Summary: After using Honest diapers and wipes for years, I tried their personal care line while on a two-week cross-country road trip with our family of four. They quickly became my new top choice for accessible, safe, and gentle products for children and self-care. Using Honest diapers, wipes, and personal care helped streamline our packing for eczema-prone toddlers and kept their skin happy throughout our travels. I’m excited to implement the toiletry capsule for the whole family when we’re back at home, too.
Pros:
- We’ve been using Honest diapers and wipes for years now. They’re gentle enough for my kids’ incredibly sensitive skin, and they’ve never had diaper rash while wearing them.
- Honest’s sensitive personal care and eczema products were a game changer for our family’s needs. Not only did it help us streamline our routine, it kept the kids comfortable.
- Honest products are widely accessible at various retailers making them a great, cleaner option for families looking to switch to more conscious baby care items.
Cons:
- Honest is slightly more expensive than other mainstream brands (though less expensive than other clean diaper brands).
- Many of the items I tried came in plastic packaging, but I love that Honest offers refills of essential items to reduce plastic usage.
As any parent or caregiver knows, balancing a family’s needs is incredibly complex. Discerning what is right for any individual — let alone a family unit with multiple members — can be a tall order. Trying to meet our family’s unique needs while also wanting to be mindful of the environment, wider supply chains, and labor and sustainability practices has often left me, well, overwhelmed.
“Trying to meet our family’s unique needs while also wanting to be mindful of the environment, wider supply chains, and labor and sustainability practices has often left me, well, overwhelmed.”
Before becoming a mother in 2021, I was passionate about product safety, sustainability, and ethics. I loved to pore over companies’ practices, ingredients, and testing protocols, curating purchases we felt good about for our family of two. Motherhood only enhanced this interest and awareness for me, but it also made it slightly more complicated.
For the first year of our daughter’s life, I loved being able to use the cloth diapering set we were gifted from our neighborhood Buy Nothing group. We intended to do the same with our son two years later. In those early postpartum days, however, we switched to disposables to reduce my mental load (after struggling with prenatal and postpartum depression). As I am wont to do, I obsessively researched disposable diaper companies and tried a few different brands (one of them being Honest — more on that shortly!). I would go on to do the same for skincare, food, clothing, and many other needs for me and my little ones in our new life together.
As a mom, I’ve been in constant search of brands that are trustworthy and a good fit for our whole family, allowing us to streamline our routines while upholding a high standard. So, when I found Honest and saw how it fit the bill, I was thrilled.
The Honest standard
Honest’s mission is to create safe and effective products for families — and make them widely accessible, too. They offer baby and personal care, including diapers, wipes, bath essentials, adult skincare, makeup, and organic baby clothing which are available on Honest’s website. You’ll also find Honest at large retailers like Target and Walmart, and online marketplaces like Grove Collaborative, Thrive Market, and even Amazon. While we always encourage people to purchase through the most sustainable purveyors whenever possible, I do love that Honest gives moms options even when they find themselves having to make a run to the nearest big box store.
“Honest’s mission is to create safe and effective products for families — and make them widely accessible, too.”
Honest’s NO List™ contains over 3,500 chemicals and materials they choose not to use, including parabens, sulfates, phthalates, formaldehyde donors, and synthetic fragrances. The brand never uses the word “fragrance” in their ingredient labels, an umbrella term often used to disguise questionable ingredients. For full ingredient transparency, consumers can also reference their full ingredient glossary here.
“The brand never uses the word ‘fragrance’ in their ingredient labels, an umbrella term often used to disguise questionable ingredients.”
Every product is tested based on safety, efficacy (making sure the product actually does what it says it does), and integrity (ensuring it remains as high quality as it was the day it was made). All products are cruelty-free, and Honest products are never tested on animals. If you’re like me and love to dig into the specifics, you can read more about the Honest standard here.
And while many Honest products are packaged in various forms of plastic, I appreciate that their holistic approach to sustainability includes using recyclable and sustainable materials whenever feasible — as well as ensuring products are as durable as possible to reduce breakage and minimize waste. They offer eco-friendly refills on some of their best sellers, too. It always feels good when a brand considers the details.
Hitting the road with Honest and two toddlers
Simplicity is one of my core values in life and in motherhood. This has served us well, and is especially key when preparing for anything out of our family’s normal routine — like deciding to embark on a road trip across the US with two small children.
This summer, we set out on a two-and-a-half-week coast-to-coast road trip with our one- and three-year-olds. I was excited to see how Honest’s conscious, multipurpose products would help nurture and nourish our family of four on the road. (And while I know this is a frivolous detail, I personally loved having a matching toiletry capsule — one for me and one for my kids.)
