I LOVE trying new products with safe ingredients, and I LOOOOOVE even more when they work for me and I can recommend them. Also extra loveable is when they’re made by a small, woman/mama-owned business in my neighboring state of MI (I live in WI). I have worked with Michelle Smith, the fabulous mama behind MamaSuds for over a decade now. I did my initial review of her brand and shared my thoughts way back in 2013, the year I had my daughter who is now 12 (for those mathematically challenged 🙂 Since then we have worked together to offer her products to the buying club that I organized for 10ish years, and she was always fabulous to work with (which isn’t something I can say for each & every vendor unfortunately).
So I’m thrilled to do this review for the newest addition to her line. I’m sure we can all agree that the search for the best possible laundry detergent is never-ending. To me, these are the criteria I’m looking to find: safe ingredients (natural and organic as much as possible), effective formula (it actually works), eco-friendly packaging (no huge plastic jug), and affordable (definition varies individually).
Let’s dig into those criteria one-by-one:
1– Safe ingredients: sodium carbonate (soda ash/washing soda), sodium percarbonate (oxygen powder which is a combo of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide), and sodium olivate (saponified olive oil). 3 ingredients, yes THREE, ingredients! And you’ll see in point 3 below that it actually worked well for me! The main concerns with the above ingredients and the fact that this is a powder is: you don’t want to inhale them. Same with any/all powders. Don’t inhale them. I appreciate that she offers unscented or peppermint (scented with EO). You can do a deeper dive into her ingredients and the ethos behind what she chooses here: https://www.mamasuds.com/pages/ingredients.
2– Effective: Safe ingredients are great, but if they don’t work, they’ll not be a viable option. Michelle kindly sent me 2 bags to try and from the time I started using it until my last scoop I was happy with it! No complaints, it did what it’s supposed to do– how awesome is that?! I only know one other person who has tried it, also named Jessica, here’s what she shared with me: “I’ve tried several other ‘natural’ and ‘safe’ brands that have good ingredients, but I always felt like my laundry wasn’t actually getting clean or came out of the washer/dryer with a smell. Since I’ve been using MamaSuds, my laundry doesn’t smell at all, which is a big win for me, and I feel like the items come out cleaner. I have been really happy with it!” Also, how cool is this: it won the Silver Award from the Mom’s Choice Awards®!
3–Eco-friendly packaging: NO plastic jug, how I loathe those things! It comes in a paper bag. It has a very small footprint. Enough said on that one.
4–Affordability: For a 32 oz bag the cost is $25 or $21.25 if you enroll in subscribe & save (pretty big savings there). Directions state 128 loads for HE (1/2 TBSP) vs 1-2 TBSP for regular. One ounce of powder is equal to 2 TBSP, so that’s 64 scoops (TBSP) per bag. I used 1 scoop per load which so got 64 loads per bag= $.33/load (at subscribe & save price). If you were able to use 1/2 a scoop, the cost would be just $.16/load. If you use 2 scoops, the cost is $.66/load. Shipping is FREE on orders over $75.
Conclusion: I think this is a great option that everyone should try! I have quite a stash of what I had been using previously left. But when that is gone, I do think I’ll switch over to MamaSuds! I hope you’ll give it a try, and check out my review below of other great, safe products Michelle is offering. It sure has been great to watch her line grow at a slow, but steady pace. Keep up the great work Michelle!
**TO PURCHASE: please use my Affiliate link. MamaSuds is in a very small handful of companies I’ve chosen to work with as an Affiliate. That speaks to the trust I have in Michelle and her products: www.mamasuds.com/ecofriendlymama
My criteria for selecting the safest laundry products are similar to those I use in selecting the rest of my products. However, due to the fact that these products aren’t being applied directly to our skin, I feel I can be a little less stringent in what I deem acceptable. But on the other hand I feel the environmental impact of these products is greater than say, the effect of ingredients in a face cream we might choose for ourselves. Many people use minimal personal care products, but since laundry is something many of us do every day, or at least several times/week over decades of our life I truly feel what we choose does have a definite impact on our environment. Our wastewater ends up going somewhere. You won’t find top, conventional name brands on this list. The focus is what those of us trying to make more natural solutions are finding and choosing where we shop. The brands below were requested for me to look into from my Eco-Friendly USA Group Page. It drives me batty that if you search “organic laundry detergent” you will see brands such as Seventh Gen and many others that WANT you to believe they’re organic, but I assure you they are far from it.
Here are a few criteria I really value and look for when finding my top recommendations in this category: Made in USA, the most minimal amount of plastic use as possible, refills are awesome, organic and/or all-natural ingredients: all important to me. But then the caveat is: the products need to work too! Something can have amazing ingredients, but if you’re not happy with how it performs, it doesn’t matter. Our machine type, water type, expectations, all play a huge part in that. I have only used a few of the below options personally and will comment when that is the case. It would be FANTASTIC if you comment below this post if you have tried any of these and what your experience was. Personally, I do not have luck with pods, either in my washer or dishwasher. They just do not dissolve, I don’t know why. I’ve also never tried any of the laundry sheets. I’d love to hear from some of you who have!
When I looked into the suggested brands, I always went for the scent-free option to gauge their base recipe. Many of the brands do have scented options available. Some use only natural scents, some use synthetic and natural. I do not use, or recommend, synthetically scented products. But I tried to focus on the base recipes and leave it up to you to look into the fragrances if you’d like to go that route.
Budget is a huge concern too. As I just mentioned, while we can choose not to wear expensive make-up, perfume, etc, opting out of laundry really isn’t possible. There has never been a time in my life that I haven’t been on a budget. So I include cost/load in my stats below too. Many of the brands offer a variety of sizes and typically the larger the size you’re buying, the more cost savings you’ll see. So I generally went for the smallest size available when including the price/load cost. **Note on usage. When figuring out the price/load, of course it depends on how much you use per load, whether you have an HE or standard machine, how dirty your clothes are, etc. So when calculating cost/load I generally went with what they suggest on their website as a standard load. Some people might use double or triple that amount, some might use half. So just take the numbers with a bit of a grain of salt, they’re a base number.
Environmental concerns. There are a few ingredients that are an absolute NO for me and send a product straight to my NOT RECOMMENDED list, and they include: Benzisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone. In addition to being very common allergen triggers (which is more of a concern for products you’re coming into contact with like dish soap) they carry the concern of acute aquatic toxicity as an environmental implication. Manufacturers say: well, it’s only a tiny amount per product. True. But when millions of people are doing millions of loads daily, 365 days/year, decade after decade…. Enough said. I encourage you to ditch any/all products that you see include these ingredients on the label. You will find them in liquid products as a preservative. Many laundry options are powdered, which does make it easier to avoid preservatives which are often some of the ingredients of most concern. Potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate I really try to avoid in food or personal care, but I don’t consider them as much of a concern with laundry products.
