UPDATED 2/9/2024 (a decade+ after I initially shared this!):
The following statements are my opinion…
More on Melaleuca, and why you couldn’t PAY me to use any of their products. In my opinion, they are the very definition of Greenwashing.
WHAT IS GREENWASHING?? (from Wikipedia): “An example of greenwashing occurs when an organization spends significantly more resources on advertising being “green” than on environmentally sound practices.[4] Greenwashing can range from changing the name or label of a product to evoke the natural environment (for example on a product containing harmful chemicals)…” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing
If you go to their website, you see a green forest in the background. Their symbol is a green leaf. They’re pitching their products to the green/natural/organic crowd. BUT their products are no better than conventional lines on the market, there are tons & tons of product lines with much safer ingredient labels. I know this is shocking info to some, but this is a perfect example of not being able to trust what any company tells you, you have to read the ingredient labels, which speak (very clearly) for themselves!!
Note, at the time of my most recent update (2024), I cannot get most of the ingredient tabs to open. If the following label is no longer correct, I’d be happy to update it. Also, when I scroll through the pics on each product, I notice the ingredients pic from the label is the very last picture shown, only visible if I tab through 5 other pics of the product first. It’s been my experience in my decade+ of looking at product offerings that companies who are proud of their ingredients showcase them front & center. They make them easy to access. Not bury them. So this speaks volumes to me right off the bat.
Here’s my entry for them on my Greenwashers list: 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! The following ingredients from their Koala Pals baby shampoo/wash is nothing short of horrendous (note, at time up recent update, I can not get most of the ingredient tabs to open. If this label is no longer correct, I’d be happy to update it. Also, when I scroll through the pics on each product, I notice the ingredients pic from the label is the very last picture shown, only visible if I tab through) You couldn’t pay me to use this on my family, I’m not joking. 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 saferER products (than big box, mainstream brands)– of course. BUT, any company that would offer this as a baby wash, what should be their mildest formula, is not a company I would trust to make anything safe. I didn’t see a single product I would ever use nor recommend. 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.. I see a statement *contains fragrance allergens* on some cleaning products. Can tell very little about what they actually do contain by their cleaning product labels…
Is EWG and end all & be all for ingredient safety? Absolutely not. But it’s a good starting point. I highly encourage every, single one of you who read this and don’t want to take my word for any of this to do your own research using whatever sites you trust. I always Google: concerns with X ingredient in personal care products, to see what concerns are raised by various sites.
That’s my opinion, and what you came here to read. If you’re not into organic living whatsoever, this brand could be fine for you. But if they reeled you in due to their statement that they’re “the Wellness Company”, if you were lured by their green leaf, and lush meadows, thus believing they are at all offering organic/natural goodness, you’ve definitely been fooled. I don’t see a single organic ingredient in the entire line.
And EWG agrees, giving them an F for the 6 products they list of theirs. Definitely an F in my book too! https://www.ewg.org/guides/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=melaleuca&page=1&per_page=15#.Wot5NK6nHZ4
Any brand from even my So-So List is offering healthier options, and no membership! If you want to continue giving this brand your money, believe me, I won’t lose sleep at night over it. No need to write me and tell me I don’t know anything either, it’s okay, you can believe in these products all you want. Sharing this info for those with an open mind. Which many, many of you do have!
Approved/Best of the Best List: https://ecofriendlymamausa.com/product-reviews/safe-products/
Greenwashers/Not recommended list: https://ecofriendlymamausa.com/product-reviews/greenwashers/
And on my website you’ll also find a ton of other resources, from Ingredients to Avoid (a work in progress, like everything else) to TONS of made in USA resources. Happy clicking!
Discover more from Eco-Friendly Mama: Safe product recommendations with a focus on organic and Made in USA!
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Eco-Friendly Mama: Safe product recommendations with a focus on organic and Made in USA! 
Jul 22, 2014 @ 12:28:33
I’ve looked at a few of their products on their website and was shocked (ok, not really) to see the horrendous ingredients used by this self proclaimed wellness company. And when the rep trying to sign me up got me on the phone with customer service so I could question them on the vagueness of some ingredient lists (the laundry detergent in particular) I was told the ingredient list was not available because it was a trade secret. Sorry, but I’m not buying anything from a company that refuses to disclose what’s in their products. That’s what I would call a BIG RED FLAG.
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Jul 22, 2014 @ 13:02:15
EXACTLY!!!!! Glad there are questioning American’s out there, because many, many trust this company!!
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Sep 27, 2023 @ 02:38:35
Melaluca Laundry Detergent…. just pouring a bit into the laundry hurts my body and burns my eyes. There is no way that is “just essential oils” as the fragrance. It hurts my body as much as tide does, even if I’m washing someone else’s clothing with it not my own. There is no way that is biodegrade in this century. What do you think?
Baking Soda and Vinegar with hot water is all I need for the laundry.
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Feb 27, 2025 @ 19:30:13
that is correct they will not give out their secret formula however you can ask them if it contains any toxic ingredients or anything Particularly that your worried about and they will answer that question. Again if they were greenwashing they would have lawsuits filed against them over the past 40 yrs they have been in business, anyone who has filed a claim, they came out and tested the products and were found to be invalid. They also have all different levels of crunchiness so everyone can shop here, their oils are all seed to seal pure and third party tested, their new baby line is plant base, they have an all natural deodorant that is plant base and no aluminum so it’s no different than walking into Whole Foods and shopping. I’m sure some of their products aren’t to some standards but it doesn’t mean u disregard the entire store! U choose what’s right for u and your family.
