A peek inside my Zero Waste, plastic free bathroom!
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Solid shampoo and conditioner bars
Americans throw away 35 BILLION plastic bottles every year, including shampoo and conditioner bottles. Solid shampoo and conditioner bars eliminate the need for plastic bottles and packaging, plus they’re amazing for travel.
Shop Haircare
https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/haircare
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Bamboo toothbrush
Plastic toothbrushes are one of the most prevalent forms of ocean plastic pollution. Big no no. These can be composted once you’re ready for a new one!
Shop Oralcare
https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/oral-care
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Biodegradable dental lace
Made from biodegradable mulberry silk floss, and they’re refillable!
Shop Oralcare
https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/oral-care
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Tongue scraper
Freshen your breath, fights bacteria, and enhances your sense of taste!
Shop Oralcare
https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/oral-care
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Reusable razor
Americans throw away 2 BILLION plastic razors are thrown away each year. This one is endlessly reusable, plastic free, and 100% recyclable in metal recycling!
Shop Shaving & Grooming
https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/shaving-grooming
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Homemade facial soap bar
The combination of charcoal and tea tree help to remove impurities and prevent breakouts, without drying!
Shop Skincare
https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/skincare-b
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Wooden hairbrush
Did you know that plastic hair brushes increase the static of your hair? Yikes!
Shop Haircare
https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/haircare
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Meow Meow Tweet face oil
This face oil jam-packed with nutrient-dense organic and vegan ingredients like hemp seed oil, jojoba oil and carrot seed oil, and helps to keep my complexion bright.
Shop Skincare
https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/skincare-b
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Menstrual cup
Never buy plastic pads or tampons again. Plus, these last for up to 12 hours a day!
Shop Period Products
https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/plastic-free-period-products
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Baking soda
I use baking soda to make my DIY toothpaste, deodorant, spot treatment, and more!
My DIY Beauty Recipes
https://trashisfortossers.com/to-buy-or-diy-8-easy-diy-beauty-recipes/
What’s in your bathroom cabinet?
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56 comments
Thanks for this great inspiration!
Greetings from Germany,
Fiona
Gad you liked it 🙂
Lauren
You are such an inspiration! Im starting this journey, already made my thoothpaste. Thank you! Love from Argentina, Inés
Thank you so much! 🙂
Hi, Lauren I got a question, you just use corn starch for wash your hear or you use soap as well?
And I loved the post, you inpired me to live a Zero Waste lifestyle thanks a lot
I just use corn starch as a dry shampoo. I use bar soap as shampoo.
So I tried to use bar soap as shampoo, but it ended up still looking soiled and greasy when my hair dried. Am I doing something wrong, or is this just how it works at first?
Hi Sarah, I use a normal bar of soap, too, to wash my hair. It can be a mess if you have a lot of lime (Is this the right english word for it? What makes the water hard?) in your tap water, because the soap reacts with the lime and creates a greasy layer on your hair. Then you have to do a sour rinse (= self made conditioner): Take 1 liter of water and 2 Tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice and rinse your hair with it. You won't smell the vinegar or juice after your hair has dried.
Has the face oil ever caused a breakout? I ask because I'm in my late 20s and still have acne prone skin.
Olive oil and calendula oil are really good for oily acneic skins ! Not all oils are greasy as we understand the word!
No, never, and contrary to what you would think oil is actually great for acne prone skin! 🙂
Also, has your homemade deodorant ever caused staining to clothing? I'm currently using a "naked" deodorant from LUSH but am looking forward to making my own.
Not in my experience, however, it could also depend on how much you sweat.
Super inspiring – thanks for posting! I just created a capsule wardrobe yesterday and am moving this direction with my bathroom but more examples are always helpful 🙂 Hooray for less clutter!
That's awesome!
I am currently in the transition stage to zero waste. I have been testing out castille bar soap as shampoo, but it seems to leave a residue in my hair. I have read that doing a rinse with apple cider vinegar or lemon water can prevent this. Do you use a rinse Lauren or how do you prevent this from happening? Thanks for all the inspiration!
