cocamidoproply Betaine, Aminomodified Siliconepolyether Copolymer, Lauramide MEA, Polyquaternium 7, Sodium Chloride, DL-Panthenol, Fragrance, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprlyl Glycol, Polyquaternium-10, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera), Tetrasodium EDTA, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot Oil), Silk Protein, Caprylhydroxamine Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycerin. Lotion= Isopropyl Myristate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth 20, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Dimethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, Soybean Oil, Shea Butter, Sunflower Oil, Hydrolyzed Silk, Aloe Barbadensis, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea, Benzophenone 4, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate.
LUSH Cosmetics– only 1 old formulation in EWG. Ingredients of concern- bar soap: Blue no. 1 & 3, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, fragrance, tetrasodium editronate. Nearly every product I looked at had artificial colors.
Melaleuca— One of the worst of all greenwashers! Next to Arbonne, the worst ingredients I’ve seen in a baby line marketed as safe. I truly despise the misleading that this company is doing! Line not in EWG. The following ingredients from their Koala Pals baby shampoo/wash is nothing short of horrendous, and makes me very angry. Rest of the labels I’ve viewed are more of the same: “Aqua (water/Eau), Sodium trideceth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, PEG-150 Distearate, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Polyquaternium-10, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, d-a-Tocopheryl Acetate (Natural Vitamin E), Avena Sativa (Oat) Extract, Butylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Leaf Extract, Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Amylcinnamyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methypropional, Hexl Cinnamal, Linallol. Is it possible they make one or 2 safer products– of course. BUT, any company that would make this toxic of a baby wash, what should be their mildest formula, is not a company I would trust to make anything safe. Cleaning product labels are extremely vague, which many cleaning labels are. Things such as non-ionic surfactants, buffering agents, non-disclosed preservatives, doesn’t disclose what IS actually in there, which is very important to know.. Can tell nothing about what they actually do contain by their labels… A post on Melaleuca equaling the very definition of Greenwashing: http://ecofriendlyusa.wordpress.com/2013/11/07/melaleuca-the-very-definition-of-greenwashing/
Method– Mostly D & F in EWG cleaning. A few C’s… Ingredients of concern: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, fragrance, undisclosed preservatives, among a host of other chemicals. Personal Care line- EWG lists 50 products, none scoring less than 3-6. Stay away! It’s possible a few specific products look OK, it’s a huge line, and I obviously didn’t look very far once I started reading a few labels & saw them loaded with ingredients of concern.
Nature’s Gate– Just a couple days ago I was staffing at my food co-op & picked up each & every sunscreen on the shelf. Nature’s Gate was one of them & it was terrible! Every product I picked up of theirs (& other brands) left me shaking my head in disgust! Both the mineral & non-mineral sunscreens are awful. Kids SPF 50: Active ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 7%, Zinc oxide 6.9%. Inactive ingredients: aloe barbadensis leaf juice, calendula officinalis flower extract, caprylhydroxamic acid, caprylic/capric triglyceride, caprylyl glycol, cetyl dimethicone, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, glycerin, isopropyl palmitate, magnesium sulfate, neopentyl glycol diethylhexanoate, neopentyl glycol diisostearate, polyglyceryl-2 dipolyhydroxystearate, polyglyceryl-4 isostearate, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, sodium chloride, tocopheryl acetate, triethoxycaprylylsilane, water. Their sunscreen contains http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/704203/OCTINOXATE/
Mineral sunscreen, kids spf20: ingredients: Titanium dioxide 8.3%, Zinc oxide 2%. Inactive ingredients: allantoin, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, althaea officinalis root extract, bisabolol, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, calendula officinalis flower extract, caprylic/capric triglyceride, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) seed oil, cetearyl alcohol, cetearyl wheat straw glycosides, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, dehydroxanthan gum, diisopropyl adipate, dimethicone, ethylhexylglycerin, euterpe oleracea fruit extract, glycerin, glyceryl stearate, glyceryl undecylenate, hydrastis canadensis (golden seal) extract, phenoxyethanol, polysorbate 80, propylheptyl caprylate, prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, stearic acid, stearyl alcohol, triethoxycaprylylsilane, viola tricolor extract, water.