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Jul 29, 2014 @ 00:44:46
Melaleuca uses naturally derived ingredients in their products. Melaleuca never claims to be completely COMPLETELY organic. However, they are a better choice than the products on the shelves at your grocery store wal-mart.
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Jul 29, 2014 @ 02:04:10
The lesser of two evils can be debated to no end. I’m on a mission to find the best products on the market. I wouldn’t use Melaleuca if paid large sums of money.
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Jun 19, 2015 @ 11:42:40
You probably use Johnson and Johnson baby products that the company has admitted using formaldehyde in all there baby products. Don’t worry they will be taking it out within the next few yrs. If at all.
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Jun 22, 2015 @ 20:41:35
Ummmm, no. Johnson & Johnson is utterly terrible, not even on this list as I’m pretty sure everyone knows that, but you’re right, I will add them on to make sure. Would never, ever use nor recommend J & J. Please see my So-So & approved lists with 50 or so suggestions for better lines than what you’ll find on the not recommend list.
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Aug 15, 2015 @ 12:41:31
Not certified organic, unless something changed?
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Sep 27, 2023 @ 02:45:25
Why put formaldehyde in baby stuff in the first place? Does Johnson and Johnson own stock in cancer treatment. How can they continue being this evil… knowing talc causes cancer since the 1950’s and they never took the ingredient out.
We need laws that force companies to put carcinogenic products in bright red containers with neon green poison YUK stickers on them before they reach the store shelves.
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Jul 29, 2014 @ 02:23:37
Whether or not their products are organic is beside the point. (Natural and organic are not the same thing – use of the term “organic” is regulated, use of the term “natural” is not.) They market themselves as providing safe natural products but the ingredient lists reveal otherwise. Many of the products have just as many chemicals as those they are trying to convince you they are better than OR they refuse to reveal the ingredients. And just because they use SOME natural ingredients doesn’t make it a natural product – that’s like throwing goji berries in a cupcake and calling it health food.
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Aug 15, 2025 @ 14:23:43
Too much to type:
https://www.melaleuca.com/our-story/ingredients-philosophy
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Aug 15, 2025 @ 14:16:27
That’s right Leigh: https://www.melaleuca.com/our-story/ingredients-philosophy
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Dec 11, 2014 @ 02:03:35
Hello, I have been using Melaleuca products for almost 2 years and just switched to Poofy Organics. I am unfamiliar with which ingredients are considered toxic in the Melaleuca kids/baby shampoo as I still have a bottle of it left and have yet to try Poofy Organics baby shampoo. If you could enlighten me I would appreciate it,
Thanks
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Dec 13, 2014 @ 18:14:29
I would hope that if you read both labels side by side you’ll notice a HUGE difference. It would be easier for me to list the safe ones in Melaleuca’s: water.
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Dec 24, 2014 @ 17:51:43
Over the years, as people have become more educated on ingredients in products it is obvious that Melaleuca could be using much better ingredients. And, Melaleuca needs to show and list the ingredients on all label information on their website. Here are a couple of examples that are clear to understand. Ammonia is a toxic ingredient and Melaleuca uses this in one of their deodorants. Sucralose is considered by many to be a troublesome ingredient. One only needs to google. This ingredient is used in several of Melaleuca’s food products. Dimethicone is used in Melaleuca’s Renew lotion. This ingredient is a silicone type which allows the lotion to spread easier. Why Melaleuca would use these types of ingredients when other better ingredients are available is confusing. I really believe many customers who enroll with Melaleuca are very excited in the beginning, however, as they become more educated while using Melaleuca products they then realize Melaleuca does “greenwash” many of their products. And, that is when they get upset and cancel their membership. Melaleuca claims a 96% reorder rate month to month as a testament to how great the products are, but if you do the math Melaleuca loses many customers each year. Example: if you start with 100 customers in January in February you will have 95 of those 100. In March you will have 90. In April you will have 85. And on and on. So, you have to continually enroll new customers. I believe if Melaleuca uses the better ingredients less would leave and a lot more would enroll. Final note. there is a lot more competition for better safer products today than ever.
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Feb 27, 2025 @ 19:45:28
first of all ammonia is not in any of melaleuca products so your 100% wrong with that one, they state that all over the website and would be sued if that was the case. Dimethicone is found in nature, sandstone & quartz and is only harmful if you inhaul it, it’s not harmful if it’s in skincare products and why don’t they use something else? A lot of times if something else is found to be safer but also just as effective and doesn’t cost a whole lot more, yes they will switch an ingredient, but they want to make sure the product works well & people can afford it. Something that’s 100% plant base doesn’t usually work as well and will be more expensive. because melaleuca combines science with nature they are able to take certain ingredients and tweak them so they are no longer harmful, the sucralose by the way isn’t the same synthetic sucralose that can cause harm, however for the people who don’t understand the science behind it or just don’t want it, they have now switched a lot of their food and drink products to stevia.
