Unless you’ve been living alone under a rock, which would be fully compliant to most countries’ pandemic guidelines, you’ve been hearing about the incredible uptick of waste and damage because of all our trash. Maybe you’ve also seen and heard Sir David Attenborough, the international treasure, in his documentary David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet, appealing to your better judgement to reduce plastic consumption and/or seek out zero waste practices. So now, you’ve googled, you’ve clicked, and you’ve landed here looking for ideas about how you can do your part for the planet. We’re here for you! In this blog, we offer ideas on how to start a zero-waste personal care routine. From start to finish, there are many quick switches you can make to reduce your waste (and maybe even your spending).
Unless you’ve been living alone under a rock, which would be fully compliant to most countries’ pandemic guidelines, you’ve been hearing about the incredible uptick of waste and damage because of all our trash. Maybe you’ve also seen and heard Sir David Attenborough, the international treasure, in his documentary David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet, appealing to your better judgement to reduce plastic consumption and/or seek out zero waste practices. So now, you’ve googled, you’ve clicked, and you’ve landed here looking for ideas about how you can do your part for the planet. We’re here for you! In this blog, we offer ideas on how to start a zero-waste personal care routine. From start to finish, there are many quick switches you can make to reduce your waste (and maybe even your spending).
Unless you’ve been living alone under a rock, which would be fully compliant to most countries’ pandemic guidelines, you’ve been hearing about the incredible uptick of waste and damage because of all our trash. Maybe you’ve also seen and heard Sir David Attenborough, the international treasure, in his documentary David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet, appealing to your better judgement to reduce plastic consumption and/or seek out zero waste practices. So now, you’ve googled, you’ve clicked, and you’ve landed here looking for ideas about how you can do your part for the planet. We’re here for you! In this blog, we offer ideas on how to start a zero-waste personal care routine. From start to finish, there are many quick switches you can make to reduce your waste (and maybe even your spending).
Without wasting too much time, zero waste means zero trash. Some people get picky about this definition and require every part of a product, including the packaging, to be fully used up, but we will include products that may have components that need to be recycled and/or composted. What we will avoid fully are all products that use plastic or plastic packaging (read more about what happens to plastic packaging here). We’ll start out with zero-waste products you can use for skin and body care and move on to recommend oral, sun, and hair care products.
Without wasting too much time, zero waste means zero trash. Some people get picky about this definition and require every part of a product, including the packaging, to be fully used up, but we will include products that may have components that need to be recycled and/or composted. What we will avoid fully are all products that use plastic or plastic packaging (read more about what happens to plastic packaging here). We’ll start out with zero-waste products you can use for skin and body care and move on to recommend oral, sun, and hair care products.
Without wasting too much time, zero waste means zero trash. Some people get picky about this definition and require every part of a product, including the packaging, to be fully used up, but we will include products that may have components that need to be recycled and/or composted. What we will avoid fully are all products that use plastic or plastic packaging (read more about what happens to plastic packaging here). We’ll start out with zero-waste products you can use for skin and body care and move on to recommend oral, sun, and hair care products.
Skin care
Skin care
If you like the convenience of cleaning your face with a disposable wipe or a cotton pad, you can replace both with more environmentally friendly options. There are biodegradable, plastic-free wipes, but it is even better to replace this habit with a washcloth and a face wash bar (like this one).
Image by Tukiki
Image by Tukiki
If you like the convenience of cleaning your face with a disposable wipe or a cotton pad, you can replace both with more environmentally friendly options. There are biodegradable, plastic-free wipes, but it is even better to replace this habit with a washcloth and a face wash bar (like this one).
Image by Tukiki
Image by Tukiki
Skin care
If you like the convenience of cleaning your face with a disposable wipe or a cotton pad, you can replace both with more environmentally friendly options. There are biodegradable, plastic-free wipes, but it is even better to replace this habit with a washcloth and a face wash bar (like this one).
Image by Tukiki
Image by Tukiki
Image by LastObject
And any shape of cotton product—the rounds or the squares—can be replaced with washable, reusable pads (like these ones). These can even be purchased in a convenient “kit” with a washbag. Reusable pads can be purchased in most sustainable eCommerce shops and/or your local drug store.
Image by LastObject
Image by LastObject
And any shape of cotton product—the rounds or the squares—can be replaced with washable, reusable pads (like these ones). These can even be purchased in a convenient “kit” with a washbag. Reusable pads can be purchased in most sustainable eCommerce shops and/or your local drug store.
