Personal Care/Cleaning Master List
1st, please make sure to read how I decide what to recommend: https://ecofriendlyusa.wordpress.com/product-reviews/how-i-decide-what-to-recommend-please-read-1st/
APPROVED COMPANIES:
Link to full listing: http://ecofriendlyusa/product-reviews/safe-products/
THE BEST OF THE BEST, these are all USDA certified organic:
Badger Balm
Bubble and Bee
Chagrin Valley
Dr. Bronner’s
Earth Mama Angel Baby
Honey Girl Organics
Moon Valley Organics
Motherlove
Poofy Organics
Ola Organics by Dr. Mercola
Vermont Organic Soap
GOOD companies: I approve of what they’re offering, but they’re not USDA certified organic so I don’t feel deserve to be in the same category as the above:
A’Del Natural Cosmetics
A Remedy for That
Herbal Alchemy
Lovely Lady
LuSa Organics
MamaSuds
Meloira
Puremedy
Radiantly You
salonsolids
Tangie
Toups & Co.
SO-SO Lines- not the best, not the worst:
Link to full listing: https://ecofriendlymamausa.com/product-reviews/so-so/
100% Pure
Acure Organics
Andalou Naturals
Allafia/Everyday Shea
Annmarie
Attitude
Aubrey Organics
Avalon Organics
Babo Botanicals
Babytime by Episcencial
BaeBlu
Biokleen
Burt’s Bees
Cara b.
Carina Organics
Celadon Road
Clean Kids Naturally
Curlsmith
Crunchi Organics
Daisy Blue Naturals
Dessert Essence
Dr. Woods
Ecover
evanhealy
Greenshield Organic
Honeybee Gardens
Innersense
John Masters Organics
Juice Beauty Products
Kiss My Face
Lafe’s Naturals
Lavanila
Lemongrass Spa
Little Twig
Live Clean Baby
Mineral Fusion
Molly’s Suds
Nature’s Baby Organics
Nature’s Pearl
Nubian Heritage
Nurture My Body
NYR
Ogee
Onesta
Original Sprout
Osmia
Pangea Organics
Peter Rabbit
Purple Prairie Botanicals
Real Purity
Rose of Sharon Acres
Rowe Casa Organics
Suzanne Organics
Tom’s of Maine
Trillium Herbal Company
True Botanicals
TruKid
Viori
Weleda
Well People
Young Living
Zum
GREENWASHERS LIST/LINES I DON’T RECOMMEND (NOT ALL MAKE ‘GREEN’ CLAIMS):
Link to full listing: https://ecofriendlyusa.wordpress.com/product-reviews/greenwashers/
Aloette
Amyway
Answers from Nature
Arbonne
Aveda
Avons Naturals Kids
Babyganics
Bare Minerals
Beautycounter
Beauty without Cruelty
Better Life Products
Branch Basics
CA Baby
Charlie’s Soap
Dapple
DoTerra
Earth’s Best
Earth Science
Earth Friendly Products/Ecos
Eco-Store USA
Eos
Essante Organics
Ever
Grab Green Home
Hempz
Honest Company
It Works
Isagenix
Jason
Jane Iredale
Jordon Essentials
J.R Watkins
Just Hatched
Kirk’s Castile
L’bri
Limelight by Alcone
Lush Cosmetics
Madison Reed
Mary Kay
Md Moms
Melaleuca
Method
Michael Todd
Modere
Monat
Mrs. Meyers
Nature’s Gate
Neora
Nerium
Norwex
Origins
Perfectly Posh
Planet
Plumberry Parade
Pure Haven Essentials
Rodan & Fields
Seventh Generation
Shaklee
Shea Moisture
Trader Joe’s WEN Haircare
Whole Foods- 365
Willa
Yes to Carrots
Younique
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 24, 2013 @ 17:34:52
Hi there 🙂 I am curious to know where ‘Goddess Garden’ products may fit in this list? I just purchased some sun screen for the kids and some for myself as well. The kids formula uses titanium dioxide and zinc (non-nano) and the adult sun body lotion just uses titanium dioxide. I would love to hear you weigh in on this…if you would like an ingredient list i can email it to ya 🙂
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Jul 25, 2013 @ 00:18:34
I know I’ve looked into it, if I remember right it contains Japanese Honeysuckle? If so, here’s my concern: http://chemicaloftheday.squarespace.com/most-controversial/2010/5/8/the-final-word-on-japanese-honeysuckle-extract.html
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Jul 25, 2013 @ 00:43:08
Hmmm…neither of these ones have that listed. I am in Canada though, I wonder if that would make a difference? I will message your Facebook page later this evening with the ingredients and upc codes from the products I have 🙂
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Apr 06, 2021 @ 18:17:34
This product will be very unsafe because it contains the word “sunscreen” on the bottle. This means that it either 1) prevents the body from absorbing the vitally-necessary nutrient of sunlight, thus causing development of diseases and also encouraging the body to become ill (like colds) more frequently and to be more likely to die from any illness where death is possible (such as flu or streptococcus), or else 2) the product does not prevent this, which means the company is lying about the basic function of the product and is therefore extrenely untrustworthy and is therefore of course guaranteed to contain harmful ingredients.
