The Plastic-Free Bathroom
These beauty and hygiene products eliminate wasteful single-use packaging
Karin Elgai
I got really serious about reducing my plastic consumption in July 2019, after seeing a post on Oceanic Global’s Instagram. It was a video of plastic containers resting on a beach where the waves met the shore. They were packed so tightly together you couldn’t even see the water underneath. I recognized some of the packaging; I’d used some of those products myself. Realizing the rate at which I was disposing of conditioner bottles — not even thinking about it twice — really motivated me to make an effort to avoid plastic packaging altogether.
It’s no secret that the beauty and hygiene industries have an addiction to single-use plastics, and sometimes it’s really hard to imagine an alternative is even available. Below I’ll share some of the plastic-free products I’ve found and still use daily. Please know that there are so many options out there! These products might not be the right fit for you, but use this as a starting point to find what does work. Let’s dive in!
Disclaimer: None of the companies mentioned below pay me or provide me with free products or discounted goods. Every review here is tried and true over products I’ve purchased with my own money.
Hair Care Products
Shampoo & Conditioner
Brand: HiBar
Type: Moisturizing
Price: $26.50 for the set ($13.95 each on their own, 5% off if you subscribe)
Been using since: August 2019
My hair is curly and quite dry. Very voluminous and full. When I used to buy shampoo and conditioner in plastic bottles the shampoo would last about a month and the conditioner would last for about 9 days. I would go through them in a way that I’m embarrassed to admit now.
I’ve been trying different types of shampoo and conditioner bars before landing on HiBar’s Moisturizing Shampoo Bar and Conditioner Bar. They usually last about a month and a half each and my hair loves them! The shampoo lathers really well and the conditioner (paired with Pattern Beauty’s conditioner brush) leaves my hair feeling very clean and very healthy.
Soap
Using a soap bar is probably one of the most common and available alternatives to a body wash or liquid soap in a plastic bottle out there. I use an oatmeal lavender soap that one of the sweet vendors at my farmer’s market makes. I also found that after a certain age I’ve preferred to apply soap with my hands rather than a loofah, so that I can kinda scan my body for any abnormalities (the joys of aging!)
If you do prefer a body wash, Ethique makes some concentrates. If their lotion concentrate (more below) is any indication, the wash is probably phenomenal too. Also, consider ditching the loofah (once thoroughly used, of course) for some washcloths! I love that I can wash them after each use so I know there’s no buildup of soap scum or bacteria.
Shaving Razors & Shaving Cream
Razor
Brand: Oui The People Razor
Type: Rose Gold Single Blade Razor
Price: $75.00
Been using since: November 2018
Shaving Cream
Brand: Van Der Hagen
Type: Scented Shave Soap
Price: $4.99
Been using since: 2015
Body hair is a very personal journey. For me, sometimes I grow it out and sometimes I shave it down. When I do choose to shave it down, I use two amazing products that I absolutely adore.
Oui The People was a recommendation by a friend and I’m so grateful for it. The beautifully designed razor has a good steady weight to it, is easy to use and clean, and gets the job done.
For shaving cream, I was surprised to find that my spouse has been using his shaving cream bar since before we met (we’ve been together for 6 years). And I don’t mean the same brand of bar. I mean THE SAME BAR. A company named Van Der Hagen makes scented or fragrance-free shaving bars that they sell on their own (for $4.99!!) or with the most beautiful applicator brush and bowl. It creates a rich lather and feels very nourishing. And dear lord, it really makes you aware of the pink tax doesn’t it?
Face Cleanser, Body Lotion & Moisturizer
Body Lotion
Brand: Ethique
Type: Hydrating Body Lotion Concentrate, Lavender & Vanilla
Price: $9.00
Face Cleanser and Moisturizer
Brand: Ethique
Type: Blissbar Face Cleanser & The Perfector Face Moisturizer
Price: $17 for cleanser and $30 for moisturizer
Been using all since: January 2021
I learned about Ethique very recently from a fellow member of the Waste Free NYC Facebook group where I spend way too much of my time. Before discovering Ethique’s products, I would just clean my face with water and then apply the fantastic Eternally In Amber Antioxidant Barrier Cream (which I still use at night) that comes in a beautiful glass bottle. I took a chance on Ethique because (a) it was highly recommended, and (b) some of their products seemed extremely innovative.
The Blissbar Face Cleanser is so fantastic! You use it like you would a soap bar, but my-oh-my is it helping my face after months of face masks. The Perfector Face Moisturizer packaging warns that a little goes a long way and it truly does. My apartment has extremely dry air (especially during the winter months) so a good moisturizer is definitely a priority. I really look forward to using both of these products for years to come.