On EWG cleaning database scores: as always I take them with a grain of salt. It’s a good reference, a good start. But I ALWAYS check out the full ingredient list, not just their overall score. They will give an A score, but when you click the product, sometimes ½ the ingredients get a C. So that matters to me. What those ingredients are and why they get a C, even though they ultimately give the product an A, is what matters. And I use PubChem a lot when researching a new to me ingredient, it is fascinating and a wealth of info!
All that being said, let’s look at what I found. Please forgive any weird formatting. I did so much copy/pasting from each site and at some point I just have to stop worrying about formatting. I want to present the info, and my opinion, without staring at a screen any longer 😊 Here it is:
**I love lists of minimal ingredients when they are still effective. My personal experience was that I felt 2 oz worked better than 1 (in my top-loading, non-HE machine). So that is only 32 loads/ 64 oz jug, making it costly at $.50/load. However, as I LOVE that she offers a concentrated refill pouch which uses less plastic, and is a bit cheaper at $18 for 64 oz. Again, obviously if you need to use less soap, the cost will fluctuate greatly.
Since I no longer offer my buying club, I have affiliate links with the vendors I used to offer, for those who wish to purchase please follow this link: www.mamasuds.com/ecofriendlymama
**I used this for many years and offered it via my buying club. It contains minimal ingredients that are not concerning and I felt it worked well. It also has a reasonable cost/load.
Unscented Super Powder Ingredients: Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sea Salt, Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate, Active Enzymes
**I remember when she 1st came out with the Super Powder I wasn’t thrilled with the addition of Disodium Lauryl Sulfosuccinate. However, I did spend quite a bit of time reviewing the info on it and it is not suspected to be an environmental toxin, be persistent or bioaccumulative in the environment, nor is it expected to be potentially toxic or harmful to our bodies. And after looking at lots and lots of other formulas, I appreciate the minimal ingredient list so feel fine about recommending this with no concerns.
**I truly have not laid eyes on a smaller, more organic ingredient list for this category. And I have personally used this product as I have been a Poofy Organics Guide for almost 11 years now. I had been urging them to come up with a safe offering for this category for years because I truly want Poofy to be a one-stop shop. So, this was a long time in the making! And I’m thrilled to say, it works really well! It is fantastic. Downside=cost. At $.47/load it is one of the more expensive ones on this list. However, I have heard from others who use a ½ oz instead of 1, so obviously if that works for you, that cuts your cost in ½ to $.23. Like all things Poofy Organics offers, it’s hard to find a safer ingredient list. They truly offer THE best of THE best of the best. If cost wasn’t a concern, I would never look for any alternatives!
Shop during one of the 3 sitewide sales/year to bring cost down. Save 15% during Earth Day, Labor Day, Black Friday. You can check out all Poofy’s laundry offerings here. If you’re reading this and are a 1st time customer, you can use the code ECOFRIENDLYMAMA10 to save 10% on your 1st order. I offer a 5% rebate on all orders, all the time too. You just order, then email me for the rebate: ecofriendlymamausa@gmail.com
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Rosey by Thrive, Free & Clear powder- $9.99/70 loads= $.14/load
**I’m writing them to get more info on their liquid formula. They’re not fully disclosing what is in it, I’ll update this after I get a response: UNSCENTED INGREDIENTS: PLANT SUGAR (DERIVED FROM COCONUTS), DISTILLED WATER, ORGANIC VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, FERMENTED SUGAR (DERIVED FROM BEETS), SODIUM BICARBONATE.
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Tangie- $23/128 oz. I use 2 oz/load cost/load for me is $.36.
**LOVE: that it is a concentrated bar that you dissolve in water so there is NO waste! This is my top choice! It’s what I have used for many years and will continue to use due to it being more affordable than Poofy’s, and no plastic jug which I absolutely LOVE!!
Affiliate link: https://tangieco.com/ Use code: ECOFRIENDLYMAMA for 10% off your order!
**SODIUM C10-16 ALKYLBENZENESULFONATE is a synthetic surfactant that gets a C from EWG due to ‘some’ high chronic toxicity and impurity concerns. Overall I don’t think it’s concerning enough to be in my absolutely not recommended group, but I don’t love it either. So-So at best. Scented uses synthetic fragrance.
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Attitude, Unscented- $19.95/40 loads (plastic jug)= $.50/load. Made in Canada.
**I love that they offer larger sizes in cardboard refills (with a plastic bladder inside, much like a box of wine). I wish it were made in the USA, but it’s definitely not terrible.
**Fragrance-free available. Love the paper pouches and plastic-free concept with refills. They’re certainly not terrible, but not “clean” enough to be on my best of the best list either.
**I like that they offer refill bottles. They use a combo of natural/synthetic fragrances. None of the ingredients are hugely concerning. Typcially Propylene Glycol is something I would avoid in personal care, but for a product like this it doesn’t have huge concerns.
**Better than their powder or sheets that I looked at (and placed down below in the not recommended section). However, pods do not work well for me in the washer or dishwasher.
**SODIUM DODECYL SULFATE is a synonym for sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) which gets a C via EWG and is something I prefer to avoid. However, of all the laundry sheets I looked at this one has the most minimal ingredients and nothing of huge, huge concern. I don’t love them, but they’re not awful either. So-So at best.
**Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate: Evidence of chronic aquatic toxicity; acute aquatic toxicity; developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects. Sodium Polyacrylate: Evidence of biodegradation; respiratory effects; cancer. The rest of the ingredients are pretty good.
**I have the powders on my Approved list, however the liquid and sheets listed below are So-So. Not awful, but not good enough to be on my Approved list.
**Both contain too many ingredients of concern for me to be able to recommend them.
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BRANCH BASICS—ethics are hugely important to me. I like to keep my feedback centered on ingredients and only ingredients. But when a company goes through a scandal such as described in the following blog post, I just can’t give them a 2nd chance. In my opinion, they don’t deserve it and nothing they can say would earn my trust. Although this was almost a decade ago, I will always keep them on my Not Recommended List. There are plenty of brands with safe options, scandals of this magnitude are non-negotiable to me in terms of my support. Branch Basics found to contain synthetic ingredients | Eco-Friendly Mama: Safe product recommendations with a focus on organic and Made in USA!