Lotion is pretty easy to offer with a safe ingredient list, but there’s again, several ingredients of concern: Water (Eau), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Gluconolactone, Stearyl Alcohol, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower/carthame) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower/tournesol) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Xanthan Gum, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai/açaï) Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea/karité) Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond/amande douce) Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot/abricot) Kernel Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai/açaï) Fruit Extract, Myrciaria Dubia (Camu Camu) Fruit Extract, Bertholletia Excelsa (Brazil Nut/noix du Brésil) Seed Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuacu/cupuaçu) Seed Butter, Allantoin, Polysorbate 60, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Fragrance (Parfum)*.
As with all lines, there may be a few products I might recommend, but as EWG shows, they use MANY ingredients of concern: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/brand/Nature%27s_Gate/
Norwex Skin care- Not in either EWG database. I LOVE all their Microfiber clothes: “Used dry these fibers produce an electrostatic charge which attracts and holds dust particles. When wet the fibers use capillary vacuum force to pull moisture and grease from the surface up into the fibers.
However, Transparency is big for me. If you cannot release ALL of your ingredients, you are forever in this C-Rated List (Greenwashers)
”Here’s a lotion label to give you a feel of their personal care line: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil*, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Parfum, Aqua, Glycerin, Cetearyl Wheat Straw Glycosides, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tricaprylin, Cetearyl Olivate Sorbitan Olivate, Propanediol, Glycerin, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii*, Pelvetia Canaliculata Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Crambe Maritima Extract, Simmondsia Chinesis Seed Oil*, Plukentia Volubilis Seed Oil*, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Beeswax*, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Glycerin Caprylate Acid, Benzoic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Thymus Vulgaris Flower/leaf Extract* May contain: Alpha Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral, Citronellol, Eugenol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Limonene, Linalool. Face serums/creams contain numerous ingredients of concern. Even the best of labels contain potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, benzoic acid, benzyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol. I definitely don’t recommend any personal care products I looked at, which were many. Here’s a link to their pdf with ingredient labels: http://media.norwexcs.com/Product-Manual-2,0.pdf. As to be expected, cleaning product labels are extremely vague, many say what is not in them, but not at all what is in them, or labels such as: Laundry Pre-Wash contains enzymes, ascorbic acid, citric acid and water. Which enzymes are being used is very important…
Ology– Line not in EWG. This product gives an example of the types of ingredient labels you will see–Baby wash/shampoo: Water , Sodium Lauroamphoacetate , Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate , Wheat Germamidopropyldimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein , Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride , Phenoxyethanol and Caprylyl Glycol , All Natural Fragrance. Laundry detergent ingredients: water , Laureth 7 , methyl 2-sulfolaurate , Disodium 2 Sulfolaurate , Sodium Bicarbonate , Methyl Soyate , Sodium Chloride , Cocoamidopropyl Betaine , Sodium Propionate. Phenoxyethanol, one of the few I’m familiar with, ranks a 4 in EWG. Fabric softener: water , Laureth 7 , methyl 2-sulfolaurate , Disodium 2 Sulfolaurate , Sodium Bicarbonate , Methyl Soyate , Sodium Chloride , Cocoamidopropyl Betaine , Sodium Propionate. I do not recommend using this line.
Origins– List key ingredient only, which is highly aggravating! They must have recently reformulated, because EWG only has 3 products in their database that list new formulation but those 3 products rate 4-7. The rest of the line has a few 1’s, but the vast majority are 2+, with several 5-9! If you have a recent formulation label you can share with me, I’d love to see it. It’s very frustrating they don’t disclose ALL ingredients on their website, which leads me to believe they don’t want us to know. Based on the data I did see, and the lack of disclosure, I’m not comfortable recommending this line.
Perfectly Posh– not in EWG. Several products contain artificial coloring, which is something I’d never recommend (Yellow 5, Blue 1, Red 33), and numerous other ingredients of concern Here’s a body crème label to give you an idea, NUMEROUS ingredients of concern: Water/Aqua, Alpha Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Polysorbate-20, Cocamide MEA, Polyquaternium-7, Fragrance/Parfum, Coco Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Methyl Gluceth-20, PEG-150 Distearate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl p-Cresol, Glycerin, Yellow 5 [CI19140], Blue 1 [CI 42090], Citric Acid. Bath bombs contain: PEG-180, Titanium Dioxide, Polysorbate-20. The few baby products offered look much better, but contain both Potassium sorbate & sodium benzoate. Every product I looked at has numerous ingredients of concern!
