Low-Waste Bathroom Faves
I haven't written much if anything on my blog about going zero waste and plastic free, but if you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you've definitely seen me post about it. I'm not truly "zero waste" (no one is), but I do try to make whatever choices I can to produce less trash. I'm also just trying to tread lighter on the planet, use less, and when I do buy something, to purchase ethically made and sourced products and ingredients. This can be tough to navigate, so if you are also trying to make these changes, I suggest taking it a step at a time.
Everyone must find their own way, but I do want to share a few products I'm liking. This is not a sponsored post, I just want to share what's working for me after trying different things. So here goes:
My favorite solid shampoo and conditioner: HiBar
First off, this is the first solid conditioner I've ever tried. I've used two other solid shampoos I don't remember the brand names of, and one was OK and one I didn't care for, but this one I love. It did take one or two weeks for my hair to adjust, but ever since then my hair has behaved just as it did when I used conventional shampoo and conditioner.
I wash my hair every other day. They say these are equivalent to at LEAST a 16 oz. bottle, but I've had that conditioner since AUGUST and as you can see I still have a fair amount left. The shampoo was replaced a month ago, so that means it lasted about 5 months or so. That makes it definitely worth the price ($13.95 if you buy individually from the website).
So why solid shampoo and conditioner? Check out the packaging. It comes in a paper box and is wrapped in kind of a wax paper. It's all recyclable or compostable. Plus, its smaller and doesn't contain water so it's way more compact and lighter to transport, making it's carbon footprint smaller.
The ingredients are listed in the site, and it contains no sulfates, parabens, silicone, or phthalates, and it's cruelty free. One thing missing from that sentence is palm oil. I'm doing my best to avoid palm oil, even palm oil from "sustainably managed forests," so that I don't contribute to demand for it. Not finding it on the ingredients list but knowing it can hide within other ingredients, I e-mailed the company to ask. The reply I received stated that they became aware the the vegetable glycerin they used may be from palm out and they are not happy with that. They are working to find a source they can be sure does not contain palm oil, and said they'll update the website when they've made the change. I'm really glad to hear that this matters to HiBar, so I'm comfortable to keep using the product for now!
👍 effectiveness
👍 packaging
⏳ palm oil--working on it!
My favorite deodorant: Little Seed Farm
When it comes to deodorant, I'm looking for something plastic free. This cuts out most if not all conventional antiperspirants. I'm not too big a fan of the mega-corporations that make them anyway, so I'm interested in natural deodorant. Many "natural" deodorants contain baking soda and that makes my skin very unhappy, so that eliminates a big chunk of those. So plastic free, baking soda free are my requirements--enter Little Seed Farm.
You can order sample packets of their scents, which I did, and I chose the rosemary patchouli scent. I've been using this product since last fall and a jar lasted a handful of months. This is my second. You scoop out a pea sized amount and rub into your armpit. It comes with a tiny wood popsicle stick for scooping, but they also sell a larger bamboo tool for scooping and rubbing in, which his handy if you don't want to get the deodorant on your fingers. I have been using my fingers, and it's fine, but I might splurge and by the $4 tool next time. 😆
Does it work? Depends on your expectations! It is not antiperspirant. It does not stop you from sweating. What I'm hoping from a product is to prevent chaffing and help me not smell very bad. I think it works. As long as no one sticks their nose under my arm, I think I smell fine. HOWEVER, I have only used this is the cooler months! I may feel differently in July! But I figured if I use it for half the year and use conventional stuff the other half, I'm at least reducing my use of that stuff by half. Every little bit helps!
The packaging is a glass jar and a metal lid, which are recyclable. The tiny wood scoop is compostable. The piece of tape that holds the scoop to the lid when you first get it is trash. There's also a little plastic foam layer on the inside of the lid that will be trash. I'll probably keep the jars for craft supply storage.
👍 effectiveness--good for me, at least in the cooler half of the year
👍 packaging
Everyone must find their own way, but I do want to share a few products I'm liking. This is not a sponsored post, I just want to share what's working for me after trying different things. So here goes:
My favorite solid shampoo and conditioner: HiBar
 |
| HiBar Maintain Shampoo (left) & Conditioner (right) |
First off, this is the first solid conditioner I've ever tried. I've used two other solid shampoos I don't remember the brand names of, and one was OK and one I didn't care for, but this one I love. It did take one or two weeks for my hair to adjust, but ever since then my hair has behaved just as it did when I used conventional shampoo and conditioner.
I wash my hair every other day. They say these are equivalent to at LEAST a 16 oz. bottle, but I've had that conditioner since AUGUST and as you can see I still have a fair amount left. The shampoo was replaced a month ago, so that means it lasted about 5 months or so. That makes it definitely worth the price ($13.95 if you buy individually from the website).
So why solid shampoo and conditioner? Check out the packaging. It comes in a paper box and is wrapped in kind of a wax paper. It's all recyclable or compostable. Plus, its smaller and doesn't contain water so it's way more compact and lighter to transport, making it's carbon footprint smaller.
The ingredients are listed in the site, and it contains no sulfates, parabens, silicone, or phthalates, and it's cruelty free. One thing missing from that sentence is palm oil. I'm doing my best to avoid palm oil, even palm oil from "sustainably managed forests," so that I don't contribute to demand for it. Not finding it on the ingredients list but knowing it can hide within other ingredients, I e-mailed the company to ask. The reply I received stated that they became aware the the vegetable glycerin they used may be from palm out and they are not happy with that. They are working to find a source they can be sure does not contain palm oil, and said they'll update the website when they've made the change. I'm really glad to hear that this matters to HiBar, so I'm comfortable to keep using the product for now!
👍 effectiveness
👍 packaging
⏳ palm oil--working on it!
 |
| Unused conditioner bar |
My favorite deodorant: Little Seed Farm
When it comes to deodorant, I'm looking for something plastic free. This cuts out most if not all conventional antiperspirants. I'm not too big a fan of the mega-corporations that make them anyway, so I'm interested in natural deodorant. Many "natural" deodorants contain baking soda and that makes my skin very unhappy, so that eliminates a big chunk of those. So plastic free, baking soda free are my requirements--enter Little Seed Farm.
You can order sample packets of their scents, which I did, and I chose the rosemary patchouli scent. I've been using this product since last fall and a jar lasted a handful of months. This is my second. You scoop out a pea sized amount and rub into your armpit. It comes with a tiny wood popsicle stick for scooping, but they also sell a larger bamboo tool for scooping and rubbing in, which his handy if you don't want to get the deodorant on your fingers. I have been using my fingers, and it's fine, but I might splurge and by the $4 tool next time. 😆
Does it work? Depends on your expectations! It is not antiperspirant. It does not stop you from sweating. What I'm hoping from a product is to prevent chaffing and help me not smell very bad. I think it works. As long as no one sticks their nose under my arm, I think I smell fine. HOWEVER, I have only used this is the cooler months! I may feel differently in July! But I figured if I use it for half the year and use conventional stuff the other half, I'm at least reducing my use of that stuff by half. Every little bit helps!
The packaging is a glass jar and a metal lid, which are recyclable. The tiny wood scoop is compostable. The piece of tape that holds the scoop to the lid when you first get it is trash. There's also a little plastic foam layer on the inside of the lid that will be trash. I'll probably keep the jars for craft supply storage.
👍 effectiveness--good for me, at least in the cooler half of the year
👍 packaging
Have you tried any of these products, or found any low-waste/zero waste/plastic free or natural hair products or deodorant? I'd love to hear about your experience.
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