Before my family of 4 hit the road for our 2-week cross-country trip, we packed Honest diapers, wipes, and personal care products to keep us simple, clean, and comfy.
During the night-before, pre-trip packing frenzy, my three-year-old daughter creeped out of her room, too excited to sleep. She sat down next to me and asked if she could help. As I handed her various items and instructed her where to put them, she placed tiny t-shirts and packs of diapers into their respective bags. I didn’t mind that she was avoiding bedtime – I knew it was for good reason. She was giddy, and so was I!
What we packed:
- Clean Conscious Overnight Diapers™ (Size 4)
- Clean Conscious Diapers® (Size 4)
- Clean Conscious™ Wipes (60 count – Geo Mood Print)
- Little Flushables (42 count)
- Shampoo + Body Wash, Sensitive
- Conditioner, Sensitive
- Face + Body Lotion, Sensitive
- Healing Head-To-Toe Ointment
- Everyday Diaper Rash Cream, Sensitive
- Conditioning Detangler, Refresh
- Soothing Therapy Body Wash
- Eczema Soothing Therapy Cream
Everything we packed for our family’s road trip from Honest.
Our trip took us through the Southwestern desert to Zion National Park and over to Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ, up to middle America where my husband and I met, down to see family in Atlanta, GA, and finally to our final destination in Hilton Head, SC to spend a week at the beach.
Here’s how we cared for ourselves after long days of driving, exploring national parks, and swimming in the Atlantic.
My review of Honest’s diapers and wipes
Honest wipes have been our go-to for four years now. They’re incredibly soft, 99% water (the other 1% being various natural preservatives to keep them fresh), and almost always available to us wherever we are in the country. We packed one package of wipes in the diaper bag, tucked one pack into the glove compartment, and stuck one in the back seat for easy access at all times.
“Wipes are also incredibly convenient for spills and messes while driving, and I was excited to learn they’re now compostable.”
Of course they’re essential for diaper changes, but the wipes are also incredibly convenient for spills and messes while driving, and I was excited to learn they’re now compostable (certified by TÜV AUSTRIA for OK compost HOME and OK compost INDUSTRIAL). When we return home, I’ll start putting them in our compost pile, which feels like a small and satisfying step in our family’s sustainability journey as I learn to balance honoring my capacity with wanting to go above and beyond for the environment.
As for the brand’s diapers, we tried a few different disposable brands following our switch from cloth diapers, and we’ve found that Honest has proven to be the most widely accessible, conscious brand and keeps everyone’s skin happy. After comparing the price of a monthly Honest subscription ($89.99 for 161 size 4 diapers + four packs of wipes) and our Coterie subscription ($98 for 150 size 4 diapers, wipes sold separately), we’ve determined that choosing Honest is more financially sound while still meeting our needs.
We’ve been dedicated users of Honest’s wipes and diapers for years. They keep our family’s sensitive skin happy — and we love using the wipes to clean up other messes too.
My review of Honest’s body care
My one-year-old son is sweet, silly, and has dealt with moderate eczema since day one. His skin is incredibly sensitive and irritated by the smallest, everyday things — grass, dust, sweat, etc. His nightly skincare routine is paramount to keeping his breakouts at bay.
While on the road, his nightly regimen included the Soothing Therapy Body Wash and Healing Head-to-Toe Ointment. The Soothing Therapy Body Wash is soft and silky to the touch, and its key ingredients include colloidal oatmeal and coconut oil. I personally used this as my all-over wash as well, and noticed it left us both feeling squeaky clean without feeling dry.
“The Soothing Therapy Body Wash is soft and silky to the touch, and its key ingredients include colloidal oatmeal and coconut oil.”
The Head-to-Toe Ointment is as thick as you can imagine. Each night I’d slather on a generous layer from his neck all the way down to his little ankles to restore his skin barrier, and immediately put his PJs on to lock in the moisture (complete with socks so he doesn’t itch his feet).
My son has had moderate eczema since day one. Honest’s Soothing Therapy Body Wash and Healing Head-To-Toe Ointment kept his skin in check as we explored the country, staying in hotel rooms and adventuring outdoors.
My daughter had eczema early on as well. It has largely cleared up, but I’m still mindful of using products that won’t irritate her skin. Our main challenge with her, though, is her head of wild curls. They are perfect and gorgeous and so hard to maintain. Keeping them soft, nourished and combed is a daily battle. For her nightly routine, we used the Sensitive Shampoo + Body Wash, Conditioner, Face + Body Lotion (all included in this bundle), and Conditioning Detangler.
“While I can’t say for certain that Honest alone is the reason her skin is healthier, it certainly hasn’t hurt, which is saying a lot.”