Planet- What is extremely frustrating about cleaning products is EWG can rate them an A, but when you click for further info you see they contain individual ingredients that rate poorly. Planet laundry detergent rates an A, but contains Laureth-7 and PPG-5 Laureth-5, which rate a C due to concerns over chronic aquatic toxicity, cancer, developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects, acute aquatic toxicity, damage to DNA, respiratory effects, nervous system effects, digestive system effects, skin irritation/allergies/damage, damage to vision. The entire line is the same, A ratings, with ingredients of concern I definitely advise against using–VERY frustrating, always click for more info on specific ingredients in EWG. http://www.ewg.org/guides/brand/2504
Plumberry Parade- You can read my review of a few samples sent to me here. I can say this is the worst experience I’ve ever had trying to get info from anyone. They don’t make anything, but are buying it & sticking their label on it. Extremely rude, among other things. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=586115874737390&set=a.568349859847325.144572.397517646930548&type=3&theater
Rodan & Fields– they don’t make “green” claims, and indeed they are a completely terrible, conventional line, but for some reason many are led to believe they’re a safe option. ABSOLUTELY, positively horrible ingredients: $60 for 1/2 oz of THIS nastiness (eye cream): Water, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric/Myr istic/Stearic Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polysilicone-11, Butylene Glycol, Steareth-2, Glycerin, Macadamia lntegrifolia Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Caffeine, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Steareth-20, Polyuretha ne-40, Lecithin, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Honey Extract, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Tetrapeptide-21, Tetrapeptide-16, Tranexamic Acid, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7. May Contain(+/-) Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
Hand cream: Water, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Propanediol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Isopropyl Myristate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Extract, Solidago Virgaurea (Goldenrod) Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Sericin, Arginine, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Phospholipids, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sucrose Distearate, Polysorbate 60, Fragrance, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Caprylyl Methicone, Sucrose Stearate, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone, Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)
The fact that ANYONE would pay $78 for this paste blows my mind: C11-13 Isoparaffin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sucrose, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Trihydroxystearin, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Fragrance, Yellow 5, Yellow 6
Seventh Generation– I DON’T like what I see. Baby wash/shampoo-the overall product rates a 2 (you may be fine with that…), but components of it rate at 4, a couple come in at 3, several at 2. When ingredients rate that poorly, I don’t go for it, no matter how much is in the final product, etc. I don’t use, nor recommend anything with either sodium benzoate, or potassium sorbate, this product has BOTH in it, not to mention tetrasodium iminodisuccinate, all 3 synthetic preservatives. I did also look at the bubble bath, and the baby lotion, wayyyyy too long of ingredient lists, with numerous questionable ingredients. Sunscreen: hydrogenated methyl abietate (skin conditioner), magnesium sulfate, polyaminopropyl biguanide (synthetic preservative), polyglycerol-10 laurate, sorbitan stearate.. Are there worse products on the market? Sure. Are there safer products on the market? YES– thankfully! If you want my opinion on an individual product, please ask & I’ll take a look! As far as cleaning products, EWG rates a couple at A, but many at D or F, please take a look: http://www.ewg.org/guides/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=seventh+generation&page=1&per_page=15&x=0&y=0
Shaklee– The ingredient labels speak for themselves. Here is one label from their personal care line to give you an example of why I placed them where I did on my list- just about every, single ingredient from this label from the Hydrating Moisture is of concern. I would never, ever use, nor recommend this product, and the other labels I’ve viewed are very similar. If these are the types of products you consider the best & safest on the market, then let’s just agree right now that we will never agree on what makes a safe product. I’m really in disbelief that anyone would try to argue with me that these are the “greenest & safest” products on the market. As ALWAYS, I encourage you to do your own research, and come to your own conclusions!!: WATER/EAU, CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, CETYL LACTATE, OCTYLDODECYL NEOPENTANOATE, DIMETHICONE, POLYSORBATE 60, STEARIC ACID, PANTHENOL, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, SORBITAN STEARATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, TRIDECYL TRIMELLITATE, GLYCERYL ISOSTEARATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, GLYCERIN, BETA-GLUCAN, PPG-20 METHYL GLUCOSE ETHER, SODIUM COCO PG-DIMONIUM CHLORIDE PHOSPHATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, STEARYL ALCOHOL, TRIETHANOLAMINE, CARBOMER, CERA ALBA/BEESWAX/CIRE D’ ABEILLE, DISODIUM EDTA, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, PEG-7M, FRAGRANCE/PARFUM, BISABOLOL, RETINYL PALMITATE, VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) SEED EXTRACT, SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE, MAGNESIUM ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, BENZOIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE. No ingredients to cleaning products listed on their online labels as they are for the personal care line, a consultant shared a pdf with me. Basic H Cleaning Concentrate: naturally derived cleaning agents (corn- and coconut-based surfactant), natural thickener, biodegradable preservative, and water. Not one of their cleaning labels actually discloses a single ingredient, just more of the same vagueness…
Sun & Earth laundry detergent– entire line rates D & F in EWG Cleaning Database.