Image by LastObject
Image by LastObject
And any shape of cotton product—the rounds or the squares—can be replaced with washable, reusable pads (like these ones). These can even be purchased in a convenient “kit” with a washbag. Reusable pads can be purchased in most sustainable eCommerce shops and/or your local drug store.
Body care
Body care
Body care
To replace any of the bottles you might utilize in the shower—like bodywash, or shaving gel—you can look for more bars. Body wash can be replaced with good, old-fashioned soap. If your skin isn’t too persnickety, a bar (like this one) that you use for your body can also be used for your face. Otherwise, there are many face- and body-specific cleansers in bar form. And while many a shave may take place without shaving gel anyway, there are bars of soap specifically for shaving as well.
Image by Zhenobya
To replace any of the bottles you might utilize in the shower—like bodywash, or shaving gel—you can look for more bars. Body wash can be replaced with good, old-fashioned soap. If your skin isn’t too persnickety, a bar (like this one) that you use for your body can also be used for your face. Otherwise, there are many face- and body-specific cleansers in bar form. And while many a shave may take place without shaving gel anyway, there are bars of soap specifically for shaving as well.
Image by Zhenobya
Image by Zhenobya
To replace any of the bottles you might utilize in the shower—like bodywash, or shaving gel—you can look for more bars. Body wash can be replaced with good, old-fashioned soap. If your skin isn’t too persnickety, a bar (like this one) that you use for your body can also be used for your face. Otherwise, there are many face- and body-specific cleansers in bar form. And while many a shave may take place without shaving gel anyway, there are bars of soap specifically for shaving as well.
Image by Zhenobya
Image by Zhenobya
Image by Mühle
Body hair
Plastic razors or quick replace razors are another high waste culprit. Replacing with a safety razor (like this one) is a great step. Basically, the body of the razor, most often made with stainless steel, once purchased, can be passed on to your grandchildren. It will outlive you. You simply replace the razors every so often and recycle the used ones at your local recycling center.
Image by Mühle
Image by Mühle
Body hair
Plastic razors or quick replace razors are another high waste culprit. Replacing with a safety razor (like this one) is a great step. Basically, the body of the razor, most often made with stainless steel, once purchased, can be passed on to your grandchildren. It will outlive you. You simply replace the razors every so often and recycle the used ones at your local recycling center.
Lotion
Post-shower, you can lotion up with—you guessed it—a lotion bar. This one, by Lamazuna, is particularly luxurious—it contains iris, cocoa butter, and tonka beans and is recommended as a skin hydrator and as a massage tool. Ooh la la.
Image by Lamazuna
Lotion
Post-shower, you can lotion up with—you guessed it—a lotion bar. This one, by Lamazuna, is particularly luxurious—it contains iris, cocoa butter, and tonka beans and is recommended as a skin hydrator and as a massage tool. Ooh la la.
Image by Lamazuna
Image by Lamazuna
Image by Mühle
Body hair
Plastic razors or quick replace razors are another high waste culprit. Replacing with a safety razor (like this one) is a great step. Basically, the body of the razor, most often made with stainless steel, once purchased, can be passed on to your grandchildren. It will outlive you. You simply replace the razors every so often and recycle the used ones at your local recycling center.
Image by Tukiki
Lotion
Post-shower, you can lotion up with—you guessed it—a lotion bar. This one, by Lamazuna, is particularly luxurious—it contains iris, cocoa butter, and tonka beans and is recommended as a skin hydrator and as a massage tool. Ooh la la.
Image by Lamazuna
Image by Lamazuna
Image by Dirty Hippie Cosmetics and The Natural Deodorant Co
Deodorant
Traditional deodorant is the pits. Get it? We kid, but from packaging to the controversial ingredients, there’s not much to prefer about traditional deodorant when there are effective, zero waste alternatives. We suggest trying a balm like this one produced by the Natural Deodorant Co, but if you’re not convinced, there are still stick options available (like this one).
Image by Dirty Hippie Cosmetics and The Natural Deodorant Co
Image by Dirty Hippie Cosmetics & The Natural Deodorant Co
Deodorant
Traditional deodorant is the pits. Get it? We kid, but from packaging to the controversial ingredients, there’s not much to prefer about traditional deodorant when there are effective, zero waste alternatives. We suggest trying a balm like this one produced by the Natural Deodorant Co, but if you’re not convinced, there are still stick options available (like this one).
