When you’ve got a baby, you use a lot of baby wipes. Think about how many nappy changes you do each day! And every time you change your baby’s nappy, you wipe potentially toxic ingredients over the most sensitive parts of your baby’s body.
I know you’re looking for safer baby wipes, because I get so many emails about them! So in this baby wet wipes review, I’ve researched over 40 different baby wipes for you for this Cheat Sheet, to help you find the best baby wipes Australia.
Even if you don’t use any other natural baby products, you really should be using non toxic baby wipes.
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SEE RELATED:
What Are Baby Wipes Made From?
Baby Wipes: Toxic Ingredients You Should Avoid
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Contents
Introduction
What are all those ingredients? Are they safe? How can you tell?
Ingredients in baby wipes have been linked to nappy rash and contact dermatitis. And although some of the big guys have cleaned up their acts over the last few years, there are still irritating and even toxic ingredients in some brands of baby wipes.
Many of these big companies still don’t list the ingredients on their websites. If you shop online, you can’t tell what’s in the packs. You physically have to go to supermarket, and stand there in the aisle searching up ingredients on your phone. Take your baby shopping with you? Yeah, good luck with checking up on those ingredients!
Which is why many of us just grab a pretty looking pack, only to get them home and find that our poor baby breaks out in a rash.
And that’s where Hello Natural Living comes in. I’ve been to the supermarket, taken photos of all the packs, then brought them home and looked up all the ingredients for you. So read on and find out which ones really are non toxic wipes, and which ones you (and your baby!) should avoid.
Ingredients
Have you ever wondered what’s actually in baby wipes? I have! And I’ve done lots of reading and research so that I can share with you exactly what’s good and what’s not.
Disposable baby wipes all have similar ingredients. There’s two main parts:
1. Cloth
2. Cleansing solution
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SEE RELATED:
Are Your Baby Wipes Giving Your Baby Nappy Rash?
How to Make Your Own Reusable Baby Wipes
Why flushable wipes aren’t really flushable
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As with any skincare product, the key is to keep it simple. You want as few ingredients as possible, and you want those to be as good as they possibly can be.
When it comes to cloth, you really want biodegradable. You shouldn’t flush them, but you want them to break down. Most wipes are made from plastic fibres woven into cloth, so look for bamboo, cotton or woodfibre based wipes where possible.
In the cleansing solution, you’re generally going to find a combination of:
- water (so the wipes are wet),
- preservatives (because wipes are mostly water, and you do not want bacteria and mould growing),
- surfactants (these are the detergents that help clean up the messes),
- humectants (to keep the wipes moist),
- emulsifiers (to make sure that the oil based ingredients play nice with the water based ones),
- perfumes (because who wants a baby to smell like a baby?),
- stabilisers (to make sure the product isn’t too acidic or alkaline for baby skin).
The key to buying safer baby wipes, as with buying any skincare product, is to choose the best possible ingredients in the cleansing solution.
Below you’ll find a quick list of ingredients to look out for in baby wipes. If you see any of these on the back of the pack, put the pack down and go choose a pack of wipes without chemicals listed below!
You’ll find more information and lots more detail in this article about baby wipes ingredients.
Ingredients to avoid in baby wipes:
- Bronopol
- DMDM hydantoin
- Fragrance or perfume
- Parabens
- PEG’s (polyethylene glycols)
- Phenoxyethanol
- Phthalates
- Propylene Glycol
- Methylisothiazolinone (MIT)
- Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate (SLS)
- Triclosan
Top Natural Baby Wipes Favourites
Every year, when I update my baby wipes review, I wonder if there’s going to be a new love for me. But I come back to the same ones each year, it seems! So if you’ve been wondering what are the safest wet wipes, here’s my picks.
The best natural baby wipes Australia:
Wotnot Baby Wipes
Joonya wipes
JAK Organics
WaterWipes
Tooshies
Ecoriginals
Best of Baby Wipes, Reviewed A-Z
Comments: These dry wipes are a great option. Just add water, or your own cleansing solution and you’ve got biodegradable, all natural wipes right there.