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Dec 25, 2014 @ 15:55:01
Yes, Melaleuca is a “greenwasher”. I know this now after being a longtime user. Very upset about this as I have been a customer for many years. Ammonia and dimethicone are two unsafe ingredients used in a few of their personal care products. Sucralose used in many of the food products as is acesulfame potassium.
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Mar 04, 2015 @ 12:59:39
Just curious what makes you the all time ..all knowing natural ingredient policeman you bash Melaleuca and other companies if you really did your research you would see that Melaleuca uses safer ingredients .they are a registered pharmaceutical company that have to comply with guidelines set up by the pharmaceutical companies and one of them for example is that in order to be declared spf 15 _ spf 30 or spf 45 you must use some of the things that you may have mentioned.. I’m not a self-proclaimed wellness policeman but I do contact customer service department who does have the chemist working for them has degrees in science and chemistry that are always very open to telling you why they use a certain product in there things and you will find out that there are alternatives that are safer ..and have been studied..and you surely don’t know them all when it takes years and years of study to know ingredients. Melaleuca hires some of the top chemist in the country to work for them they have a huge research and development department..just recently they hired a research doctor chemist from Freiburg University to work with them..you have no idea what you’re talking about when you -bash Melaleuca the way that you have they lead the way in patents on their formulas you can read any patent license and find out as much as you want to know about that product in case you don’t know it, if a product is patented ,you have to be able to prove that, that product does what it says it will do. I think if you’re getting your degree in chemistry by reading what’s on the internet you obviously haven’t learned that everything you read is not true for example the post that you just wrote about Melaleuca is not true, I think if you want to bad mouth the company you better be prepared for retribution from whoever decides to dispute what you’re saying because you definitely don’t have the facts if you really want to know about Melaleuca products , if I was you I would call them and ask them, 800282 3000 ,if you could purchase a copy of their legacy for wellness guide..you can find out everything you want about some of their most popular products I have read the whole legacy of wellness guide and still don’t feel that I have the knowledge that I would need to bash a company the way that you just did Melaleuca they are company that’s been around for going on 30 years recognized by the Better Business Bureau with a triple A rating do some research because the research you have does not make you an authority. maybe then you have a right to say what you want to say about Melaleuca it might give you a little bit more insight than the garbage that you’re reading on the Internet you want to study your product a little bit better. I have been using Melaleuca products for over 7 years I can tell you this that I trust them for everything that they have to offer and for you to say this kind of things about this company tells me that you have no clue what you’re talking about and I regret the fact that other people might read this and think that you do.
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Mar 04, 2015 @ 14:24:08
Please, Google “Melaleuca Greenwasher” and you’ll find MANY, many, many who share my opinion. We obviously disagree, and that’s fine. I’ve done my research, I’ve read hundreds upon hundreds of labels, and Melaleuca is among the worst out there. Keep in mind, my mission, and what I use on my family is ORGANIC, safe, minimal, yet effective. Here is my list of what I use & recommend, please do YOURSELF a favor, and start comparing what’s on my “approved” list with any Melaleuca label, and you’ll see a HUGE difference, even if you don’t have a degree in Chemistry. Does Melaleuca use organic ingredients? No. That right there means they’re not anything I’d use nor recommend. Even if I didn’t use organic only, I’d never touch Melaleuca if you paid me. I’m used to messages like yours from Melaleuca devotees. It’s OK. We disagree, I’m fine with that. But that doesn’t make me wrong. I’m sooooooo proud to have helped spread the word against Melaleuca, and to have converted many away from it. Messages like yours reaffirm my mission, and I’ll be heading to my group & page to do a post about how terrible Melaleuca is right now, thanks!
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=melaleuca+greenwasher
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Mar 04, 2015 @ 15:22:02
Jane… Why does Melaleuca use surcralose in many of their food products? And even kid’s products? Why not stevia? like many companies do. Why does Melaleuca use acesulfame potassium in their products? Why does Melaleuca use aluminium in their deodorant? Why does Melaleuca use GMO ingredients in their food products? Why does Melaleuca list parfum and fragrance in many of their products? (google parfum and fragrance) and see if you like what you read. Why does Melaleuca use glycerin in their tooth paste? Why does Melaleuca us dimethicone in the Renew lotion? Why does melaleuca use magnesium strearate in their vitamins? Why doesn’t Melaleuca state whether or not they use irradiated ingredients in their vitamins? GMOs used in their vitamins? Melaleuca doesn’t say, so if ya’ don’t say which is a positive, then good chance GMOs used? Just my thought process. I get a headache when I read the list of ingredients in the Sei Bella cosmetic line. Do you really think most of these ingredients are better and safer? Back in the day Melaleuca was better and safer. But, not now. Google USDA Certified skin care and see what you come up with. Google USDA certified cleaners and see what you come up with. A lot of truly “better, safer” products out there. Right? Yes or No Jane? You know a lot of people get really pissed off at Melaleuca after they become a customer and get educated on safe non-toxic products and as these people do more research they find out that Melaleuca is a green washer and… pissed off BIG TIME… and they cancel membership. Melaleuca absolutely must begin to offer certified organic products as best they can because this is where the educated consumer is going.