Don't use castile soap like dr. bronners in your hair. It is really drying. Try a handmade organic soap, often they sell them at farmers markets or at your natural food store.
I rinse. I use 1 Liter of tap water and 2 or 3 Tablespoons of lemon juice (you can use vinegar as well. As soon as your hair dries, you won't smell it anymore). It removes the layer that has been built up by the reaction of the soap with the lime. Normally this should happen with any soap you use. Maybe there ist not much lime in your water, Lauren?
Thank you for sharing your bathroom essentials. You've really inspired me to become more conscious of my waste and reducing the amount of products I use. I've already tried your body butter and deodorant recipe and let me tell you, the body butter is to die for! 😀 Next on my list is to move on to using bar soap as shampoo. I've tried J.R.Liggett's shampoo bar but it left my hair feeling like I'd dipped in it powder. Can you please share which soap bars you have tried and that have worked great on you? Thank you for being such an inspiration
I really like Meow Meow Tweet's organic soaps. If you ask them, they can ship them without wrapping and totally plastic free (but you have to specify!) Also, it takes a bit of time for your scalp to adjust.
is that the meow meow tweet shampoo bar, or just the regular soap bar? also do you use anything for conditioner before or afterwards? coconut oil mask, apple cider vinegar rinse, etc?
Hi, Lauren! I'm gonna try the toothpaste for the first time. I've seen recipes suggesting 1 tbsp of baking soda to 1 tbsp of the oil. Have you tried it with this different proportion too? Thanks.
Hi Lauren!
I'm following your posts for a long time and realy like to life a zero waste-live just like you. But for me it is extremely hard. In my town it is complicate to go shopping with own containers and nowhere I can buy unpacked products (except for fruits and vegetables). For example, with the butcher: There are so strict hygiene regulations that they may not lay the product in brought bowls. And also then one buys more plastic as packaging than food.
I find your lists to alternative products really great! Nevertheless, I would not like to throw away all plastic products that is already in my flat. I would rather replace it, after it is broken or is used up.
To your 'bathroom' post it would still interest me what you use as (an everyday) shampoo and where you get the product. I have very long, thick hair which starts getty oily right the other day and am angry every time at the fact how much shampoo I need to the hair wash and how much garbage I produce with it. Moreover, I do not think that everything which is included in the offered shampoos, is really well for hair and environment.
As well, I realy liked your posts about your trip through Europe. Especialy your visit in Berlin. Could you name some more stores which resemble 'Unverpackt' and where they are to be found? That would be great!
Thanks for everything what you do for us and our earth! There should be much more people like you!
Lots of love from Germany!
Jeannin
I watched a video on floss and you can use a couple threads from organic fabric. Just roll them up, use and compost. 🙂
Hey! I'm getting into this,but how do you obtain your ingredients trash free?
Oooh. So awesome. I'm going to try using bar soap for shampoo once my current bottle runs out. I use arrowroot powder for dry shampoo and I add a little bergamot oil to it.
I do a lot of the things that you describe here. My next challenge is washing my hair trash-free. Would you please talk at more length about using soap to wash your hair? Any particular kinds of soap? Any tips about how to do it? Like you, I have longish and very thick hair. I just can't imagine using a bar of soap.
Hello, I was wondering if the toothpaste makes your teeth sensitive at all? That's one thing that I've been nervous about trying since I've previously got sensitive teeth from a natural toothpaste. But I wonder if this will be different then that. Thanks for answering.
Hi Lauren, thanks for your posts – very inspiring! What do you recommend for hair conditioner? I've tried making my own a couple times with different kinds of oils/butters, and each recipe has left my hair greasy or dried out
I haven't run out of dental floss yet but I might try using some of the organic thread I've been using to make produce bags. My only worry is that it will shred my gums.
I LOVE your blog, it's so inspiring! One question… do you use a conditioner on your hair?
Hi there! Do you wear makeup? Any suggestions there?
Thanks for this!
thanks!! 🙂
Hello! I'm just wondering, what do you do with the razor blade once it has dulled?