Biodegradable: Yes
Unscented: Yes
Made in: China
Main preservative: no preservatives
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: 100% Biodegradable Cotton
Aldi Mamia Fragrance Free Wipes
Comments: Aldi baby wipes have improved ingredients since the last time I reviewed them, and they’re definitely better than they were. The methylisothlazolinone has been removed, and so have the parabens. However, there’s now Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate which is a known allergen. I still wouldn’t recommend the Aldi wet wipes, but at least the company have listened to their customers and taken some of the really problematic ingredients out.
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: Yes (but still essential oils)
Made in: USA
Main preservative: sodium benzoate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Aldi Mamia Baby Wipes Ingredients: Water, Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate
Aldi Mamia Scented Baby Wipes
Comments: Since I last did an Aldi wipes review, Aldi have removed the methylisothlazolinone, the parabens and the phenoxyethanol. But there’s still Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate which is a known allergen. And as this is the scented version, there’s perfume as well. Not as problematic as they used to be, but still not one I’d be using on my baby.
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: No
Made in: USA
Main preservative: sodium benzoate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Aldi Baby Wipes Ingredients: Water, Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Fragrance, Citric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate
Baby U Baby Wipes Fragrance Free
Comments: There are a few preservatives here that I’m not keen on: phenoxyethanol, benzyl benzoate, and polysorbate 20. Tocopheryl acetate is an irritant (it’s the synthetic version of Vitamin E, and is not the same as Tocopherol, which is natural). Although this wouldn’t score super high in EWG, there are better wipes out there.
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: Yes
Made in: ?
Main preservative: phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Aqua, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Polysorbate 20, Benzoic Acid, Citric Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Aloe Vera.
Baby U Bamboo Baby Wipes
Comments: Like the fragrance free version of these, I’m not keen on the phenoxyethanol as a preservative. I also avoid propylene glycol, and of course, perfume. So these are not wipes that I’d choose to use.
Biodegradable: Yes
Unscented: No
Made in: ?
Main preservative: phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Glycerine, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Lavender Oil, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Perfume
Baby U Goat Milk Fragrance Free Baby Wipes
Comments: We’ve got propylene glycol, PEGs and phenoxyethanol. Once again, there are better choices available.
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: Yes
Made in: ?
Main preservative: phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Aqua, Propylene Glycol, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Polysorbate 10, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Lauryl Glucoside, Caprae Lac Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Comments: There’s really only one ingredient here that I’m not a big fan of – PEG-40 Hydrogenated castor oil. But it’s not terrible, and these wipes are a reasonable price, too. The cloth is biodegradable bamboo, so that’s a definite plus.
Biodegradable: Yes
Unscented: Yes (no fragrance, but there are essential oils)
Made in: China
Main preservative: Sodium benzoate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Aqua, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lavandula Augustifola Oil, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Sodium Citrate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Citrus Medica Limonum Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Tea Tree Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Comments: As with the bamboo wipes, there are a couple of ingredients here that I’m not a big fan of – PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor oil and tocopheryl acetate. But they’re okay, and they’re areasonable price.
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: Yes (no fragrance, but there are essential oils)
Made in: China
Main preservative: Sodium benzoate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Aqua, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lavandula Augustifola Oil, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Sodium Citrate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Aloe Barbadensis, Tea Tree Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Coles Comfy Bots Baby Wipes
Comments: There’s propylene glycol, polysorbate 20, phenoxyethanol, and fragrance. Most mainstream wipes do seem to have moved away from the really problematic ingredients like parabens and methylisothiazolinone, so they’re better than they used to be, but there are still better choices out there.
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: Yes
Made in: Australia
Main preservative: phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate-20, Phenoxyethanol, Chamomile Recutita Flower Extract, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
It seems that these are no longer available.
Coles Comfy Bots Fragrance Free Wipes
Comments: Again, there’s propylene glycol, polysorbate 20, and phenoxyethanol. At least the fragrance free version doesn’t have any perfume, but there are still better choices available.
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: Yes
Made in: Australia
Main preservative: phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate-20, Phenoxyethanol, Chamomile Recutita Flower Extract, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid
It seems that these are no longer available.
Coles Little Explorer Baby Wipes
Comments: There’s phenoxyethanol and polysorbate-20, and then you’ve got silicones (dimethicone), polyquaternium-7 and also some palm oil derivatives (ethylhexyl palmitate and cetyl palmitate). So there are definitely a few issues here that would stop me from using or recommending these ones.
