Hello my wonderful readers, I had been drafting this post since yesterday, but low and behold the powers of the universe must have known what I was up to because an amazing offer popped in my email box this morning. I will share that a bit later!!! In today’s post I am doing a listing of all the ingredients in the three most recognizable baby shampoo’s in the United States. Below you will find Monat Junior Shampoo, Johnson’s Baby Shampoo and Honest Brand Purely Simple Shampoo and Body Wash.
In full disclosure I am a Monat Market Partner and I do intend to show you that Monat Junior is worth switching to. When it comes to our children and what we put on them and in them I am a full proponent of giving them the best.
When you become a parent everything else pales in comparison and your senses become heightened to what your children are being exposed to. Now I have read many an article about how certain chemicals and additives in our children’s shampoos has been leading to an increase in childhood cancers, this is why I sought out the best of the best. When Monat Junior was first introduced to me I was appreciative and thankful because up until then I had been using the Honest Brand which as you will see below has its concerns.
My research lead me to the EWG’s Cosmetic Database. I searched each and every ingredient individually. What is the EWG? “EWG provides information on personal care product ingredients from published scientific literature to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. EWG indicates the relative level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in a product – not the product itself. The ratings reflect potential health hazards but do not account for the level of exposure or individual susceptibility, factors which determine actual health risks, if any.”
I used red text to highlight each ingredient that has an overall hazard of low/moderate, moderate and/or had any concerns.
Monat Junior Shampoo:
- Water
- Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foam Boosting
- Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Foam Boosting, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling
- Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Surfactant and Foaming Agent
- Sodium Bis-Hydroxyethylglycinate Coco-Glucosides Crosspolymer:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Cleaning, foam boosting agent
- Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Antistatic Agent; Hair Conditioning Agent
- Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Surfactant, Cleansing Agent, Foaming
- Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Surfactant – Emulsifying Agent
- Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Surfactant – Cleansing Agent
- Polyglyceryl-5 Oleate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Skin Conditioning Agent, Emollient, Surfactant, Emulsifying Agent
- Glyceryl Caprylate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Skin-Conditioning Agent – Emollient; Surfactant – Emulsifying Agent
- Citric Acid:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Chelating Agent; Fragrance Ingredient; pH Adjuster; Buffering, Masking
- Fragrance
- Sodium Benzoate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking
- Potassium Sorbate:
- Overall Hazard = Low/Moderate
- Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient; Preservative
- Concern(s) = Human skin toxicant or allergen – strong evidence
Johnson’s Baby Shampoo:
- Water
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine:
- Overall Hazard = Low/Moderate
- Function(s) = Antistatic Agent; Hair Conditioning Agent; Skin-Conditioning Agent – Miscellaneous; Surfactant – Cleansing Agent; Surfactant – Foam Booster; Viscosity Increasing Agent
- Concern(s) =
- Suspected to be an environmental toxin
- Limited evidence of sensitization toxicity or allergies
- PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate:
- Overall Hazard = Moderate
- Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient; Surfactant – Cleansing Agent; Surfactant – Solubilizing Agent, Emulsifying
- Concern(s) = Human skin toxicant or allergen – strong evidence
- Sodium Trideceth Sulfate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Surfactant – Cleansing Agent; Surfactant – Emulsifying Agent; Foaming
- PEG-150 Distearate:
- Overall Hazard = Low/Moderate
- Function(s) = Surfactant – Cleansing Agent; Surfactant – Solubilizing Agent
- Concern(s) = Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity
- Phenoxyethanol:
- Overall Hazard = Low/Moderate
- Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient; Preservative
- Concern(s) = Limited evidence of skin and immune system toxicity or allergies
- Sodium Chloride:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Flavoring Agent; Oral Care Agent; Viscosity Increasing Agent
- Glycerin:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Denaturant; Fragrance Ingredient; Hair Conditioning Agent; Humectant; Oral Care Agent;Oral Health Care Drug; Skin-Conditioning Agent – Humectant; Skin Protectant; Viscosity Decreasing Agent; Perfuming; Solvent
- Citric Acid:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Chelating Agent; Fragrance Ingredient; pH Adjuster; Buffering, Masking
- Sodium Benzoate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking
- Tetrasodium EDTA:
- Overall Hazard = Low/Moderate
- Function(s) = Chelating Agent
- Concern(s) =
- Limited evidence of eye toxicity (only for products for use around the eyes)
- Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful
- Polyquaternium-10:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Antistatic Agent; Film Former; Hair Fixative; Film Foaming
- Ethylhexylglycerin:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Deodorant Agent; Skin-Conditioning Agent; Skin Conditioning
- Sodium Hydroxide:
- Overall Hazard = Moderate
- Function(s) = Denaturant; pH Adjuster; Buffering
- Concern(s) =
