Lately, I've been working towards transitioning to a "zero-waste" or what I like to call a "low-waste" lifestyle.
This is a lifestyle that seeks to eliminate the amount of solid waste that is produced your daily life. I would even go further to say that the zero-waste movement is not perfect, but is something that I've found that I can more easily incorporate into my bathroom and beauty routine than anywhere else. It's encouraged me to evaluate all the products that I use on a daily basis and really ask myself what is necessary and what I can buy more sustainably and ethically next time around.
There are so many areas in our life where we can strive to reduce our waste, but your hygiene and beauty routine are just a couple of the simplest and most practical ones.
1. Razor
Have you ever thought about how many disposable razors you've used in your lifetime? If you start to think about it, the answer is probably a lot. Every few months or so we constantly have to buy those plastic disposable razors or buy new blades. If you're a woman, chances are that the costs can be even more since companies often mark up the same product if it comes in four shades of pink.
One sustainable and affordablealternative I've found is a safety razor. Safety razors are 10x cheaper over the long run if you consider the costs of buying and replacing disposable razors over a long period of time. Basically, you only need to buy one safety razor for life if you take care of it, and the replaceable blades only cost an average of 10 cents (not to mention that they are also recyclable!) So the upfront investment may be a little more, but you'll only be spending pennies compared to the dollars you'd be spending on traditional razors.
2. Soap/body wash
Now don't get me wrong, I love nice scented body washes as much as the next person, but there's something also satisfying with a simple, down to earth bar of soap that can do the same job and more. Bars of soap are fairly easy to find unpackaged at your local farmer's market or even Whole Foods, and most of them contain fewer chemicals than a traditional body wash. They also have tons of uses besides just cleaning your skin and are also easy to take on the go!
3. Shampoo
Instead of using conventional shampoo from a bottle, I have recently opted to use a shampoo bar instead. These handy little bars are just like any other bar of soap, except you can use them on your hair instead of just your body. I picked mine up from my local farmer's market, but there is an abundance of ways that you can get your hands on these - from Amazon, Etsy, and even Lush! I've found that mine work just as great as a regular shampoo and still provides all the lather that I need for a zero waste alternative.
4. Toliet paper
For all of your TP needs, see if you can opt for toliet paper that is partially or completely made of recycled paper or wrapped in cardboard/paper packaging. If you're not quite adventurous enough to try a bidet or can't easily find rolls wrapped recycled paper, you can likely recycle the plastic packaging with other thin plastics recycling in your area.
5. Use a wooden hairbrush or comb
Next time you need to buy a new hairbrush or comb look for one that has wooden or natural bristles. Not only does wood more evenly distribute the oils in your hair better than plastic, unlike most plastic hairbrushes, it can be composted or recycled after.
6. Use a bamboo toothbrush
One of the easiest zero-waste swaps is using a bamboo toothbrush such as this one from Brush With Bamboo. These toothbrushes can be composted and most of the time, the bristles can be recycled or composted as well! Since most conventional toothbrushes can't be recycled easily and many end up in the ocean, this is an easy and practical zero waste swap that can make a big difference. Not to mention, you can also swap your floss for a refillable floss in glass containers such as Dental Lace.
7. Zero-waste cosmetics
When possible, opt for wood or metal packaging for your beauty routine. Some of my favorite zero waste brands are MeowMeowTweet, Elate Cosmetics, EcoTools, and Vapour Beauty. When thinking about your makeup, try to keep it simple. You can also try removing your make up with oils such as coconut oil or reusable cotton rounds to give yourself the glowy, zero-waste finish you deserve.