**The Pareth and Alcohol Ethoxylate’s carry numerous concerns (in the liquid and powder listed below). I can’t recommend these. Sodium Metasilicate gets an F via EWG’s cleaning database, that’s saying a lot. They don’t give many ingredients an F!
**I love the idea of strips, there are just too many ingredients in here that are not great. I can’t recommend these. Also not made in USA.
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Doterra- $48/ up to 64 loads= $.75/load. They do have wholesale pricing which is cheaper ($36), I’m assuming that’s the distributor price. But this is by far the most expensive of all the options I looked at. This product aligns with my general, overall feelings about this brand: WAY overpriced, and lack of disclosure, making it a brand I do not recommend.
SUPER frustrating. Under ingredients on the main page it lists 5 EO’s. That’s it. I found a Product Information tab, I also don’t see a complete list there. It says: contains. I emailed them for a complete list and had this response:
EMAIL: Thank you for your email regarding the On Guard Laundry Detergent. We understand how important it is to know what’s in the products you use. While our full formula is proprietary, we can share a few ingredient highlights: The ingredients are listed below.
Surfactants: Naturally derived for effective cleaning. For example, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside is sourced from coconuts.
Enzyme Blend: On Guard Laundry Detergent includes bio-based enzymes Protease, Amylase, Cellulase, Mannanase, and Lipase, which help break down stains and enhance cleaning performance.
On Guard Protective Blend: Wild Orange, Clove, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus, and Rosemary essential oils combine to create a powerful blend with surface cleaning properties.
**I can’t recommend anything if I don’t know what’s in it. Proprietary recipes with highlights aren’t good enough to make an informed decision.
**Both the Cocamidopropyl’s and the Sodium Coco-Sulfate carry concerns such as: High chronic toxicity to aquatic life, severe burns and eye damage, acute oral toxicity, known to cause cancer, probably carcinogenic. Those ingredients, combined with phenoxyethanol make me not feel its worthy of being recommended. I like that the laundry sheets below are an option that avoids the big plastic jug, but there are just too many ingredients of concern to be able to recommend them.
Free & Clear Laundry Detergent Sheets: ~$.30/sheet via Amazon
Ingredients: Soda, ash, linear alcohol ethoxylate, sodium chloride, sodium metasilicate.
This is a great example of how EWG drives me insane sometimes. This product gets an A overall in EWG’s Cleaning Database. However, if you look at the Sodium Metasilicate scores an F in EWG with concerns such as: causes severe burns and eye damage, may cause respiratory irritation, and it has moderate acute toxicity to aquatic life. Alcohol Ethoxylate scores a C, but when you look at the concerns, they are VERY serious: may cause genetic defects, may cause cancer, known to cause cancer, known to cause reproductive toxicity to females, reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. It is on CA’s Prop 65 list. What in the actual?!?! How does EWG give this product an A overall? I can’t recommend.
**A definite no on this one. It has not 1, but 3 of the nastiest, most harsh preservatives that send a brand to my not recommended list instantly. This is the worst of all I looked at (that fully discloses what’s in it)
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Rockin Green- $22.99/ 90 loads= $.26/load
Ingredients: sodium carbonate, sodium percarbonate, natural chelating agents, sodium sulfate, biodegradable surfactants, natural fragrance oils. Surfactant: It is a proprietary coconut-derived biodegradable surfactant between 16-23%
**I can’t recommend any product that doesn’t offer full disclosure. The surfactant probably isn’t awful, but if they’re not going to tell me what they’re using, I’m not going to use or recommend it.
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Rosey by Thrive, liquid free & clear- $9.99/100 loads= $.10/load
**Cheap but Laureth-7 carries a high concern of acute aquatic toxicity, concerns this ingredient might cause genetic defects, cancer, reproductive toxicity. Cocamidopropyl’s aren’t fantastic either.
Alternate suggestion that I’m not familiar with:
Laundry ozone machine- from the person who suggested it: It has worked well for us so far. The only thing I’m curious about is if it will work well in the summer time – we live where it gets really hot so even the water in the pipes gets warm. Ozone works best in cold water. But yes, I’ve maybe only used laundry detergent 5 times in the last 6 months.
************That’s it so far. Do you have a brand that you’d like to see on this list? Comment below. Also please comment if you’ve used any of these and share your thoughts on how well they work, or don’t!!
Oh. My. Gooooooodness, I’m incredibly happy to report that I completed looking at every, single brand on my personal care/cleaning lists yesterday after ~8 months of chipping away at it (there are 155 brands there currently)! The last update to these lists was in 2019. That was the 3rd revision since I initially shared them almost a decade ago. Between 2019 and 2023 I was so burned out from researching and blogging that I pretty much walked away from it all completely. And the idea of refreshing this project was way too overwhelming for a really long time. I don’t get paid to do this, it truly is something I’ve always done altruistically. There were times I acknowledged it needed to be done, but if I felt like I had to make myself sit down and do it didn’t happen. The desire had to come from within.
At the end of last year I had a renewed desire to work on this project. While it did feel completely overwhelming to begin with, I gave myself a pep talk to focus on 1 entry at a time and not think about the project as a whole. That if it took a year, or even 2 years, that was fine. And it worked!!! It only took 8 months. I started at the top, with my Approved List, and worked my way down. Every now and then I’d switch over to my huge list of suggested brands that weren’t already on there and look into them and add them where I felt they belonged. There is a date next to each update or addition, and also note if I moved a brand from where they used to be and why. I’m very happy to report that in the 2019 update several brands I had noted did not disclose ingredients on their site, but that is almost unheard of now. So that is fantastic, and makes it much easier for me to share my opinion.
Here are the stats: There are 26 brands on my Approved List, 77 on the So-So portion, and 52 on my Not Recommended list, for a total of 155 companies. I still have a long list of brands to look into that are not on there. So this project is not done, it’ll always be a continual work in progress. And I’m really excited to look into those new (to the list) brands, that’s my favorite part. Discovering new brands for my Approved List excites me every, single time! I kinda’ wish I’d kept track of the number of hours I spent on this, but part of me doesn’t want to know either. Some entries go pretty quick. On average I’d say I spend 1/2 hour per entry. The Not Recommended portion is the easiest because most of them are full of icky ingredients and I can click through multiple products quickly and know I definitely don’t recommend them. The Approved entries take the longest because I truly look through almost every product offered to make sure they aren’t sneaking some icky ingredients in here & there. I take my Approved portion very, very seriously and only the very best brands on the market land there. I do feel quite good about the So-So portion, I think it’s great that there are a lot of options that aren’t terrible, many that landed there are making quite a few pretty decent products, just not 100% across the board for me to be able to fully recommend them.
