Jessica Alba - The Honest Life: Living Naturally and True to You

This book is dedicated to everyone out there whos trying to make the world a better place for generations to come.

And to my sweet little angel pies, Honor and Haven. Being your mom has been the greatest gift in life.

Fresh, whole, flavorfuland made with love

Your skin is your largest organfeed it naturally

Let your natural beauty shine through

Curate your closet and find your signature style

Create a space thats cozy, clean, and totally you

Prepare for parenthood without losing yourself

Create, play, love, laughhonestly!

Becoming a parent is not only a defining moment in most peoples livesit can be unexpectedly motivating. When I first met Jessica Alba, she was seven months pregnant with her first daughter, Honor. She came to the launch party for my book, Healthy Child HealthyWorldnamed for the nonprofit where I was then the CEOand introduced herself. I know most people admire her as an actress, but the person I met that night was a concerned parent who wanted nothing more than to create the healthiest and best possible life for her baby.

There she was, on the verge of this big moment, asking me where she could find the safest crib mattress or worry-free laundry detergents because she had done her research and realized regulations werent necessarily in place to keep her baby or home free from questionable chemicals. Im pretty sure I didnt give her the answers she wanted to hearthat unfortunately one still had to verify whether eco-products were actually safebecause she kept knocking on my door (i.e., stalking me) to brainstorm solutions. As a father, I too felt her frustration. Jessica kept searching the world for the highest quality and purest products, and she kept running into walls. Shed ask, What diaper is free from nasty chemicals but will hold my babys business? or Flame-retardants on pajamasreally?!? Im glad she kept asking questions, searching for better solutions, and imagining a safer world for her children, because from that initial encounter and many subsequent conversationsones we are still having to this dayThe Honest Company was born.

Since first meeting Jessica, Ive always been impressed by her thorough knowledge of the health risks of toxic chemicals and her instinctive scrutiny of claims made by supposedly safer or eco-friendly products. But Im most moved by her passionfor always learning and growing, for striving to make better choices everyday, and for seeking solutions (affordable ones!) that help all families and people everywhere. In reading The Honest Life, I hope youll get to know Jessica the way I do. Youll see that shes a dreamer, but also a doer. Shes inspired by her friends, family, and community, by her childhood and motherhood, and by whats practical, beautiful, and fairly priced. And she really likes thinking (and cooking) outside of the box.

Once I stopped by her house for a dinner only to find her whipping up a four-course, organic meal (this is a treat for her guests that she pulls off regularly, by the way). Between chatting with friends and sipping her wine, she somehow made an awesome dinner that we all devoured. Shes such a talented cookmore like an amateur chefthat I can promise youll enjoy the recipes shes included in this book. But my point is this: Jessica really does do it all herself.

She knows that busy moms dont have time to make multiple trips to the store for food and diapers, research which pacifier or paint is safe and which isnt, or dash away from the bath when the shampoo has run out. Drawing on inspiration from her everyday life and channeling her boundless determination to identify whats accessible and truly do-able with a parents hectic reality, Jessica has become a savvy entrepreneur who speaks for a new generation of women and families who dont want to make compromises between whats healthy, what works, and whats fashionable and fun.

I think most people think of celebrities as normal people living extraordinary lives, but Jessica is an extraordinary person living a normal lifeone that is relatable, attainable, and rooted in family. Which is why I know that The Honest Life will serve as great guide to help you make healthier choices when it comes to the food you eat, the products you bring into your home, and the purity of what you put on your and your babys skin. Ultimately, though, I believe that Jessicas example can motivate many more of us to transform our familys health and happiness in ways that suit each of us best.

This is a book about how you can live a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle. But at the same time, its really not about that at allbecause this book is not about why you need to become a vegan, use cloth diapers, or grow all your own food.

I eat (organic) meat.

I dont have time to wash cloth diapers.

I have a total black thumbif I had to grow our food, wed starve.

I DECIDED TO WRITE this book because I was sick of being told that healthy, safe, and eco means boring, beige, and blahnot to mention, crazy expensive and hard to find. Which really doesnt add up, right? So let me explain. Over the past five years (ever since I got pregnant with Honor), Ive been on a quest to create a healthy environment for my family and myself. But I also want our life to be authentic, stylish, and fun, because thats who we are. The problem was that whether I was decorating Honors nursery, testing out eco-friendly disposable diapers, or shopping for the perfect red lipstick, everything felt like a compromise. Somehow, it was a given that you had to sacrifice performanceand styleto be healthy.

You could either have stuff that looked and worked great but was filled with toxic chemicals, or you could have the not-so-cute, more-expensive eco-alternative that didnt get the job done... not both. I found this very frustrating. Im a busy personeven more so since I became a momand Im betting you are, too. We dont have time to waste on products that dont work.

I knew there had to be a better waydoable, more fun, no compromisesand figuring out how to do this has become my mission. Its one of the main things I talk about with my friends (both single and with families)were all working to make healthier choices without an extreme lifestyle overhaul, and we share tips and strategies. Its the reason I created The Honest Company, so we could all have a single, trustworthy destination for nontoxic household essentials that are also extremely effective (and super cute). Its also the reason I wrote this book. Because with the help of friends, family, and experts, Ive figured out a few things along the way. I wanted to share my version of a healthy, natural lifestyleI call it Honest Livingwith you.

S O HOW DID I get so passionate about Honest Living in the first place?

Well, it all started with a load of laundry.

It was the spring of 2008. I was pregnant with Honorwhich is to say, I was hot and exhausted, had swollen ankles and an enormous belly, and (of course) was feeling excited, terrified, and a million other emotions all at once. I couldnt wait to be a mom, but I also was completely overwhelmed by how much we had to learn about being parents and creating a safe and nurturing environment for our child to thrive in.