Deodorant
Traditional deodorant is the pits. Get it? We kid, but from packaging to the controversial ingredients, there’s not much to prefer about traditional deodorant when there are effective, zero waste alternatives. We suggest trying a balm like this one produced by the Natural Deodorant Co, but if you’re not convinced, there are still stick options available (like this one).
Image by Dirty Hippie Cosmetics and The Natural Deodorant Co
Image by Dirty Hippie Cosmetics & The Natural Deodorant Co
Ears (and undereyes during raccoon season, amirite?)
It’s estimated that before they were banned, in England alone, with a population of 56 million, 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds were used every year. At least ten percent of these were flushed down toilets and ended up in waterways, posing a risk to the marine environment and a threat to wildlife. Plastic cotton buds can be replaced with reusable ones or bamboo ones that can be recycled or composted.
Image by LastObject
Ears (and undereyes during raccoon season, amirite?)
It’s estimated that before they were banned, in England alone, with a population of 56 million, 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds were used every year. At least ten percent of these were flushed down toilets and ended up in waterways, posing a risk to the marine environment and a threat to wildlife. Plastic cotton buds can be replaced with reusable ones or bamboo ones that can be recycled or composted.
Image by LastObject
Image by LastObject
Ears (and undereyes during raccoon season, amirite?)
It’s estimated that before they were banned, in England alone, with a population of 56 million, 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds were used every year. At least ten percent of these were flushed down toilets and ended up in waterways, posing a risk to the marine environment and a threat to wildlife. Plastic cotton buds can be replaced with reusable ones or bamboo ones that can be recycled or composted.
Image by LastObject
Image by LastObject
Oral care
Oral care
Oral care
If you’re following the recommended cleaning schedule then you’re brushing, you’re flossing, and you’re mouth-washing every day and as a result producing a fair amount of plastic waste. But, you can clean your teeth with pretty minimal waste; see our recommendations for zero-waste swaps below.
If you’re following the recommended cleaning schedule then you’re brushing, you’re flossing, and you’re mouth-washing every day and as a result producing a fair amount of plastic waste. But, you can clean your teeth with pretty minimal waste; see our recommendations for zero-waste swaps below.
If you’re following the recommended cleaning schedule then you’re brushing, you’re flossing, and you’re mouth-washing every day and as a result producing a fair amount of plastic waste. But, you can clean your teeth with pretty minimal waste; see our recommendations for zero-waste swaps below.
Toothbrushes
Most plastic toothbrushes are unrecyclable—the plastic composite is difficult, if not impossible, to break down efficiently. As an essential item that needs replacing often, toothbrushes are a big waste problem. For example If everyone around the world replaced their toothbrushes as often as dentists recommend, every three or four months, then some 23 billion toothbrushes would end up in landfills annually. Replacing your plastic toothbrush with one made of natural materials is an easy problem-solving step. You can find bamboo toothbrushes, for example, in most sustainable eCommerce shops and/or your local drug store.
Toothbrushes
Most plastic toothbrushes are unrecyclable—the plastic composite is difficult, if not impossible, to break down efficiently. As an essential item that needs replacing often, toothbrushes are a big waste problem. For example If everyone around the world replaced their toothbrushes as often as dentists recommend, every three or four months, then some 23 billion toothbrushes would end up in landfills annually. Replacing your plastic toothbrush with one made of natural materials is an easy problem-solving step. You can find bamboo toothbrushes, for example, in most sustainable eCommerce shops and/or your local drug store.
Toothbrushes
Most plastic toothbrushes are unrecyclable—the plastic composite is difficult, if not impossible, to break down efficiently. As an essential item that needs replacing often, toothbrushes are a big waste problem. For example If everyone around the world replaced their toothbrushes as often as dentists recommend, every three or four months, then some 23 billion toothbrushes would end up in landfills annually. Replacing your plastic toothbrush with one made of natural materials is an easy problem-solving step. You can find bamboo toothbrushes, for example, in most sustainable eCommerce shops and/or your local drug store.
Most of these natural toothbrushes, however, still have nylon bristles. Nylon bristles will need to be removed and recycled separately from the biodegradable body. There are also toothbrushes with animal hair bristles, which are fully biodegradable, but the animal component adds its own environmental and ethical questions we won’t attempt to answer.