Here is a link to the Master List. You can click on the full listings from there. I’ve had people ask me to make this info into a pamphlet/book. My take on that is this: as soon as something gets written down it runs the risk of becoming inaccurate due to new formulas, etc. And with everyone having phones these days, I feel keeping these lists here is the best way to keep the info readily accessible. I’m 100% okay with these lists being FREE, I do not expect anything for them. I truly enjoy sharing my opinion on what products are great, or not so great. I know many of you are on super tight budgets, like me. But I also know some of you utilize these lists pretty heavily, and maybe aren’t on a super tight budget. All that being said, if you truly value these resources and have a few extra bucks you feel like donating, I would be flattered and appreciative of your donation. I felt like adding those details here is not out of line. My PayPal is: ecofriendlymamausa@gmail.com. My Venmo is @Jessica-Brandt-56 (last 4 digits of my phone are 1282 if it asks). And for real, I do NOT expect anything in return for me sharing my thoughts with you.
And finally I just want to say, this project is a great analogy for other things in life. Sometimes things feel completely overwhelming. Sometimes it’s okay to not focus on the big picture. Take a step back and tackle one thing, one day, at a time. Baby steps add up to giant leaps & bounds over time. They really do!! I hope everyone is having a great start to your summer. I sure am, and tomorrow my baby girl turns 11!
I’ve spent the past 6 months updating my Personal Care recommendations (or not recommended) resources. I’ve really enjoyed that process, and with summer here I thought a list dedicated to safe sunscreen choices was in order. Let’s start with a basic fact. There are 2 forms of sunblock: chemicals (such as Oxybenzone, Avobenzone, Octinoxate) OR physical blockers (such as zinc and titanium dioxide). If you want to read more about that topic, here’s a link. In my opinion, the chemical blockers aren’t safe, so you will not find any of those on my Approved or So-So lists. Generally the ingredient lists will include what percentage of zinc or titanium dioxide they include. For reference, typically 20% zinc gives ~SPF30, tallow has SPF 4, coconut oil around 8. Also, I value as many organic ingredients as possible as well when looking at what to add to my best-of-the-best lists. Of course if you’re looking for a sunscreen recommendation for a toddler or super young child, go with as minimal ingredients as possible and in my opinion they should be organic. Covering up is always best, when possible.
Some brands I looked at had 1 or 2 options only, so I listed those. Several brands had a TON of options. So I didn’t necessarily look at every, single one. In those instances I would look at a lotion, spray, and stick. I list exactly what I looked at. You can typically get a pretty good feel for the line based on looking at several options. If you’re curious about any option offered by any brand I mentioned below, that is not specifically on this list, please reach out and I’ll take a look and give you my feedback. Some brands have items in a couple different spots. For example, I put Rowe Casa on my Approved List for their lotion but put their stick on my So-So list.
I included prices as well so you don’t get super excited about an option then realize it’s way out of your budget. Some of these are quite pricey! Also, while ingredients are SUPER important, so is efficacy. I’m absolutely interested in YOUR feedback on these brands. Did you try something that has great ingredients, but it didn’t work? Some of them can go on thick and leave people feeling pasty and like a ghost. That’s important too. In order for people to want to grab these products as a safe option, they need to be comfortable with them. So, please share in the comments below if you have feedback!
AFFILIATE LINKS: You’ll find a couple below. IF YOU’RE GOING TO GET THE BRANDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE VIA AMAZON, please start with this link and complete your order. I should get affiliate credit for your order: https://amzn.to/4ehfYAl
*NOTE: Please forgive the formatting of this resource. I spent several hours on this (around 12) as is and did my best to try to merge formatting. But I could have spent hours getting it how I would like it and decided I have better uses of my time. So below you’ll find things as they were listed on the sites I took the ingredients from. Deal with it, LOL 🙂
Best-of-the-Best:
**3rd Rock Sunblock:
–THOUGHTS: Absolutely nothing concerning here, these are great options!
• Zinc oxide (23.5%) • Vegetable glycerin • Distilled Water • Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil • Gamma oryzanol • Olea europaea (olive) fruit oil • L-arginine • Aloe barbadensis Miller leaf gel • High mountain desert beeswax with propolis • Citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel wax • Phosphatidyl choline and / or refined coconut oil extract • Tocopherol (Vitamin E) • Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) • Zea mays (corn) starch • Maranta arundinacea (arrowroot) extract • Xanthan gum
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**All Good:
—THOUGHTS: I looked at several products from this brand and put the rest of them on my So-So list. However, this stick looks great and I can recommend it without hesitation.
–THOUGHTS: I put Babo on my So-So list for other options I looked at, although they were almost good enough to go in my Approved category. A common thread I’ve seen across brands I looked at is their stick versions are the safest of all offerings. Something to keep in mind! And they are easy to apply vs sometimes lotions can be on the thick side when mineral-based.
—THOUGHTS: Absolutely nothing of concern. I have used this brand myself on/off over the years and think it’s a fantastic option. Many more options than what I list below, this is just a sampling and I’ve never seen an ingredient I don’t like in this entire line.
*Daily mineral sunscreen SPF 30- $23.99 4oz: Active Sunscreen Ingredient: Mineral Zinc Oxide 18.75%. Base Ingredients: Organic Steam Distilled Coconut Oil, Sunflower Wax, Sunflower Vitamin E
*Kids mineral sunscreen cream SPF 40- $17.99 2.9oz: Active Sunscreen Ingredient: Mineral Zinc Oxide 22.5%. Base Sunscreen Ingredients: Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Orange Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Tangerine Oil, Sunflower Vitamin E, Organic Vanilla Extract & Organic Seabuckthorn Extract.
*Active Mineral Sunscreen stick SPF35 $11.99 .65oz stick: Active Sunscreen Ingredient: Mineral Zinc Oxide 22.5%. Base Ingredients: Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Shea Butter & Sunflower Vitamin E.
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**BluBird Acres:
—THOUGHTS: It doesn’t state what percentage of zinc. She notified me after I shared this that she estimates it to be about 20% and that ” We do use olive and jojoba oil which naturally contain SPF”. Estimated to be spf30 total. I’m a huge fan of tallow balm, it’s so nourishing. I love the minimal ingredients list and the price for 4oz of tallow is reasonable!
From their website: Sun Shield is not a sunscreen. Products must contain either a chemical blocker (like oxybenzene) or a physical blocker (like zinc oxide) to legally be considered a sunscreen. Instead, Sun Shield uses plant oils and herbs that have a natural SPF and protect skin on a cellular level. Some people use it instead of a traditional sunscreen and some people use it along with a traditional sunscreen. Because it is not legally a sunscreen, it doesn’t have an official SPF rating. However, based on the SPF of each plant oil in it, we estimate a level of 12 – 15.