I’ve noticed her eczema has completely disappeared since using the Sensitive line. Sure, this could also be the result of many factors such as dietary modifications, change in climate as we traveled, the healing salt water, or simply outgrowing her eczema (always talk to your provider for a protocol specific to you or your child’s needs!). While I can’t say for certain that Honest alone is the reason her skin is healthier, it certainly hasn’t hurt, which is saying a lot.
As for her curls, the conditioner and detangler combo is now a non-negotiable. It has cut the time it takes to brush her locks in half!
Our daughter’s wild head of curls loved Honest’s Conditioner and Conditioning Detangler. Together, the combo cut our brushing time in half.
As for me, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that my history with eczema and skin hardships is extensive. I was hospitalized as a child for severe atopic dermatitis, and was even part of a study at the University of Minnesota to create a medication to treat those who suffer from severe flares. With dietary modifications and medication, it has largely cleared up. But I still need to be mindful of my daily skincare routine as well.
Given that, my Honest favorites are the Soothing Therapy Body Wash and Eczema Soothing Therapy Cream. Turns out the Castile bar soap I’ve been using for the last five years isn’t exactly doing my sensitive skin any favors (oops!) and switching to a therapeutic body wash specifically formulated to soothe eczema flare-ups and restore the skin barrier is helping my skin heal. I found the balm to be the perfect balance of rich and thick, while also being lightweight and not greasy.
“Switching to a therapeutic body wash specifically formulated to soothe eczema flare-ups and restore the skin barrier is helping my skin heal.”
Lastly (but not least!) my husband used the Shampoo + Body Wash day and night. He doesn’t have any particularly specific skincare needs, and keeping things simple with one product was right up his alley.
Our family of four all used the same products from Honest which made it super easy to meet everyone’s sensitive skin needs while we were on the road.
As a family of four with so many sensitive skin needs, it was nice for all of us to be able to use the same items and not have to keep track of numerous different products while on the road. The sensitive line in particular helped keep things simple, especially for quick hotel stays. Most of the time we were able to just grab two products — the Shampoo + Body Wash and Healing Ointment — and leave the rest in the car.
“I learned while on this trip that switching to the unscented version of the same product made a big difference.”
While using the Sensitive Baby Care line, I noticed a considerable difference in how irritated my kids’ skin looked and felt. We’d actually used Honest’s Lavender Shampoo + Body Wash and while I liked it, I learned while on this trip that switching to the unscented version of the same product made a big difference. If you or your kiddo has particularly sensitive skin, note that the unscented option might be helpful.
I’ve come to realize that with sensitive skin and particular needs, consistency is key. It gave me peace of mind to know Honest was easily accessible at a nearby Target if we ran out of something while on the road. Moving forward, our family’s capsule body care collection will include the Sensitive Shampoo + Body Wash, Sensitive Conditioner, and the Eczema line. And if I had to pare it down to a mini capsule for a quick trip, I would bring the Shampoo + Body Wash and Healing Head-to-Toe Ointment only.
Oh, and the bubble bath that is included in the Sensitive Collection? I’m keeping that for myself.
So, is Honest repurchase worthy?
After exclusively using their bath and baby care items for over a month, Honest is my top choice for accessible, safe, and gentle products for moms who are trying to keep it simple. Their Sensitive Skin Line is a fantastic option for those with skin sensitivities, and the entire product line could serve those who are using conventional products and are looking for a safer swap. While some might prefer homemade, boutique, or specialty products, Honest’s accessible and thoughtful formulations fits the bill for moms who are seeking an easy way to meet their family’s needs while keeping them comfy and safe.
“Honest’s accessible and thoughtful formulations fit the bill for moms who are seeking an easy way to meet their family’s needs while keeping them comfy and safe.”
Upon returning from our trip, I’ve already restocked our Sensitive Shampoo + Body Wash, Soothing Therapy Body Wash, and Eczema Soothing Therapy Cream. As for diapers and wipes, we’ve used Honest wipes since day one for both kids and have been using the diapers for four years. We plan to continue to until we no longer need them!
As I care for my family daily, I’m reminding myself that being a person is nuanced, as is each of our sustainability journeys. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, and doing the best I can with the resources I have — whether monetary, mental, emotional, or otherwise — is a kindness I’m learning to offer myself. Honest helps.
THIS STORY IS IN PAID PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT HONEST
Kate Arceo is Community Manager at The Good Trade. When she’s not hosting dinner parties with her husband at their home in Southern California, you can find her sipping a latte at their local coffee house or shopping for strawberries with her kids at the farmers market. Say hi on Instagram!