Most of these natural toothbrushes, however, still have nylon bristles. Nylon bristles will need to be removed and recycled separately from the biodegradable body. There are also toothbrushes with animal hair bristles, which are fully biodegradable, but the animal component adds its own environmental and ethical questions we won’t attempt to answer.
Most of these natural toothbrushes, however, still have nylon bristles. Nylon bristles will need to be removed and recycled separately from the biodegradable body. There are also toothbrushes with animal hair bristles, which are fully biodegradable, but the animal component adds its own environmental and ethical questions we won’t attempt to answer.
Image by Hydrophil
Toothpaste
To reduce your toothpaste packaging waste, you can go a couple of different ways. There are cool products like toothpaste bites, like these ones sold in a recyclable tin, or you can even brush your teeth with baking soda. If you miss the minty freshness, you can infuse the baking soda with some liquid spearmint or peppermint, but you’ll still be missing the fluoride component.
Toothpaste by Hydrophil
Image by Hydrophil
Toothpaste
To reduce your toothpaste packaging waste, you can go a couple of different ways. There are cool products like toothpaste bites, like these ones sold in a recyclable tin, or you can even brush your teeth with baking soda. If you miss the minty freshness, you can infuse the baking soda with some liquid spearmint or peppermint, but you’ll still be missing the fluoride component.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste by Hydrophil
Image by Hydrophil
To reduce your toothpaste packaging waste, you can go a couple of different ways. There are cool products like toothpaste bites, like these ones sold in a recyclable tin, or you can even brush your teeth with baking soda. If you miss the minty freshness, you can infuse the baking soda with some liquid spearmint or peppermint, but you’ll still be missing the fluoride component.
Dental Floss
Regular dental floss is made with waxed nylon not to mention it’s hard plastic composite container. This too is an easy swap—try finding dental floss made from a plant-based material. This one, is made using candelilla wax and is 100% biodegadable.
Image by Chinchilla
Dental Floss
Regular dental floss is made with waxed nylon not to mention it’s hard plastic composite container. This too is an easy swap—try finding dental floss made from a plant-based material. This one, is made using candelilla wax and is 100% biodegadable.
Image by Chinchilla
Image by Chinchilla
Dental Floss
Regular dental floss is made with waxed nylon not to mention it’s hard plastic composite container. This too is an easy swap—try finding dental floss made from a plant-based material. This one, is made using candelilla wax and is 100% biodegadable.
Image by Chinchilla
Image by Chinchilla
Image by Georganics
Mouth Wash
Mouth wash tablets are a good alternative to plastic-bottled mouth washes. These ones, packaged in recyclable glass, dissolve in a small amount of water for a quick mouth rinse and come in two flavors. By removing the water component, smaller containers can be used for the same “amount” of mouthwash, and they’re always travel friendly.
Image by Georganics
Image by Georganics
Mouth Wash
Mouth wash tablets are a good alternative to plastic-bottled mouth washes. These ones, packaged in recyclable glass, dissolve in a small amount of water for a quick mouth rinse and come in two flavors. By removing the water component, smaller containers can be used for the same “amount” of mouthwash, and they’re always travel friendly.
Mouth Wash
Mouth wash tablets are a good alternative to plastic-bottled mouth washes. These ones, packaged in recyclable glass, dissolve in a small amount of water for a quick mouth rinse and come in two flavors. By removing the water component, smaller containers can be used for the same “amount” of mouthwash, and they’re always travel friendly.
Image by Georganics
Image by Georganics
Sun care
Sun care
Sun care
Most dermatologists recommend applying sunscreen, at least to your face, daily. But sunscreen can be an ecological nightmare from its plastic packaging to its reef-killing ingredients. This sunscreen is really neat. Packaged in cardboard and formulated with natural ingredients, this stick is handy to keep your face protected from the rays and the environment from waste.
Image by We Love The Planet
Most dermatologists recommend applying sunscreen, at least to your face, daily. But sunscreen can be an ecological nightmare from its plastic packaging to its reef-killing ingredients. This sunscreen is really neat. Packaged in cardboard and formulated with natural ingredients, this stick is handy to keep your face protected from the rays and the environment from waste.
