Researching a reputable brand’s product ingredients helps us select healthier store brands.
As the selection continues to grow, finding healthy products with the “right fit” becomes more challenging. When your search includes organic; unscented; and gluten, soy, phthalate, and paraben free items; the choices become more limited.
Studies note that natural ingredients are healthier and recommend avoiding as much as possible harmful synthetics (man-made ingredients) such as PFAS, parabens, and phthalates.
That’s good advice, but often easier said than done. Sad but true, many products contain one or more of these ingredients.
Click here for more information on PFAS. Click here for Parabens and Phthalates.
We all want the cleanest, most effective, convenient, and affordable on-line and local goods available. Noting the healthy ingredients of a reputable name brand with high ratings can help us find comparable store brands.
Not knowing which brands are the healthy choice makes the search more difficult and time consuming.
I’ve been there.
That’s why I’m sharing my list of proven and true brand favorites. Many are unscented and free of soy, dairy, gluten, phthalates, and parabens to name a few. I have used these high quality, affordable, and effective products for over 10 years.
The ingredient list from the product labels of reputable brands can be the guide for selecting other healthy products.
Before you scroll down to the list, here’s some important general information.
- Remember to read product labels extra carefully if you have special allergies, preferences, or considerations (vegan/soy/gluten/dairy/ nut/shellfish etc.).
- Be aware that many companies sell several product lines. For example, Pacific Foods Organic Chicken with Wild Rice Soup is GF, but many of their other soups are not.
- Some varieties of a product may be more natural than others especially skin lotions and creams.
- Manufacturers may at any time change a product’s ingredients.
How product effectiveness varies between brands despite similar ingredients.
Many chain stores have their own products with ingredients similar or identical to those found in reputable brand names. They perform well, have good reviews, and can cost less.
Although different brands can be equal in quality, performance, and review, many are not. Products with similar formulas may contain lower quality, different inactive, and/or unlisted ingredients.
If you have a sensitive nature and find that the name brand works well, but a similar store brand causes problems or vice versa, it might be due to that subtle ingredient difference between the two products. This could also happen if switching from one chain store brand to another.
It’s just something to keep in mind.
Where’s the better deal, on-line or local?
Before I get to the listing, here’s a quick note.
Store brands promote their products as the best deal. Lower priced chain brands with similar or identical ingredients are often placed next to name brand products on the same store shelf.
Sometimes they’re better, sometimes not.
Local retailers are always having sales, and a smart shopper with the right timing can do very well.
On-line shopping has similar perks. If you’re like me, I want the best price, a reasonable delivery time, free shipping, and no sales tax.
On a good day, I get them all.
That’s a jackpot.
Many on-line retailers have competitive pricing, discount codes, and special promotions making the final name brand price the same or less than its comparable store brand.
Click here for a list of my favorite reputable on-line retailers, if interested.
Last but not least, here’s the list by category of some of my favorite, proven and true reputable brand named products.
Just scroll down the choices, place the name of the product in your browser’s search box, and review the product’s details.
If you like what you see, buy the brand itself or note the ingredients, then shop for a comparable match.
These products can satisfy a lot of needs including GF, paleo, vegan, non-GMO, organic, and more. You may need to look at each product on-line in more detail to see what marker applies as I have noted only a few for each.
During your search, please pay special attention to the individual product descriptions for information, ingredients, special considerations, precautions, and safe use directions.
Reputable Name Brand List
Key- GF indicates gluten-free/non-GMO means a non-genetically modified organism.
Cosmetics
| Gabriel (GF variety of items/lipsticks) |
| Mineral Fusion (GF variety of items) |
| Thrive Cosmetics (mascara- eye and brow) |
| Zuzu (GF variety of items/ lipsticks) |
Dental (Rinses and toothpastes)
| Natural Dentist Healthy Gums (mouth rinse) |
| Hello (GF and Vegan toothpastes and rinses) |
| Tom’s of Maine (GF toothpaste and mouth rinse) |
Gluten-free Foods
| Andean dream (Organic GF pasta products quinoa and rice based) |
| Amy’s Organic (GF soup/check label for GF mark) |
| Blue Diamond (GF crackers) |
| Edward & Sons (GF organic instant mashed potatoes) |
| Garden of Eatin (GF corn chips) |
| Jovial (GF pasta products brown rice based) |
| Organico Bello (organic GF pasta sauce) |
| Pacific Foods (GF soups and broths/check individual item for GF mark) |
| Simple Truth Organic (GF variety of items/check individual item for GF mark) |
| Sunny Fruit (GF organic dried fruit) |
| Tates Bake Shop (cookies/check for GF mark) |
| The GFB (GF protein bars) |
Nail Polish
| Gabriel (GF variety) |
| Mineral Fusion (GF variety) |
Organic Herbs and Teas
| Mountain Rose Herbs |
| Numi |
| Celebration Herbs |
| Organic India |
| Yogi |
Personal and Body Care Products
| Many of these products are non-GMO and gluten, paraben, and phthalate free. Please check each product individually for specific details. |
| Alba Botanica (GF sunscreens and lotions) |
| Lily of the desert (GF Aloe Vera Gelly) |
| Emerita (feminine products) |
| Glimmer Goddess (GF cremes and lotions) |
| Jason (large variety of items/Check for GF labeling) |
| Plant Therapy (body crème) |
| Seventh Generation (variety of items) |
| ShiKai (variety of items/check for GF labeling) |
| Rainbow (GF Kids shampoo) |
Wellness Products
(Natural remedies, oral supplements, topicals, and sprays)
| Many of these products are non-GMO and gluten, soy, dairy, nut, high fructose, and dye free among others. Please check each product individually for specific details. |
| Boiron (homeopathic remedies) |
| HoneyWorks (syrups and sprays) |
| Herb Pharm (variety of items) |
| Kirkman (supplements) |
| MegaFood (variety of items) |
| Mountain Ice (eczema cream, sports and pain gels) |
| Nature’s Plus (variety of items) |
| Nature’s Way (variety of items) |
| Now (variety of items) |
| Olbas (variety of items) |
| Similisan (variety of items) |
| Solgar (variety of items) |
| Supplement Spot ( cremes/gels) |
| Wellness Resources (variety of items) |
| Xlear (variety of items and nasal sprays) |
Click here for my reviews of many of the brands in the tables below.
I hope this information was helpful. Please share, link, and pass the word to others. If you have suggestions, questions or comments, please reach out. I would love to hear from you. Thank you for visiting.
Wishing you continued health and wellness.
Kimberly I
Updated November 2023 by Kimberly Iacoponi
Note: Any product mentioned is something I have used myself and benefitted from. I don’t receive revenue for any product recommendations, reviews, or site listings. If this changes, it will be noted.
This information is for educational and reference purposes only. It is not approved or intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease or illness, suggest a specific treatment, or to be used as the replacement for or substitution of treatment by a qualified medical professional.
Eudaimonic Well-Being 