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Mar 04, 2015 @ 17:09:37
Also, I mentioned that I’ve helped many people find alternatives to Melaleuca. Some used the products for years. One story in particular stands out to me. A woman had terrible hair loss, it was coming out in clumps after every shower. She switched to Poofy Organics shampoo & noticed the difference after ONE USE- no hair loss. She has since rid her home of all things Melaleuca, and switched them out for products on my best of the best list. That is just ONE example, I could go on. As I said, totally fine for you to love & use Melaleuca, but that doesn’t make my opinions that the products are terrible wrong. I would never, ever, trust any Chemist employed by a company to tell me why the products are great. I trust myself to read a label & make that decision for myself, and I created my Facebook page & blog 3 years ago to share my thoughts with others who care about finding the best products on the market.
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Jul 24, 2023 @ 02:05:05
Firstly, you have GOT to get a grip on your horrendous placement of commas.
Secondly, regardless of chemistry degree or none, it is inarguable that Melaleuca uses toxins. Maltodextrin, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dimethicone, sodium laurel sulfate, sucralose, and any bioengineered products are toxic. Period. Dot.
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Feb 02, 2024 @ 05:35:47
It is you Jane who doesn’t know what you’re talking about! I have zero allergies except ragweed and suddenly I’m breaking out all over since I started using Melaleuca’s laundry detergent! Maybe you should do more research and stop bashing those who do!
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Mar 24, 2024 @ 19:45:28
Same here – my wife switched brands a month ago, and we have 2 wash cycles with Melaleuca super concentrated laundry detergent – and guess what has happened? Yep, both of us breaking out in contact dermatitis-like rashes. So, back to Seventh Generation, washing all the clothes/sheets today – give it about 2 weeks and I can almost guarantee, no rashes. Will report back.
This detergent is not good for your skin – period!
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Feb 24, 2024 @ 09:30:08
Search the ingredients and you will figure it out for yourself. Don’t worry you will get there like most of Maleleuca customers do and realize they are toxic 😉
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Apr 07, 2024 @ 22:37:22
no one trusts pharmaceutical companies 😂😂
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Apr 09, 2024 @ 10:56:59
This is why I’ve just entirely stopped responding to people that defend the likes of Melaleuca. We have a completely different set of standards as to what constitutes safe products. I completely agree with your point Stacy!!
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Mar 04, 2015 @ 14:54:01
Jane, have you actually done any of your own research on the ingredients in their products? Just because the chemist employed by the company can tell me WHY he/she uses a certain chemical doesn’t make it safe to use – there is always some reason they choose to add this chemical or that one: this one makes it spread better, this one makes it look nicer, this one keeps it from separating, or whatever. Unfortunately the US has given many ingredients the stamp of approval that are banned in other countries for being unsafe. And we are always seeing those regulations change as they are presented with enough evidence to show certain chemicals are unsafe. Them being a registered pharmaceutical company doesn’t instill confidence in their products with me either. Do you know how many pharmaceutical related deaths there are every year? The number varies depending on criteria but it’s in the tens of thousands – too many.
I always do my own research. If I don’t know what an ingredient is, I’ll either look it up or avoid it. BTW, I did call them to ask about the ingredients in a couple products and they would not disclose the ingredient info to me. And if they won’t disclose the ingredients then there is no way I’m using the product.
Eco-friendly Mama – can’t wait to read the new post!
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Mar 04, 2015 @ 15:38:08
Oh Jane, why does Melaleuca use petrolatum in the Renew lotion?
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Mar 07, 2015 @ 08:44:24
None of those ingredients you posted are proven to be bad… just a bunch of unscientific and bias “studies” Melaleuca spends millions on product development instead of advertising to make safer products. They do not have numerous awards and the top BBB torch award for being liars! Especially with most of the products being US PATENTED! You do NOT know what you are talking about! You know what is proven bad? Formaldehyde in Proctor & Gamble products. Educate yourself and stop spreading false information, especially about GMO’s
http://www.melaleucaawards.com
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Mar 07, 2015 @ 13:39:05
How rude. I speak out against P & G as much as possible too, have you looked at my entire site, and compared the companies I don’t recommend against those I do? If you did, the difference in labels would be vastly clear, and you wouldn’t be telling me to educate myself. I’m educated. Stop being rude on my site. Here’s my Master List with over 100 companies, each category header has a link to the full listing with details on why I put what where. Again, in over 100 companies, Melaleuca’s labels are the ickiest I’ve seen, along with Arbonne. If YOU do some research, you will no longer be attacking me. Geeeeeesh, please, look at all 100+ companies I have, then get back to me. https://ecofriendlymamausa.com/product-reviews/personal-carecleaning-master-list/
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Mar 07, 2015 @ 21:17:36
I sincerely apologize i went a little overboard. I was just in the moment and frusturated at some of the replies.
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Jul 24, 2023 @ 02:06:27
Strongly disagree
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Feb 02, 2024 @ 05:38:13
You don’t know what you’re talking about either! Their laundry detergent has broken me out badly and I’m allergic to nothing else!!!
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Mar 07, 2015 @ 09:06:47
This might not even pass awaiting moderation, but you people are making so many wild claims… look up Petrolatum USP.. not just Petrolatum there is a difference. Again this is a baseless attack on a reputable company… Yes they have trade secrets (look up a US PATENT) It is to protect their patents so noone can imitate their products. Just ridiculous…
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Mar 07, 2015 @ 13:35:36
Again, if you want to use it on your family, that’s your right. I would never, ever, ever use the products.