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**Hello Bello:
–THOUGHTS: I put the other products I looked at from this brand on my So-So list, but as I’ve noted with other sticks on my Approved List, this contains no ingredients of concern in my opinion.
—THOUGHTS: Safe and effective, Poofy even publishes their testing results to show efficacy of this product which is not something you’ll find with a lot of small brands. Of course, it’s really important this product does what it is intended to do. Moreso than other products, especially if being used on babies/young children. In the product description you’ll find links to SPF determination results and broad spectrum results too! I have been a Guide with Poofy Organics for 10 years (as I type this!)!!
—THOUGHTS: Nothing of concern!! This looks fantastic! I spent quite a bit of time reading up on Polyhydroxystearic Acid as I wasn’t familiar with it and I started seeing it in a lot of sunscreen formulas. I determined that there are no serious risks with it, and it plays an important role in sunscreens in particular: This plant-derived or synthetic ingredient is often used to coat mineral sunscreen actives to help them disperse evenly. Suppliers of polyhydroxystearic acid also claim that it helps increase UV absorption and can reduce the white cast that titanium dioxide and zinc oxide leave behind. (read more here).
—THOUGHTS: Another tallow-based option that looks fantastic to me!
*Face and body sunscreen SPF 30 $29.95 2.82oz: Active Ingredients: Non-Nano 15% Zinc Oxide. Inactive Ingredients: Grass-Fed/Grass-Finished Tallow, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Jojoba Ester, Beeswax, Shea Butter, Propolis.
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**SUNBIO LOGIC:
—THOUGHTS: Small line of sunscreens and balms, everything looks great!
*Organic sunscreen- raw coconut SPF30+ $17 2oz: Active Ingredients:Non Nano Zinc Oxide 23%. Inactive Ingredients:Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Extra Virgin Oil*, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Vitellaria Paradoxa (Shea Butter)* *USDA Certified Organic
*Organic sunscreen- kids stick, spf 30+ $33 .6 oz: Active Ingredients: Non Nano Zinc Oxide 23%. Inactive Ingredients: Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Magnifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter*, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Vitamin E Sunflower Extract Non-GMO. *USDA Certified Organic
*Naturally tinted, light/medium tone, spf 30+ $24 2 oz: Active Ingredients: Non Nano Zinc Oxide 23%. Inactive Ingredients: Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Extra Virgin Oil*, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Iron Oxides, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Vitellaria Paradoxa (Shea Butter)* *USDA Certified Organic
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**Thinkbaby:
—THOUGHTS: Nothing of concern! I do not know what the (1) indicates. I would assume it means organic ingredient, but I do not see that noted anywhere on their site! Other options of theirs went on my So-So List.
*Sun stick- $32 (doesn’t list size, looks pretty small, like lip balm size): Ingredients: Grass-fed tallow, raw unfiltered beeswax, non-nano zinc oxide (20%)
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**Whole Foods Market:
—THOUGHTS: This option looks fantastic! I looked at the sprays and unfortunately they all had ingredients of concern.
*365 by Whole Foods Market- Sport Lotion Mineral Sunscreen:
Zinc Oxide 18.75%
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**Young Living:
—FEEDBACK: I had to look up Polyglyceryl-3 polyricinoleate as I wasn’t familiar. I found it can be either synthetic or natural, usually coming from castor beans or soybean oil. It’s an emulsifier and I couldn’t find anything concerning. So, due to the rest of this label looking quite good, I decided to include this brand on my Approved portion. I will note: this is one of the pricier options on this list.
Products on this list are mineral-based (they went to my Not Recommended List otherwise) but I don’t love all the inactive ingredients enough to include them on my Approved List.
**100% Pure:
—THOUGHTS: With ingredients like these as inactive ingredients, it’s just not in the same class as those on my Approved portion. There are numerous alchohols, which while not necessarily unsafe, using multiples in the same formula seems like a lot. None of these are terrible, just not the absolute best either: Isoamyl Laurate, Sorbitan Stearate, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Isostearate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Methyl Dihydroabietate. Also, 1 of the 2 formulas I looked at is made in Australia, which doesn’t support my mission.
*Yerba mate mist: spf 30- $38 3.4oz: Made in USA: COMPLETE LIST OF INGREDIENTS: Active ingredients: Zinc 12 % Inactive ingredients: Bentonite, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco Glucoside, Vegetable Glycerin, Heptyl Undecylenate, Ilex Paraguariensis (Yerba Mate) Leaf Extract, Jojoba Ester, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Water
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**All Good:
—THOUGHTS: Sooooo many options and definitely not terrible. If I was in a big box store and needed something in front of me and this was an option I would use it without hesitation. But it’s just not as “clean” as the brands on my Approved list. They do note several organic ingredients and in general, nothing is terrible. This is a good option for a compromise if you can’t afford the top brands and/or don’t want to order directly online and this was possibly available locally. Ingredients such as: Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid,Methyl Dihydroabietate, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoatejust aren’t quite good enough for my Approved section.None of these are terrible by any means though!
–THOUGHTS: Made in Canada. I don’t see a note of organic ingredients, and with ingredients like Ethylhexylglycerin it’s just not quite good enough for my Approved list. It’s not terrible though.
*Kids Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30-5.2oz out of stock so doesn’t show price. Active ingredient : Zinc oxide (20%). Inactive ingredients : Aqua / Water / Eau, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, C10-18 Triglycerides, Glycerin (soybeans/soja), Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate.
—THOUGHTS: LOTS of options! I put their stick on my Approved list. Definitely not terrible, but some So-So ingredients such as Butyloctyl Salicylate which is a synthetic dispersant for sunscreens. Methyl Dihydroabietate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Tetradecane.
–THOUGHTS: I was going to place this on my Approved List with 1 caveat, then I decided it wasn’t fair to the other brands on there. So any brand with a caveat is on my So-So List with a note as to why. There is just 1 ingredient they use that I’m a teensy bit leery of: Sorbitan Sesquioleate. I had to look it up as I’m not familiar. It is a synthetic emulsifier used to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions. Several sources I read stated it may be a contact allergen. So due to that, I decided to put this brand here and ask you to research that ingredient and make sure you’re okay with it. Otherwise, this looks like a very, very good option in my opinion. I am not familiar with this brand so have added it to my list of brands to look into for my overall recommendations as well.
–THOUGHTS: Like the other brands on my so-so portion: not terrible, just not in the same league as those on my Approved portion. Butyloctyl Salicylate,Methyl Dihydroabietate for example, just less than ideal and not found in the brands on my Approved list.Overall, not too concerning though!