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: Yes
Made in: USA
Main preservative: phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Octyldodecanol, Sodium Benzoate, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Ceteareth-25, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Palmitate, Ceteth-2, Polyquaternium-7, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Cub Fragrance Free Baby Wipes
Comments: The ingredients are very similar to the scented version but without the fragrance. Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40, polysorbate 20 and propylene glycol do not make this a product that I would choose.
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: Yes
Made in: Made in UK
Main preservative: Phenoxyethanol
EWG Rating: not listed
Ingredients: Aqua, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 20, Benzoic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-35 Castor Oil, Propylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citric Acid
Cub Lightly Scented Baby Wipes
Comments: Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40, polysorbate 20, perfume, propylene glycol – it’s not a list that makes me want to recommend it.
Unscented: No
Made in: Made in UK
Main preservative: Phenoxyethanol
EWG Rating: not listed
Ingredients: Aqua, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-40, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Citrate, Benzole Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Parfum, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-35 Castor Oil, Propylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citric Acid.
Curash Baby Wipes Fragrance Free
Comments: Wow – these have changed since I last reviewed them. There were five kinds of parabens and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3- diol. Not any more! Now it’s just polysorbate-20 and phenoxyethanol, which I’m still not a fan of, but the real nasties have gone. There are still better choices out there and I can’t recommend them, but this really does go to show what consumer pressure is doing to mainstream brands!
There are two different packs of these on the shelves in supermarkets.
The Australian made one has the ingredients below. There is also a Taiwanese version which still contains polysorbate-20, phenoxyethanol, 5 kinds of parabens and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3- diol. The packs are very similar and it would be so easy to get them mixed up. I would completely avoid this brand so that you don’t make mistakes – it’s not worth it.
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: Yes
Made in: Australia/Taiwan
Main preservative: phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Vitamin E, Citric Acid, Polysorbate 20. Beware! This is the Australian version. The Taiwanese version is completely different and full of toxic preservatives.
Curash Moisturising Baby Wipes
Comments: All the super nasties have gone since I last reviewed these. But there’s still petrochemicals, silicones, phenoxyethanol, propylene glycol, fragrance and polysorbate-80. So that’s a ‘no thanks’ from me!
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: No
Made in: ?
Main preservative: phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Paraffinium Liquidum (Mineral Oil), Petrolum, Ceteth-20, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Fragrance, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl glycol, Polysorbate 80
Curash Simply Water Baby Wipes
Comments: Curash is trying to fool consumers into thinking that these are WaterWipes – they’re not. They have exactly the same ingredients as the Curash fragrance free wipes, with phenoxyethanol and polysorbate 20. Don’t be fooled! If you want WaterWipes, make sure you’re buying the real ones, with the good ingredients. Not these fakes. Curash even has a price difference so that consumers think that they’re buying better than the fragrance free ones. I call bulls*t! Read the labels, every single time.
Biodegradable: no
Unscented: yes
Made in: Australia
Main preservative: phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Water, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
Curash Soothing Baby Wipes
Comments: As I mentioned in the fragrance free version, all the super nasties have gone. But there’s still propylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, polysorbate 80, and of course, perfume, in this scented version. Probably not that soothing, and not one I’d use or recommend.
Biodegradable: no
Unscented: no
Made in: ?
Main preservative: phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Chamomilla Recucita Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate-80, Dipropylene Glycol
ECOCARE Organic Baby Wipes
Comments: A good ingredients list. Ecocert approved preservatives, and nothing else that’s problematic. Organic cotton, biodegradable wipes, too.
Biodegradable: yes
Unscented: no, but natural vanilla extract
Made in: UK
Main preservative: sodium benzoate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice Powder*, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Benzoate, Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Fruit Extract*, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Citric Acid, Glycerin^, Sodium Chloride, Althaea Officinalis (Marshmallow) Leaf Extract* (*organic, ^plant based)
Comments: Nothing to be concerned about here – these are pretty good. Gentle preservatives, and nothing nasty. Wipes are made from biodegradable bamboo, too.
