Eco-friendly toiletries can be difficult to find. Plastic seems to be unavoidable! I found this to be especially true with travel toiletries. It always seemed like such a waste of plastic to use those travel-sized products or to buy plastic containers. I recently decided to go as plastic-free as possible with my toiletries, and tested a few products that I now absolutely love! Many of these products I have used for months during my travels, and you should definitely consider switching!
Why Switch to Solid Toiletries?
Solid toiletries often give you more product for your money, contribute less plastic waste, and TSA won’t flag them on your carry-on! Not only are they great for the environment, but they are huge space savers, especially when traveling carry-on only.
Eco-Friendly Toiletries For Your Hair
Solid shampoo and conditioner bars that I could use were the most difficult for me to find. Why? Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS)! SLS is a harsh detergent often found in shampoos that can seriously dry out your hair and skin, and some people are highly sensitive to it. I tend to have dry hair, so I needed to find products without SLS (easier said than done).
I found the company Ethique that creates solid toiletry products with no SLS. As a bonus, all of their packaging is made solely from compostable ingredients, and all of their bars are 100% biodegradable. They use no palm oil, are cruelty-free, and have a badge of a sustainability business. Talk about eco-friendly!
Tip: allow the bars to completely dry before packing, or they can sometimes feel a bit slimy on the outside. They’re still good to use in this state, but I let mine air-dry overnight before packing!
As of now, I have used shampoo and conditioner bars, face wash, and deodorant from Ethique. I absolutely adore them and am looking into their other products including face cream, lotion bars, and body wash bars. You can browse their options here.
Edit: I have since begun using Ethique face wash bars, and I absolutely adore them! They cleanse my skin and help get rid of oil and makeup, but do not dry my skin out. My only complaint is the bright pink color of the bar transfers to my light colored washcloths, but they do not leave a stain after washing them. I store my face wash in the biodegradable storage containers from Ethique to keep them clean and dry.
Eco-Friendly Toiletries For Your Body
Although Ethique has a line of solid body bars, I have been using loofah bars from Naples Soap Company for about a year now. They smell amazing and have a natural loofah exfoliant in the bar to help scrub your skin clean. I previously used their face oil for oily skin but switched to Elf’s oil control serum when they stopped carrying it. It definitely helps keep my skin nourished and moisturized on long flights! I have also begun using Naples’ solid perfume. It takes up a tiny bit of space in my bag, and it lasts all day. Naples Soap Company is a great place to support smaller businesses that promote eco-friendly toiletries!
Tip: Although Naples has solid shampoo and conditioner bars, they are much smaller and more expensive than Ethique’s, and contain SLS. I would avoid these, especially if you have dry or curly hair!
Update: I no longer use Myro deodorant shown in these pictures, and have removed my original review. After using the affordable starter kit (that I loved), the refills I received were very low quality. They leaked oils through the case and smeared on so thick that it got all over everything. They also caused some major skin irritation. I have since switched to Ethique’s solid deodorant, and love them! Their only flaw: they do not come with any sort of case or holder.
Eco-Friendly Products For Your Teeth
It can be very difficult to find eco-friendly toiletries for dental care. Toothpaste tubes cannot be recycled! For quite some time, I have been using solid toothpaste tablets from Lush. Unlike normal toothpaste tubes, the packaging is 100% recyclable, and they do not count as a liquid on your carry-on. You simply crush the tablet in your teeth, begin brushing, and it foams just like normal toothpaste. There is another company, Bite, that will deliver toothpaste tablets to you in a glass bottle instead of plastic. I have not tried them yet, but I will in the future! Both companies are completely vegan and cruelty-free.
I pair my solid toothpaste with a bamboo toothbrush. Plastic toothbrushes cannot be recycled, and billions land in landfills every year. A bamboo toothbrush is 100% biodegradable and works just as well as a plastic brush.
Tip: Bamboo toothbrushes may not be as anti-microbial as plastic toothbrushes, so replace your brush every 3-4 months (like you should be doing with your plastic brush!).
Other Eco-Friendly Toiletries
Instead of using pre-packaged makeup wipes, I make my own cheap, eco-friendly version instead, using coconut oil and cotton circles. Simply melt the oil, and pour it over a stack of cotton wipes, letting them completely absorb the oil. The coconut oil completely takes off my makeup, and moisturizes my skin!
Tip: Be sure to wash off the coconut oil with face soap when finished. It is extremely moisturizing but can clog pores if left on overnight.
I also use a Diva Cup when I travel during “that time of the month”, “shark week”, or whatever else you’d like to call your period. It is a silicone cup that catches the blood instead of absorbing it. Think of all the plastic applicators and wrappers that we use every year from feminine products! The cup lasts a year (according to their site) and is completely safe to use. The risk of TSS is even lower with the Diva Cup than tampons, and you can leave it in for up to 12 hours!
Tip: There are dozens of different cup types and sizes depending on your age, flow, anatomy, and whether or not you’ve had children. Do some research or ask your doctor which cup would be right for you!
I would also highly suggest a Diva Cup if you will be going through your period outside of the US, Canada, or Western Europe. You will have a difficult time finding your brand, and feminine products can be difficult to come by in some countries, especially in Asia. Packing one Diva Cup compared to a large number of other products will save you time, money, and space on your travels. If you are nervous about trying it, check out this video. It helped me immensely and thoroughly explains the process.
Did I miss anything? Let me know about any eco-friendly toiletries that you use and love!
If you have any questions about any of these products, feel free to email me, or message me on Facebook or Twitter.
Happy traveling!
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I love Lush products! I have not tried the toothpaste tabs yet, but I will probably test them out in the near future. I will have to check out the brands that I haven’t used yet.
Also, getting a menstrual cup changed my life. I use a Lunette cup and love it. I haven’t bought tampons or pads in over two years. Thank god!
These are all great suggestions and I think that people can really benefit from using them when they travel. They make travel easier AND help the environment! It’s a win-win!
Exactly! I recently switched to a menstrual cup and I’m never going back.
Instead of solid shampoo/conditioner at Lush, I would really suggest trying Ethique. It’s just better for your hair without the SLS, and they have more options for your hair type