One of the more innovative products from Ethique’s selection is the Hydrating Body Lotion Concentrate. I’ve never seen a lotion concentrate before and was really excited to see how well it would work. I’ll be honest with you, I really, really enjoyed concocting this lotion!
The lotion comes in a small bar separated into a few triangles. You add boiling water, mix to dissolve the lotion, and pour it into a container of your choice to cool down. This body lotion, like the face moisturizer, also applies tons of moisture with a small amount. At first I thought, “This will probably last me a week.” But I’m still using the first batch which I made 6 weeks ago. I really, truly love it.
Here’s how the Ethique products are packed: nothing but product, cardboard box, and paper filler. On the right is a photo of what the unwrapped products look like.
Ear Cleaning
Ear Wax Scoops
Brand: Geengle
Type: 3 piece ear wax scoop set
Price: $4.25
Been using since: November 2018
So, this recommendation comes your way through clenched teeth, not because the product isn’t good (it is GREAT) but because I bought it on Amazon before I swore off of buying anything on that site and I’ve had no luck finding this brand elsewhere. This earwax scoop set is a fairly simple, purchase-one-and-done kind of solution. It’s easy to use and clean. I would recommend using your favorite search engine (hi Ecosia!) and type in “ear wax scoops” to find the right one for you.
Dental Care
Toothpaste
Brand: Dentabs
Type: Dental Tablets with Fluoride
Price: $8.22
Been using since: March 2020
This switch-from-plastic took A LOT of research. I didn’t make the change until speaking to my dentist because my family has a history of dental and gum issues (yay!) Dr. Omar said a tab-based toothpaste should be just fine for me as long as it has a specific amount of fluoride. I’ve been seeing countless ads for toothpaste tabs on my social media accounts but whenever I took a closer look none of them had ANY fluoride.
I finally found Dentabs, a German company that packages their tablets in a sealed paper envelope. You bite the tab in two and chew the pieces on each side of your mouth then brush as you normally would. From the first use my teeth felt so much cleaner than they did with a traditional paste. I’ve also been having less gum bleeding (a common issue during pregnancy) since making the switch.
Period Products
Brand: Thinx
Type: My favorite are the super Hi-Waist (but super low waste, amirite?)
Price: $42
Been using since: August 2017
Listen friend, periods are so hella personal, so you absolutely do you. Our bodies are policed and taxed enough so you don’t really need my two cents on how to manage your period.
That being said, I’ve used Thinx for a really, really long time and they’ve been excellent for me. They are also great after giving birth (which is like a really long, really graphic period).
Deodorant
Deodorant Bar
Brand: Ethique
Type: Botanica (Lavender & Vanilla Solid Deodorant)
Price: $13.00
Been using since: January 2021
I left the deodorant for last because it has probably been my longest journey of research, trial, and so much error. I am a fairly physically active human who sweats, and when I tell you that I need a deodorant that works, I mean it. I’ve tried so many different kinds, different textures, different chemical combinations, with different methods of applications, and was always so disappointed at the feeling of utter stickiness (ew) or lack of protection. Seriously, nothing worked. And even though I was committed to my mission to reduce how much single-use-plastic products I purchased, I found myself returning to ordering a standard deodorant in a plastic applicator time and again. Until now.
I’ve been using Ethique’s Botanica Solid Deodorant for over a month and this feels like a huge win. It applies like a traditional deodorant, but in a bar that’s solid enough to hold in your hand without the need for an applicator. It provides amazing protection from sweat, stickiness, and body odor, and it feels so wonderfully clean. At the risk of sharing TMI, on the days I’ve forgotten to use it, my natural smell wasn’t half as bad as it was when I used traditional deodorants. I really can’t praise this product highly enough.
The products I choose now are not only plastic free but are often made by smaller companies (many owned by women). Where we put our money is extremely important. I’m so excited that I got to share this journey with you and I’m stoked to share the changes I’ve made in my closet, kitchen, and cleaning habits around the house too.
If you choose to use any of the products I’ve mentioned, or go on your own plastic-free journey, I’d love to hear from you. What you do matters, where you shop matters, and how the products you use are made and shipped matters!
Editor: Karrie Witkin | Designer: Haley Burson | Photographer: Karin Elgai | Copywriter: Karrie Witkin | Copy Editor: Katie Frankowicz | Proofreader: Karrie Witkin
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