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Last week at the grocery store, I proudly dropped a bottle of Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Buttermilk lotion into my cart. It’s label advertises Burt’s Bees as 98.47% all natural, with the explanation that a percent of its ingredients must be created in a lab (for example, Vitamin E doesn’t stay stable). Like most parents, I want what’s best for my kid–even when it comes to the lotion I rub on her bum each night; other mothers recommended Burt’s Bees lotion claiming it’s good for sensitive skin and frequent diaper rashes.
Annabelle turns 6 months next week and the entire time I’ve been caring for her, I had not given much thought to what ingredients were in her care products. I avoided overdoing lotion application and I never used powder on her (her pediatrician said it wasn’t necessary). Another mother mentioned that many baby products list petroleum as an ingredient, which can be allergenic.
With all the recommendations from local parents, and my own growing interest in natural care products, I learned about a cosmetic database, from my friend Jennifer, called Skin Deep, which investigates the safety of personal care products and identifies the product ingredients that are linked to cancer, birth defects, allergies, etc. I typed in “Burt’s Bees lotion” into the search bar and within seconds a list of Burt’s Bees products appeared on the screen. Click here to learn what ingredients Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Buttermilk lotion contains. It’s safety rating is a 4, so it’s a moderate hazard, and Burt’s Bees does not conduct animal testing nor does it have any violations, restrictions, or warnings. In addition, Burt’s Bees is not linked to cancer and is a signer of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics.
In comparison with Burt’s Bees, I typed in Johnson’s baby lotion into Skin Deep and this is what I learned. Also a moderate hazard, Johnson’s scored a 6, which is a greater hazard than Burt’s Bees Baby Bee lotion at a 4. Johnson’s will not sign the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and Johnson’s conducts animal testing, is listed for violations, restrictions, and warnings.
I’m glad we switched our little girl’s personal care from Johnson’s to Burt’s Bees, although both products could improve since they both contain ingredients linked to developmental/reproductive toxicity.
Check out Skin Deep. I’m not even going to risk scaring you with what I learned about my Neutrogena SPF Moisturizer. But go ahead and read. Be sure to drink chamomile tea after reading this post.
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