My Zero Waste Beauty Routine
It's been 6 months since I started my Zero Waste journey and have finally used up a lot of the existing plastic beauty products I previously had. That means from here on out I will be making my own products or buying package free from local shops. I was expecting this to be much more difficult than it was. My main concerns was; how is my hair going to react?
Hair and Showering
I have long, thick, and curly hair. It has always been a struggle for me to find something that works for my hair in terms of shampoo and conditioners. I have tried so many different products and have found that my hair reacts well to thick liquid conditioners. However, those products always come in plastic. I tried a couple different shampoo and conditioner bars from lush since they come naked (without any packaging). I loved the shampoo bars and was surprised by the amount of lather, but the conditioner bars made my hair feel waxy and tangled. I've tried a couple different lush conditioner bars and I always get the same results so I would personally not recommend them. I did however fall in love with the Lush naked avocado wash bar. It leaves my hair smooth, moisturized, and I'm even able to run my fingers through it. The smell is also incredible! Apple cider vinegar also works as a natural cleanser but the smell is much stronger. To wash my body I use a regular bar of soap I got one from the farmers market that came package free and it works just as well as any other soap.
Dental Care
I make my own toothpaste using baking soda, coconut oil, charcoal powder, and peppermint oil. I also use a mouth wash that I make from calcium carbonate, trace mineral drops, peppermint and spearmint essential oil, and water. The trace minerals and calcium carbonate are aimed at protecting my enamel since the baking soda is abrasive. I have a glass jar with organic silk floss that is biodegradable. My toothbrush is also bamboo and replaces plastic ones. Dental care is usually the sketchiest for zero waste. I have done lots of research to make sure I am taking care of my oral hygiene in the safest and most effective ways. I did recently go to the dentist and everything was great and there were no bad signs from this 6 month routine. Something I don't have in my routine is fluoride which is important and explained down below in remaining plastics.
Face and Body Care
Face
I have never had too bad of a struggle with acne which makes zero waste skin care easier for me. Some who do cannot always avoid plastic since natural products are not strong enough to combat their Acne. Before I go to bed I wash my face/take off my makeup with my own DIY cleaner (Coconut oil, shae butter, vitamin E oil, tea tree oil, and peppermint oil). Then I use some aloe vera gel and go to bed. In the morning I rinse my face with water, apply more aloe vera gel to moisturize, apply a toner (apple cider vinegar, water, and tea tree oil), then finish with sunscreen. At first my skin fought back since I was changing from tons of chemical products to all natural ingredients. after a couple weeks things calmed down and my skin has been bright and moisturized.
Body
Ive experimented with a bunch of different recipes and the ones I continue to use are my favorites. I make a whipped body butter that I use after I shave (using a safety razor). The recipe came from the zero waste blog, Trash Is For Tossers. It makes you smell like a Hershey's chocolate bar and I love it! I make my own deodorant as well which works better than any deodorant I've ever had. It keeps my underarms smelling great all day long. I've posted the recipe in an earlier blog. The last thing I have is a beeswax/shae butter moisturizing cream I use on my hands when they get dry from washing them at work so often. I got it at the farmers market and it game in a small glass jar I can reuse when it's gone.
Remaining Plastic
I haven't been able to totally ditch plastic in my beauty routine and that has a lot to do with my makeup routines. Since I do musical theatre and acting I have a ton of makeup! I try not to buy new makeup and use what I have but sometimes I need specific things for shows. I have started making my own mascara which works for a normal day but not a show.
I also have to do a lot of things to my hair so I still use a plastic bottle of heat protectant when I use a straightening or curling iron. My aloe vera gel is in a plastic bottle but I hope to get an actual plant when this runs out.
As for fluoride, which I mentioned above, I use a prescription toothpaste 2 times a week to make sure I still am getting some fluoride.
I still use a liquid sunscreen on my face since its more sensitive to my skin. Still looking for an alternative
I'm not perfect and I won't be perfect. But I am getting better. I enjoy making my own products because it makes me focus on my self care. I feel like I'm pampering myself every time I use them. My beauty routine is almost exclusively zero waste and that is crazy to think about! 6 months ago my bathroom was full of plastic and the worst part was, I didn't even notice how much. I encourage everyone to go through their beauty routines and see if you can replace any items with zero waste alternatives. The easiest way to start is with soap!
