When their son, Michael, was diagnosed with autism, Lisa Liberatore and Dimitri Kessaris said, they were already aware of the effects the environment and everyday products could have on people’s health. 

But the Port Washington couple, both doctors, had never experienced what they saw as its effects firsthand.

“The concern was most sunscreens contain avobenzone oxybenzone,” Liberatore said. “Both of those ingredients act like estrogen in the body and you don’t want a young man to be exposed to that, and we have two boys and we didn’t want them exposed to that.”

The couple said their son’s diagnosis inspired them to create Smart Stuff, a line of products that doesn’t include the harmful ingredients that are frequently found on the shelves in consumer products. 

The couple said they spent five years working with several chemists to help develop safe and effective products.

“We’re not chemists so we don’t know how to make the products, we just know what we want and don’t want in it,” Liberatore said.

Over the past two years the couple has been working with Stephen Gould Corporation, a company based in New York City to further develop the formulas. All Smart Stuff products are made in the U.S.

“Smart is not using products with bad chemicals,” Liberatore said. “Smart is not using harmful stuff.”

Smart Stuff products includes a natural insect repellent, that helps to repel mosquitoes, which Liberatore said is becoming more relevant, given the recent rise in Zika virus infections, and natural mineral based broad spectrum sunscreen that contains only a natural sun filter, zinc oxide.

Liberatore said both products are gluten-free and contain no synthetic chemicals, such as PABA, petroleum, phthalates or parabens. The insect repellent uses natural botanical essential oils and extracts to help repel mosquitoes and deer ticks effectively with no artificial colors or fragrances. 

Additionally, they offer a towel made from high-performance microfiber that cools and protects from heat, a stainless steel drink bottle that safely keep liquids at optimal temperatures, and protective clothing made from lightweight and breathable fabrics for comfort and performance.

“We’re excited to offer these products to the public and have also provided informative links on our website about how insect repellents and sunscreens work, and what ingredients to avoid when shopping,” Liberatore said.

The doctors plan on expanding their products to include skin care in the spring of 2016. They will be launching their products at a tabling booth during the 5th Annual Row for Autism taking place at Hempstead Beach Park on April 16.

Liberatore said after Michael was diagnosed she, her husband and two sons would attend conferences to learn more about the causes of autism. Although there’s not an exact cause, she said, the conferences said to stay away from harmful preservatives found in every day products.

“Most times, the consumer is not even aware that they are using something on their bodies that is harmful, and even cancer-causing or toxic to them,” Liberatore said. “Our mission was to create a line of products that would provide excellent choices for protecting against the environment while still maintaining a healthy lifestyle.”

She said the ingredients in most sunscreens and insect repellents were among the products that caught their eye.

“We looked at what was in them,” Liberatore said. “They contain unnatural products. The sunscreens were very thick and heavy. Even our older son didn’t want to use it.”

As physicians, the couple said, they understood a product’s effects on a molecular level and said they became increasingly frustrated with misleading ingredient labels and dangerous chemicals found in their homes. 

“In the vast marketplace of confusing consumer goods, it is difficult at best for the average consumer to decipher what products are actually doing more harm than good,” Liberatore said.

She said she and her husband are proud of what was developed and are excited for people to give their products a try.

“If you’re teenage boys are okay with putting it on then you know you’ve hit a home run, because they hate putting sunscreen on,” she said.  

To learn more about the physician-created line of Smart Stuff products, visit smartstuff.com.