Image by We Love The Planet
Image by We Love The Planet
Most dermatologists recommend applying sunscreen, at least to your face, daily. But sunscreen can be an ecological nightmare from its plastic packaging to its reef-killing ingredients. This sunscreen is really neat. Packaged in cardboard and formulated with natural ingredients, this stick is handy to keep your face protected from the rays and the environment from waste.
Image by We Love The Planet
Image by We Love The Planet
Hair care
Hair care
Hair care
Image by Rosenrot Naturkosmetik
Conditioner
To replace your plastic-bottled shampoo and conditioner, your best bets are shampoo and conditioner bars. If you choose well, you can replace two bottles with a single shampoo bar. But, if you like to have a separate conditioning step, there are bars out there like this one.
Image by Rosenrot Naturkosmetik
Image by Rosenrot Naturkosmetik
Conditioner
To replace your plastic-bottled shampoo and conditioner, your best bets are shampoo and conditioner bars. If you choose well, you can replace two bottles with a single shampoo bar. But, if you like to have a separate conditioning step, there are bars out there like this one.
Image by Rosenrot Naturkosmetik
Image by Rosenrot Naturkosmetik
Conditioner
To replace your plastic-bottled shampoo and conditioner, your best bets are shampoo and conditioner bars. If you choose well, you can replace two bottles with a single shampoo bar. But, if you like to have a separate conditioning step, there are bars out there like this one.
Shampoo
When choosing a shampoo bar, there's a lot to consider (read more about that here). But, we fully recommend Yas Alpaca shampoo bars. They are great for many reasons, but chief among them is the fact that they’re zero waste. There’s no wrapping (or minimal, compostable or recyclable wrapping) and when you’ve finished the bar there’s nothing to toss. Because well, it’s gone. Yas Alpaca shampoo bars also use only conscious ingredients that are good for you and good for the planet. Click here to check out our online shop.
Image by Yas Alpaca
Shampoo
When choosing a shampoo bar, there's a lot to consider (read more about that here). But, we fully recommend Yas Alpaca shampoo bars. They are great for many reasons, but chief among them is the fact that they’re zero waste. There’s no wrapping (or minimal, compostable or recyclable wrapping) and when you’ve finished the bar there’s nothing to toss. Because well, it’s gone. Yas Alpaca shampoo bars also use only conscious ingredients that are good for you and good for the planet. Click here to check out our online shop.
Image by Yas Alpaca
Shampoo
When choosing a shampoo bar, there's a lot to consider (read more about that here). But, we fully recommend Yas Alpaca shampoo bars. They are great for many reasons, but chief among them is the fact that they’re zero waste. There’s no wrapping (or minimal, compostable or recyclable wrapping) and when you’ve finished the bar there’s nothing to toss. Because well, it’s gone. Yas Alpaca shampoo bars also use only conscious ingredients that are good for you and good for the planet. Click here to check out our online shop.
Image by Yas Alpaca
Image by Yas Alpaca
The end (& the beginning)
Image by Yas Alpaca
The end (& the beginning):
The end (& the beginning):
With every purchase you make for personal care, you have the opportunity to spend your Euros for your own good—you do have to take care of yourself—and the good of the planet. As you run out of your traditional products, we hope that this guide will help you consider and find plastic-free and zero-waste alternatives—there are so many options and these are only some of them. This is just the beginning! We wish you well and good luck!
*While we try our best to sample all the zero-waste beauty products we talk about, we do link some products that we haven't. In that case, we make sure that they are well-reviewed and/or recommended by valued sources.
With every purchase you make for personal care, you have the opportunity to spend your Euros for your own good—you do have to take care of yourself—and the good of the planet. As you run out of your traditional products, we hope that this guide will help you consider and find plastic-free and zero-waste alternatives—there are so many options and these are only some of them. This is just the beginning! We wish you well and good luck!
*While we try our best to sample all the zero-waste beauty products we talk about, we do link some products that we haven't. In that case, we make sure that they are well-reviewed and/or recommended by valued sources.
With every purchase you make for personal care, you have the opportunity to spend your Euros for your own good—you do have to take care of yourself—and the good of the planet. As you run out of your traditional products, we hope that this guide will help you consider and find plastic-free and zero-waste alternatives—there are so many options and these are only some of them. This is just the beginning! We wish you well and good luck!
*While we try our best to sample all the zero-waste beauty products we talk about, we do link some products that we haven't. In that case, we make sure that they are well-reviewed and/or recommended by valued sources.