Beauty

Jessica Alba’s Honest Company Celebrates Two Years of Eco-Friendly Business

By Mary Hall | February 1, 2014

Actress Jessica Alba at the Honest Company turns 2nd Birthday celebration (Photo by Jason Merritt/WireImage)

When Jessica Alba & Christopher Gavigan first started their Santa Monica based Honest Company, I went to hear them speak at a local event. At the time, I thought the new company was all about providing products like diapers and soaps for babies. And the Honest Company does provide gentle products for babies. But now in its second year, Honest offers much more than just products for children. Environmentally friendly, and toxin free, Honest Company products range from home cleaning, personal care, health & wellness to baby essentials. Honest has even launched a line called “The Collective” where they offer items from designers who share the same goal of providing healthier products to consumers. “At Honest our mission is for families to have the safest and healthiest home,” says co-founder Jessica Alba. If you’re like me, and one of your New Year’s resolutions is to take better care of yourself and be more mindful of what is in the products we use, then you’ll want to explore the offerings from the Honest Company.

A selection of Honest Co. Personal Care Products

Too many of our cleaning products, cosmetics and even the coatings and colorings found on over the counter medicines have harmful chemicals in them. Take a look at the chart below listing 12 harmful toxic and carcinogenic products frequently found in everything from shampoo, to detergent to cosmetics and lotions. Once you see this, you’ll want to start checking labels more carefully.

12 Toxic & Carcinogenic Compounds Found in Beauty & Skin Care Products

Products from the Honest Company have been beneficial to children and adults who are sensitive to chemicals and need products made without these toxins. Tracy Ryan has been an Honest Company customer since the products launched because her baby daughter has brain cancer and needs special products that won’t compromise her delicate immune system. “Having a 16 month old with brain cancer, it is of the utmost importance that her dad and I provide Sophie with all of the tools she needs to fight this disease,” says Tracy. ” There wasn’t a doubt in our minds that Honest products were the way to go in order to protect her little body from all of the other well known carcinogens that you find in so many cleaning and beauty products today. We sleep easier at night having Honest in our home, and against our sweet baby’s skin.”

Honest Company co-founder and Chief Product Officer Christopher Gavigan told me that Honest is used by many children who have Autism or other special needs that make them highly sensitive to the ingredients in everyday products like toothpaste, lotions and shampoos.

Right now, I’m using and enjoying several Honest Company products that I am finding not only healthful but effective. The products are reasonably priced and surprisingly affordable. Here’s what I like from this company:

Honest Lip Balm: very soothing, my favorite is the Lavender Mint. The balm is packaged in a set of 3 flavors including sweet orange vanilla, lavender mint and purely simple (no flavor.) The set of three balms (chap sticks) is priced at $9.95.
Honest White Grapefruit Cleaning Product: I cleaned my kitchen and stove with this. The product removed greasy build-up and made the room smell wonderfully fresh. This product retails for $5.95 26 fl. oz. on the Honest Company website.
Honest Soy Lavender Mint Candle: These are now sold out at the Honest Company website, but look for them to be restocked soon online. Meantime, you can find these candles at Nordstrom.com for $19.95.
Honest Healing Balm: This gentle lotion contains Chamomile and Calendula (Marigold) to help reduce inflammation and redness. This balm is priced at $12.95 at Nordstrom. My nephew (who has Autism) has such sensitive skin, I can’t wait to use this soothing balm on him.

As part of the Honest Company birthday celebration, I got to pick-up more of the products to try. I received everything from dishwasher detergent , vitamins, immunity boosters, toothpaste and laundry detergent. I can’t wait to try all of them.

The Honest Company also gifted me with some tips for healthy living that I am passing on here. Take a look at these easy to implement tips like drinking 8 fluid ounces of water every 2 hours to flush out chemicals and toxins.