While I like to fancy myself somewhat of a domestic/farmer/DIY goddess, the truth is that I’m not running any 1800’s house over here. Sometimes I make my own toothpaste; sometimes I buy it. Sometimes I’m picking fresh produce from my garden for a meal; most of the time I’m hitting the grocery store or the farmer’s market (read: sending the husband to the grocery store or the farmer’s market).
So yes, I’m a consumer. I try to be the most responsible consumer I can be – less packaging, more natural ingredients, buying organic when I can – but sometimes it’s difficult to weed though all the crap and marketing jargon to find the stuff that’s actually real and safe to use. I’ve come to realize that when something claims to be all natural on it’s packaging, it most likely isn’t what I would define as such. I mean, it’s in a box, and boxes don’t grow on trees.
One word that I’ve come to trust is organic, but now I’m wondering if that’s something I can rely on when it comes to products I buy for my family.
I had $29 in cold hard Toys R Us rewards cash to spend last week, so I packed up Baby Summer and set off on our poor man’s shopping spree. We picked up some new socks that would actually stay on her little monkey feet, a snazzy purple velour track suit (super Bexy), and some Earth’s Best baby shampoo. Yeah, I failed on actually reading the label on the baby shampoo. It said “organic” but then, further down, it said that it actually wasn’t.
The pic above is of a horrified Summer on our trip to return her yummy-smelling baby shampoo. I called Earth’s Best to let them know I was displeased with their label practices… well, you’ll hear more about it in the video.
The problem with organic health and beauty products is that they’re not regulated by the same guidelines or as strictly as food products. Assuming that what our trusty government is telling us is true – *cough cough* – we should all be extra-cautious of beauty products that claim to be organic. It’s important that you absolutely take your health into your own hands. Read labels and packaging CLOSELY (not like I did with the baby shampoo), pay attention to ingredients, and call the company when you’re not sure about their practices or have a question about their ingredients. I made phone calls to both Earth’s Best and BabyGanics and put them in the video.
BabyGanics = not *quite* organic
I’ve talked about this book in the past, but I can’t stop singing the praises of No More Dirty Looks: The Truth about Your Beauty Products–and the Ultimate Guide to Safe and Clean Cosmetics. It was a fast, easy, and crazy informative read. You can also click these links for a more detailed explanation of the FDA’s policy on organic cosmetics and the USDA’s National Organic Program.
I think it’s extremely important that we, as consumers, demand that companies don’t use slick packaging and misleading words to trick us into buying things because they’re *good* for us. Brands actually listen when we speak, so your phone call, email, or tweet can be a lot more effective than you think. And if you’re a blogger/vlogger, TALK ABOUT IT!
Summer is joining me once again for this week’s LBF Friday video where we go all TMZ on some baby brands. Not really… we’re super duper sweet in real life. Well, at least I am.
Watch the full BexLifeTV playlist on YouTube
I don’t want this blog to be one big dis session, so let me know what your favorite organic brands and products are in the comments below (or on the video on YouTube). I’m a consumer just like you, so I’m always looking for brands to support.
I’m also launching a new feature on BexLife.com today. Each week I’m going to feature one of my favorite bloggers that I think that you should follow, too. Instead of a boring blah-blah-blah bio, I asked for their favorite healthy living tips and motivational mantras.
This week I’m featuring the super adorable mommy & fitness blogger, Lindsay from LindsaysList.co. She’s an NASM-Certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor and creator of Tuesday Trainer.
Her personal motto? “Get out and MOVE. Every little bit counts, but you’ve got to get off your duff to start!! Taking those first steps will pay off huge dividends in the end!” So comment on this blog first, then scoot your butt over to her site to check her out. xo