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Mar 08, 2015 @ 05:40:50
YA ok melaleuca is green washing.. BBB torch award.. and http://www.melaleucaawards.com and Vandersloot won the prestigious Horatio Alger Distinguished Award. All that was from greenwashing..
A company simply does not claim to be non-toxic and a wellness company and basically lie about it and see 20 years of excellence. P&G and Amway.. and many others have toxic ingredients but the only reason they get away with it is they don’t continually profess to be non toxic in the first place. Why don’t you go and sue them for false marketing if your so confident? and tell me how that goes?
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Mar 08, 2015 @ 08:04:00
Derron, Melaleuca uses optical brighteners in their bleach substitute laundry product. Did yo know theses are synthetic chemicals that have nothing to do with getting clothes clean? Optical brighteners trick the eye. They make clothes appear to “glow” therefore making one think the clothes are brighter and cleaner than the clothes really are. ‘Sup W’dat?
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Mar 08, 2015 @ 08:16:42
Melaluca makes a big deal about their 95% reorder rate. “95% of the customers who order this month will order next month.” So, if you start with 100 customers in January there will be approximately 45 less customers in twelve months. The way Melaleuca “pitches” this is to make it sound like business builders will hardly ever lose customers. But, a lot of customers cancel memberships each year. In my opinion, if Melaleuca started to use certified organic ingredients instead of questionable synthetic ingredients the dropout rate would decrease and Melaleuca would not lose so many customers each year. If you search the Internet you will see many former Melalucans left because a much better safer product manufacturer was found.
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May 25, 2015 @ 06:26:02
The only reason they have a 95% reorder rate is because customers are forced to have a backup order that is automatically sent to them if they don’t place an order each month. Talk about fudging the figures.
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Aug 15, 2025 @ 14:09:54
No one is forced to do anything. Customers can cancel/suspend their shopping accounts anytime they want to. When they enroll they are made to understand that the really great benefits they enjoy are contingent on maintaining their “preferred customer” AGREEMENT. Notice I did NOT say COMMITMENT or CONTRACT because it’s NEVER those two things. The backup order is used to protect their benefits if they forget to shop by midnight on the last day of the month. This backup order is also customizable so that they will receive their favorites if this happens. I’ve been shopping and building for over 10 years and have NEVER gotten a backup order. If I’m not doing my job by not following up with my new customers, that may happen. If people are signing on the “dotted line” without understanding everything that is clearly presented to them, then that’s on them to some degree. Anyone that tells you anything different about this program is ignorant, plain and simple. If you want to know the real truth, stop listening to disgruntled folks that didn’t pay attention to the details before jumping in. Also, in their defense, not all Melaleuca execs are responsible to their customers and that does suck. Automatic reminders are readily available as well. I hope this clears up any animosities regarding this feature of the business.
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Aug 15, 2025 @ 13:58:32
This is a MONTHLY retention rate. Absolutely, there is attrition. That being said, the customers that do stay generate a very reliable repeat income. It’s important that we keep sharing the store to offset natural attrition but the fact is even if I stop working it completely, there will always be a check coming my way. My enrollers were making a pretty considerable income and then got into real estate and let their Melaleuca business building activities go by the wayside for about 5-6 years now. The customers they enrolled from their beginning are still shopping and they are still receiving about $1500-$1700 for doing nothing. This is where the importance of the high retention rate comes in. Your math is correct if you look at some long time average. The information stated in the presentation is (updated), “96% of customers that shop this month with shop again next month”.
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May 21, 2015 @ 23:41:54
I just recently enrolled with Melaleuca because it was marketed as an “all natural” company. The person even told me that the fragrance used in products only came from pure essential oils only and had no chemicals. Upon receiving my shipment all the ingredients on the packages were either vague saying things like “cleaning agents” or had a list of chemical ingredients. I called the product line and asked about the fragrance and the “cleaning agents” and they informed that they do have chemicals in their products that are approved by the FDA and they could not tell me what there “cleaning agents” were cause it is a proprietary blend and they could not share that. I am very disappointed in this company and there misleading advertisements.
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Jun 09, 2015 @ 20:20:28
If you want to join me in a TRULY organic & natural company, I have a great team here to support you in your new business: https://ecofriendlymamausa.com/buying-clubdeomy-poofy-organics/ready-to-work-from-home-join-team-eco-poofy-usa/
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Jun 14, 2015 @ 23:06:00
You know, I have no trust for someone who completely bashes one thing and then tries to sell another. So, how much commission do you make from Poofy Organics?
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Jun 22, 2015 @ 20:47:09
That’s fine, don’t trust me. Feel free to also see what every other blogger who has posted about Melaleuca being a terrible line does to earn income. Being an independent Poofy Organics rep is one of many things I do to earn income. I also am an affiliate for a My Green Mattress who offers organic mattresses, does that mean I’m not qualified to say X mattress company selling flame retardant-laden mattresses is terrible? If you can’t compare a Melaleuca label to a Poofy label & see why I made the decision I did, I don’t know what to tell you. Melaleuca is AWFUL, just awful. And I’ll never feel bad or apologize for doing everything I can to get the message out about them, or the other 50 or so companies on my not recommended list. I understand you don’t appreciate my point-of-view, and I’m fine with that! Many do.
