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.
The Green Mommy’s goal in this post was to give you some safe, inexpensive choices for baby shampoo and soap. Unfortunately, she’s unable to do this. She’ll 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 her and continue through this post to the end for her recommendation.
It needs to be noted that although Skin Deep gives products a “moderate hazard” score, some of them contain:
- parabens – may cause breast cancer due to hormone mimicking properties
- fragrance – often means 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) – FDA says is safe for general use but can cause cancer and contains toxins that affect reproduction
- sodium laureth sulfate – can cause skin and eye damage
- PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine and PEG-150 Distearate - unless vacuum stripped, contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which has been identified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- 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.
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 chemicals listed above are in it. Or, go to Skin Deep and see how it is rated.
As The Green Mommy stated, the goal of this post was to give you inexpensive baby shampoo and soap choices. She just feels that the above items are no bargain when you see what’s in them and who they’re for. Therefore, she recommends that you go to your local health food store and purchase something with a lower score from Skin Deep. In some cases, you’ll be getting a safer item that’s not as expensive as you may think. For example, The Green Mommy has been using California Baby Shampoo & Bodywash Tea Tree & Lavender (with a safer score of “1″) since her daughter, Girl Wonder, was born 9 months ago. She has only now almost made it through the whole bottle after giving her a bath just about everyday because it’s concentrated. It cost The Green Mommy about $10.00 which means she’ll have paid a little more than $1.00 per month to use it. Safer and inexpensive – priceless.
I agree–when you break down the price per use, instead of the price per bottle, the difference is nominal. And shocking that they’d use these ingredients in BABY products!
I found a less expensive brand of grown-up shampoo to use that is safer than my current brand, so the safety factor doesn’t always cost more.
I agree that it’s worth it to spend a little more up front and then use a little less shampoo each time.
When I think about all the stuff I put on my children’s skin and hair when they were babies…