Tom’s of Maine- Owned by Colgate, as I stated with Burt’s Bees, I believe if the packaging was correctly labeled with who is making this product, many wouldn’t buy it… EWG lists 109 products, rating 0-4. Ingredients of concern: fragrance, unspecified extracts, unspecified flavor & unspecified oils, zinc, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium fluoride, sodium lauryl sulfate, among others…. As with every other line, it greatly depends on the individual product, so it’s up to you to read the specific ingredient and determine if you’re OK with their use. This is not a line I use, nor recommend….
Trader Joe’s- EWG has 3 products listing new formulation, rating 4-7. 6 more products listing old formulation rating 3-5 (one at 0)…Had to do some diggin’ because I didn’t see the products linked to from their website. Trader Joe’s Nourish shampoo & conditioner have several ingredients of concern: C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Methylparaben, propylparaben. If anyone can point me to more of their products & labels, I’d gladly take a look, but don’t need to look any further than the 2 I looked at to know this is a line to stay away from!
WEN Haircare– no ingredient labels on their website that I could find, but 3rd party searches brought back several threads which shared labels. Ingredients of concern from shampoo, conditioner & hair crème: Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Polyacrylamide, Dimethiconol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum), Citral, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Polysorbate 60, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Amodimethicone, Citric Acid, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone. Whole line is more of the same!
Whole Foods- 365 line: No ingredients listed on Whole Foods site, or EWG, but found some info in Good Guide, which is similar to EWG but with a different rating system. Ingredients of concern in shampoo: sodium myristoyl sarcosinate, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, sodium cocoamphoacetate, glucono lactone, sodium benzoate, phehethyl alcohol, glyceryl caprylate, polysorbate-20. Lotion ingredients of concern: Cetyl alcohol, Cetearyl alcohol, gluconolactone, sodium benzoate, phenethyl alcohol, polysorbate 20 & 60. I don’t have a Whole Foods within 2 hours of me, but many people who have shopped there & picked up bottles from the 365 line chimed in and said they contained way too many questionable ingredients. If you have a specific product you’d like me to take a look at, and an ingredient label, I’d be happy to!
Younique- absolutely, positively not recommended! No better or different than any other conventional make-up on the market. The 3D fiber mascara has Propylene Glycol in it, definitely don’t recommend putting that on your eye. Here’s a random choice of an ingredient list, all are more of the same- cream foundation: WATER, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, ALUMINUM STARCH OCTENYLSUCCINATE, OZOKERITE, HEXYLENE GLYCOL, MALTODEXTRIN, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, DISODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE, DIAZOLIDINYL UREA, ACRYLATES COPOLYMER. And a lipgloss, not 1, but 2 petroleum-derived ingredients, among others of concern, ick: Squalane, Polyisobutene, Mineral Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Petrolatum, Dimethicone, Triisodecyl Trimellitate, Microcrystalline Wax, Hydroxy Stearic Acid, Beeswax. A few of the products look a little better: the eye shadow isn’t terrible, IF they’re using the best micas available, concerns with ingredients in that product come from impurities if they’re not using the best of the best. Again, if you’re looking for something along the lines of Revlon, Mary Kay, Avon, this is fine. If you’re looking for an alternative to mainstream, preservative & synthetic-filled make-up, this is not an option!
Most of these reviews are taken from these posts: http://ecofriendlymamausa.com/product-reviews/greenwashers/
