Eco-friendly baby/family products MADE in USA

Updated in March of 2019. If you find any of this to be inaccurate, please do let me know. In the 3 years since I had published this, very little changed, and none for the better.

I know this is not going to make me popular with the Beautycounter Reps out there, but I’m not sharing my thoughts on this line to gain popularity, I’m sharing because I get asked a LOT to check into what Beautycounter has to offer. I personally use & recommend products made from as many organic ingredients as possible. The “tribe” I have connected with via my various social media outlets wants the same thing, so if that’s the case, Beautycounter absolutely is not for you. If you think this line is the best on the market, that means we have different criteria for what makes a good product, and you’re not concerned with using products containing as many organic ingredients as possible.

ALSO: Yes, I do a lot of product comparisons to Poofy Organics below, and YES, I am a very proud Poofy Organics Guide (affiliate) as of 4 years ago. I compare Poofy Organics to Beautycounter because I consider Poofy Organics to be the gold standard, and I think the product comparisons absolutely prove my point, in very few words. My motto: ingredient labels speak for themselves, they just need a voice. I am that voice…. Showing the 2 labels side-by-side proves my point more than a million words I can type. All that being said, here are my thoughts:

This was one of the final things I recently read that made me move them from my So-So List, to my Greenwashers/Not recommended list:

^^^THAT is one of many reasons I choose organic products. Their answer shows they are not dedicated to the safest ingredients. When it’s convenient or they are cheap only? With the prices they are charging they have ZERO excuses to not be using the VERY best ingredients on the market. There ARE plenty of products that have completely SAFE & EFFECTIVE ingredients for a fraction of the sticker price. You don’t have to compromise!! Please do not!

You can read about some of the things I avoid here. Nothing on my ‘Approved’ list even has sodium benzoate, which most consider relatively safe but I prefer to avoid when alternatives without it exist, which they do! https://ecofriendlymamausa.com/product-reviews/how-i-decide-what-to-recommend-please-read-1st/

The main ingredients of concern I see in this line are, in addition to sodium benzoate in just about everything: dimethicone, phenoxyethanol, artificial colors (make-up, Red Lake 7,etc) and many other so-so ingredients that I certainly do not consider the safest on the market. Here is a great article regarding the concerns with artifical colors. She doesn’t mention Beautycounter, but it’s definitely who she’s referring to: http://chemicaloftheday.squarespace.com/most-controversial/2015/2/3/no-lead-in-this-lipstick-but.html?fbclid=IwAR0YRYO19wrGVzID-PPUFlHXuGape1iP4utdk4FvFrxCNFrGXTYPCQXRvzo

They like to tout how a certain product gets a 2 with EWG, but count on the fact most will not click to see each ingredient & see that some get a 4 (ALWAYS click to see each ingredient as each ingredient matters):

Dimethicone: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/702011/DIMETHICONE/

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

Yes, some products have some organic ingredients, but let’s look at the shampoo: $22/10 oz: Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Glycol Distearate, Decyl Glucoside,Panthenol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Benzoate,Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Amaranth Protein, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Ximenia Americana Seed Oil, Maltodextrin, Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos) Leaf Extract.

You can compare that to 2 others I recommend & I think you’ll see a pretty clear difference in ingredients:

Poofy Organics: $15/8 oz Ingredients: Purified Water, Decyl Polyglucose, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Yucca Extract, Organic Orange Essential Oil, Organic Lavender Essential Oil, Xanthan Gum. (affiliate link) https://ecofriendlyusa.poofyorganics.com/products/1322-orange-lavender-shampoo.aspx

Nurture My Body: $26.95/8oz so not cheap, but look at the quality of ingredients you’re getting! Purified Water, Decyl Polyglucose, Lauryl Polyglucose, Cocos Nucifera (Coco de Cream)*, Chondrus Crispus (Seaweed) Extract*, Tussilago Farfara (Coltsfoot) Infusion*, Stellaria Media (Chickweed) Infusion*, Urtica Dioica (Nettles) Infusion*, Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Infusion*, Ulmus Fulva (Slippery Elm) Infusion*, Althaea Officinalas (Marshmallow Root) Infusion*, Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey Root) Infusion*, Calendula Officinalis (Pot Marigold) Infusion*, Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile Flowers) Infusion*, Avena Sativa (Oatstraw) Infusion*, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) CO2*, Lavandula Officinalis (Lavender) Essential Oil*, Cedrus Atlantica (Cedar Atlas) Essential Oil*, Citrus Reticula (Red Mandarin) Essential Oil*, Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Essential Oil*, Rosemarinus Officinale (Rosemary) Essential Oil*, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Extract *Certified Organic. http://www.nurturemybody.com/everyday-shampoo/

Beauty Counter Uplifting day cream, $73, YES $73, for 1.5 ounces: Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Silica, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Palmitate/Succinate, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil^*, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Hydrolized Algin, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Sea Water, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-37, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sucrose, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Artemisia Pallens Flower Oil^*, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil^*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Magnolia Champaca (Magnolia) Flower Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin.

