While at the Green Living Show this weekend, I picked up several cards that list cosmetic and personal care ingredients in big and little kid products to avoid. These are synthetics that are potentially harmful — especially to vulnerable, developing babies.

(For the record, I’m SO not saying these ARE harmful or cause cancer or make your arms fall off or or will kill us all tomorrow. They are thought to be harsh or not environmentally-friendly or come from nonrenewable resources. And yes, this information comes from companies that sell naturally-based products with their own agendas. Which is why I’m linking to Wikipedia or Google for definitions, where you can find all sorts of links on your own.)

While I knew of some of these (parabens and phthalates) I thought you might like to see what other things to look for on an ingredient list. As with food, if you can’t pronounce it, it’s probably not good for you…

• sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate — a cleansing agent that creates foam and suds (which is why many natural products are not near as “soapy” as we’re used to)
• parabens — preservatives used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Controversial studies have linked it to cancer and increased estrogen.
• phthalates — used in plastics to make them more elastic, and found in everything from shower curtains to sex toys to nail polish and perfume and iPods. Controversial studies have linked it to hormonal imbalances (especially in fetuses) and allergies.
• petrolatum — a greasy, film-building skin protector widely used in cosmetics. Byproduct of petroleum (duh).
• phenylenediamine (PPD) — used in hair and textile dyes, printer ink and photographic products. A known allergen.
• coal-tar colours (FD&C or D&C) — synthetic food and cosmetic colour dye.
• diethanolamine (DEA) — used to create a creamy texture and foaming action. Linked to cancer, decreased brain development and miscarriages.
• dimethicone — a silicone oil used in shampoo to make hair slippery and shiny.
• formaldehyde — too. much. to. process.
• phosphate — commonly added to dishwasher detergent to help soften water and boost cleaning power. Excessive amounts in our water can create excess algae.
• oxybenzone — organic compound used in sunscreen and cosmetics as it absorbs UVA rays. A known carcinogen that penetrates the skin and creates free radicals (this one scares me, because I’ve been wearing sunscreen cream for years, and regularly slather it on Lucy. Need to look into it more and find alternatives.)

FYI, two of my favourite Durham retailers (who also happen to advertise, yes) carry wonderful natural baby bath products. Tamarra of Lollipops & Lizards (online) now carries the Little Twig line, and Shelby of Natural Earth Tones (Oshawa) has the All Things Jill line. Both are great priced (the higher cost of natural and organic products is always an impediment for people, myself included, which is why these are great).

President’s Choice had a HUGE booth at the show and was really promoting its Green products. We got a free, full-size sample of their floor cleaner and cleaning putty. Currently, we use the laundry soap, toilet paper and paper towels, and will switch to the dishwasher detergent when our stock is up. I love that these are so accessible and reasonably priced.

A company called Live Clean gave away tons of mini bottles of shampoo and conditioner to promote their eco-friendly body care line. Their stuff is 96% plant derived, and they gave out this neat bookmark that you can plant to make a wildflower garden (what clever, clever marketing).

This post is huge, so I’d better stop before your eyes roll back in your head from too much info or you click screaming away from the hippie-ness. Hope it all helps!

Lucy has a small clear plastic jar with a red flip-top lid, and inside it lives the best distraction in the house: Her collection of “pretties” or hair clips.

She loves to put them in my and Eric’s hair (and you bet Eric just loves this…), but is not a huge fan of wearing them herself. Instead, she likes to dump them on the floor, roll them around with her fingers, talk to them, sort them and — oddly — drop them in the crack between the door frame and the door in our bathroom upstairs.

We can get them to go in and stay in her hair if we clip ‘em and distract Lucy and she forgets. It’s not until she sees herself in the mirror or happens to feel her hair does she then yank them out.

A tomboy in the making, perhaps? Or perhaps just a look-but-don’t-wear-the-pretties kinda gal. We’ll see.

So when Alexandria of Clippopotamus asked to send us some of her uber-cute hair clips, let’s just say we got a little excited at the prospect of trying out some new pretties. Especially since the Pickering stay-at-home Mom of Story, 15 months, makes the funkiest designs, including hot pink skull and cross bones, argyle, polka dots, cherries and stars.

When they arrived in the mail, Lucy pounced. “Pretties!” she exclaimed, and immediately asked us to put them in her hair (!). And for the rest of the day, proudly wore her girly skulls and green and pink cherries. A first!

What I love most about these is the soft liner — the “bite — that ensures the clips go in, and stay in. Who hasn’t fought to get those plastic teeth to stay in fine baby hair?Plus, unlike other ribbon-based clips we’ve tried, Alexandria finishes the ends of her, and tucks them inside so there is no fraying.

Clippos are hand-made in small batches so there are always new designs popping up on the site. There are dozens and dozens to choose from. Oh, and have a special occasion (party, wedding) dress you want a specific-coloured clip made for? She’ll do it. Because she’s awesome like that.

Prices range from $3-$7.50, depending on style and size. Buy them online, or at Mullberry Bush in west Pickering, or Spoiled Kidz in the Pickering Town Centre.

But be careful — they bite. Softly. And prettily.