Easy Eco-Friendly Beauty Swaps + Sunday Reflections Link Up

I’ve been trying to clean up my beauty regime for a while, but you know, old habits die hard. Buying tubes of toothpaste, packets of cotton wool pads and roll on deodorants while doing the grocery shopping is cheap and convenient. However, I just can’t ignore all the unnecessary waste – mainly plastic – that this generates any longer. After doing some research I found these easy eco-friendly beauty swaps and now I’ll never go back to my old products!

Bambaw Reusable Makeup Remover Pads

Using several cotton wool pads every day adds up to a lot over time, so I invested in these Bambaw bamboo and cotton reusable pads. I say invested, because they’re not cheap. I bought mine from Ethical Superstore for £12.89, however, I’ve since found them slightly cheaper at &Keep, where you can get a great deal on a bundle which includes a packet of bamboo cotton buds and a soap pouch. I use the pads with a micellar water to remove my eye makeup and the majority of my foundation before using a cleansing balm and a muslin cloth to thoroughly cleanse my skin. These pads do soak up more cleanser than cotton wool pads, but I think it’s worth it.

Bambaw pads are made from sustainable bamboo and organic cotton. The pack includes 12 soft pads to remove everyday make up, plus 4 scrub pads that gently exfoliate the skin. They can be machine washed in the cotton mesh bag which is included.

Bambaw support the fight against plastic pollution, donating a percentage of profits to charitable organisations The Plastic Soup Foundation and the 5 Gyres Institute.

The Natural Deodorant Balm

I dread to think of how many plastic roll on deodorants I’ve got through in the last 30+ years. And it’s not just the plastic waste that concerns me, the chemicals used in deodorants are less than desirable. I read loads of reviews before purchasing this lemon and geranium balm by The Natural Deodorant Co and I wasn’t disappointed. In fact it has exceeded my expections. I’d been using a Sure roll on which just wasn’t keeping me whiff-free (those no white marks variations are useless!). I figured that this natural doedorant couldn’t be any worse so why not give it a try? Result: not a hint of BO for a full 24 hours and beyond. The fragrance is amazing too.

There’s a lot of choice now when it comes to natural deodorants, which is great. However, it does make it harder to pick one, especially when they cost significantly more than the average roll on. At £12.50 a jar, it’s probably one of the more expensive natural deodorants on the market. But despite that I would definitely buy it again.

Key points

• Sodium bicarbonate stops odour-causing bacteria in their tracks
• Magnesium oxide absorbs wetness and provides extra antibacterial protection
• Suitable for all skin types and daily use
• Coconut oil and shea butter nourish underarm skin
• Registered with The Vegan Society
• Certified Cruelty Free
• Patch test before applying Clean Deodorant Balm post shave
• 100% Natural
• Free from aluminium, alcohol, preservatives, artificial fragrance, mineral oil + palm oil

I’ve been using it for just over a month and have around half left. You really don’t need a lot to cover the arm pit area. It has a slightly grainy texture, which disappears into the skin quickly. There are different fragrance variations available, as well as gentle and active ranges. You can also buy a set of three minis for £10 which would be great for travelling. The glass jar and metal lid are recylable but I’ll keep mine and reuse it for something else.

EcoLiving Toothpaste Tablets

The one thing that had put me off swapping toothpaste in a tube for tablets until now was the lack of fluoride in most of them. I’d read warnings from dentists that fluoride-free tablets don’t give our teeth the protection they need. So when I saw these from EcoLiving (also at Ethical Superstore) I decided to give them a try.

You simply chew a tablet until it turns creamy, then brush your teeth with a wet toothbrush as usual…spit and you’re done! They don’t froth like toothpaste, but my teeth still feel really clean after using them.

EcoLiving toothpaste tablets are 100% vegan, plastic free and made in the UK. You can purchase them packed in a refillable and recyclable metal tin or a refill home compostable bag option. (Fluoride-Free tablets are also available). EcoLiving will plant a tree through Eden Reforestation Project for every product sold. They cost £5.75 for 125 from Ethical Superstore.

When I placed my order at Ethical Superstore I also purchased a LoofCo Body Loofah. It’s much better than a cloth or flannel, and much more eco-friendly than those horrible plastic scratchy scrunchies that go mouldy after a couple of months. Loofahs are biodegradeable and machine washable. LoofCo loofahs are made using traditional techniques by workers in Egypt earning a fair wage.

I’m really happy with these easy eco-friendly beauty swaps, but I’m not stopping there! I plan on buying some bamboo cotton buds, plastic-free dental floss and eco-friendly sunscreen. I’ll be sharing my progress so watch this space!

This is where I link up!

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