*Sun face & body mineral sunscreen stick $33 1.75oz
Zinc oxide 17.6%
*Sun body mineral sunscreen spray $37.33 6oz
Zinc oxide 16.8%
*Face & body mineral sunscreen lotion $40 5oz
Zinc oxide 16%
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**Hello Bello-
–THOUGHTS: I put their stick on my Approved List, and can say I do think this is a pretty good option for a big box brand. I’ve seen this brand at Wal-Mart and am happy that there are quite decent brands available at places like that. Ingredients like the following just make it not quite good enough for my very high standards for the best-of-the-best category: Methyl Dihydroabietate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid. But it certainly is not a terrible option!
–THOUGHTS: Overall few ingredients of concern and a decent option. I see quite a few I would consider so-so such as: Butyloctyl Salicylate, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid. In general, definitely not a terrible option!
–THOUGHTS: I struggled with where to put this one. There are no huge red flags, but with benzyl alcohol (for example) I just don’t feel this is up to the same level of amazingness as the rest of the brands that are on my best-of-the best Approved list. I can confidently say this is a pretty good option.
–THOUGHTS: Not terrible, but not the best and targeted at babies…. Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Butyloctyl salicylate, Methyl Dihydroabietate. There are plenty of options with no ingredients of concern that I would choose over this.
Squalane: 100% sugarcane-derived, sustainable ingredient that mimics the vernix, baby’s first built-in moisturizer and the best protection Mother Nature can give.
Glycerin: Plant-derived moisture attractor.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride: Skin-replenishing emollient derived from coconut oil.
Cetearyl Alcohol: Gentle plant-derived emollient.
Methyl Dihydroabietate: Plant-derived formula thickener.
Sorbitan Olivate: Plant-derived skin softener.
Cetyl Palmitate: Plant-derived skin softener.
Coco-Glucoside: Plant-derived emulsifier.
Ethyl Ferulate: Plant-based antioxidant with skin-calming properties.
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside: Plant-derived solubilizing agent that helps keep the formula smooth.
Bisabolol: Plant-derived antioxidant that helps calm irritation.
Physalis Angulata (Wild Gooseberry) Extract: Fruit-derived extract that helps calm the effects of infrared light, which can heat and irritate delicate skin.
Xanthan Gum: Sugar-derived skin-conditioning ingredient that helps give the formula its silky texture.
Acacia Senegal Gum: Plant-derived skin-conditioning agent that locks in moisture and thickens the formula.
Sodium Gluconate: Naturally derived ingredient that helps boost preservative effectiveness.
Polyhydroxystearic Acid: Plant-derived emulsifying agent that helps stabilize the formula and keep it smooth and uniform.
Isostearic Acid: Natural fatty acid that helps emulsify and give the formula its silky texture.
1,2-Hexanediol: Moisture-attracting ingredient and preservative.
Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate: Food-grade emulsifier that helps give the formula its silky texture.
Hydroxyacetophenone: Antioxidant that boosts preservative effectiveness.
Bentonite: Clay-derived ingredient that absorbs excess oil and calms skin.
Methyl dihydroabietate: Naturally derived formula stabilizer that helps sunscreen spread easily.
Cetearyl alcohol: Gentle plant-derived emollient.
Glycerin: Plant-derived moisture attractor.
Aloe barbadensis leaf juice: Skin moisturizer derived from the legendarily calming aloe vera plant.
Squalane: 100% sugarcane-derived, sustainable ingredient that mimics the vernix, baby’s first built-in moisturizer and the best skin protection Mother Nature can give.
FEEDBACK: This is a brand I will never recommend due to the scandal they were born out of. However, based on the ingredients for these products, I would put them on my So-So list. I do not trust this brand. See the Body Sunscreen Lotion as an example of inconsistencies…
*Body sunscreen lotion $27.95 3 oz: helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, beeswax, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, tocopherol, beta-sitosterol, squalene, citric acid. NOTE: This full ingredient list does NOT include zinc oxide. However in the What Makes it Special section the 1st point is: features non-nanoparticle zinc oxide…..
FEEDBACK: I put this brand on my best-of-best list for their lotion and spray, but the stick contains a few ingredients I don’t consider the best-of-the-best, such as Stearic Acid, Alumina, Benzyl Alcohol. There are better options for sticks, in my opinion. This is interesting to me because other brands were opposite: I put them on my Approved list for their sticks, and so-so for their other products!
–THOUGHTS: I like that they use some organic ingredients, however there are enough so-so ingredients that I cannot put this brand on my Approved list. Diisostearoyl Polyglyceryl-3 Dimer Dilinoleate, Ethyl lauroyl arginate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Alumina, Titanium Borosilicate, Benzyl Alcohol…
FEEDBACK: Several of the lotions they made look good, but I cannot recommend the spray. Unfortunately, I haven’t found a spray that doesn’t have ingredients of concern.
The following are either chemical-based, or mineral-based but with numerous ingredients of concern so I recommend anything on the above list over these options.
**Alba Botanica:
FEEDBACK: so many options! I didn’t see any I could recommend (but didn’t look at every, single one either). If you would like me to take a look at a specific one that is mineral-based that you think might look better than what I selected, I’ll be happy to!
Several other options. All have ingredients of concern.
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**Bare Republic:
—FEEDBACK: Chemical-basedwith numerous other ingredients I dislike. The mineral-based still contains: Cyclopentasiloxane (4 in ewg), Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Synthetic Wax. There are so many good options and so-so ones that I would choose before this brand!
—FEEDBACK: Way too many ingredients of concern, I cannot recommend this brand at all.
*Mineral based Sensitive lotion spf 50 6oz, doesn’t list price without leaving site. Couldn’t copy & paste ingredient list, had to zoom in on back of tube.
FEEDBACK: The inactive ingredients are not good at all, and while both formulas do include either zinc or titanium dioxide, they also use Octinoxate in 1 formula. They had several more formulas but I saw what I need to see. I definitely do not recommend this brand. Australian (reminder that I encourage you to support made in USA brands)
FEEDBACK: NOPE! Not even a chance I’d recommend this brand.Way too many ingredients of concern.
*Mineral based Pure & Simple SPF 50 mineral lotion- 2.5oz no prices listed
Zinc oxide 24.08%
*Pure & Simple SPF 50 mineral sunscreen spray
Zinc 24.08%
NOTE FROM JESS: Ingredients cut off, but from what I can see, definitely not recommended.