Awesome! I was wondering about sunscreen.. do you use any? Any tips for replacing tradicional sunscreen by a zero waste one?
How do you wipe your butt?
How do you shave your legs?
On Lauren's "Zero Waste Alternatives: The Ultimate List" she lists Seventh Generation natural recycled unbleached toilet paper and an old-fashioned metal safety razor. Here's a link to that list: http://www.trashisfortossers.com/2013/08/zero-waste-alternatives-ultimate-list.html
Hi Lauren,
I absolutely love you blog. You have been a huge inspiration to me. I will be purchasing my safely razor here in the next few days and I've done a little bit of research on how to use it. Do you find that you need to use the brush and a shaving cream, or does your soap bar create enough of a lather? Please let me know! I can't wait to try it out!
~ Carly
hi Lauren, this could looks like a joke, but is not. I'm really curious to know if you use toilet paper, if you don't, could you tell me what you do, especially when you are using a public toilet, please?
thank you
In another one of her posts she talks about zero waste alternatives and says she uses a Recycled Natural Unbleached Toilet Paper and even has a link to the brand she recommends. This is the post! http://www.trashisfortossers.com/2013/08/zero-waste-alternatives-ultimate-list.html
Hi Lauren. I love what you're doing and I'm slowly trying to get plastics out of my life. I tried the tooth paste that you showed in your videos but the mint didn't seem like enough. I added a lot more but still feel it isn't enough. Do you ever feel like your breath isn't very fresh with using it? Last night I went to bed and forgot to brush so this morning I felt like the tooth paste that I made copying your recipe didn't make me feel like my mouth smelt fresh and clean enough. I don't know if I should add more mint or what. I'm thinking of adding clove powder or cardamom powder. Please let me know if you have any suggestions.
It is something you have to get used to. We are used to think that minty= clean, but that is not the case. As long as your teeth are clean (which is achievable with this recipe) your breath should be fine (unless there is another issue). When I stopped using regular toothpaste I felt the same way and was self conscious, but you get used to it.
Hello Lauren. I'm going to ask this since no one is doing it. I don't mean to be rude. I think you are missing something very important here, something that we use everyday in the bathroom. Toilet paper. I saw a video were you stated that 1 year of your thrash could fit in a small glass jar. Now, it's been bother me that you talk about "zero waste" in your bathroom but never mention this. So, how do you do it? Sorry, i had to ask.
I use a couple of teaspoons of baking soda mixed with water as shampoo, and finish with a apple cider vinegar and water rinse. The hair feels really clean afterwords, and you don't smell the vinegar. I have really thick and long hair, so I think it would work for most people.
Hello,
I just wanted to thank you for your toothpaste recipe. I've been using it for a few weeks now and I like it!
Julie
What about covering bad breath, including morning breath that the tooth brushing doesn't completely fix as well as dental floss? two things I cant come up with solutions for. Any help please.
Thanks
About the toothpaste recipe, I live in the tropics and here, organic coconut oil is not like that white lumpish thing. It's proper oil, so how am I to make my own toothpaste??
This is awesome! What do you for flossing!
Great question!
Super curious about why your refrigerator appeared completely empty.
Finally!! I am already making my lotion and deodorant, but I could not find a toothpaste recipe that I liked. I was using lush toothy tabs which come in cardboard packaging so at least I could recycle that, but they are soooo expensive. Glad I found this.
Hi can you let me know the brand of organic essential oil you use that is food grade?? I have not been able to find any ?? thanks
Hi Lauren,
I ask you about the soap. My English is not so good, so I don't understand what kind of it is.
Thanks,
Fruzsina
You are absolutely correct! You can make great products for the bathroom without using synthetic ingredients. I make all my own soaps with oils, butters, lye and essential oils. They are better then anything I’ve bought. My hair has never been better.
Hi Lauren,
I love trash is for tosser and will be making your lotion recipe, however, I don’t have an electric beater or mixer. Do you think I could use a food processor and get the same whipped affect?
Thanks,
Chloé
Mam , is there any substitute for Shae Butter, you are using in body lotion and deodorant?