Products Targeted to Children Contain Hazardous Chemicals and Ingredients Not Found Safe for Kids

Shampoo and Conditioner

Keeping hair clean and healthy should not expose kids to potentially harmful ingredients. When choosing hair care products for your family, avoid harmful preservatives, "fragrance," and petrochemicals possibly contaminated with cancer-causing impurities.

Avoid these ingredients:

• DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
• Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals 
• Ceteareth and PEG compounds - Petrochemicals that may contain cancer-causing impurities 

Body wash and liquid soap

Let's keep our kids clean - and free of harmful chemicals. Avoid unnecessary ingredients like antibacterial agents, suspect preservatives, and "fragrance" in your children's products. Bar soaps often contain fewer chemicals of concern than body washes and liquid hand soaps.

Avoid these ingredients:

• Triclosan - Linked to thyroid disruption, produces toxic byproducts in tap water
• DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
• Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals

Toothpaste

Fluoride is great for teeth, but it can be harmful if swallowed. High doses cause ugly blotches to stain teeth, and have neurotoxic effects. The American Dental Association recommends fluoride-free toothpaste for children under 2. For children under 6, the Centers for Disease Control recommends "child-strength" toothpastes with around 0.08% fluoride (0.075% W/V fluoride ion or sodium monofluorophosphate 0.35% or sodium fluoride 0.12%), or about 1/2 of what's found in regular strength toothpaste. Low fluoride children's toothpaste is common in the E.U. but hard to find in the U.S. If your children use a fluoride toothpaste, make sure they use a pea-sized amount and thoroughly spit and rinse.

Avoid these ingredients:

• Fluoride - Neurotoxic agent that can discolor teeth at high doses
• Triclosan - Linked to thyroid disruption, produces toxic byproducts in tap water
• PEG compounds - Petrochemicals that may contain cancer-causing impurities

Sunscreen

Stay safe in the sun! Our survey was administered in the summer so 3/4 of our parents reported using sunscreen on their children. Infants under 6 months don't belong in the sun. For older babies and children, use sunscreen that provides UVA and UVB protection, and reapply often. Our Sunscreen Investigation can help you choose safer and more effective products for you and your children.

Avoid these ingredients:

• Oxybenzone - In sunlight, can produce allergy- and cancer-causing chemicals
• DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
• Triethanolamine - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants

Baby wipes

Wipes should leave babies clean - not exposed to traces of harmful chemicals. Choose wipes with fewer potential health concerns. Avoid wipes with added "fragrance" or preservatives like 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (or Bronopol) and DMDM Hydantoin.

Avoid these ingredients:

• 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol (or Bronopol) - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
• DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
• Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals

Lotion and moisturizer

Soft, smooth skin has a healthy glow - take care not to use harmful chemicals to moisturize your baby's skin. Avoid harsher soaps to keep your child's skin from drying out. Choose moisturizers free of harmful preservatives, "fragrance," and petrochemicals laced with impurities.

Avoid these ingredients:

• DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
• Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals
• Ceteareth and PEG compounds - Petrochemicals that may contain cancer-causing impurities

Diaper cream

A baby's delicate skin is more easily penetrated by many chemicals in diaper creams and other products. Our survey shows parents using diaper cream typically apply it to their children once a day. Safer diaper creams are free of BHA and "fragrance," and do not contain boric acid or sodium borate, ingredients that the cosmetic industry's own safety advisory panel says are unsafe for infants.

Avoid these ingredients:

• BHA - Banned in other countries because it can cause skin depigmentation
• Boric Acid and Sodium Borate - Industry authorities caution against use on infant or damaged skin
• Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals

Baby powder

Just like auto exhaust or secondhand smoke, tiny airborne particles from baby powder can damage a baby's delicate, developing lungs. Parents who use baby powder on their children typically apply it daily. It's best to avoid using baby powder altogether. If you must use it, choose powders without suspect preservatives, "fragrance," or sodium borate, an ingredient that the cosmetic industry's own safety advisory panel says is unsafe for infants.

Avoid these ingredients:

• DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
• Sodium Borate - Industry authorities caution against use on infant or damaged skin
• Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals

Play makeup

Dressing up can be fun, but it shouldn't pose risks. Many children like to wear cosmetics or nail polish. Make sure they're using safer products, and applying them appropriately, sparingly, and infrequently.

Avoid these products:

• Lipstick - can contain harmful impurities that children swallow in small amounts
• Nail polish containing dibutyl phthalate and toluene - Linked to hormone disruption and cancer
• Cosmetics in powder form - Children can inhale these powders, damaging their lungs
• Fragrance - Allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals

Shop here for safe baby products

Arbonne personal care products are
formulated without:

• • Animal products or animal by-products
• • Formaldehyde-donating preservatives
• • Petroleum-based ingredients
• • Benzene
• • Mineral Oil
• • Petrolatum
• • Phthalates
• • Toluene
• • PABA