Dare to Compare, Why Every Parent Must Read This!

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: 

1. Water
2. Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) = Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foam Boosting
3. Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) =  Foam Boosting, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling
4. Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) = Surfactant and Foaming Agent
5. Sodium Bis-Hydroxyethylglycinate Coco-Glucosides Crosspolymer:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) = Cleaning, foam boosting agent
6. Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) = Antistatic Agent; Hair Conditioning Agent
7. Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) = Surfactant, Cleansing Agent, Foaming
8. Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) = Surfactant – Emulsifying Agent
9. Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) = Surfactant – Cleansing Agent
10. Polyglyceryl-5 Oleate:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Skin Conditioning Agent, Emollient, Surfactant, Emulsifying Agent
11. Glyceryl Caprylate:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Skin-Conditioning Agent – Emollient; Surfactant – Emulsifying Agent
12. Citric Acid:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Chelating Agent; Fragrance Ingredient; pH Adjuster; Buffering, Masking
13. Fragrance
14. Sodium Benzoate:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking
15. Potassium Sorbate:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low/Moderate
    2. Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient; Preservative
    3. Concern(s) = Human skin toxicant or allergen – strong evidence

 Johnson’s Baby Shampoo:

1. Water
2. Cocamidopropyl Betaine:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low/Moderate
   2. Function(s) = Antistatic Agent; Hair Conditioning Agent; Skin-Conditioning Agent – Miscellaneous; Surfactant – Cleansing Agent; Surfactant – Foam Booster; Viscosity Increasing Agent
   3. Concern(s) =
      1. Suspected to be an environmental toxin
      2. Limited evidence of sensitization toxicity or allergies
3. PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate:
   1. Overall Hazard = Moderate
   2. Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient; Surfactant – Cleansing Agent; Surfactant – Solubilizing Agent, Emulsifying
   3. Concern(s) = Human skin toxicant or allergen – strong evidence
4. Sodium Trideceth Sulfate:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) = Surfactant – Cleansing Agent; Surfactant – Emulsifying Agent; Foaming
5. PEG-150 Distearate:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low/Moderate
   2. Function(s) = Surfactant – Cleansing Agent; Surfactant – Solubilizing Agent
   3. Concern(s) = Limited evidence of sense organ toxicity
6. Phenoxyethanol:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low/Moderate
   2. Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient; Preservative
   3. Concern(s) = Limited evidence of skin and immune system toxicity or allergies
7. Sodium Chloride:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) = Flavoring Agent; Oral Care Agent; Viscosity Increasing Agent
8. Glycerin:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. 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
9. Citric Acid:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) = Chelating Agent; Fragrance Ingredient; pH Adjuster; Buffering, Masking
10. Sodium Benzoate:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking
11. Tetrasodium EDTA:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low/Moderate
    2. Function(s) = Chelating Agent
    3. Concern(s) =
       1. Limited evidence of eye toxicity (only for products for use around the eyes)
       2. Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful
12. Polyquaternium-10:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Antistatic Agent; Film Former; Hair Fixative; Film Foaming
13. Ethylhexylglycerin:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Deodorant Agent; Skin-Conditioning Agent; Skin Conditioning
14. Sodium Hydroxide:
    1. Overall Hazard = Moderate
    2. Function(s) = Denaturant; pH Adjuster; Buffering
    3. Concern(s) =     
       1. 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)
       2. Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful
15. Potassium Acrylates Copolymer:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Adhesive; Artificial Nail Builder; Binder; Film Former; Hair Fixative
16. Yellow 6:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = N/A
17. Yellow 10:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low/Moderate
    2. Function(s) = Colorant
    3. Concern(s) =
       1. 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)
       2. Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful
18. Parfum

Honest Brand Purely Simple Shampoo & Body Wash

1. Water
2. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice:
   1. Over Hazard = Low/Moderate
   2. Functions = Skin Conditioning Agent
   3. Concerns =
      1. Possible human carcinogen (only for IF NON DECOLORIZED)
      2. Cancer – strong evidence (only for IF NON DECOLORIZED)
3. Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) = Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foam Boosting
4. Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) =  Foam Boosting, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling
5. Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) = Surfactant and Foaming Agent
6. Sodium Chloride:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) = Flavoring Agent; Oral Care Agent; Viscosity Increasing Agent
7. Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) = Surfactant, Emulsifier and Stabalizer
8. Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient; Skin-Conditioning Agent – Miscellaneous; Masking, Skin Conditioning
9. Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract:
   1. Overall Hazard = Low
   2. Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient; Skin-Conditioning Agent – Miscellaneous; Skin-Conditioning Agent-Occlusive; Perfuming
10. Anthemis Nobilis (Roman Chamomile) Flower Oil:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient, Masking, Skin Conditioning
11. Glycerin:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. 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
12. Hydrolyzed Jojoba Protein:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Hair Conditioning Agent; Skin-Conditioning Agent – Emollient; Skin Conditioning
13. Chenopodium Quinoa Extract:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = N/A
14. Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient; Hair Conditioning Agent; Skin-Conditioning Agent – Miscellaneous;Skin-Conditioning Agent – Occlusive; Emollient; Masking; Skin Conditioning; Solven
15. Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Antistatic Agent; Hair Conditioning Agent; Viscosity Increasing Agent – Aqueous; Film Foaming, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling
16. Lauryl Glucoside:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Surfactant, Cleansing Agent
17. Caprylyl Glycol:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Hair Conditioning Agent; Skin-Conditioning Agent – Emollient; Humectant
18. Coconut Acid:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Functions = Surfactant – Cleansing AgentSurfactant-Cleansing Agent is included as a function for the soap form of Coconut Acid.; Emollinet, Emulsifying
19. Disodium Coco-Glucoside Citrate:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Surfactant – Emulsifying Agent
20. Sodium Citrate:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = pH Adjuster; Buffering, Chelating, Masking
21. Caprylhydroxamic Acid:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = N/A
22. Citric Acid:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Chelating Agent; Fragrance Ingredient; pH Adjuster; Buffering, Masking
23. Sodium Benzoate:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. Function(s) = Fragrance Ingredient, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking
24. Sodium Phytate:
    1. Overall Hazard = Low
    2. 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!!!