Biodegradable: yes
Unscented: yes
Made in: China
Main preservative: sodium citrate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Purified water, Citric acid, Sodium Citrate, Silver dihydrogen citrate, Organic glyceryl caprylate, Lauryl glucoside, grapeseed extract, green tea extract, chamomile extract, cucumber extract, aloe vera oil.
Gaia Bamboo Baby Wipes
Comments: Okay, so the bamboo makes them biodegradable, but when I did the Gaia baby wipes review, I found a couple of ingredients that I didn’t like. The two that concern me are Alkyl Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride and the Cocamidopropyl Betaine – there’s good data on both of these that points to allergies and irritations, and I also avoid phenoxyethanol. Better than the mainstream brands, but I think there are better choices than the Gaia wet wipes.
Biodegradable: yes
Unscented: yes (but essential oils)
Made in: China
Main preservative: phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Gaia Baby Wipes Ingredients: Water(Aqua), Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Extract*, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract*, Green Tea Extract*, Phenoxyethanol, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract*, Cocamidopryl Betaine, Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride, Polysorbate 20, Didecyl Dimonium Chloride, Melaleuca Alternafolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Oil*, Citric Acid (Citral, D-Limonene, Linalool – naturally occuring components of essential oils). *=Organic
Goat Kids Bamboo Wipes
Comments: The Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate scores a 4 in EWG, as it’s an allergen. So is the Tocopherol Acetate can be an irritant. It’s also worth mentioning that food ingredients (like goat’s milk or nut oils) should be used with caution if there’s a family history of eczema.
Biodegradable: yes
Unscented: yes
Made in: Australia
Main preservative: benzoic acid
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Water, Cocamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Caprae Lac (Goats Milk Powder), Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Gel Extract), Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E), Benzoic Acid.
Huggies Coconut Oil Baby Wipes
Comments: Butoxy PEG-4 PG-Amodimethicone can be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4 dioxane. Then there’s polysorbate 20 and fragrance, so this is another one that I wouldn’t choose.
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: No
Made in: Made in Singapore
Main preservative: Sodium Benzoate
EWG Rating: not listed
Ingredients: Water, Butoxy PEG-4 PG-Amodimethicone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Coco-Betaine, Malic Acid, Fragrance, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil.
Huggies Gentle Touch Baby Wipes
Comments: They’re not terrible, but they still have Polysorbate 20, which may be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4 dioxane. So I’m afraid that’s a no from me.
Biodegradable: no
Unscented: yes
Made in: USA & UK
Main preservative: sodium benzoate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Huggies Wipes Ingredients: Water, Sodium Benzoate, Betaine, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA
Huggies Fragrance Free Baby Wipes
Comments: Huggies wipes have cleaned up some of their ingredients in the last couple of years. Last time I reviewed these, they had methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and parabens. There’s still phenoxyethanol, silicones (amodimethicone), and cocamidopropyl betaine, all of which I choose to avoid. And the malic acid and tocopherol acetate are allergens. So they’re better than they were, but still not one I’d choose for my baby.
And although the Huggies website says that none of their wipes contain MIT or parabens, check packs carefully, because I found one on the supermarket shelf last week that still had these ingredients.
Biodegradable: no
Unscented: yes
Made in: USA/UK/Singapore
Main preservative: phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Huggies Wipes Ingredients:Water, Butoxy PEG-4 PG-Amodimethicone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Coco-Betaine, Polysorbate 20, Malic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E).
Huggies Lightly Fragranced Cucumber & Aloe Baby Wipes
Comments: So these are now free from MIT (methylisothiazolinone) and parabens. But the ingredients still aren’t great. Butoxy PEG-4 PG-Amodimethicone can be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4 dioxane. There’s polysorbate 20 and fragrance, too. Not one I’d recommend.
Biodegradable: no
Unscented: no
Made in: USA/UK/Singapore
Main preservative: sodium benzoate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Water, Butoxy PEG-4 PG-Amodimethicone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Coco-Betaine, Malic Acid, Fragrance, Glycerin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucummis Sativus (cucumber) Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E).
Jackson Reece Herbal Baby Wipes
Comments: Good ingredients and no concerns. I was always a fan of these, so it’s nice to see that they’re available in Australia again. Biodegradable, chlorine free woodpulp wipes, too.
