Are Tear-Free Baby Shampoos Hiding Toxic Numbing Agents? A Look into Koala Kubs’ Claims

There has been a lot of concern in social media about products and brands related to babies/infants’ consumption. Among those products, baby soap products are one such important category.

Social Media Posts

A recent post has gone viral by complaining about the safety of “tear-free” baby soaps and shampoos, claiming that they contain numbing ingredients and potentially harmful surfactants. The post also accuses several popular brands including Koala Kubs, while mentioning a blind study involving 400 participants who purportedly preferred Koala Kubs. Thus, this fact-check will explore the claims regarding Koala Kubs’ product transparency, ingredient safety, adherence to regulations, and the validity of their marketing assertions.

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Similar concerns have been mentioned by several other viral contents like this and this, particularly targeting several myths about baby shampoo, questioning their effectiveness for dry eyes. So, we decided to do a fact-check on below claims.

Fact Check

Claim 1: Ingredient Disclosure and Presence of Harsh Chemicals

Koala Kubs, produced by Melaleuca, provides a detailed list of ingredients for their Baby Shampoo and Wash. The formulation includes water, zinc oxide, decyl oleate, oleyl erucate, dicaprylyl ether, polyglyceryl-2 dipolyhydroxystearate, glycerin, polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate, magnesium stearate, sodium chloride, zinc stearate, benzyl alcohol, glycine soja (soybean) oil, sodium benzoate, ethylhexylglycerin, potassium sorbate, calendula officinalis flower extract, and tocopherol. Read here

Notably, the product is free from sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and parabens. Instead, it uses benzyl alcohol as a naturally derived preservative, avoiding formaldehyde and parabens.

Read the Melaleuca’s Ingredients Philosophy to know more about the ingredients.

Claim 2: Alignment with Regulatory and Scientific Standards

“We only select high-quality essential and fragrance oils that are guaranteed to meet our Safe Scent® standard, and meet the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) standards that protect against levels of irritation and sensitivity and must be free from contaminants.” Melaleuca

While Koala Kubs emphasizes the use of natural and plant-based ingredients, specific certifications from organizations like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) or compliance details with the European Union’s Cosmetic Regulations are not explicitly mentioned in the available sources. However, they (Melaleuca) assure that they use only the safest, non-toxic colorants certified by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as well as ensure their products are formaldehyde or parabens free.

“We use only safe colorants that are non-toxic and won’t accumulate in the environment. We select colors with the highest safety profiles for our home and personal care products. All are batch certified, have been thoroughly tested to be free of impurities and contaminants, and are Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) certified by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA).” Melaleuca

Further, the product is described as dermatologist and pediatrician tested, hypoallergenic, and free from common allergens, suggesting a commitment to safety standards. Read here.

Claim 3: Verifiability of Marketing Claims

The viral post mentions a blind study involving 400 participants who purportedly preferred Koala Kubs. However, no verifiable data or published studies supporting this claim are available in the provided sources. Also, without access to the study’s methodology or results, it’s challenging to assess the validity of this marketing statement.

However, based on available information, Koala Kubs Baby Shampoo and Wash aligns with the key principles behind “tear-free” formulations, such as, they avoid Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and other harsh surfactants commonly linked to eye irritation and skin dryness. As a replacement, it uses gentler cleansing agents (polyglyceryl-2 dipolyhydroxystearate, polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate and glycerin), which are known to be mild and non-irritating, suitable for sensitive baby skin.

Further, Koala Kubs uses benzyl alcohol, potassium sorbate, and sodium benzoate as preservatives which are considered safer alternatives to parabens and formaldehyde-releasing agents. These are allowed under both FDA and EU Cosmetic Regulations when used within safe concentration limits. Read here

Moreover, Koala Kubs uses two key ingredients (Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate) that are directly responsible for maintaining a skin- and eye-friendly pH level. These adjust the shampoo’s final pH to the natural pH of tears (~7.0), helping avoid eye irritation and making it suitable for babies’ eyes and skin.

Thus, Koala Kubs does not use anesthetic ingredients (like lidocaine or benzocaine) often cited in older tear-free product myths. Instead, the tear-free experience is achieved by using ultra-mild surfactants, pH balancing agents and without harsh preservatives or formaldehyde-releasers.

Read the ” INGREDIENTS WE DON’T USE” to see their ingredients they never use for the products

Claim 4: Safety of Essential Oils and Plant-Based Ingredients for Infants

Koala Kubs incorporates plant-based essential oil such as calendula oil and glycerin, known for their moisturizing and soothing properties. The product is marketed as tear-free, dermatologist and pediatrician tested, and hypoallergenic, indicating suitability for infants.

Official Response from Koala Kubs

Fact Crescendo contacted Melaleuca, the parent company of Koala Kubs, for an official response regarding claims about their products. The company’s Vice President of Public Relations, Tony Lima, provided the following confirmation:

• All ingredients are listed on their product labels and are free from SLS, parabens, and harsh chemicals
• Their formulations meet global compliance standards, including EU Cosmetic Regulations
• The product has undergone rigorous safety testing, including safety-in-use (SIU) pediatrician testing on babies and No-Tears testing

The company firmly stated that any claims about harmful ingredients in their Koala Kubs Baby Shampoo are “inaccurate, misleading, and false.” They emphasized their commitment to product safety and transparency in ingredient disclosure.

Conclusion

In conclusion, based on available evidence, Koala Kubs Baby Shampoo and Wash appears to be a safer alternative among “tear-free” products. It discloses a full list of ingredients, avoids harsh surfactants like SLS and preservatives like parabens, and uses plant-based, pH-balanced components designed to minimize irritation. While some marketing claims, like the blind study of 400 participants, remain unverifiable, the product formulation aligns with modern safety principles and regulatory expectations, without relying on numbing agents