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Feb 02, 2024 @ 05:41:27
I am too and very sad as I had high hopes for them! I’m breaking out now and I know it’s the detergent!!
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Jun 16, 2015 @ 01:33:17
You people aren’t making any sense. You’re yelling out names if things that sound scary like dimethicone, this ingredient is a quality skin care ingredient. Some companies even put it in food because of how safe it is. I’ve been using for ten years now, and I know that no matter how much money you pay me, I’ll never use products OUTSIDE of melaleuca.
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Jun 22, 2015 @ 20:32:58
And that is your right. You obviously aren’t looking for natural or organic products, but completely conventional ones. My audience is looking for natural/organic lines, which Melaleuca certainly IS NOT.
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Jun 29, 2015 @ 20:49:56
Thank you so much for this! I became a customer last month and received my products today.I had ordered the Koala Pals Dental Pack, Koala Pals Body Wash and Shampoo, Affinia Shampoo and Conditioner, Body Satin Body Wash MelaPower Laundry Soap, Clarity Facial Wash, and Whitening Tooth Polish.
I went through the ingredients and of course not knowing what any of them are I started doing some research and was not impressed. When I was told about the company I was under the impression that this was a “Green” company. That there wouldn’t be chemicals in the products. But low and behold almost all had Parfum in them, laundry soap had preservative, and the kids toothpaste had natural and artificial flavors.
Needless to say that everything is getting shipped back tomorrow unopened, except the toothpaste since my daughter opened that right away. I contacted the person who signed me up and told her I wanted to cancel my membership. So I have the form and will be printing that off and sending it in!
So upset and feel played!
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Jul 01, 2015 @ 19:21:25
So wonderful to hear from you Sara! I’m so happy to know that they will not have you as a customer!!!
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Jun 30, 2015 @ 06:58:25
You know, I agree that Melaleuca is not the best and most organic company, and I will continue to look for the best for my family, but you might have been better received if you didn’t sound like such a snob. Yes, we know they couldn’t pay you to use the products. You said it over and over and over. Sheesh.
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Jul 01, 2015 @ 19:23:48
Sorry to have offended you. I will no longer make that statement in hopes of not coming off as a snob.
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Jan 31, 2016 @ 13:42:49
Melaleuca has always been a mixed bag for me. Love their vitamins because of oligo fructose compounding. Kind if sold on that and don’t get sick anymore taking them. The 2pack combo of the multi vit and mineral for $20 is a pretty good deal. Hate that you have to order so much every month. Like tough and tender although they changed the smell and has a stronger oder. A lot of other products I like, lots I don’t. Isn’t that how life usually is? Hate the cult like tone of all who are trying to earn income and this whole bs of saving more. Just stop saying this people. The people who present it would have more credibility it they wouldn’t stretch the truth and not give a glowing personal opinion about everything in their catalogue. Be real people! Oh yeah and I’m really irritated by the splenda they put in some things. What the hell! I’m going to ask about that. I’ve never been super passionate about all organic but “safer” definitely appeals to me. But this sucralose stuff is not safer. So, I’m a card a ” card carrying” member but certainly not a cool-aid drinking one!
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Jan 31, 2016 @ 23:03:24
Agree. On the sucralose. And, acesulfame potassium and artificial ingredients in many of food products. And, soy. It’s mind boggling why these ingredients are used. People get ticked off. I’ve asked for changes over the years. Nothing. I know many who want changes too.
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Mar 29, 2021 @ 00:58:45
Companies have to pay for a rating on EWG. Not reliable. Don’t believe everything you read.
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Dec 05, 2021 @ 00:02:20
I was told Melaleuca was totally Organic. When I got my Protein powder and the orange flavor powder to mi with it I looked at the ingredients. I was shocked to find the stuff that was in it. They were soy, corn, maltodextrin and all kind of things our grandmothers never heard of or could pronounce. I asked why maltodextrin was in the ingredients which is a form of MSG and she said it it’s specially processed to be organic. I know for a fact that is a pure lie. I told her after the maltodextrin I did not care to discuss all the other horrid ingredients that was in the product. The ingredients list was so small I needed a magnifying glass to read it.
The up line from my friend was hustling like a MLM. I said I did not need the raw raw and it seemed like a MLM. She said no it definitely was not. I said how about direct marketing which another word for MLM. She said definitley not. If you look at the payout structure it classic MLM which she denies still. I asked of the products are Organic why is Certified Organic on the product. She said they had that in a Select line of products and the reason they don’t label other products organic is that they are but can’t guarantee that no cross contamination from other farm had not tainted the organic ingredient they use. Every objection she had was met an already rehearsed lie. What she did not know is I was a chapter leader for WESTONAPRICE.org. This is on the for front of organics, naturopathic practitioners, legal defense fund, farmers that are trying to get good and local foods our table. Their products are loaded with foods that cause all kinds of health disorders and especially cancer. Do the research and you find out.
