My Top 8 Beauty Buys from Plastic-Free July [AD]

Cutting out plastic is no mean feat. Though I’ve made a lot of changes in my day-to-day life – canvas bags, bamboo straws, reusable coffee cups etc, my beauty routine is somewhere I’ve fallen short. So this Plastic-Free July, I focused on swapping out single-use bottles, tubs and tubes for more eco-friendly alternatives.

DISCLAIMER
This post contains affiliate links (*) – if you purchase a product via the link, I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Selected items included in this post have been sent to me as PR samples (†), however, I only share products that I truly believe in.

It seems I’m not alone in my packaging problem. A 2019 survey by Tap Warehouse found that just 50% of bathroom packaging is recycled, compared to 90% of kitchen packaging. So although Plastic-Free July is over, I’m sharing a selection of eco-friendly alternatives I discovered that will help you clean up your beauty routine.

Solid Hand Soap

During the Covid pandemic, I’ve gone through more hand soap than ever before. As I’ve been working from home for the past few months and I’m extra careful after handling parcels, groceries and the like, I’ve been ploughing through the stuff. So instead of endless plastic bottles, I’ve been using a solid soap bar from Soap Folk†.

Soap Folk have a beautiful range of organic, handmade soaps which contain 100% natural and ethically sourced ingredients. Most of their products are vegan (with the exception of the Milk & Honey bar) and they’re paraben, alcohol and palm oil-free. On top of this, they come in 100% plastic-free, recyclable packaging. Yay!

I’ve tried several soaps in the range but my favourite so far is Calendula. It’s unscented (with just a mild natural aroma from the calendula petals) so it’s perfect for sensitive skin. Plus, the blend of olive oil and cocoa butter makes it ultra-moisturising.

Tip: I highly recommend using a soap dish with drainage holes to prevent the soap sitting in water and going mushy.

Solid Shampoo

I’ve tried a couple of different solid shampoos but my favourite by far is the No More Nets bar† from Soap of Planet Earth. It’s made with nettle, chamomile and aloe extracts and is perfume-free, which is perfect if you have sensitive skin or allergies, like me.

All SOPE’s shampoo bars are vegan and cruelty-free, plus they’re made without palm oil, parabens, and other chemical nasties.

The shampoo bar doesn’t create as much foam as the bottled stuff but it does work up a decent lather. My hair didn’t feel waxy or dry, though I did follow it with my regular conditioner.

I’ve previously had trouble with break-outs along my hairline from shampoo bars containing coconut oil. However, this bar is coconut oil-free and has thankfully given me no such troubles.

As an added bonus, part of the proceeds from every bar sold goes to a worthy charity. 10% of sales of the No More Nets bar goes to Sea Shepherd UK who fight to protect the earth’s marine habitats.

Soap of the Earth No More Nets Shampoo Bar – £8.00

Solid Face Soap

Okay, I cheated a little as I was using this one long before plastic-free July. However, it’s such a simple swap that I had to include it. Sensation Charcoal Soap† is perfect for problem skin as charcoal is known to deep-clean pores and draw out oil and impurities, due to its highly-absorbent nature. Plus, the bar has just a light scent, making it ideal for sensitive skin.

Though I was dubious about using a solid bar on my face, I was actually pleasantly surprised. My skin felt squeaky clean without being dried out. It’s not a miracle worker – I still have oily, spot-prone skin (lucky me!) but it’s just as good as the bottled cleansers I used to use. Plus, it lasts a whole lot longer; I’ve been using this bar daily for many months and there’s still around half a bar left!

Sensation Charcoal Soap Bar – £7.50

BODY WASH IN A CAN

Why has no one thought of this sooner? Instead of plastic bottles and tubes, Ksoni† package their body wash in an aluminium can. Unlike plastic, aluminium is infinitely recyclable and can be back on store shelves in as little as six weeks!

Just like a soft drink, the body wash has a ring-pull to open the can; you can re-seal it with a reusable and biodegradable cap, which also helps measure out the amount you use.

Ksoni have three different ranges – each with a shampoo, conditioner and body wash: Zakti Refreshing, Jivati Rejuvenating and Unati Moisturising. I tried the Zakti body wash, which has a delicious and invigorating citrus scent.

The body wash is vegan and cruelty-free, plus it’s free from nasty sulphites, SLS and parabens; instead it contains natural oils and plant extracts.

Ksoni Zakti Refreshing Body Wash  – £12

Refillable Deodorant

Wild refillable deodorant had been on my wish list for ages. The gorgeous aluminium cases are reusable, so after your initial purchase, you only need to buy the compostable refills.

The vegan and cruelty-free deodorant comes in a range of natural fragrances – I went with refreshing orange zest. They’re free from aluminium, parabens and other nasties, and they contain natural moisturisers like coconut oil, shea butter and sunflower seed wax.

Plus, for each one sold, Wild donate part of the profits to a reforestation charity.

I’m naturally quite a sweaty person (TMI?) so I’m always a bit wary of trying new deodorants, especially natural ones. However, this stuff is great and has got me through long walks and intense yoga sessions. In the beginning I did need to top up during the day while my body adjusted but now it lasts me through.

If you want to try it yourself, you can get 20% off with the link below:

Wild Natural Deodorant Starter Pack – £12 / Refill – £5

Bamboo Toothbrush

Perhaps one of the simplest switches in your bathroom is from a plastic toothbrush to a bamboo one. The Humble Brush from The Humble Co is the best I’ve tried and unlike other big-name oral hygiene brands, they’re cruelty-free.

The handle is made from biodegradable bamboo and the the packaging is both plastic-free and recyclable. The bristles are made from Nylon 6, which as far as I could find is not recyclable; however there doesn’t seem to be a plastic-free, animal free alternative for toothbrush bristles… yet. So for now, I’m just thinking about how much plastic I’m cutting down on with a bamboo handle and 100% plant-based packaging.

For every toothbrush sold, Humble donates one to a child in need through their Humble Smile Foundation, which is an awesome initiative.

Though the toothbrushes usually retail for around £3.99 each in pharmacies and supermarkets, I found a 5-pack on Amazon for less than nine quid. Bargain!

Humble Brush 5-Pack Soft – £8.99*

Cotton Make-up Wipes

Another product I replaced a fair while ago was cotton rounds. Instead of using disposable rounds that come in plastic packaging, I switched to reusable fabric pads.

I recently looked at stocking up my supply and found my favourite ones yet. The Eco Cleansing & Makeup Remover Set by BOHO EARTH is such a cute little kit and comes with more than just your standard make-up rounds.

The kit contains 15 bamboo cotton fibre pads: five white, five printed and five black, ideal for different uses like toning, moisturising, face mask application, make-up removal etc. You also get a a bamboo glove for exfoliating, a zip-up laundry bag, and a cute drawstring travel bag.

BOHO EARTH Eco Cleansing & Makeup Remover Set – £13.95*

Plastic-Free Cotton buds

These cotton buds by Curanatura are just like regular cotton buds, except the stems are bamboo instead of plastic. So simple!

They’re made from organic bamboo and cotton and are 100% biodegradable, perfect for composting if you have the means. And unlike most cotton buds, these come in a biodegradable box made from recycled card.

There’s not much else to say other than this is seriously one of the easiest swaps out there!

Curanatura Bamboo Cotton Buds – £2.60

I appreciate that many of these items are a little pricier than their plastic counterparts. However, a lot of them last significantly longer, ending up cheaper in the long run.

Plus,  surely the cost to the planet of not making such simple switches is far greater?

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What are your favourite plastic-free beauty items? Let me know in the comments!

NB: Prices correct as of August 2020.