Biodegradable: yes
Unscented: yes (but with essential oils)
Made in: UK
Main preservative: potassium sorbate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Aqua (purified and deionised), *Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe Vera leaf juice), Betaine, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Citrate, * Cananga Odorata Flower Oil (*organic)
Jackson Reece Unscented Baby Wipes
Comments: As with the Herbal Wipes from this brand, these are good ingredients and no concerns. I’m happy that they’re available in Australia again – I used these with my children. Biodegradable, chlorine free woodpulp wipes, too.
Biodegradable: yes
Unscented: yes
Made in: UK
Main preservative: potassium sorbate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Betaine, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Levulinic Acid, Sodium Levulinate, Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Citrate.
Comments: No nasties here. Nice ingredients list with just about everything certified organic – very impressive! I’m intrigued by the idea of a 2-in-1 wipe with built in barrier cream, thanks to the coconut oil and the jojoba seed oil. And not just organic ingredients, but biodegradable cloth as well. A lovely new addition to my recommended list.
Biodegradable: yes
Unscented: yes
Made in: China
Main preservative: potassium sorbate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Purified Water, Certified Organic Virgin Cold Pressed Coconut Oil, Certified Organic Propanediol, Citric Acid, Certified Organic Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Certified Organic Jojoba Seed Oil, Certified Organic Calendula Oil, Certified Organic Aloe Vera, Xantam Gum, Sunflower Oil, Certified Organic Vitamin E, Certified Organic Sodium Levulinate, Certified Organic Potassium Sorbate
Comments: No nasties in the JAK Organics aqua baby wipes. Nice, simple ingredients list and biodegradable bamboo cloth. Another welcome newcomer, and a new favourite for me. Highly recommended.
Biodegradable: yes
Unscented: yes
Made in: China
Main preservative: Silver Dihydrogen Citrate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Purified Water, Silver Dihydrogen Citrate, Certified Organic Glyceryl Caprylate, Chamomile Extract
Johnsons Baby Skincare Wipes Lightly Fragranced
Comments: Let’s see … phenoxyethanol and fragrance are enough to put me off here. The rest of the ingredients aren’t horrendous, but it’s enough to push the score up into the 4 or 5 range on EWG.
Biodegradable: no
Unscented: no
Made in: ?
Main preservative: Phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Carbomer, p- Anisic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Fragrance, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid [JX157- 26648].
Comments: Joonya baby wipes are great. There’s nothing in them to get concerned about– all the ingredients are good, with nice gentle preservatives, making these a good choice if you’re on the hunt for toxin free baby wipes. When we did a Joonya wipes review, we found them to be soft and strong and didn’t have any sort of smell.
Biodegradable: Yes
Unscented: Yes
Made in: China
Main preservative: Silver dihydrogen citrate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Jojoba oil, Silver Dihydrogen Citrate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid.
Little Innoscents Baby Wipes
Comments: Nothing to be concerned about here. Good ingredients and a gentle preservative. Another good product from a great brand. And I’m very pleased to note that these are actually made in Australia!
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: Yes
Made in: Australia
Main preservative: Potassium Sorbate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Little Innoscents Wipes Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerine, Glyceryl Caprylate, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Coco Glucoside, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Citric Acid
Little One's Fragrance Free Baby Wipes
Comments: Propylene glycol, polysorbate 20, phenoxyethanol – there’s enough there that means I wouldn’t recommend them. Fragrance free is not enough!
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: Yes
Made in: China
Main preservative: Phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract (Aloe Vera Extract), Chamomile Recutita Flower Extract (Chamomile Extract), Tocopheryl Acetate, Citric Acid.
Little One's Scented Baby Wipes
Comments: The scented version has fragrance, of course, but also phenoxyethanol, polysorbate 20, and tocopheryl acetate. So another one that I wouldn’t recommend.
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: No
Made in: China
Main preservative: Phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Purified Water, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Aloe Barbadesis Extract, Chamomile Recutita Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Citric Acid, Fragrance
Luv Me Eco Bamboo Wet Wipes
Comments: The ingredients aren’t strictly correct on their website, as they should conform to INCI regulations so that you know exactly what the ingredients are. Citrus extract, for example, is not the full INCI name, and I couldn’t find it in the EU ingredients database. There can be significant differences between citrus extracts – is it lemon or grapefruit, for example? Call me pedantic, but regulations are there for a reason. The ingredients look okay, but without knowing exactly what they are, it’s hard to know.