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Feb 12, 2022 @ 22:28:16
I don’t use melaleuca products but I grew up in a household that did. my mom uses everything from them. I have always used EWG and showed my mom many times the bad ratings. but : I am confused because I have heard melaleuca uses European standards which is why the EWG gives them bad ratings. also I have personally never had a reaction to their cleaning products – and I have MCS and very very sensitive. I can’t use mrs meyers or any other greenwashed companies that have awful ingredients. I agree by just READING some of their products – esp body products – I could never justify using them. but I just can’t figure out why the cleaning products don’t bug me!
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Sep 27, 2023 @ 02:37:48
Melaluca Laundry Detergent…. just pouring a bit into the laundry hurts my body and burns my eyes. There is no way that is “just essential oils” as the fragrance. It hurts my body as much as tide does, even if I’m washing someone else’s clothing with it not my own. There is no way that is biodegrade in this century. What do you think?
Baking Soda and Vinegar with hot water is all I need for the laundry.
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Nov 30, 2023 @ 17:38:40
EWG Verified is a pay for play site and asks companies to pay a fee to be listed and you trust this site?
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Apr 09, 2024 @ 11:00:10
As I state over & over, EWG is one of many resources. It’s not an end all and be all whatsoever. I look at the data THEY cite, not their overall score. You can learn more about my process here: How I decide what to recommend- please read 1st | Eco-Friendly Mama: Safe product recommendations with a focus on organic and Made in USA! (ecofriendlymamausa.com)
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Feb 06, 2024 @ 02:39:47
Melaleuca uses SCIENCE plus nature. My CRP (inflammation marker) is 0.1 after 7 years using exclusively their products. Inflammatory disease is the #1 killer on the planet. The rest of this post is toxic. ✌🏻
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Jul 11, 2024 @ 14:06:48
https://www.melaleuca.com/our-story/ingredients-philosophy
They state very clearly here the “No” ingredients and the “Yes” ingredients. No organic claims, just safer than most other products out there, No?
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Mar 04, 2024 @ 18:27:14
Ive been a Melaleuca customer for a couple of years now. Some of the products I just love..but I do have to agree about the some of the non-wellness or so called natural ingredients. I always wondered why they make it sound more toxic free. Anyway.. I notice every time I watch the video they make you watch before sending your earnings for the month that the 2 guys that are the representatives of the company always uses the illuminati hand gestures and symbols. I get freaked out by it. For the people who don’t know what I am talking about.. Its like a cult language among themselves. I call it the devil!! Thanks for putting out this blog… It has completely Confirmed what I always was thinking.
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Apr 26, 2024 @ 17:59:42
I was just lured in to an internet pitch, saying if you are a patriot and you want safer, non-toxic, all natural products, made in America, try SWITCHAWAY. So I look this up and only find an address for TUCOWS 96 Mowat Ave in Ontario Canada… so right there was a red flag. They are using their e commerce platform from a Canadian Company, so how is that supporting America? Then I let the saleswoman call me… she is an amazing person by the way and I just loved her, but the company isn’t SWITCHAWAY, it’s MELALEUCA… the pyramid company from the 80’s & 90’s. so there is a lot of Clickbait type of maneuvers here, which are SOoo cheesy. Everything this article says is absolutely true. it’s bad enough that EDTA is in adult foods because they can choose to put poisons on and in their body, but to see this in baby products is horrifying. I looked up other ingredients and some are VERY TOXIC and many are NOT natural AT ALL. ALL their vitamins are synthetic. Their product “Vitality” contains polyethelyne glycol which is from petroleum and also has vanillin, which is NOT VANILLA from a bean, it’s either from plastic or from a beavers anal glands! (Look it up if you don’t believe it) another product “Sustain”, has silicon dioxide… this as a food additive called E551 and contains nano particles that enlarge inside the body and lodge in your organs. Their energy bars contain 12 types of different sugars… in 1bar!!! Terrible for you. I kept asking if they were Organic and I couldn’t get a straight answer, but they do have a couple of ingredients … like SUGAR… listed as Organic. What most people don’t realize is that anything without an Organic label is IRRADIATED! Put through Ionizing, DEADLY, TOXIC ***X-RAYS!!! (the reason I no longer eat at restaurants… the quality of food is the lowest AND it’s IRRADIATED! ) So there’s that. So they could have saved us all a lot of wasted time by being ETHICAL..!!! Upfront about who they are… Melaleuca, not “SWITCHAWAY” , they are a multi level marketing or pyramid plan… who NOW focuses on YOU buying the products yourself and getting compensation for “selling”this opportunity to other people. They need to be ethical and honest that THESE PRODUCTS ARE NO MORE NATURAL, or HEALTHY or NON TOXIC THAN THE NEXT GUYS! They Themselves use Canadian… not AMERICAN, to do their e commerce, so they AREN’t completely supporting AMERICA. For some reason… ALL the above mentioned was hard for them to be upfront about… WHY? Anyway, it was a disappointing experience… it wasn’t any of the things they bragged about. But hey, in looking for Organic I found a brand called POOF. It looks promising, and they have a selling opportunity too. Thank you for the wonderful article! Know who’s putting the spoon to your mouth and what they’ve put in the spoon! God Bless Wyn
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Jul 24, 2024 @ 11:06:20
thank you for sharing this. Exactly! We are being so deceived by wording through companies. Have you ever checked into Essante Organics? That’s the only one that I have found that has certified organic and certified toxic free ingredients and all of their products. I would love your insight into this company.
