Burt's Bees

(photo credit) "Earth friendly Natural Personal Care for the Greater Good"

We love Burt's Bees products in our household. We love using natural products that are free of chemicals and are safe for both us and for the environment. This was taken directly from their website and encompasses the reasons why we choose to use their products for both us and will use them on our baby too:

"Sulfate Free. Paraben Free. Phthalate Free. Petrochemical Free. Not tested on animals."

"We promise to stick to The Natural Standard, maintaining the highest ideals and never taking the easy way out. We will never compromise what is best for your experience and well-being, and will always be true to what we define as natural. We are working with others in the industry — organizations and other companies — to join us and adopt The Natural Standard in the interest of The Greater Good." Click here for more on Burt's Bee's commitment to Natural Products.

It seems to me that many people think that "natural" products are a trend or a way of being coaxed into spending more than is necessary or for the elite or wealthy. For us, this is a very unreasonable way to think. I believe that we are responsible for our health and well being. Using products around our house that are filled with chemicals and are harmful for both people and the environment is not worth money savings or the supporting of companies who do not have our safety and health at the forefront of their business. We do not adhere to the kind of thinking that says "well it's been used for years and no one I know has had a problem with it so it must not be that bad..." This is a very uninformed way of thinking and is the very reason why companies are allowed to get away with unethical practices. Safe and natural products are available to each and every one of us if we so choose.

For example, the reason that we will not be using Johnson & Johnson baby products in our home:
"1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde have been discovered in Johnson & Johnson baby products. The Environmental Working Group case study of Johnson’s Baby Shampoo found formaldehyde at just over 200 ppm, a level that may trigger skin reactions. And according to my friend The Smart Mama, “J&J baby and bath products have other problem ingredients (as do other conventional and even some so called natural products), including hormone disrupting phthalates (included in the “fragrance” ingredient)." The full article can be read here.

I assure you that I am in no way an alarmist about these types of things. I do the research and I choose to make an informed decision about the products that we support and will bring into our home. I appreciate companies, such as Burt's Bees, who are honest about the source of their products and their contents. They do not claim to be 100% natural but will not rest until they are. I have so much respect for companies who are open about their claims and are continually trying to improve the standard in their own product.

Click here to read more about Burt's Bees: "What We Are and What We Are Not."

Each little bit of ridding the world of unethical practices and unethical products can make a difference. Each time you purchase something at the store, you vote for that product and that company. For us, we work to vote for companies who are interested in the good of the environment and people. This is why we choose to use Burt's Bees products in our home!
XO, Meg