TL;DR: Both Kindred Naturals and Babo Botanicals are genuine improvements over conventional baby wash. The key differences come down to surfactant type (whole-plant soapwort vs. processed plant-derived glucosides), fragrance transparency, and regulatory standard. This post walks through exactly what to look at when comparing the two.
You've done the work. You've moved away from conventional baby wash and you're now comparing "clean" brands. Babo Botanicals is often the first clean baby brand parents land on. Kindred Naturals is the one they find when they want to go deeper. Here's what the actual ingredient comparison looks like.
How Do Babo Botanicals and Kindred Naturals Approach Surfactants Differently?
The surfactant is the most important ingredient in any baby wash — it's the active cleansing agent. Babo Botanicals uses plant-derived glucoside surfactants (like decyl glucoside and coco glucoside) in its sensitive line. These are genuine improvements over SLS and SLES — derived from natural sources and considered mild by cosmetic chemistry standards.
Kindred Naturals takes a different path. Rather than processed plant-derived glucosides, Kindred Bloom uses soapwort extract (Saponaria officinalis) — a whole-plant botanical extract that has been used as a natural cleansing agent for centuries. Soapwort saponins are the cleansing actives; there's no industrial chemical synthesis involved in producing them. It's a meaningful distinction for parents who want the minimum amount of processing in what goes on their baby's skin. Neither brand uses SLS or SLES — both are genuine improvements over conventional baby wash. The difference is the depth of the approach.
How Do the Two Brands Handle Fragrance?
Fragrance is the single most common ingredient in baby products that causes problems — and the most consistently obscured. Under current U.S. regulations, companies are not required to disclose the specific compounds that make up their "fragrance," which can include dozens of unlisted chemicals, some of which are known sensitizers.
Babo Botanicals offers fragrance-free options in its sensitive baby line — a strong positive. Some of their products outside the sensitive line include "natural fragrance," which, like synthetic fragrance, is not fully disclosed at the compound level.
Kindred Bloom is fragrance-free across the board. No fragrance, natural or synthetic. The light scent parents notice comes from the botanical extracts in the formula — chamomile, calendula, aloe — not from added fragrance compounds.
What About Certifications and Third-Party Verification?
Babo Botanicals carries EWG Verification on several products — a meaningful third-party safety review — and is a Certified B Corp.
Kindred Naturals formulates to EU Cosmetic Regulation standards — a framework that is significantly more restrictive than U.S. FDA cosmetic regulations, prohibiting or restricting over 1,400 ingredients compared to fewer than 30 under U.S. law. Kindred Bloom is also dermatologist tested.
What Does the Price Difference Actually Reflect?
Babo Botanicals' Sensitive Baby Shampoo & Body Wash retails around $16–20 for 16 oz. Kindred Bloom retails at $32 for 8.45 oz. The higher per-ounce cost reflects the use of whole-plant soapwort extract over processed glucoside surfactants, small-batch formulation, and EU-grade ingredient standards. Both are meaningful upgrades from conventional baby wash; the question is what you're prioritizing at each price point.
How Do You Decide Which Brand Is Right for Your Baby?
Both brands are legitimate improvements over mainstream options. For parents who want a step up from conventional baby wash without a significant price commitment, Babo Botanicals is a solid choice. For parents who want to go further — whole-plant surfactant, zero fragrance of any kind, EU regulatory compliance, and full ingredient transparency — Kindred Naturals was built for exactly that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Babo Botanicals use SLS?
Babo Botanicals does not use sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in its sensitive baby wash line. It uses plant-derived glucoside surfactants. Always check the specific product label, as formulations can vary across their range.
Is Kindred Naturals more expensive than Babo Botanicals?
On a per-ounce basis, yes. Kindred Bloom uses whole-plant soapwort extract and formulates to EU cosmetic standards. The price reflects those differences in ingredients and formulation approach.
Which brand is better for babies with eczema?
Both brands avoid SLS and synthetic fragrance — two of the most common eczema triggers. Kindred Bloom's whole-plant soapwort surfactant and zero-fragrance formulation may offer an advantage for the most sensitive skin. Consult your child's dermatologist for personalized guidance.
Is Babo Botanicals a genuinely clean brand?
By most common definitions of clean beauty, yes — Babo Botanicals avoids many concerning conventional ingredients and carries third-party EWG verification. Kindred Naturals applies a stricter standard (EU Cosmetic Regulation) and opts for whole-plant surfactants over processed plant-derived alternatives.
What is the single biggest difference between Kindred Naturals and Babo Botanicals?
The surfactant. Babo Botanicals uses plant-derived glucoside surfactants (a clean synthetic approach). Kindred Naturals uses soapwort extract (a whole-plant botanical approach). Both avoid SLS. The choice comes down to how minimally-processed you want your baby's cleanser to be.
Ready to try the soapwort difference? Shop Kindred Bloom Baby Shampoo & Body Wash at shopkindrednaturals.com.
Written by Mike & Carly Pronsky, founders of Kindred Naturals.