Don’t you love that fresh baby smell? A new baby will always smell lovely to his mother, with or without products, but there is just something yummy about a fresh, lightly scented babe right out of the tub!
I am always on the lookout for baby products without junk ingredients since I prefer eco-friendly formulas and my kids have sensitive skin. With this in mind, I am pleased to learn about a product line available right at my local Walgreens: Live Clean. Live Clean is a Canadian brand dedicated to providing bath and body products with greener alternative ingredients.
“all the good without the bad”
Live Clean’s tag line says it all!
Live clean products are made with mostly renewable plant ingredients. These products are vegan, cruelty free, and contain certified organic botanicals. Equally important is what this line does NOT have. Live Clean does not contain Diethanolamine, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate, parabens, Phthalates, Phosphates, Petroleum, or other petro-chemical based ingredients! (Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate is not the same as SLS and is considered much more mild in both performance and effects.) Petro-chemical ingredients are often found in “natural” products since these compounds do come from the Earth, but they are not renewable and can be harsh and dangerous. Live Clean products are mild and hypoallergenic.
As one of those hippie-ish Earth mamas who usually makes all of my own body products due to my own distrust of company honesty, I was skeptical of a commercially available product line. However, I am now convinced Live Clean is about as good as you can get for the every day parent looking to make a greener choice. It is available just blocks from my house and the price is fair. The ingredient list is honest, and the products work!
I received a collection of products from the Live Clean Baby line so I could see for myself if they live up to expectations.
One of my favorite items in this line is the bar soap. It comes three bars to a box and has a nice light scent. (You may get unscented as well.) This soap bar is enriched with shea butter, so it glides on without feeling sticky or drying, but unlike some she soaps it doesn’t disintegrate too quickly and lasts a long time. I like that it doesn’t leave a filmy feeling behind and has not caused any issues on my kids’ sensitive skin. I usually make my own soaps with my recipes, but I really do like this bar.
I also took a break from coconut oil as a moisturizer and tried the Moisturizing Baby Lotion on my seven month old infant. The aloe formula with hints of lavender and chamomile is non-greasy and leaves a light scent. I love the smell. I think it works well as a summer lotion, but I might try something heavier for winter.
Which brings me to the live Clean Baby Non-Petroleum Jelly! It is actually made with castor oil, which is renewable and rinses from my cloth diapers in a hot wash. I really think this item is the star of the line. It acts as a great emollient and barrier cream, as well as a moisturizer for severely dry skin. From cradle cap and diaper rash, to removing makeup or sealing the ends of damaged hair, the non-petroleum jelly is very multifunctional product!
The diaper ointment does great at reducing redness since it has a decent quantity of zinc oxide. I always argue that zinc oxide CAN be used with cloth diapers as long as it does not have fish or mineral oils as the carrier oils. This diaper cream is castor oil based, which is thick but rinses well, especially in soft water.
Last, but not least, are the Baby Bath and Shampoo. I usually don’t bother with shampoo for my kids, (or myself for that mater!), but sometimes life becomes messy. I love the scent in these cleansers, as well as the very gentle cleaning.
The formula is a little runny, which is a common side effect of NOT containing chemical agents for thickeners. I drizzle a bit on a washcloth and a little goes a long way. The wash and shampoo do not get overly bubbly and they rinse away quickly, which is good when you are dealing with a slippery baby. My son’s eczema is not aggravated by the Live Clean cleansers, but if you need an extra sensitive version, the line can be purchased in the Soothing Relief formula.
While they are not perfect, overall I am pleased with this company and their products. In an ever more busy society, many people simply do not have the time or means (education) to make their own products or search high and low for a place to buy them. The Live Clean line is available right in your local Walgreens or online at Walgreens.com. It is nice to know I can pick up an above average product without as much junk while ordering prescriptions and having my photos printed!
We absolutely LOVE our Live Clean Baby, I am so glad you like it too. Isn’t the scent heavenly?!