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Jul 30, 2013 @ 19:55:53
Love these lists! Thank you for sharing all of this inforamtion with us — soooo very helpful! What list would you place JR Watkins’ products on?
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Jul 30, 2013 @ 20:58:53
Just looked into them & will put them on my so-so mainly due to the use of Potassium Sorbate in several products I looked at.
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Jul 30, 2013 @ 21:05:28
and the dish soap has things like sodium laureth sulfate & cocamidopropyl betaine which I don’t recommend.
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Apr 06, 2021 @ 18:23:04
J.R. Watkins contains “fragrance” and is therefore obviously extremely unsafe.
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Jan 16, 2014 @ 21:44:02
Just wondering if you have looked at Aveda?
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Jan 16, 2014 @ 22:28:22
Wow, I can’t believe I haven’t! Will do & report back!!
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Jan 21, 2014 @ 13:33:26
Amy, I tried looking into their products, and they do have an ‘ingredients’ tab on their website, but it doesn’t actually list ingredients… I’m going to write a note on their FB page today & ask where I can find complete labels.
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Mar 02, 2014 @ 13:32:36
Can I ask what you find wrong with Honest Company & Burts Bees (why they are on the “so so” list)?
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Mar 02, 2014 @ 16:49:32
Yes, I explain why everything is where it is in the full listing, here’s the so-so list: https://ecofriendlyusa.wordpress.com/product-reviews/murky-middle-ground-products/
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Jun 06, 2014 @ 04:40:54
I don’t see the review for Kiss My Face. Can you please share why they’re on the Greenwashers list? Thank you! Your lists are an excellent resource.
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Jun 06, 2014 @ 18:01:11
I’m glad you asked! Not sure what happened to my post for them, but upon revisiting them I moved them up to my so-so list with this info: “Kiss My Face- EWG has a lot of data for this brand, 128 products rating 0-8. As with most brands, some products look OK, but EWG lists many ingredients of concern: Propylparaben (rated a 10! in a couple moisturizers & soaps), retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, cocamide DEA, the list goes on. Bar & castile soap look just fine. Shampoo includes ingredients like Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Potassium Sorbate, Polysorbate 20. I used to have them on my Greenwashers list but moved them up (6/6/14) since they make so many products and like I said, some look OK. Here’s a link to the ingredients to look out for: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/brand/Kiss_My_Face/“
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Jun 06, 2014 @ 18:13:05
Good to hear! Thank you!!
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Jul 25, 2014 @ 19:00:27
SO interesting. Can you say why Norwex and 100% pure aren’t great? I use both and have a house full of 100% pure stuff. 😦
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Jul 25, 2014 @ 19:01:49
Oops, I just read the able post. 🙂 No need to explain further.