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Jul 24, 2024 @ 11:12:22
i’m glad I discovered you. Yes so many companies do this. They make claims and they use words that trick consumers. I’m grateful to know that you exist and are looking into things like this. I would love you to check out a company that I feel has been due to what they claim they are 100% organic and certified toxic free. Yes, they have the certifications to prove. They paid the money for the certifications. And they’ve gone to Great link to educate the world about what truly organic and toxic free is. Would you do a review on Essante organics?
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Jul 24, 2024 @ 12:44:22
Connie- Essante raises so many red flags. I got into a huge back and forth with the owner Michael just a couple months ago. He refused to answer basic questions. Many of the products do not add up. Ask him what gives the lip gloss its tint please. He told me…. Plants. Everything is plants. That is not possible. He was incredibly rude, dismissive, acted like a kindergartener. He wrote paragraphs about all his awards, accolades, but refused to answer extremely basic questions I had about ingredients. It’s 100% smoke & mirrors with him! I had an entire blog post typed up about it but he was so rude and condescending and honestly came off as psychotic that I removed it, I don’t deal with psychopaths whatsoever. It has been the most bizarre company I have looked into and I have over 150 on my list.
I have the info saved on Essante, if you want, email me and I’ll send it to you. They are DEFINITELY not 100% organic, and there are definitely many red flags. But I’ve found those that are believers seem almost brain-washed. The guy (Michael) is good at that. He called me a disgrace for asking him ingredient questions that he simply refused to answer. I would never, ever support this brand. In fact, I’ve done everything I can to forget it exists because it was THE most frustrating experience I’ve had in my 12 years of blogging and making sure things add up. Numerous Essante products simply do not add up and that I am 100% confident in.
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Oct 25, 2024 @ 19:18:21
I used Melaleuca for a while. One of the customer service reps tried to tell me that the RED #40 that was in their skincare line was safe because it was FDA approved! Wow! That company has so many harmful ingredients in their products!
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Nov 13, 2024 @ 19:48:49
Thank you for your very informative article. For years, I have been telling the Melaleuca company to stop using artificial sweeteners.
Dr. Diana Pengitore, ND
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Feb 27, 2025 @ 19:04:21
#1 the ingredient lists are always at the very top right under the pic of the product. Second if we were “greenwashing” then why haven’t we paid a single penny in 40 yrs for any law suits against us? Common sense if we were claiming to be safe but not, someone would have filed something! 3rd, this is where I think this is all coming from, if your looking at just an ingredient list from one of our products and you see the word “fragrance” you automatically assume it is the same “fragrance” that is bad and filled with toxic chemicals, not true in our case! All our products are fragranced with essential oils or some type of natural source, melaleuca also combines science with nature, let me give u an example, our renew lotion has Petrolatum USP in it, but what you don’t know is we tumble it to the point where all impurities are tumbled out and all that is left is a substance. So there isn’t anything harmful left it in. So you can tweak ingredients so they now become safer and it also keeps the prices down so our products are affordable and also perform better than something that is 100% plant base. Speaking of plant base, we have a new baby line and it’s all plant base. We also have a special product line that anyone can call and question any ingredient & they will tell u exactly how it’s made and where it’s sourced from and why it’s not harmful. And lastly the EWG app is def not reliable! Companies PAY for their products to be on there which explains how Dawn dishsoap has a B rating, the same people who own the EWG app, also owns Walmart who is our biggest competitor, & carries tons of toxic products and we refused to pay for our products to be on there. So that’s not a reliable source! It’s the crunchy momma blogs like this that spread false info because your too closed minded to actually do research! I’d be happy to call the product line about any ingredient you see that isn’t to your satisfaction! I think being in business for over 40 yrs with not a single claim from our products harming anyone speaks for itself! For those who love young living & doterra revive oils & 8 other companies as I’m sure a lot of your crunchy mommas use, btw they just discovered their peppermint and lavender oils contain phthalates in them, funny Melaleuca’s oils were not listed on that list.
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Feb 27, 2025 @ 20:38:53
Many companies have been in business 40+ years, that doesn’t mean I would ever use the products they are making. The most recent product I went to look at so I could give someone my opinion on it was the laundry detergent. It has no ingredients listed.
It’s obvious you’re very happy with the company. That’s great for you. But in my 12+ years of reading labels for hundreds of companies (I have a list with close to 200 companies rated), Melaleuca remains at the bottom of my recommendations. It’s total garbage.
How many organic ingredients do they use? That’s what I value, and Melaleuca doesn’t come close to matching my values. Great that it matches yours. We have very different values. Easy as that.
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Apr 10, 2025 @ 12:16:50
I was recently gifted the Koala Kubs baby shampoo and wash. It claims to be 100% plant based fragrance, though it smells very strong.
Ingredients: Aqua (Water/Eau), Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate*, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate*, Lauroyl/Myristoyl Methyl Glucamide*, Coco-Betaine*, Glycerin*, Benzyl Alcohol, Capryloyl/Caproyl Methyl Glucamide*, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Citric Acid*, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Saccharide Isomerate*, Sodium Citrate*, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract*, Fragrance (Parfum)* *Plant based/à base de plantes
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