Biodegradable: Yes
Unscented: Yes
Made in: China
Main preservative: Citric Acid
EWG Ratings: not listed
Luv Me Baby Wipes Ingredients: Purified Water, Aloe, Vitamin E, Vegetable Glycerin, Citric Extract, Polyaminopropyl, Decyl glucoside
Mommy Care Biodegradable Eco Baby Wipes
Comments: These look okay, although the benzyl alcohol scores a 5 in EWG because it can cause contact allergies.
Biodegradable: Yes
Unscented: Yes (but essential oils)
Made in: ?
Main preservative: Benzyl alcohol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Gluconolactone, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Citrate, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citric Acid, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Disodium EDTA, Organic Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Organic Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
Natracare Baby Wipes
Comments: These wipes have such good ingredients that they’re EWG approved. Parfum is the problem child here, but it’s from essential oils. The limonene, linalool and geraniol occur naturally in essential oils. There’s nothing here to be concerned about, and the wipes themselves are made from organic cotton, which is great.
Biodegradable: Yes
Unscented: No (but made from essential oils)
Made in: UK
Main preservative: Potassium sorbate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Aqua, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil (Rapeseed), Glycerin, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2-dipolyhydroxystearate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil (Apricot)*, Levulinic Acid, Parfum [Citrus Dulcis Extract (Orange), Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Coriandrum Sativum Fruit Oil (Coriander), Juniperus Virginiana (Red Cedar), Citrus Bergamia Peel Oil Expressed (Bergamot Orange), Citrus Amara (Bitter Orange), Piper Nigrum Oil (Black Pepper)], Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Chloride, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract (Chamomile)*, Maltodextrin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil (Sweet Almond)*, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil (Sunflower), Potassium Sorbate, Glyceryl Oleate, Dicapryl Carbonate, Sodium Phytate, Limonene**, Linalool** (*Organic ingredient **Naturally occurring in the essential oils)
Naty by Nature Babycare Sensitive Wipes Unscented
Comments: Also looking good. The change of ingredients is definitely for the better. Preservatives are Ecocert approved, and there’s nothing else to worry about too much.
Biodegradable: Yes
Unscented: Yes
Made in: Turkey
Main preservative: Sodium Benzoate
EWG Ratings: 2 (Moderate Hazard)
Ingredients: Water, Gluconolactone, Potassium Sorbate, Propanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Maltodextrin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Calcium Gluconate, Citric Acid.
Pigeon Baby Water Wipes
Comments: I think it’s a bit cheeky to call these Pigeon Baby ‘Water Wipes’ – it seems designed to confuse customers looking for WaterWipes. These aren’t awful, but there’s phenoxyethanol and benzalkonium chloride which has the potential to irritate, and is enough to stop me from buying or recommending these.
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: Yes
Made in: ?
Main preservative: Phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Cetylpyridinium Chloride, Benzalkonium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid.
Playdays Chemical Free Baby Wipes
Comments: Nothing to worry about here with the ingredients. Just my usual niggle about companies calling things ‘chemical free’. There’s no such thing as chemical free wipes – what are the ingredients if not chemicals? And I guess that makes the not so good wipes ‘chemical wipes’? Rubbish – I get annoyed at this kind of thing because it makes it hard for people work out exactly what’s being talked about. Okay, rant over!
Biodegradable: Yes
Unscented: Yes
Made in: ?
Main preservative: Potassium Sorbate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Purified And De-Ionized Water, Vegetable Glycerin, (Organic) Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Calendula And Allantoin Extracts, Potassium Sorbate
Seventh Generation Free & Clear Baby Wipes
Comments: It’s the tocopheryl acetate that pushes the score up on these – it can cause allergies and immunotoxicity. Otherwise, this is a pretty good ingredients list. It’s another one that’s improved in the years since I’ve been writing these Cheat Sheets.
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: Yes
Made in: USA
Main preservative: Sodium Benzoate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Water, Cocamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Citric Acid, Quillaja Saponaria Wood Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Benzoate.
