Honestly, do you know what’s in your shampoo?

Like most people, I really want what’s best for my family and expose them to as few chemicals as possible. Yet I find it so hard to find a balance. Every time I turn around there’s some new article on how ‘bad this is for you’ or how ‘this is actually good for you now but wasn’t a few years ago.’ Right now I’m in a battle whether we really need milk, considering all the hormones in it.

As much as I want to buy organic all the time, it is not cheap, and I don’t know about you, but in my area money doesn’t grow on trees.  I try my best to read labels and avoid things that are high in fructose corn syrup, sugar or sodium, but I feel like my hands are tied because of the financial expense. Luckily, ALDI is around the corner – the only place I can afford organic – but the selection is still fairly limited.

I make my own household cleaners using ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice, and they turn out great. I love my homemade lemon face scrub – much better than anything store-bought.

That being said, whenever I can get a great deal on organic products, I’m all over it. So when the Honest Company sent over a few of their products, I was delighted.

So far, I have tried the Honest Shampoo + Body Wash and the Honest Face + Body Lotion. One of the things I’ve noticed about the lotion is the scent – or the lack of – which is how I like it. After all, I don’t need perfume on my face. The shampoo and body wash combo has a mild orange and vanilla scent – just enough to leave a light fragrance in your hair. The consistency is not too thick or too thin, and it left my fine hair soft. Lovely.

The lotion has a nice consistency – not runny, not greasy. It glides on easily and absorbs quickly.

I love that their products contain no harsh chemicals and many contain coconut oil (my favorite), chamomile and aloe.

I also compared the ingredients. The main ingredients in ‘regular’ shampoo are water and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS). SLS is an oil remover and is also used as an engine degreaser.  Basically, this stuff strips our hair and skin of beneficial oil.

The Honest Company shampoo lists these ingredient: Sodium Hydroxypropylphosphate Laurylglucoside Crosspolymer, Sodium Coco-Glucoside Tartrate and Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate. These may sound similar, but are actually mild, non-irritating, all natural, plant based surfactants.

One good thing about products like shampoo, conditioner and body wash (organic or not) is that they are made of 90% water so therefore are mostly natural.

While I love the Honest products,  I don’t love their prices. Paying $9.95 for an 8.5 fl. oz. shampoo bottle just doesn’t seem affordable. I usually stock up on the 40 oz. shampoo bottles at Costco for under $7. I’d love to try the Honest conditioning detangler, but once again, a tiny bottle for $5.95 is just not realistic.

I understand that whenever you buy something that is not mass produced, you’ll pay more, but shampoo and body wash (even organic) shouldn’t be luxury items.

Want to try an Honest sample? You can get a free sample pack at Honest Essentials Trial.

*This post contains an affiliate link. The Honest Company provided the products, but opinions are 100% my own. For more information, see my disclosures page.*

*Photos are courtesy of the Honest Company