No more parabens, sulfates or other toxic ingredients in my pups' shampoo! Read to see how we got Chip and Daisy to smell as fresh as daisies, using all-natural products from Rufus & Coco!

As you may know, I've recently started to pay more attention to the ingredients in my personal care products. I am slowly going through and replacing all of my old products with those that have safer ingredients. Once you know that there are better options out there, it's hard to un-know. But what about the products of our furry family members?

You must be thinking - Wait, now there's a clean beauty movement for pets? Not that I'm aware of, haha, but Chip and Daisy can't exactly shop on their own. It's my responsibility as a pet parent to ensure they have healthy food and non-toxic grooming products. That's why I'm so glad Rufus & Coco reached out to me and informed me of their safer grooming products for pets.

Safer Grooming Products for your Pups

Who are Rufus & Coco?

Named after the two most popular dog names in Australia, Rufus & Coco is an award-winning pet product company. They are dedicated to making pets feel good and helping pet parents feel good about the choices they make for their fur kids.

Rufus & Coco is genuinely passionate about using high-quality, all-natural ingredients in their grooming products. Their dog shampoo and grooming product line recently debuted at 1,400 PetSmart stores nation wide.

What makes Rufus & Coco better?

Australia has some of the most rigorous product standards for pet products in the world. Rufus & Coco set the bar high ensure our pups' health and happiness. Their hypoallergenic scents were designed to evoke the feeling of the Aussie backyard. (Note: those scents were created to be free of any known allergens. I have a good sense of smell and I could not pick up any strong, icky, synthetic scents!)

Rufus & Coco understands the special needs of dog skin. Did you know that the skin of a dog is only 3 to 5 cells thick, while human skin is around 10 to 15 cells thick? I didn't! It makes sense that chemicals in human shampoos can very quickly damage your dog’s thin skin layer, making it all that more important to choose safer products. All of their dog shampoos are made with coconut derived surfactants to gently and safely clean the skin and coat.

All the ingredients in Rufus & Coco products are natural, and safe if licked by your pet. Now that's what I'm talking about!

My Rufus & Coco Picks

Water Free Wash

Our Daisy girl is our stiiiiinky girl. Even the day after a bath, she will have a puppy funk. She can't help it. Making matters worse, she haaaaaaates bath time. She will run and hide when she hears "Want a bath?"

When I learned Rufus & Coco have a water-less shampoo for pups, I immediately thought of our Daisy. While I don't personally use dry shampoo (not because I don't believe it them but because it's no match for how oily my hair is), I knew a powder that helps absorb oils on her skin will help us space out her baths, reducing tears for me and her. Using it was super easy. A few shakes of the water-less shampoo down her back and a pat on her head was all she needed. I rubbed it into her skin, then brushed out her coat. She was as good as new!

Naturally, as a concerned pet parent (and safer beauty advocate) I looked up the ingredients in the Water Free Wash. I was pleasantly surprised (and impressed!) at the limited ingredient list:

With baking soda, cornstarch, and naturally derived marine extracts, the Water Free Wash is a product I feel comfortable using on Daisy in between her dreaded baths. It left her smelling fresh, without any overpowering fragrances and skin irritation. I could also feel that her skin was less oily, the culprit behind her stinkiness. I couldn't stop snuggling her afterwards! This is a must for fussy dogs, or even your feline friends!

Guys, this was the first time Daisy hasn't shaken uncontrollably before a "bath." For this, I cannot thank Rufus & Coco enough! Despite keeping the water warm and cozying up with her tightly wrapped in her towel, this little girl just does not like bath time. I see lots more Water Free Wash in Daisy's future!

Sea Me Shine 2in1 Wash

I had a hard time choosing a favorite between the Sea Me Shine 2in1 Wash and the 2in1 Oatmeal Wash, but the Sea Me Shine's name won me over. Typically oatmeal is generally recommended for pets with dry skin, but both formulas contain oatmeal extract and aloe vera, so they both are very gentle.

Even though we try to be careful, sometimes shampoo gets near our pup's eyes. The natural ingredients did not irritate Chip's eyes at all! And, because there aren't sudsing agents, you won't see tons of suds (even with our softened water!), so I feel comfortable knowing that the pH-balanced formula truly is gentle.

This is the part of his bath where I feel like I'm wrestling a wet monkey! He's just too excited to go to town shaking and dragging himself on our carpet. It's a hilarious part of his bath, and I captured a few moments below. He cracks me up!

Thanks to Rufus & Coco, I can spend less time worrying about the safety of Chip and Daisy's grooming products, and more time on the important stuff: making sure they are living the best dog life.

Check out these other great Rufus & Coco pet grooming products at a PetSmart near you: 3in1 Pamper Spray and 2in1 Puppy Wash.

Now that you know there are safer products for your pups, will you switch to Rufus & Coco?