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**EltaMD:
—FEEDBACK: between the use of Octinoxate as an active ingredients, and the large number of inactive ingredients that are a big no, this is absolutely not a brand I would recommend.
**Goddess Garden is a brand that was previously a good selection. When I went to relook it says: webstore currently closed for systems updates. Please shop on amazon. Then it is unavailable on Amazon. Hopefully it’s coming back some day!
**Someone requested I look at Hawaiian natural. I’m not positive which I was to look at, so if that was you, provide me with a link please!
I’m currently revisiting my Approved, So-So, Not Recommended lists that I began wayyyyyy back in 2012 when I started my blogging journey. The most recent update to most of those lists was in 2016. Wow, how time flies. So a revisit of all brands, as well as what’s new out there, is definitely in order. Beautycounter has been on my Not Recommended List since I published it, and I was very curious to see what, if anything, has changed in the past several years?? I would be absolutely thrilled to have more brands on my So-So list even!
The answer is no, I still cannot recommend this brand whatsoever. My motto has always been: ingredients speak for themselves. They just need a voice. I’m helping be that voice. Just about every label I looked at contains potassium sorbate, phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate at the very least. The majority of the rest of the ingredients are so-so. Not the worst, but certainly not the best for those of you like myself who are on a mission to find products that work well, are made of as many organic ingredients as possible AND also affordable. If you share those values with me, this is NOT a brand that should be on your radar at all. Any brand on my So-So list would align with those values more than this option.
There are numerous ingredients they are using in their products that are available organically grown, they apparently are choosing not to support those options, yet they are charging double, triple, quadruple what brands who ARE using organic ingredients. That is maddening to me. Talk about marketing…. If you’re looking for better than the worst products on the market, I’ll give them that. If you’re looking for best of the best, or even so-so (which are much better than the worst), this brand is NOT for you. I honestly did not see a single product I’d use (thus recommend). For every, single item in every category, there is something I can suggest that has fewer ingredients, more organic ones, and is a fraction of the price.
Organic Sunflower Seed Oil is the singular organic ingredient. Several of those ingredients could be organic (any of the oils, shea butter, aloe). But they’re not. It has 5437 reviews with a 5/5star rating.
I looked at a ton of products and found them all to be extremely disappointing. I just grabbed a random example of what the labels look like. There is nothing in this $35 bottle of Countermatch Refresh Foaming Cleanser that would tempt me for a second to use nor recommend it:
I didn’t generally comment on prices as much as I am with this round of refreshing my entries on these lists, but more than ever, everyone I know is on a tight budget. However, it’s common to see price tags in the $70-$100 range for creams. Hand lotion is $62 for a 16 oz bottle. I cannot believe people actually pay these prices. I guess I live in an alternate reality, no one I know can afford these prices. Coupled with the fact that there are 1 or 2 organic ingredients, this certainly is not a brand I can recommend to anyone. IF you are a customer of this brand, and justifying the money you are spending, it shows we have extremely different values. And that’s okay. I’m not judging you. We live in alternate realities and have opposite criteria for what makes a great product. For me, that would be organic ingredients at an affordable price. Anyone reading this who would like to know what those recommendations are, see my So-So and Approved lists. In my humble opinion, Beautycounter is a greenwasher.
I updated this post a bit and since it’s buried as it’s a decade+ old originally, I thought I’d bump it to the top. Nothing has changed. I wish I could say they’ve improved, but they certainly have not. As you can see, the post before it is sharing how important organic is to me, so this is a good example of 1 extreme to the other. POST: https://ecofriendlymamausa.com/2013/11/07/melaleuca-the-very-definition-of-greenwashing/
Now that I’m not offering the buying club for the foreseeable future, I thought it’d be a good time to set up affiliate links with the vendors (who offer them) you’ve come to love and will surely still order from! You will find free shipping and/or a small discount below. Just be aware they likely will not be able to be combined with other promos offered directly from the vendor. Still, if you start with the links provided, the order will get tracked to me and I’ll earn a little something from the vendor as a thank you, which is MUCH appreciated by me. I was the best customer of the buying club, so if I can earn my products from these vendors, I’ll be super happy as well. Win-Win-Win!
**Amazon:https://amzn.to/46tJiy8 I just grabbed a link to some of my favorite mugs, you don’t have to buy these (but they’re great), but if you start your search from here, it *should* tie the rest of the items you put in your cart to me.
These lists are several years old now, but a TON of made in USA ideas for kitchen & home on my Made In USA tab from my blog: https://ecofriendlymamausa.com/
**Mamasuds: www.mamasuds.com/ecofriendlymama Start with my link and I’ll earn some commission for your purchase! LONG time buying club offering. Best known for her castile soap, but recently many of us have tried and loved her dish soap bar! Of all the solid bars I’ve tried for dish soap, hers is by far my favorite. It suds nicely, and doesn’t leave a film on my glassware (almost all my dishes are glass!).
Free shipping on orders over $75, all the time. **Any codes can’t be stacked or applied if there are any Subscribe and Save products in the cart.
15% off holiday sale starts on Black Friday at 12:01am EST and goes through the rest of November. TONS of great, new holiday gift sets and brand new scents under the holiday tab.
**1st time customers receive a 10% back rebate, all subsequent orders earn 5% back, all the time! Must register as a customer using the above link.
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**salonsolids- https://salonsolids.com/?ref=ecofriendlymama. Another former buying club vendor that was well-loved for her plastic-free shampoo and conditioner granules that you add water to and make into liquids. Use code: ECOMAMA for 10% off your order!
Tangie: https://wastefreeproducts.com/product/zero-waste-laundry-detergent/ So this is actually not an affiliate link. I’m not a fan of the platforms he uses for affiliates, so I opted just to send you directly to her and once/year when I want to stock up on my laundry soap, she’ll give me a good deal in return 🙂 I have no plans to use any other laundry soap, this is IT for me! Her hand soap bars, and shampoo/conditioner bars also were pretty popular via the buying club! Just a heads up that I’m not a huge fan of the shampoo bars that contain sodium coco-sulfate (labeled shampoo bars). They’re not terrible but she does offer 1 that is sulfate-free (labeled sulfate-free) and I prefer that option myself.
Thought I’d check in and let you know what I’m up to. I mentioned a while back that I really wanted to get back into blogging. Back into researching products/companies, seeing what’s new out there, and revisiting old ones to see if anything has changed. I started this blog when my 1st born was 1, he will be 13 in a few months. My family’s needs have changed, and so have yours. Products we would never use on our babies and toddlers we might consider perfectly acceptable on our tweens.
