6 simple steps for going green in the bathroom!
Do you feel a pang of guilt each time you drop a plastic bottle into your recycling? Do you wonder what the chemicals in your products are doing to your skin and body? Would you like to use fewer and more natural products?
If the answer to any of these is yes, then read on!
Reducing your single-use plastic consumption can feel pretty overwhelming, so don’t be tempted to tackle everything at once. It’s far easier to make little swaps one by one and a great place to start is in the bathroom. Not only will you quickly see results, but at the same time, you can start eliminating harsh chemicals and find products that your skin will really thank you for!
1 Handsoap. These days we are quite rightly addicted to washing our hands. But did you know that a plain, old fashioned bar of soap can provide excellent antibacterial cleaning? Blocks of hand soap have made a huge come back, look & smell really attractive and make brilliant gifts. They’re also very portable - you can wrap them in a face cloth or use a little tin especially designed for the job. Placed in a ceramic dish by your taps, they are also much more aesthetically pleasing than a plastic jar. But if you prefer liquid soap, then once you’ve finished a bottle, clean it out and take it to your nearest refill station - you’ll be able to use the same bottle for years.
2 Shampoo & Conditioner. Again, you can avoid buying bottles over and over again by saving your old containers, rinsing them out and having them refilled at your nearest shop. You can also try a shampoo or conditioner bar which work in the same way as a bar of soap - simply lather up with water and apply. You will be pleasantly surprised by the quality of natural shampoos and conditioners - we have plenty of customers who return again and again for a refill, many even saying that it is better than their previous shampoo at half the price, or has corrected a problem they’d had with their hair.
3 Make up remover. Avoid buying pots of creams or toner which can strip your skin of natural oils and leave chemicals on your face. A super easy (and cheap!) way of removing make up is using an oil. I use coconut oil but you can also try olive oil or sweet almond oil. You might want to play around and see which suits your skin. Decant a little into a glass pot (you will need to melt the coconut oil first) and you’ll find it easily removes even the most stubborn make up, plus you have the added bonus of a delicious smell!
4 Wipes & Cotton Wool. Wetwipes are pretty horrific for the environment. The majority aren’t biodegradable, will end up in the oceans for over 100 years and account for 90% of sewer blockages in the UK. They are also a modern invention, so it’s not difficult to see that we can do without them. Instead, use a face cloth to wash your face and reusable and washable face pads to take make up off.
5 Moisturiser. What do you slather over your body after a bath or shower? If it comes in a plastic bottle, you can ditch that in favour of oil. While your skin is still damp, massage a small amount all over your body and enjoy the glow for the rest of the day! My favourite for my face is argan oil and body is flax seed oil but you can also try extra virgin olive oil, jojoba, almond oil or coconut oil to name but a few. For an extra treat for your body, add a few drops of your favourite essential oil.
6 Toilet paper. Reduce your carbon footprint by switching loo roll brand to an environmentally conscious one. We use ‘Who Gives a Crap’ who not only make plastic-free rolls from recycled paper, they also donate a whopping 50% of profits to build toilets in communities that don’t have one. Good for your bum and great for the world (as they say).
So, that’s it! These are just a few suggestions. What are your favourite tips? And by the way, whatever you choose to change, tell your friends and spread the word … release your inner eco warrior!
