I honestly thought I’d written this post before the holidays. So when I noticed that the founder of Eco Chic started following me on one of my social channels (Instagram, maybe?), I wanted to check in with the fine doctor and see how she liked the post.
But when I went to search for the post, I noticed two things: first, that I really need to have a developer reinstate my search bar that went missing after a January hack attack on my site; and, second, that there was no Eco Chic post to be found.
Now, here I am, tail between my legs. And I’m going to tell you all about the Eco Chic Movement products we’ve had the pleasure of trying out for…well…months. Many, many months.
THE GOOD
Made by hand. The products are handmade, friends! And not just that: handmade right here in Canada (Ottawa to be more precise).
No nasty chemicals. And I can be a bit aggressive about chemicals, so when I first met Dr. Alexis at a baby show, and she told me she’d created chemical-free products, I probably had a pretty cheeky smirk on my face as I grabbed the closest bottle and flipped it around to read the ingredient list. The big thing for me was that I couldn’t find any of those preservatives that are often what separate the really natural products from the ones claiming to be natural.
No fragrances either, and I’ve explained in other posts that when you read “fragrance” in a product ingredient list — run. Run fast. It’s a clearinghouse for chemicals. The only fragrance you’re going to get from the Eco Chic products are from the natural oils and such. The good stuff.
There are also no nuts, soy or wheat in any of the products, so if there are intolerances or sensitivities to any of these ingredients, this could be a line that works for you and/or your baby.
The Eco Chic line was created by one smart cookie. Dr. Alexis Reid is (drum roll, please) a chemical engineer, pharmacologist, toxicologist and naturopathic doctor. Yes — all of them.
I know it’s super shallow, but I really like the packaging. It’s simple and clean.
The products are nicely concentrated, so you won’t use up a jar of diaper cream, for example, in a few short nights. Speaking of the diaper cream, it’s less than $10 and has oodles of great ingredients designed not only to help fight a rash that’s already presented itself on your babe’s toosh, but also act preventively. By way of an example of the amazing ingredients you’ll find in Eco Chic products, here’s what’s in the diaper cream (an asterisk denotes that it’s certified organic):
- Olea europaea (Olive) Oil*
- Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) Butter*
- Cocos nucifera (Fractionated Coconut) Oil*
- Cera flava (Beeswax)
- Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Extract*
- Hypericum perforatum (St John’s Wort) Extract*
- Stellaria media (Chickweed) Extract*
- Azadirachta indica (Neem) Extract*
- Avena sativa (Oat) Extract*
- Echinacea purpurea (Echinacea) Extract*
- Althea officinalis (Marshmallow) Extract*
- Calendula officinalis (Calendula) Extract*
- Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla) Essential Oil
The baby oil is also lovely. My kids, now four and six years old, still LOVE getting a post-bath massage. Before I ever knew better, I used mineral oil for these massages. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS. All you need to do is Google “why shouldn’t I use mineral oil on my baby’s delicate, virgin skin” and many others will be able to tell you why. ALL I WILL DO IS YELL: DON’T DO IT. The Eco Chic baby oil is a beautiful massage oil. Use it instead.
Then there’s the baby shampoo and body wash, and I’m in love. I like how the product performs, even in Miss Q’s long, thick hair; and I really like that there’s no sodium lauryl sulphate in it. That’s a chemical used in just about every baby shampoo you can buy at a major chain retailer or grocer, and it’s what helps make it all sudsy. You get a lot of suds? Guess what: those are chemical suds. Trust me, you can still get your kid clean without enough bubbles to fill Lake Ontario.
THE GAFFE
Eco Chic’s baby lotion is goes on nicely enough, but I don’t understand why there’s benzyl alcohol in it, which the Skin Deep database (my ingredient Bible) rates a 5. I don’t even like seeing a “2” in a natural product, so a 5 really throws me. Then there’s the salicylic acid, which is a 4. And finally sorbic acid, which earns itself a 3. I’m sure Dr. Alexis will want to weigh in when she reads this, but I’m inclined to just skip this one in the lineup.
THE GEARS
4.5/5 (except for the baby lotion, which gets a 2/5)
So…where can you get it?
- Directly from Eco Chic Movement’s online store
Al Reid says
Hi,
Dr Alexis here. First off, thanks for giving the products a try. No worries about it taking a while….we all get tied up in life and forget about things every now and again 🙂
I am glad you asked about the benzyl alcohol, salicylic acid and sorbic acid as I get asked these questions a lot.
To start off with, these substances are all plant derived (some variations of them are synthetic) and are part of my preservative system which is present at 1% of the total volume of the product (so 0.25% for each of the 4 ingredients). This preservative is one that I import from Europe as it is one of the only broad spectrum preservative systems that has been approved for use by the European Union’s strict cosmetic regulations. With any mixture that contains water (cream or lotion) a broad spectrum preservative (against bacteria, viruses, mould and yeast) needs to be used for product safety.
I have researched the data contained on the EWG’s, and the “why” of how they came to the conclusion of their rating, as well as elsewhere and am comfortable using this preservative, as it is currently the best available, for the following reasons.