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Oct 04, 2014 @ 15:42:15
Thanks for doing this! It’s great to have a master list to refer to, since after so much research, my head starts to spin 🙂
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Nov 19, 2014 @ 12:19:36
Great list. Thank you for all your information. I do not see Pacifica on here. Can you tell me about them? Thank you
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Nov 19, 2014 @ 14:02:40
I’m not familiar with them, will have to take a look, thanks!
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Dec 12, 2014 @ 18:20:34
Thank you so much for posting this list! Was wondering if you have you ever done any research on Alima Pure makeup?
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Dec 13, 2014 @ 18:12:33
I haven’t… I will ask Jolene my co-admin & make-up expert to check it out!
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Jan 03, 2015 @ 10:35:29
cant seem to find a good organic shampoo and not crazy about using a shampoo bar of soap can you recommend one in a bottle? thanks
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Jan 03, 2015 @ 14:41:11
For sure- Poofy Organics makes a very safe, very effective traditional bottle liquid as well as a bar: poofyorganics.com/ecofriendlyusa
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Jan 16, 2015 @ 17:21:54
Thank you for this post! Are any of the companies on your Best of the Best list direct sales companies? If not, are there any direct sales companies that sell organic makeup that you would recommend? Thanks! 🙂
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Jan 16, 2015 @ 18:18:26
YES– Poofy Organics, and after using, loving & recommending their products daily for nearly 2 years I joined the team! So, here’s my link if you’d like to take a look, among the safest options for all categories on the market! poofyorganics.com/ecofriendlyusa. The make-up is one of my top 10 sellers via my buying club I offer quarterly as well!
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Jan 16, 2015 @ 18:48:06
I’ll definitely take a look! Thanks so much!
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Jan 16, 2015 @ 19:12:58
OH, and let me add, due to the nature of make-up, you won’t find a 100% organic option. Poofy uses as many organic ingredients as possible, but some things need to be used that aren’t certifiably organic.
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Jan 16, 2015 @ 22:22:37
Gotcha! Sent you an email! 🙂
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Jan 16, 2015 @ 20:12:03
I want to try poofy organics shampoo I have thin hair which one of their shampoos would you recommend? thanks
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Jan 16, 2015 @ 20:55:42
Definitely the Mighty Mane Lisa! Under hair tab: poofyorganics.com/ecofriendlyusa
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Jan 21, 2015 @ 02:25:40
You’re right about the green washers, these are some of the worst offenders. I agree with many of the products you like but why is Ava Anderson on the so so list? It should definitely be at the top of the best of the best. Not only is the line 100% pure, the products all work incredibly well. My skin looks better, I actually look younger since using it & my hair has never been healthier.
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Jan 21, 2015 @ 13:44:34
This explains why I have them there: https://ecofriendlymamausa.com/2014/06/24/why-ava-anderson-remains-on-my-so-so-list/
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Mar 13, 2015 @ 15:07:18
Hi do you have an opinion on Miessence? I love to hear it as I’m thinking about becoming a rep!
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Mar 13, 2015 @ 23:03:25
Am I right that it’s Australian? I believe I looked into it & it’s a good line, just not US made which is 1 of the missions of mine. If you’d like to be a rep for an amazing, certified organic, made in US line, please consider joining me & Poofy Organics! https://ecofriendlymamausa.com/buying-clubdeomy-poofy-organics/ready-to-work-from-home-join-team-eco-poofy-usa/
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May 26, 2015 @ 05:14:31
Have you heard of Tropical Traditions? I just ordered deodorant, toothpaste and body creams from them… curious of your opinion.
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Jun 09, 2015 @ 20:03:38
I’m aware of their coconut oil, I didn’t know they offered other items, will have to check them out–thanks!
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Jun 01, 2015 @ 18:45:30
I was looking into Arbonne baby care and they do have ingredients on their website and I cross referenced some of the ingredients you mentioned and did not find them there. I was wondering how up to date your information is?
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Jun 09, 2015 @ 19:57:47
They have reformulated some of their products which is a great thing & I believe they took retinyl palmitate out which is a HUGE victory!!! This Summer I will work on updating where needed! Thanks for your message!
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Nov 09, 2015 @ 11:40:02
Just heard that Dr Bronner is no longer good? formulas have changed.
