Jessica Alba has played many roles, but it’s the one of mother that propels her latest venture: Honest Company, the eco-friendly, Web-based products firm.
The company (which can be found at Honest.com) blends both the needs and hopes of parents: the products aren’t only necessities (diapers, bath products, laundry detergent, cleaning agents) but also non-toxic, affordable, and as a bonus, really cute!
“Just because I want something that’s safe, I don’t want it to look like oatmeal — cream and beige,” says Alba. “I thought why can’t it be stylish and healthy?” The diapers come in whimsical designs from skulls, pink stars, ice cream cones, and anchors while the products come in fresh-looking bottles decorated with soothing colors and graphics.
Now 30, the gorgeous actress has blossomed beautifully past the stage on screen ingénue.
Has motherhood changed the way you view your career?
“Work takes a backseat. Before, I’d have two weeks off around Christmas, but I never really did birthdays, or I’d be working in a country that didn’t celebrate certain holidays. Now it’s about family and capturing those moments. When I do work, it’s fun and I take some risks.”
Are you still feeling pressure to be a sex symbol?
“That’s how I was marketed; I never put much effort into it. I don’t really care. I never did.”
Does being 30 feel different?
“Oh yeah, I am way more secure than I was in my 20s.”
Is there a reason both of your daughters have names that start with ‘H’?
“No. A friend of ours said if she had a daughter she would name her Honor but she had two boys. I was only a few weeks pregnant when I told her and said that Honor was a pretty name. I liked it for a boy or a girl. Cash and I were open to any name. We wanted something that was unique but not weird. It just stuck. Same thing with Haven. We didn’t have the name really chosen until we spent a day with her and said she looked like a little Haven.”
Would you want them to go into acting or would you want to shield them?
“If that’s what they want to do when they’re adults and they want to make that decision about their life, we’d be supportive of every decision they make. Everyone in my family is an artist in some capacity whether they’re musicians, painters, or sculptors, so it’s in their blood. But after they go to college, they can make that decision. They need to work on their education and themselves since you’ll only be a better actor the more life you live and the more experiences you have.”
How do you balance being a working mom?
“I don’t think I balance it to be honest. It’s hard, overwhelming and it’s not anything I ever feel I am doing perfectly right. I wish there were two of me and 48-hour days so I could get everything done. But for me, I have to not try and think that everything has to be 100% perfect all the time and leave room for error. As long as my kids feel loved and a priority, everything really is secondary.”
Where did the idea for the Honest Company come from?
“I did research when I was pregnant with my first daughter and was horrified by the chemicals in products, even those meant for babies. I would have to go to 50 different places just to get my house and my kid clean. I thought moms needed one place that curated safe items that are affordable and stylish.”
Is the website like a baby GOOP for the masses?
“Not really because we’re actually delivering products. What would be the closest thing people could relate it to? It’s like 7th generation 2.0. or Johnson & Johnson 2.0. We’re not just blogging cute things, like ‘oh my God, I went to Spain, and stayed in an amazing hotel.’ It’s like things you can wash your clothes with, they won’t get a rash, it’s affordable and is delivered to your house. Diapering hasn’t been innovative at all and so besides taking out the petrochemicals, we put designs on them.”
Source: parade.com
January 27, 2012