Bath & Body
Get that good clean feeling, simplified.
I nixed my surplus of unnecessary beauty products, and plastic bottles in 2016.
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Read my Bathroom Products Review post for individual products.
Sunscreen & Zinc
I stopped buying chemical sunscreen (& plastic bottles when I can) in 2016.
These are all reef safe, and cruelty free sunscreens. Make sure you choose the mineral lotions or pastes from these brands, no sprays.
1: metal or compostable packaging option 2: recycled packaging or recyclable plastic alternative 3: plastic container
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"We believe those spray sunscreens are a health and environmental risk. If a spray is zinc-based the risk of inhalation and lung damage is very high. Sprays may seem convenient, however, studies show that only a fraction of the spray actually makes contact with your skin, increasing your risk of sun damage. Aerosols are extremely bad for the environment because spray sunscreen can travel for miles in the air landing on surrounding wildlife, water, and foliage." -Little Hands Hawaii
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"Another common effect of sunscreens, that many fail to realize, is the environmental impact of mining for their mineral ingredients. Mining for minerals, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, cause erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, and chemical contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water." -Manda
Toothpaste
David's Toothpaste is plastic free & fluoride free.
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2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 tablespoon baking soda
15-20 drops peppermint extract
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I haven't found a plastic free option with fluoride, so I usually get hello.
Bamboo
Toothbrushes
Most bamboo toothbrushes have nylon bristles, but Brush with Bamboo makes a fully compostable brush, in adult and kids sizes. I buy them from Package Free Shop.
I use old toothbrushes to scrub grout and small areas, then compost them.
Mouthwash
I like hello mouthwash. They're alcohol free, leaping bunny certified, and use clean ingredients. No artificial dyes or flavors.
My amazing dentist recommended The Natural Dentist. It's made with aloe vera, and no alcohol, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, never tested on animals.
Floss
Package Free Shop offers a silk floss in a cardboard box. It's not vegan, if that's your preference, but a good alternative.
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Steve loves plastic flossers, so I got him a Quip flosser for his birthday. Their expanding string broke A LOT, so we're trying their sliding string next.
Dental Hygene
Don't sacrifice dental hygene when ditching plastic.
Make these simple swaps without changing your routine.
Body Wash
I stopped buying plastic soap bottles in July 2017
Lush, Meow Meow Tweet, Love Beauty & Planet, bulk soap at Whole Foods, and paper wrapped bars at Grocery Outlet are all great options for plastic free body and face wash.
Seed Phytonutrients powder soaps work great and are very concentrated.
*Lush sells metal tins for travelling with bars.
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I used a lufa for a long time, then switched to wash cloths. I'm never going back! My skin in so much more clear when I scrub with a wash cloth​
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Before photo: 3.2017, pre-plastic free, all cruelty-free, almost done using my soap stockpile.
During: 11.2017, going plastic-free, all cruelty-free
Progress: 5.2018, plastic-free, cruelty-free, minimal products
Still going: 3.2022 I keep my special Lush Christmas gifts on a separate shelf, all to myself.
Shampoo & Conditioner
I try to get most products in store because shipping has a big carbon footprint.
I can walk to Target, so that's usually my pick.
All of the options below are cruelty free, paraben free & sulfate free.
Shaving
Go old school.
I nixed overpriced plastic razors in 2017.
Are you using an razor with expensive disposable heads, that works pretty well?
I invested in a safety razor (I hear Albatross is great too), and it's the best shave ever! Best part is, my husband loves it, and the replacement blades are about $0.20 each, and fully recyclable.
*Disassemble and dry the razor and blade after each use to prevent rust. Don't keep it in the shower.
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**You cannot take the blades on a plane. TSA will take the blade, but let you keep the razor (the expensive part).
So I got one of these for Steve to take on trips.
Deodorant
I nixed the plastic tubes in 2017
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Target has deodorant in cardboard tubes!
Hey Humans and Tom's are $2.50/ oz
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Meow Meow Tweet has glass jars and cardboard tubes
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Make your own with this recipe from Trash is for Tossers. *Some of the ingredients can be hard to find package free:
2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoon shea butter
5-10 drops essential oil
Moisturizer
I nixed plastic lotion bottles in 2016.
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Lush, Captain Blankenship, JuniperSeed, Seed Phytoneutrients, and Triumphant Light all have moisturizers that come in glass, or returnable plastic containers.
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I found 2 plastic free daily face moisturizers with SPF:
Beauty Products
More Beauty, fewer products
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Hair: I love Seed Phytonutrients frizz cream (comes in an aluminum tube), and I want to try Rhyme & Reason leave in conditioner.
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Chapstick/ Lipstick: Meow Meow Tweet, JuniperSeed and Seed Phytonutrients have 100% biodegradable cardboard tubes.
Make up: Lush and Fat and the Moon are good places to start.
Elate Beauty uses sustainable packaging, and is Leaping Bunny certified.
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Perfume: Lush and Pacifica make solid perfume in metal tins.
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Head to my Bathroom Product Review post for individual product reviews.
For People with Periods
I stopped buying disposable pads & tampons in February 2017.
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If you've been hesitant to try these because you think it's gross, read Thinx's post, The Life Cycle of a Tampon. Even organic pads & tampons (and their wrappers and applicators) end up in a landfill.
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I challenge you. Get you know your body. Everyone's vagina is different. Literally. Find the option, size & brand that works for YOU.
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The best part- look at how much bathroom space your pads, tampons, and other period products take up right now. Ever run out? How much money do you spend per month?
Lunette
There are tons of menstrual cups. I tried MeLuna because my friend loved hers, and they have a blue glitter cup. I couldn't get used to it.
I found Lunette at Expo West, bought a cup, and haven't bought pads or tampons since!
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Lunette is made of medical grade silicone. Even if you don't use their products, their instagram is so empowering and informational, and they talk about EVERYTHING. They're not shy, and you shouldn't be either.
Shower Curtain
Cheaper isn't always better.
I got a cute Hawaiian plastic shower curtain from my aunt, so I used it. Remember, don't get rid of what you already have, that's also super cute.
1 year later, it's speckled with mold. I threw it in the wash a couple months ago, and it came out looking the same.
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I searched "eco-friendly shower curtain" on Amazon and got all polyester and PEVA results for $10-20. They're "eco-friendly" because they're made of plastic without PVC or formaldehyde free and don't gas chemicals... a prime example of Green Washing!
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On to natural materials:
Super cute, 100% cotton Cat Shower Curtain at Bed Bath and Beyond- $30
Cotton canvas shower curtain on Prime $36
Hemp shower curtains from Life Without Plastic- $99 (not in my budget)
Organic options: Rawganic has curtains from $55-$99
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DIY
Martha Stewart opts for Linen (which came out to about $85, (how I priced it at Jo-Ann).
After researching all this, I decided to make my own out of Duck Canvas, and dip-dye ombre it with leftover tie-dye.
$9.99/ yd at Jo-Ann + 40% off coupon = $32.74
Tip: skip the grommets. They can rust, and they're unnecessary. Just cut holes, and use a finishing stitch around them.
Toilet Paper
Alternative 1: buy individual rolls wrapped in paper. At Sprouts they're about $1/ roll vs. $.50/ roll for plastic wrapped... not very economical.
Alternative 2: Kathryn Kellogg wrote a blog post about Who Gives A Crap. Haven't tried it yet, but I'll look into the cost savings.