The revelation that all children's products are not created equal was a turning point in my life. It triggered the birth of Hot Tot Children's Haircare, a passion / obsession that has consumed me for nearly five years. While parents are seeking safer products for their children more now than ever, there is still a lot of confusion and misinformation regarding what "natural" and "organic" actually mean. It may come as a surprise for many to know that the FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration) does not regulate the term "organic". The USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) oversees the NOP (National Organic Program) and defines the requirements for cosmetics defined as such as follows: - "100% Organic"- A product must contain only organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt). - "Organic"- A product must contain at least 95% organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt). The remaining non-organic ingredients must consist of non-agricultural substances approved on the National List or non-agriculturally produced agricultural products that are not commercially available in organic form (also on the National List). - "Made With Organic Ingredients"- Must contain at least 70% organically produced ingredients. So what about "all natural" products? Generally speaking, "natural" ingredients are derived from natural sources (plant, animal, mineral) and processed only through basic physical methods (enzymolysis of fermentation, for example). Given the lack of regulations, this option isn't necessarily superior either. An ingredient's source does not determine its safety or efficacy. Many plants (even those organically grown) contain substances that are toxic or allergens. Ingredients (regardless of their origin) are either safe or unsafe, period. An organic irritant is still an irritant. When I began the process of developing the Hot Tot line years ago, I worked closely with our formulator to ensure we omitted any ingredient that was not safe. While I am surely not a chemist, I became fluent in chemical safety because I am a mother. I am a firm believer that good parents can learn about foreign topics when doing so benefits their kids. Hot Tot is not "organic" or "all natural" but rather toxin-free. While this term lacks an official definition by a governing body, it simply means that each ingredient used in our formulas was researched and qualified as safe before our products were brought to market. I am empowered by the things I have learned over the years and eager to share my knowledge with others. Hot Tot believes in full transparency and provides an ingredient glossary on our site for those who are curious about anything displayed on our label.