Greenwashing Scavenger Hunt

• • Last month, we asked you to use Skin Deep to add up the score of all your personal care products. We were flooded with great replies, but also more than a few questions about why some products are not listed in the database. So, this month, we wanted to show you another way to use Skin Deep – by working down to the ingredient level. Take for instance, Cocoamidopropyl betaine. It’s rated a “5” for toxins on Skin Deep, and is a known human immune system toxin, according to the National Library of Medicine. Yet, it’s found in many sudsy products like baby shampoo or bubble bath that are misleadingly labeled “Organic” or “Natural”. ACK!

    This month’s contest is about cocomidopropyl betaine. You have several ways to enter: (feel free to enter more than once if you wish)

    1. 1. Send us a list of baby shampoos, body washes, soaps or bubble bath products that you found that contain cocomidopropyl betaine. You’ll probably be surprised how many “organic” or “green” products use this surfactant. You can also post the list to your blog or web site and send us the link.

    2. 2. Can’t find your baby shampoo or bubble bath listed?? Send us the name of the product that you searched for on Skin Deep but couldn’t find. Search for the ingredients of the unlisted product and send us the total score. (Hm. Wonder why it’s not listed??)

    You may enter as many separate baby bath products as you wish. Winners will be chosen randomly on August 26th and will receive one of these three prizes. 1) Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash, 2) A Little Something For Baby, or 3) Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash PLUS a 1 liter refill!!

    So, polish up your magnifying glass and get to sleuthing! Sherlock Mamas are on the case!