Dimethicone, phenoxyethanol, among numerous other so-so ingrdients & ZERO organic ingredients. No way would I ever use or recommend this!

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Here is the very long ingredient list for their Dew Skin cream. I find it comical, as well as frustrating & disappointing, that they have an asterisk at the bottom to denote organic ingredients, yet there are none…. ZERO!

Active Ingredient:

Zinc Oxide 14% (Sunscreen)

Inactive Ingredients:
Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Caprylate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyglyceryl-4 Diisostearate/Polyhydroxystearate/Sebacate, Octyldodecyl Oleate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Isopropyl Myristate, Dimethicone, Magnesium Sulfate, Beeswax, Gluconolactone, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Isostearic Acid, Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Isoeicosane, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil, Octyldodecanol, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Alcohol, Paeonia Suffruticosa (Peony) Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Solidago Virgaurea (Goldenrod) Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Silica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Mica.

*Organic

–Again, 1st 1/2 of the ingredient list= an absolute no go for me.

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And here’s my beef with EWG & BC being on their ‘verified’ list. I just grabbed 1 ingredient from the above list & put it in EWG. Dimethicone alone gets a 3 with serious concerns, but they have this listed in the list: Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer. EWG gives it a 1 but with NO DATA, none…… About DIMETHICONE/ VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER: Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer is a copolymer of dimethylpolysiloxane crosslinked with vinyl dimethylpolysiloxane. Yeah, sounds like something I want to avoid on my skin….

INGREDIENTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. To the organic crowd, this obviously isn’t going to be a line that interests you…Oh, and it’s $45 for a little over 1 oz.

Even something as simple as their rose water toner has phenoxyethanol. I could go on & on, but will just leave it here & say that just about any line on my So-So list is equal or better for wayyyyyyyy cheaper. Those are my thoughts, I’m asked over & over so decided to write a separate post on it. https://ecofriendlymamausa.com/product-reviews/so-so/

Added on 4/17/16:

You know you’ve been greenwashed when…. Beauty Counter Baby Gentle All-Over Wash, $20!! per 8 oz bottle. This is almost comical, if it weren’t so incredibly frustrating. Why even put an asterisk for organic if there are NONE IN THE PRODUCT?! Ingredient list: Aqua/Water/Eau, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Gluconolactone, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride.
*organic (NOTE THERE ARE NONE!)

BELOW: $24 for a bar of activated charcoal bar soap from Beautycounter?! Insane. $8 from Poofy Organics. You choose which you prefer….

MOVED TO MY GREENWASHERS LIST ON 1/30/2017. This Valentine’s Duo promotion did it for me. This is no better than any conventional big box purchase you will make. I’m sick of their GREENWASHING. Ingredients speak for themselves!

Updated in March of 2019. I don’t see that shade available any more, here’s a current label which is just as icky. Ingredients: Polybutene, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cera Alba (Beeswax)/Cire d’abeille, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax/Cire de candelilla, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax/Cire de carnauba, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil

My list of what I consider the safest, best products on the market: https://ecofriendlymamausa.com/product-reviews/safe-products/

Another good read: https://theartofpsychology.wordpress.com/2015/05/07/beautycounter-or-beautycontradiction-a-closer-look-into-a-new-beauty-movement/comment-page-1/#comment-302

Ingredients & prices speak for themselves. I’m so sick of Beauty Counter claiming to be the ‘cleanest’ line out there. It’s NOT. There are much cleaner lines that also cost a fraction of the price. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, please see below & tell me WHY you’d choose B over A??? If you TRULY want the very best of the very best, made with the finest organic ingredients as much as possible, in a USDA certified organic facility, here is my independent Guide link to Poofy’s ~600 products. I became a Guide in 6/2014, a full year after using, loving & recommending the products daily. The products truly meet my mission: Eco-friendly, for baby & family, made in USA! You’ll be very hard-pressed to find a safer, more comprehensive line. Go ahead & look, I have! I offer 10% off your 1st order when using my link, I send it as a rebate after your order since I can’t create my own code, just complete your order, then send me a pm to let me know if you want your 10% back via check or PayPal. Any questions, just ask! https://ecofriendlyusa.poofyorganics.com