- Violation of industry recommendations – Restricted in cosmetics; use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions – Avoid or minimize skin exposure: recommendation from industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) (only for products for use on skin)
- Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful
- Potassium Acrylates Copolymer:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Adhesive; Artificial Nail Builder; Binder; Film Former; Hair Fixative
- Yellow 6:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = N/A
- Yellow 10:
- Overall Hazard = Low/Moderate
- Function(s) = Colorant
- Concern(s) =
- Violation of government restrictions – Restricted in cosmetics; use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions – Color additive not approved by FDA for cosmetics used around eyes (only for products for use around the eyes)
- Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful
- Parfum
Honest Brand Purely Simple Shampoo & Body Wash
- Water
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice:
- Over Hazard = Low/Moderate
- Functions = Skin Conditioning Agent
- Concerns =
- Possible human carcinogen (only for IF NON DECOLORIZED)
- Cancer – strong evidence (only for IF NON DECOLORIZED)
- Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foam Boosting
- Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Foam Boosting, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling
- Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Surfactant and Foaming Agent
- Sodium Chloride:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Flavoring Agent; Oral Care Agent; Viscosity Increasing Agent
- Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Surfactant, Emulsifier and Stabalizer
- Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient; Skin-Conditioning Agent – Miscellaneous; Masking, Skin Conditioning
- Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient; Skin-Conditioning Agent – Miscellaneous; Skin-Conditioning Agent-Occlusive; Perfuming
- Anthemis Nobilis (Roman Chamomile) Flower Oil:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient, Masking, Skin Conditioning
- Glycerin:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Denaturant; Fragrance Ingredient; Hair Conditioning Agent; Humectant; Oral Care Agent;Oral Health Care Drug; Skin-Conditioning Agent – Humectant; Skin Protectant; Viscosity Decreasing Agent; Perfuming; Solvent
- Hydrolyzed Jojoba Protein:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Hair Conditioning Agent; Skin-Conditioning Agent – Emollient; Skin Conditioning
- Chenopodium Quinoa Extract:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = N/A
- Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient; Hair Conditioning Agent; Skin-Conditioning Agent – Miscellaneous;Skin-Conditioning Agent – Occlusive; Emollient; Masking; Skin Conditioning; Solven
- Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Antistatic Agent; Hair Conditioning Agent; Viscosity Increasing Agent – Aqueous; Film Foaming, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling
- Lauryl Glucoside:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Surfactant, Cleansing Agent
- Caprylyl Glycol:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Hair Conditioning Agent; Skin-Conditioning Agent – Emollient; Humectant
- Coconut Acid:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Functions = Surfactant – Cleansing AgentSurfactant-Cleansing Agent is included as a function for the soap form of Coconut Acid.; Emollinet, Emulsifying
- Disodium Coco-Glucoside Citrate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Surfactant – Emulsifying Agent
- Sodium Citrate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = pH Adjuster; Buffering, Chelating, Masking
- Caprylhydroxamic Acid:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = N/A
- Citric Acid:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Chelating Agent; Fragrance Ingredient; pH Adjuster; Buffering, Masking
- Sodium Benzoate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking
- Sodium Phytate:
- Overall Hazard = Low
- Function(s) = Chelating Agent; Oral Care Agent
Just from my own observation I would steer clear of Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. Honest really surprised me because I was a faithful user, I assumed it was my only option in the category of “safe baby shampoos”. That’s why like I mentioned before I was so appreciative when I was introduced to Monat Junior.
Now to get to the good stuff, Monat announced this morning that they were going to have a Flash Sale (ending on Sunday at 12AM EST) centered around Monat Junior. Buy a Monat Junior Pack – Shampoo, Conditioner and Detangler and get a Monat Styling Product for just $10!!! My favorite is definitely the Dry Shampoo. If you are interested in taking advantage of this amazing offer leave a comment below and I will get back to you with additional information. Giving our kids the best is not out of reach!!!
Is Monat Junior tear free? I don’t have kids but I was recommended by my doctor to wash my face with J&J baby shampoo because it’s gentle on sensitive skin. I was thinking about switching to Monat.
Hi Teresa, yes Monat is tear free
You did an impressive job of showing how the product is a better choice. I do hope others get to read this information.
Thank you so much I really appreciate the feedback
This is so interesting! My husband and I had heard bad things before about Johnson&Johnson products, too!
I was actually very surprised how many bad things that shampoo has in it
Yep, all of the stuff they say we should put on our kids… it’s just ridiculous. I don’t even know why they make products like that. Thank you for sharing this.
It’s so scary to think that J&J is used in hospitals and its the first product that touches a baby’s skin, thank goodness I took my Monat Junior with me to the hospital!
We have certainly slowly built up to accepting so much in our environment that we don’t even know about – let alone how to pronounce!
Excellent article!
Thank you so much Penny, I completely agree we are too tolerant