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Nov 09, 2015 @ 13:34:48
Any more info? Everything I just looked at is still USDA or OTCO certified & looks the same. Note: I don’t recommend Sals Suds as it has SLS.
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Jan 27, 2016 @ 02:33:29
How about Athena’s (Rhode Island. Associated with adult spa parties…) thank you!!!
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Feb 03, 2016 @ 18:49:51
I’m not familiar but will try to remember to take a look!
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Jan 29, 2016 @ 06:38:37
http://seafoamtradingco.com/lotions-and-body-mousse/
I’m curious about these products. I’ve used some of them, and they are seemingly amazing.
Thank you!
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Jan 29, 2016 @ 19:11:41
Have you reviewed Face Naturals? I did not see them anywhere on your lists.
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Feb 02, 2016 @ 15:38:00
I haven’t, will add them to my list to look into, thanks!
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Feb 08, 2016 @ 02:42:13
I cannot get the so-so list link to load
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Feb 08, 2016 @ 14:16:41
Sorry, I shortened the link so the old hyperlinks don’t work, I should’ve thought of that in advance but too late now. Here it is: https://ecofriendlymamausa.com/product-reviews/so-so/
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Feb 13, 2016 @ 14:45:45
What are your thoughts on Verefina products?
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Feb 20, 2016 @ 00:12:54
I will have to look into them, they’re not on my list, yet!
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Mar 19, 2016 @ 21:26:41
I was curious if you ever looked into Naturopathica products. Thanks!
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Mar 21, 2016 @ 19:02:26
I’ve not heard of them…
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Jun 12, 2016 @ 01:46:19
Hi! I have been interested in using safer products on myself and my family (I have a 1 year old) for some time now. I came across your site while I was researching where to really begin in this adventure and have found it very informative. I know you have a list of “best of the best”…when you list a product in this category, does this mean you support/recommend their brand as a whole or just the listed product? I want to start by switching out all of my baby products and then move to household, and then to personal for myself and my husband. Is there a ” best of the best” company that offers all of these things or am I dreaming? Ha…
I appreciate any advice you may have! Thank you in advance 🙂
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Jun 12, 2016 @ 20:37:02
Yes, please check out Poofy Organics, they are the best of the best of the best & have everything you need (except laundry & dish powder are being reformulated into a liquid currently). Check out their baby line here: https://ecofriendlyusa.poofyorganics.com/category/154-organic-baby-products.aspx
I’ve been an independent “Guide” with them for 2 years now, and they truly are what I had in mind when I started my search for the safest products on the market! I offer 10% off your 1st purchase when you use my link I shared above, I can’t create my own coupon so I will send the 10% back as a rebate after your order. Just let me know you placed it by sending me an email, and let me know if you want the rebate via check or PayPal. My email is ecofriendlymamausa@gmail.com
And yes, as a whole, I recommend everything from the companies on my approved list unless noted otherwise (like Sals Suds from Dr. Bronner).
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Dec 29, 2017 @ 22:12:50
I see mostly women here but I’m a man guy and I recently started using sulfate free and organic soaps and shampoos, I tried a few, in general, my scalp and skin are like litmus paper. one thing off and I see the effect in form of skin irritation. Overall moving to organics and mainly sulfate free gave me a new life. I no longer use dr. prescribed shit. Overall I had 80% improvement. In quest to find the best, I tried several brands trusting their descriptions on Amazon. Long story short, there is one brand shampoo that worked 100% ! I tested it after using other products. The moment I move off I get slight irritation and redness back. But as soon as I move back to this one shampoo it fixes everything. I have tried this over and over to make sure, because it seem to totally fix my years of problem that I never knew was actually due to chemical sensitivity. Even my derm never told me a definitive answer, He just prescribed expensive creams and steroid sprays that costs 100’s of dollars. So now that I seem to have one product that is a miracle for me.. the company is Brickell for men. I use their shampoo and use their soap to shave. After reading your site, I would like to commend you on your hard work and I would like to ask you if you have reviewed this product? Is it really a miracle? whats making it work for me? I did not see it listed on EWG or this site. (Pardon me if I have missed it). Please let us know what is your take on Brickell. Thank you
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Feb 01, 2018 @ 21:11:57
Hi! And thanks for taking the time to write! It looks pretty good, but I do see some ingredients I prefer to avoid in the middle of the ingredient list I looked at (shampoo): Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Phenoxyethanol. But based on your results, I’d absolutely keep on using it!
