There are only 5 days left until Ohsami comes home. (I really don't have much free time left). I had so much fun over the weekend that I didn't get around to cleaning the house properly. Now, after work, I'm tidying up bit by bit, even setting up the baby crib I got from "Carrot Market" (당근), and making minor changes around the house. I had become accustomed to having things provided for me at the maternity center, like laundry, but with only a few days left before coming home, I need to prepare and get everything ready. There are several things to consider, including things to buy on Carrot Market, but today, I looked and purchased products for Ohsami's bathing and moisturizing. A while ago, I meticulously checked the ingredients of the products meant for Ohsami, ensuring they were not harmful. It was almost impossible to find out the exact proportions and chemical reactions of ingredients like alkyl polyglucoside, glycerin, sodium chloride, citric acid, etc. (Such a waste of time...)
This meant I had to rely on officially verified labels. I remember reading a post from a neighbor about the EWG rating. A rating of 1-2 is supposed to be good. So, today, I looked into which product ratings are good for the products Ohsami will be using and if there were similar verified marks.
EWG (Environmental Working Group)
Founded in 1993, this organization was created with the objective to inform about detrimental laws, harmful agricultural practices, industrial loopholes, and more that pose threats to health and the environment.
👉 Do the products we use daily truly benefit our bodies?
👉 Do substances emitted from shampoos, soaps, furniture, etc. impact conditions like cancer, asthma, or congenital defects?
This organization was established to alleviate such concerns.
EWG Certification and Rating
From our food and water to agriculture, personal care products, household and consumer goods, energy, health, and more, EWG collects information on a wide range of topics, suggesting improvements. They manage a certification system and provide guides to trusted products (e.g., product advertisement).
The EWG Skin Deep displays information in 10 different grades, with lower grades indicating less risk.
Derma test
Founded in 1978, Dermatest researches skin safety. They scientifically investigate all product ranges in contact with the skin and provide results.
They offer 6 certification marks, with the "Excellent" mark signifying that a product has been proven safe in tests conducted according to ICDRG guidelines.
Today's search ended here. My wife had given me the task of finding products for Ohsami's bathing and moisturizing. Not knowing what's best, I used the EWG grade as a reference, and my choice was Mongdies products.
They claimed to have an EWG green grade, passed the Dermatest, and various clinical tests. But upon closer inspection, things seemed off.
On the EWG site, only similar ingredients came up when searching for Mongdies, not the product itself. I had thought the product would be registered since it was claimed to have an EWG green grade. I felt a bit tricked. 😑
Similarly, I couldn't find Mongdies on the Dermatest website. But surprisingly, Pampers diapers were prominently featured, indicating that the absence of Mongdies wasn't because it was an Asian product or a baby product.
Was Mongdies playing word games with both the EWG and Dermatest labels? I started having my doubts. However, the product I ordered in the morning was already on its way. Even though I thought of getting a refund, my wife decided to use it. With many online reviews, surely they wouldn't mess around with a product intended for babies, right?
Entry from April 18, 2023