I have SO many ideas for resources I’d like to see come to fruition. But I feel the best place to start is with my Approved/So-So/Not Approved Greenwashers Lists…. If I can encompass as many companies as possible with those lists, it can be utilized when shopping at a place like Wal-Mart, Target, Amazon, maybe 1 company is on the So-So, the other on the Not Recommended, that could help you with your decision. I know many, like myself, are on a budget more than we’ve ever been. So I feel a master list could help you determine which is the safest product you can actually afford as well. $25 bottles of shampoo are out of the budget for many… So then what?!
These lists were originally shared a DECADE ago, in 2013! And of course added to with suggestions over time. In 2016 I did the 1st revision, and again in 2019. So a revisit is long overdue. Things can change overnight. I guarantee some of these companies went out of business during Covid. And of course, new ones will be added.
So my plan is: start from the top, work my way down with revisions. When I’m done, I’ll ask for new additions. This honestly might take me an entire year. It feels overwhelming to think about. But I’m ready to start chipping away a few companies at a time! Starting is always the hardest part!!
You can check those lists out here on my blog under the personal care/cleaning tab up above this post you’re reading now.
Additionally, a sub-list I’m currently working on is Auto Dishwasher detergent recommendations. I’ve tested out several now, and am not having very good luck with the results from the “cleanest” ones ingredientwise. So the struggle is to find something that is safe AND works. My kids alternate emptying the thing, and can often be heard saying Mom, these are NOT clean. So this is a continual project too, but before long I can at least share which have worked better than other. For my machine and hard water that is 🙂
Facebook advertising got me again. But this time, I’m realllllllly happy I checked the ad out. It’s the Wild Alaskan Seafood Company. Upon Googling it, I see there are numerous companies along the same lines. This is the only 1 I have experience with. And being I’m very happy with it, I don’t feel the need to try others. Living in Wisco, we are surrounded by water. But honestly, I won’t eat anything out of the MS River. And fish out of Lake Superior or Lake Michigan is rarely seen in this part of the state (SW corner). My Hubby catches trout from local streams during the times of year that is happening, but we usually eat those immediately, and there are catch limits, etc. I have to drive an hour+ to get to a store that has any decent fish or seafood. Of course, it’s not cheap, and had to go through quite a journey to get to WI from wherever it came from. We really love seafood, and want to make it a more regular part of our diet. And now we are able to!
I can’t recommend the Wild Alaskan Company highly enough, for awesome fish/seafood delivered to your door! For our 1st order we got a sample pack of 12 filets (you can also get 24). It included Coho (4) & Sockeye(2) Salmon, Halibut (2) & Cod (4). They are 6oz filets, which honestly I feel is the perfect size! From there, they offer add-ons. I chose a 6pk of Sablefish + a pack of Prawns. Honestly, the Sablefish isn’t my favorite. Mainly, it’s a texture thing. I’ve tried it twice now and it’s just a bit soft for my liking. I really like a firmer, flakier fish. But that’s another reason I love this opportunity. I LOVE trying new things, have never seen Sablefish in Wisco in my life, and now I know I don’t love it. However, I learned that Wild Pacific Halibut honestly might be my favorite fish of all-time. White, flaky, absolutely delicious in 3 minutes per side. I enjoyed it with some sauteed broccoli + rice, the whole meal took minutes (rice was leftovers). I seriously, seriously love it and cannot wait for the next order, I will definitely be adding on more of that (there are many options for add-ons to your base box). The Prawns were very good, and I used the shells to make stock, which I turned into a seafood chowder. It was REALLY good!
There are some base boxes (like a 12 or 24 pack of this & that), and a bunch of add-on options. Also, their website is full of recipes & detailed info on each fish, the areas it is caught in, tips for cooking, all sorts of good info!! You can cancel at any time of course.
From their website:
What’s in the Box?
We proudly ship a wide variety of wild-caught species from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest including sockeye salmon, coho salmon, pacific cod, pacific halibut and wild Alaska pollock.
12 to 24 Individually-Sealed Packs
Ready-to-Cook
Sustainably Harvested
Caught & Processed in the USA
Wild Caught
Never Farmed or Genetically Modified
No Antibiotics
Flash Frozen & Shipped With Dry Ice
Free Shipping
Here’s a pic of my 1st order. This all came to $200. Not cheap, no. It averages out to about $10 per serving. I always remind myself that if we were ordering the same serving in a restaurant it would be 2-3x the price. If you go with just the base 12 assortment, it comes to $10.99/portion. If you go with the base 24 assortment, it is $9.99/portion, and then you can add-on from there, if you choose to. I really, really am enjoying being able to reach into my freezer and pull out some seafood:
Comments from others in my group, when I reached out to ask if anyone else had tried them:
Nadine: “They’re a great company. Family owned & operated and the quality is great. I highly recommend. Especially if you eat seafood often.”
Kelly said: “We gifted this to my mom for her birthday. She was thrilled and spoke highly of it!”
From Anne, who ordered at the same time I did: “We’ve had two pieces of white fish, and 2 pieces of salmon. Very tasty! I like the portion sizes, too. Hubby has a hearty appetite and he finds the pieces large enough. For me, it was almost more than I could eat.”
Right now I have delivery set to every 2 months, but you can modify what you’re getting and/or change frequency. I ordered on a Monday, and had it by the end of that week. Once I got a ship notification, I had the order delivered the following day! Also, a fun bonus is it comes packed in dry ice. Which can lead to fun projects and experiments with kiddos 🙂
The random Fb ad I stumbled upon when I learned about them included a $15 off 1st order coupon. Once you order, you get a coupon for $25 off to share with others. So if you’d like to try it, use this & get $25 off your 1st order of any amount. Then you will get a coupon code to share with your friends/family too. And you get $25 of future orders if they use it!
Toothpaste review and D E A L alert! Review: “I really am loving it and I would like to purchase a few more jars. I don’t want to be without it…best toothpaste ever!” She tried the cherry/vanilla which happens to be my favorite too! For a limited time, I’m going to offer this: instead of $9/jar + shipping, which ranges from $4/jar to $8 if you fill the flat rate envelope, I’m offering $10/jar straight up, shipping on me. I want to see how that works out. So, if you’d like to stock up or try it for the 1st time, please let me know ASAP. I’ll whip up a fresh batch between our Easter shenanigans this weekend. Details in the comments below (recipe, flavor options, etc). While supplies last, I know I’m low on some flavor oils, and don’t have a whole lotta jars on hand either. https://ecofriendlymamausa.com/recipes/eco-friendly-usa-homemade-toothpaste/
Eco-Friendly Mama: Safe product recommendations with a focus on organic and Made in USA! 