Hair and ShoweringI have long, thick, and curly hair. It has always been a struggle for me to find something that works for my hair in terms of shampoo and conditioners. I have tried so many different products and have found that my hair reacts well to thick liquid conditioners. However, those products always come in plastic. I tried a couple different shampoo and conditioner bars from lush since they come naked (without any packaging). I loved the shampoo bars and was surprised by the amount of lather, but the conditioner bars made my hair feel waxy and tangled. I've tried a couple different lush conditioner bars and I always get the same results so I would personally not recommend them. I did however fall in love with the Lush naked avocado wash bar. It leaves my hair smooth, moisturized, and I'm even able to run my fingers through it. The smell is also incredible! Apple cider vinegar also works as a natural cleanser but the smell is much stronger. To wash my body I use a regular bar of soap I got one from the farmers market that came package free and it works just as well as any other soap.
I make my own toothpaste using baking soda, coconut oil, charcoal powder, and peppermint oil. I also use a mouth wash that I make from calcium carbonate, trace mineral drops, peppermint and spearmint essential oil, and water. The trace minerals and calcium carbonate are aimed at protecting my enamel since the baking soda is abrasive. I have a glass jar with organic silk floss that is biodegradable. My toothbrush is also bamboo and replaces plastic ones. Dental care is usually the sketchiest for zero waste. I have done lots of research to make sure I am taking care of my oral hygiene in the safest and most effective ways. I did recently go to the dentist and everything was great and there were no bad signs from this 6 month routine. Something I don't have in my routine is fluoride which is important and explained down below in remaining plastics.
Face and Body Care
Face
I have never had too bad of a struggle with acne which makes zero waste skin care easier for me. Some who do cannot always avoid plastic since natural products are not strong enough to combat their Acne. Before I go to bed I wash my face/take off my makeup with my own DIY cleaner (Coconut oil, shae butter, vitamin E oil, tea tree oil, and peppermint oil). Then I use some aloe vera gel and go to bed. In the morning I rinse my face with water, apply more aloe vera gel to moisturize, apply a toner (apple cider vinegar, water, and tea tree oil), then finish with sunscreen. At first my skin fought back since I was changing from tons of chemical products to all natural ingredients. after a couple weeks things calmed down and my skin has been bright and moisturized.
Body
Ive experimented with a bunch of different recipes and the ones I continue to use are my favorites. I make a whipped body butter that I use after I shave (using a safety razor). The recipe came from the zero waste blog, Trash Is For Tossers. It makes you smell like a Hershey's chocolate bar and I love it! I make my own deodorant as well which works better than any deodorant I've ever had. It keeps my underarms smelling great all day long. I've posted the recipe in an earlier blog. The last thing I have is a beeswax/shae butter moisturizing cream I use on my hands when they get dry from washing them at work so often. I got it at the farmers market and it game in a small glass jar I can reuse when it's gone.
Remaining PlasticI haven't been able to totally ditch plastic in my beauty routine and that has a lot to do with my makeup routines. Since I do musical theatre and acting I have a ton of makeup! I try not to buy new makeup and use what I have but sometimes I need specific things for shows. I have started making my own mascara which works for a normal day but not a show.
I also have to do a lot of things to my hair so I still use a plastic bottle of heat protectant when I use a straightening or curling iron. My aloe vera gel is in a plastic bottle but I hope to get an actual plant when this runs out.
As for fluoride, which I mentioned above, I use a prescription toothpaste 2 times a week to make sure I still am getting some fluoride.
I still use a liquid sunscreen on my face since its more sensitive to my skin. Still looking for an alternative
I'm not perfect and I won't be perfect. But I am getting better. I enjoy making my own products because it makes me focus on my self care. I feel like I'm pampering myself every time I use them. My beauty routine is almost exclusively zero waste and that is crazy to think about! 6 months ago my bathroom was full of plastic and the worst part was, I didn't even notice how much. I encourage everyone to go through their beauty routines and see if you can replace any items with zero waste alternatives. The easiest way to start is with soap!
Comments
Post a Comment