Simply Gentle Organic Baby Wipes
Comments: I’d prefer not to see the phenoxyethanol in these, but otherwise the ingredients are good. Good to see that the pack size has increased, and the price has come down somewhat.
Biodegradable: Yes
Unscented: No (although from essential oils)
Made in: UK
Main preservative: Phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Aqua, *Hamamelis Virginiana, Potassium Oleate, **Potassium Cocoate, Glycerine, *Prunus Dulcis, *Prunus Armeniaca, *Lavandula Angustifolia, *Pelargonium Graveolens, *Cananga Odorata, *Aloe Barbadensis, *Rosa Damascena, Potassium Palm Kernelate, Palm Kernal Acid, Potassium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol. (*organic)
Comments: This is a great option for newborns. Midwives recommend that newborns only have cotton wool and water, and these are ideal. You could also combine these with Petit Kiddo’s Baby Bum Cleanser.
Biodegradable: Yes
Unscented: Yes
Made in: UK
Main preservative: n/a
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: 100% biodegradable cotton.
Thank You Baby Wipes
Comments: Not a bad ingredients list on the Thankyou baby wipes, but I’d prefer not to have the phenoxyethanol as the preservative.
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: Yes
Made in: ?
Main preservative: Phenoxyethanol
EWG Ratings: not listed
Thank You Wipes Ingredients: Purified Water, Olus Oil, Glycerin, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-2-Dipolyhydroxystearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey) Extract, Olea Europaea Fruit (Olive) Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate
Comments: Tooshies baby wipes are a good, safe baby wipes choice. Gentle, plant based preservatives, fragrance free and no nasties. The wipes themselves are textured and grippy to help remove messes, and the Tooshies by Tom wipes are biodegradable and compostable, too.
Biodegradable: Yes
Unscented: Yes
Made in: ?
Main preservative: Silver Citrate
EWG Ratings: not listed
Tooshies Wipes Ingredients: Aqua, Glycerin, Silver Citrate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder*, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract*, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil (*organic)
Comments: What can I say? Only two ingredients, and the wipes are awesome! Although there are contamination concerns with grapefruit seed extract, I’ve spoken to the managing director of this company personally, and there are no contamination issues with their supply. Great wipes.
Biodegradable: No
Unscented: Yes
Made in: UK
Main preservative: Grapefruit seed extract
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: 99.9% purified water, 0.1% citrus grandis seed extract
Comments: Again, the tocopheryl acetate pushes the score up on these. Otherwise, this is a great ingredients list. They’re biodegradable, too, which is great. I’ve used and like these, and definitely recommend them.
These also come in travel baby wipes packs, and I’d definitely recommend the hard baby wipes case that comes with these – very handy for getting out and about.
Biodegradable: Yes
Unscented: Yes
Made in: China
Main preservative: polyaminopropyl biguanide
EWG Ratings: not listed
Ingredients: Purified water, glycerine, certified organic aloe barbadensis*, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin e), decyl glucoside, citric acid, polyaminopropyl biguanide. (*organic)
Have I missed any?
When I do my baby wipe reviews, I do try to include every single baby wipe available in Australia, but if I’m missing any, let me know! Drop me an email at info@hellocharlie.au with the name of the wipe and a link, or pop it into the comments below.
Due to the volume of requests that I get for baby wipes reviews, I can’t promise that I’ll get to it straight away, but I will get to it 🙂
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5 Responses
Wow! Such a thorough review, thank you!!
Scary to read that some of the companies are claiming to be free from the parabens, MIT etc. but in actual fact when reading the ingredients they are right there in the wipes!
Super happy to see that the Tooshies by TOM wipes we are using are in your top picks! 🙂
You’re welcome, Kate! Glad that you’ve found it useful 🙂
I recently received Curash Simply water wipes as a replacement for Water Wipes in my online grocery order. I was less than impressed. ‘Simply water’ but still with questionable preservatives and another reason why it’s important to always read Labels. Thanks for this great source which helped educate me!
You’re so welcome, Kristal! Glad we could help 🙂
thank you so much for compiling this. It’s so hard to figure out through the greenwash. And thank you so much for creating hello charlie! I just found it today and am going to use this as my buying guide =)