We were really happy that Jessica Alba agreed to sit down with us for an interview. It was our way of extending an olive branch to her and an opportunity to apologize in person for the hurtful things we said in the past.
We gotta admit… we were really nervous and awkward and it wasn’t easy, but we’re so glad we did it!
And, we’re very happy we got to chat with Alba about her awesome new entrepreneurial endeavor, Honest.com, helping families and health-conscious individual by providing organic and healthy products that we all need and use!
Read some excerpts of our chat with Jessica… after the jump!
And watch our interview in full above!!!
P.S. We were surprised to learn she does her own laundry and that of her family! Super mom!
Perez: Hey everybody, it’s Perez, joined Jessica Alba. And I’m very happy you’re hear today because children brought us together to talk about — and I’m also I’m excited you’re hear because it gives me an opportunity to say in person I’m sorry I was a big old douche bag in the past, and yeah that’s that.
Jessica: Okay.
Perez: I was, and — but you know kind of like children, I was maybe like childish but I think I’ve grown up now, and I’m definitely trying to be a more positive person. And I love that you have launched this new thing to be more positive, and help families and kids. It’s called “The Honest Company”. And you want to tell us a little bit about that?
Jessica: Yes. Well, [watch the video above for the rest on this].
Perez: And you’re, you’re a mom too now, and what prompted you to go ahead and start a company about it?
Jessica: Well really it came out of necessity. This company needed to exist. I did — I had a huge sort of a-ha moment when I was pregnant with Honor. And I did a lot of research. You know you try do the research, and find the best cribs, and —
Perez: Good nutrition and all that jazz.
Jessica: Yeah, and what’s recommended for the best stroller, and the safest car seat, and all these things. And when you’re doing that, it’s like my mom was like, “Oh you’re supposed to wash the kids clothes in this laundry detergent that’s meant for babies, and then you have to get this tearless shampoo, and you know that’s what you have to do.” And so I did, and I washed — when I was pregnant, I washed Honor’s clothes, and blankets, and stuff in this detergent and —
Perez: You washed it yourself? You washed — you don’t have somebody wash clothes for you?
Jessica: No, I wash them myself. So I — so I washed it. And then I broke out into this rash with this baby laundry detergent. It had like such a strong perfume.
Perez: Oh wow.
Jessica: And I was sneezing, and I had watery eyes, and I was like, there is no way I am allowing this near my baby, that’s insane. So I looked at the box, and the ingredients, and it just, it didn’t really tell you what was in it so much. And then it just said fragrance. And then I did research, and I found out that there are tons of toxic chemicals in products that are gear specifically towards babies and household products. There’s tons of toxic chemicals in them from like your laundry detergent, to counter spray, to dish soap. And even the pH levels that are in dish soap, dishwasher fluid are so high, it’s like liquid Drano that you’re putting on your baby’s bottles and it leaves a residue. And I was like, this is so nuts. And I was like, there’s got to be a better way. So I would go online and try to find the best eco products, and then I’d go to like the best grocery stores to get the best eco products. And I was like this is expensive, and it’s time consuming, and everything is brown and beige. It’s like a healthy thing like anyone else, but I’m not a brown and beige girl. I like color, and design, and fun things. And my daughter would reach for the one with the princesses on it, and she was like bummed out about her brown diaper, and her friends had the pretty ones.
Perez: Your daughter cares about the kind of diaper she wears?
Jessica: We do, kids are att — you know that’s what they’re in all day.
Perez: That’s awesome.
Jessica: You know that’s what they’re in all day.
Perez: That’s awesome. Its, they start at a young age being fashionistas.
Jessica: They do, they do. Well it’s also just more appealing to the eye, and more stimulating. And so I was like there’s got to be a company that has cute products that are safe, and nontoxic, and that are affordable, and that are easy to get to?
Perez: And there really weren’t any then?
Jessica: There’s not one company that does it. There’s like a company that just does good shampoo, and there’s a company that just does like good laundry detergent, and then a company that just does good diapers. But there wasn’t one company where you could get everything.
Perez: Is this something that you always were thinking of like five years ago? You were really successful then. You’re like I want to do more than just act?
Jessica: Not really.
Perez: No?
Jessica: It really just came out of me being frustrated, and wanting this to exist. I wanted to buy a diaper that was non-toxic, and wasn’t going to hurt my kid, that actually worked and was genuinely healthy. And I wanted to when I bought something that was eco; I didn’t want it to be eco because the packaging was eco. I wanted what was inside of it to be good, and eco for my kid.
Perez: How long did it take you from having this idea to like where you’ve launched?
Jessica: Like three and a half year, like almost three and a half years.
Perez: Three and a half years?
Jessica: Yeah. Lots of doors closed in my face. Lots of people saying, “I don’t know if people are going to really care about this, or I don’t know if you can do all these products, or I don’t know if people will really buy stuff online.” But all my friends buy stuff online; certainly things like this. And even my friends that aren’t moms buy a lot of stuff online. And so I think that is the new way with young people, that’s where we are.
Perez: So right now, the Honest Company, it’s just online?
Jessica: Its only available online — and which is great.
Perez: Which is a good thing because that means everybody can have access to it.
Jessica: Yeah, it’s like you don’t have to live next to a Sprouts or a Whole Foods or a Trader Joes to get great products. And it also leaves less of a carbon footprint because we’re just shipping from our manufacture straight to our warehouse, and then directly to you.
(Clip)
Perez: Wait, we got to talk some movie questions. Shall we?
Jessica: Okay. [Watch above for the rest.]