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Jun 25, 2018 @ 20:39:09
Hi, I’m just now learning about and visiting your site. Are you still active? How updated are these lists you’ve compiled? I’m currently looking into Melaleuca, but don’t want to make any decisions without doing further research outside of their company (and those who use it). Thanks!
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Nov 09, 2018 @ 13:21:11
Yes, I’m still active, I just don’t check messages on blog posts very often as my Facebook groups are extremely active. I see this question is several months old, but I can assure you that Melaleuca is absolutely still one of the worst companies out there in terms of “greenwashing”. They are the absolute last company I would ever use, if I had to rank 100 companies, they would be at the bottom, at #100 last on my list to ever consider using.
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Mar 03, 2021 @ 22:07:28
Love your info and how it teaches people to learn their ingredients. I have a couple for u – Biggs and featherbelle and Vermont soap co are great. I have just learned from Lead Safe Mama that Earthpaste uses Redmond’s salt ans their salt tests high in lead. She has salt recommendations on her blog. Crazy world we live in, now I been spurred on to develop lessons for my life skills students on ingredients, safe cookware, etc
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Apr 06, 2021 @ 18:08:27
Dr. Bronner’s contains “fragrance”. YOU CAN TELL THIS BY READING THE INGREDIENTS LIST. Soaps are not organic, but other brands of castile soap are. Essential oils source was changed nearly immediately after Dr. Bronner died, to a source that is not merely adulterated, but is quite literally fake, a literal flavoring – at the first change the peppeint flavor smelled LITERALLY EXACTLY LIKE A CANDY CANE. NO PLANT SMELL WHATSOEVER. They have also added “citric acid” – an ingredient generally made from GM corn – for no reason at all, as the actual Dr. Bronner did not use this ingredient. Since they are or were literally using fake “essential oils”, it is extremely reasonable to assume that their citric acid does contain glyphosate and 30 other pesticides.
Better Life contains meza-something, a cancerous ingredient with a string anti-campaign.
Seventh Generation has some peoducts that are 100% safe.
Dr. Mercola is VERY untrustworthy. He was EJECTED from association with WAPF. He posta truthful information on subjects that will not give him a monetary profit, such as aspartame. The products he SELLS say “vitamin” (or “supplement”) on the label (or marketing), and he posts false information about vitamins and supplements very frequently. That means that ZERO products he sells are “safe” in any way, (unless he has began to make lotions amd shampoos, in which case I would never consider it since real companies exist and since most products of this type are unecessary anyway).
“EcoNuts”, “MamaSuds”, and anything similar, should be removed, because these such products are NOT detergents, they are soaps (chemically), and soaps can not clean fabrics (at least not in a washing machine).
J.R. Watkins is one of the most unsafe “big box stores always put this in the wrong section” products in existence (holy shit!!!! WTF!!!). Mrs. Meyers is almost as bad! Over 80 ingredients on average, not including the ones they arually disclose! Actually I’m pretty sure J.R. Watkins is so terrible that they don’t even provide an ingredients list on the bottle at all, let alone a truthful one! Tom’s of Maine hasn’t even removed fluoride from ANY of their adult toothpastes except for ONE which is used as a “special product” fake, and by the way they didn’t actually just “not remove it”, they actually ADDED IT BACK IN as the actual Tom’s of Maine companny (not Colgate) has NO FLUORIDE (obviously) in their products.
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Apr 02, 2023 @ 21:30:10
how do you feel about https://rusticstrength.com? I see they are suppliers for a lot of the shops that offer refilling for soap, shampoo, household cleaners, etc. thoughts?
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Nov 14, 2023 @ 16:20:20
Any thoughts on Pacifica?
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