Post created in partnership with Puracy (now available at Target!)
TOXINS OH MY. Today on the blog, I’m talking all about baby care and the importance of empowering yourself to make smart choices for you and baby.
Let’s start with a little story:
The other day I was with a friend working on the baby registry when we strolled up to the baby bath and body section. I immediately starting reading all the ingredients on the backs of the products before I made my decision. My friend curiously asked, “what are you doing?” This immediately got me thinking … I should do a post on this. Mainly because checking and understanding ingredient labels for me has become second nature BUT it’s not for all moms. And reasonably so. Those labels look innocent on the surface but let’s face it, they are hard to decipher. Hey Alexa: What are petrochemicals anyway and why should I care about them being in my products? Navigating the waters can be intimidating!
The personal care industry is effectively unregulated. Because it’s a free-for-all, companies can use whatever adjectives they’d like when it comes to marketing and “greenwashing” their products—natural, green and eco typically have no enforceable definition. In other words, what is touted on the front in no way needs to match what lives on the ingredient label on the back. This includes known carcinogens that are toxic to our health. SAY WHAT! That’s why it’s important to find trusty + transparent brands you can count on in the natural department.
Intro Puracy. A brand that I’m glad I found and am proud to work with. In just five short years, Puracy has won countless awards for creating quality natural products — all safer options for you, your family, pets and the environment. The products contain no harsh chemicals, sulfates (SLS, SLES, SCS), triclosan, formaldehyde, parabens, phosphates, MEA, DEA, TEA, chlorine, bleach, petrochemicals, animal by-products, allergens, perfumes, dyes or caustics — DID YA GET ALL THAT!? And the entire line is proudly made in the United States.
On ingredient labels, I typically look for hormone/endocrine-disrupting phthalates (acronyms DBP, DEHP); sodium lauryl sulfates and ether sulfates (SLS and SLES); parabens (including methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl); anolamines (DEA, TEA, MEA), and petrolatum or petroleum jelly.
Obviously, I’m not perfect but I do make an effort to use “cleaner” products when I can — sometimes it feels impossible to find products that are free from all the gunk but every step you take counts. We all gotta start somewhere.
I have found that SLS is a sneaky one. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is commonly used in skincare products such as body wash, cleansers, shampoos and hand washes. In fact, I read that more than 70% of shampoos, body washes, and hand soaps contain SLS. It’s basically the ingredient that gives these products the foamy, bubbly consistency most of us associate with a squeaky clean. It’s also known to be a skin irritant. It can strip the skin of its natural oils which can cause dry skin, irritation and nasty reactions. It can also be very irritating on the eyes. Inflammatory skin reaction could include itchy skin and scalp, eczema and dermatitis. Again, not life or death BUT good to know, especially when you’re cleaning delicate newborn skin.
Thankfully, Puracy has a new line of baby products conveniently available at Target! Their baby care line is extensive — shampoo, body wash, bubble bath, lotion, surface cleaner, stain remover, dish soap and even laundry detergent.
Based in Austin, Texas, Puracy was founded upon the principles of creating safe and stylish natural household products with the belief that you should not have to break the bank to own natural essentials. All of the Puracy products are uniquely formulated to do more with less. In other words, they last longer, use less packaging and are made from the purest natural ingredients available. They do not leave residue behind and they are safe to use around children, pets, and the environment because they are non-toxic. Bonus: For every sale, Puracy donates natural and organic products to families and children that are less fortunate. They do so through organizations such as Austin’s Children’s Shelter, The Ronald McDonald House, and more.
Sweat Adventures 