Benzyl Alcohol: Is rated a 5 primarily due to occupational exposures, which is in amounts FAR surpassing any that would be in skincare products. It is not a cancer causing agent (which most preservatives are). There is limited data that it can cause an allergic response. It’s caution is to not use in products on the lips or that are aerosolized, which I do not. On the EWG’s site they even report that there are data gaps and that there is a safe concentration limit in products (which 0.25% falls well under).
Sorbic Acid: another component of the preservative system, is rated a 3 on EWG. The sorbic acid I use is derived from beets. It is coming in at a 3 because it can be a skin allergen. There is very limited evidence that it may cause sense organ toxicity (I do not use it in products that go into the mouth or eyes/ears). Same thing as benzyl alcohol that there are gaps in the data and it is considered safe under a concentration limit that 0.25% falls well below.
Salicylic Acid. I get asked about this one a lot as many women have read they should not use salicylic acid in pregnancy. What they are referring to is salicylic acid treatments where the concentration salicylic acid is anywhere from 2-5% as it can cause skin irritations, photosensitivity. High doses of it’s ORAL form have been associated with birth defects. In my products it is naturally derived from the willow bark tree and is present at 0.25% (or 10 times less than 2 percent which is considered safe to apply to the skin in moderation during pregnancy)
http://www.babycenter.com/0_safe-skin-care-during-pregnancy_1490031.bc
The salicylic acid works in the product to neutralize bacteria, which is why it is also frequently used in products that treat acne.
Sorry that got long! In summary, I chose the preservative system that is the best available at this time, and feel comfortable with it. There is always a risk that any ingredient will act as an allergen in some people and that is one of the biggest concerns that the EWG has with these ingredients.
I also wanted to offer a coupon code to the Mommy Gearest fans
coupon code: MOMMYGEAREST for 25% online orders
Thanks
Mommy Gearest says
Dr. Alexis…thank you – THANK YOU! – for taking the time to help explain concerns based on information gathered from Skin Deep. Since most consumers are “laypeople,” we need exactly this kind of detailed information to help us make the right choices for our families.
Al Reid says
Hi,
Dr Alexis here. First off, thanks for giving the products a try. No worries about it taking a while….we all get tied up in life and forget about things every now and again 🙂
I am glad you asked about the benzyl alcohol, salicylic acid and sorbic acid as I get asked these questions a lot.
To start off with, these substances are all plant derived (some variations of them are synthetic) and are part of my preservative system which is present at 1% of the total volume of the product (so 0.25% for each of the 4 ingredients). This preservative is one that I import from Europe as it is one of the only broad spectrum preservative systems that has been approved for use by the European Union’s strict cosmetic regulations. With any mixture that contains water (cream or lotion) a broad spectrum preservative (against bacteria, viruses, mould and yeast) needs to be used for product safety.
I have researched the data contained on the EWG’s, and the “why” of how they came to the conclusion of their rating, as well as elsewhere and am comfortable using this preservative, as it is currently the best available, for the following reasons.
Benzyl Alcohol: Is rated a 5 primarily due to occupational exposures, which is in amounts FAR surpassing any that would be in skincare products. It is not a cancer causing agent (which most preservatives are). There is limited data that it can cause an allergic response. It’s caution is to not use in products on the lips or that are aerosolized, which I do not. On the EWG’s site they even report that there are data gaps and that there is a safe concentration limit in products (which 0.25% falls well under).
Sorbic Acid: another component of the preservative system, is rated a 3 on EWG. The sorbic acid I use is derived from beets. It is coming in at a 3 because it can be a skin allergen. There is very limited evidence that it may cause sense organ toxicity (I do not use it in products that go into the mouth or eyes/ears). Same thing as benzyl alcohol that there are gaps in the data and it is considered safe under a concentration limit that 0.25% falls well below.
Salicylic Acid. I get asked about this one a lot as many women have read they should not use salicylic acid in pregnancy. What they are referring to is salicylic acid treatments where the concentration salicylic acid is anywhere from 2-5% as it can cause skin irritations, photosensitivity. High doses of it’s ORAL form have been associated with birth defects. In my products it is naturally derived from the willow bark tree and is present at 0.25% (or 10 times less than 2 percent which is considered safe to apply to the skin in moderation during pregnancy)
http://www.babycenter.com/0_safe-skin-care-during-pregnancy_1490031.bc
The salicylic acid works in the product to neutralize bacteria, which is why it is also frequently used in products that treat acne.
Sorry that got long! In summary, I chose the preservative system that is the best available at this time, and feel comfortable with it. There is always a risk that any ingredient will act as an allergen in some people and that is one of the biggest concerns that the EWG has with these ingredients.
I also wanted to offer a coupon code to the Mommy Gearest fans
coupon code: MOMMYGEAREST for 25% online orders
Thanks
Mommy Gearest says
Dr. Alexis…thank you – THANK YOU! – for taking the time to help explain concerns based on information gathered from Skin Deep. Since most consumers are “laypeople,” we need exactly this kind of detailed information to help us make the right choices for our families.