How can I be zero waste in the bathroom? While being 100% zero waste is impossible, there are some ways you can make your bathroom routine more eco-friendly. This list covers 6 different ways you can find eco-friendly bathroom products and some of my favourite sustainable bathroom items.

Buy Refillable Products

Over the past year, I have become obsessed with the refill store. Ever since I found out about them, I wanted to shop at one. But because of my anxiety of not knowing how to shop at one, I put it off for years. But this is me telling you to visit one!

The local store I go to either refills your current containers or you can choose one of their deposit jars. This way you can order online, pick them up in-store, and return the jars for a refund on your next visit.

Most refillable stores will allow you to refill all sorts of items. Beauty products, dry food, cleaning products, DIY supplies, and more.

Many refill stores also carry a ton of sustainable products like produce bags, bamboo toothbrushes, unique refillable containers, period underwear…you name it.

What Refillable Products Do I Love?

• Floss. Tiny floss containers and floss picks are difficult to recycle. I was thrilled to find refillable floss at my local shop.

• Bathroom cleaner. I hate a bathroom that stinks of bleach. Eco-friendly cleaners are easy to source at refillable shops and are better for the home.

• Hand soap. I keep a jug of hand soap in my bathroom closet to easily refill my dispenser.

Buy Green Products

How do you know if a product is eco-friendly? A lot of companies will advertise their products as natural or use clever design and aesthetics such as green leaves to imply that their products are “green.” This is called greenwashing.

When it comes to finding eco-friendly bathroom products, you have to look at the label carefully and use your best judgment. Here are some of my tips:

• Does it have 3rd party certification? Common green certifications include Cosmos, NaTrue, and Ecocert

• Look for labels that are important to you. For example, fair-trade, cruelty-free, vegan, paraben-free, organic, etc.

• Is there excessive packaging? Can it be recycled?

• Does it have toxic substances? This can be hard to determine as the ingredient list for bathroom products is often a jumble of things we don’t understand. However, just because we can’t pronounce it or know what it is, doesn’t mean it’s bad. Common toxic substances to look out for include sulfates, polyethylene glycols, mineral oil/petroleum/paraffin, and more.

What Green Bathroom Products Do I Love?

• Green Clean by Farmacy. I used to be a makeup wipe user and have switched to this cleansing balm to remove my makeup, followed by my regular cleanser.

• Truffle Therapy Essential Face Toner by SKIN&CO Roma. A relatively new addition, I received this in my Causebox and enjoy the light, refreshing scent.

• Live Clean Hydrating Conditioner. I’ve tried conditioner bars and refillable conditioners but found they didn’t work for my hair. This conditioner is 97% plant-derived.

Buy Reusable Replacements

If you can use something multiple times, why not go for it? Eco-friendly products that are reusable oftentimes cost more for the initial investment but are better for your wallet in the long run. Plus, it’s one less thing you are throwing in the trash.

Common replacements include safety razors rather than disposable razors, makeup-removing cloths, menstrual cups, and a few of my favourites below.

What Reusable Bathroom Products Do I Love?

• Reusable cotton pads. I use these practically every day to remove makeup and apply toner. Mine came with a little mesh laundry bag that is easy to toss in with my other clothes on laundry day.

• French Pink Clay Konjac Sponge by Wlyd. I was using some liquid exfoliants, but then I received this gentle exfoliating sponge as a gift. It’s made from the Konjac plant and makes my skin so soft.

Choose Recyclable Packaging

So many beauty products are notoriously difficult to recycle. The first items that come to mind are toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, lip chap containers, floss containers, or anything in a squeeze tube.

I haven’t tackled switching over my makeup products yet as I don’t circulate through them very fast, but almost all the packaging can not be easily recycled.

Choosing products that focus on better packaging is one of the easiest ways we can choose to be green as a consumer. Avoid any excessive packaging or any products that don’t have the recycling symbol on them. You can also look at TerraCycle to find local places to recycle specific items.

What Recyclable Bathroom Products Do I Love?

• Colgate Toothpaste. I tried multiple “natural” kinds of toothpaste but I found most lacked fluoride and still came in difficult to recycle tubes. I also tried toothpaste tabs and refillable toothpaste and didn’t like either. Finally, I found this Colgate toothpaste that comes in a container with the label built to be easily detachable for easy recycling.

• Blistex Lip Medex. I use lip chap every time after I brush my teeth. This tub container is easier to recycle than the classic lip chap tube.

• The Ordinary Serums. I’m a tab obsessed with serums. I use hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and retinol from The Ordinary. What I enjoy about them is they have beauty recycling boxes at their storefront. I take all my difficult to recycle beauty containers there.

• Cosmetic Lad by Lush. This is the only facial moisturizer I’ve bought more than once. It moisturizes my dry skin but doesn’t leave me feeling oily. Return 5 empty/clean black pots and get a free face mask!

Make Your Own Products

If you’re feeling adventurous, there are some products you can make yourself. Some things are more complicated to make, such as conditioners and lotions as they require an emulsifier to keep the oil and water together.

On the other hand, other products are easier to make such as an essential oil blend perfume or hair serums.

I’m still new to the world of making my own products, as it can require quite a few ingredients and time. But there are a few things I enjoy making myself!

What Bathroom Products Do I Love to Make?

• Bar soap. First, I switched from body wash to bar soap, and then I started making my own. The quality is SO high and the soap is so much more moisturizing than the typical bar soap. I follow this recipe.

• Toner. A quick and easy toner I turn to over the years is diluted witch hazel (with no alcohol) and a few drops of tea tree essential oil.

• Dry shampoo. I used to use up aerosol sprays as dry shampoo like no other. Now, I use a powder formula and a large, powder brush to apply it to my hair. Here is a formula you can make.

Support Local

Some of my favourite beauty products I source from local stores or from companies in Western Canada. Not only do I get great, eco-friendly bathroom products, but I love to support local makers and small businesses.

Great places for products include your local refill store, farmer’s markets, Etsy, or if you’re searching for something particular, a quick google or Instagram hashtag search.

What Local Eco-Friendly Bathroom Products Do I Love?

• Routine Deodorant. After a long search for an aluminum-free deodorant that actually works, my brother’s girlfriend introduced me to this Calgary-based company. You apply it as a cream with your finger and I have never had an issue with it! It can also be refilled at many locations.

• Shampoo Bars from Island Soap Co. I discovered this company at the farmer’s market at Salt Spring Island. Their shampoo bars clean well, smell amazing, and don’t leave your hair dry.

• Brush Naked Bamboo Toothbrush. There are a ton of bamboo toothbrushes on the market, but I love the shape of this one. The bristles also give you an amazing clean.

You Don’t Have to Be Perfect

There are some products I have yet to find a good match for. For example, I tried to find alternative options for my toothpaste and conditioner but couldn’t find something that worked for me. So instead, I purchased a green conditioner from the drugstore and toothpaste that comes in easier to recycle packaging than a tube.

There is no such thing as zero waste. My routine itself isn’t perfect. Slowly, I’ve swapped out products over the years and continue to do so. See the before and after from a couple of years of being more conscious about my bathroom products below.

You’ll notice that some products I haven’t even finished, such as my spot treatment and sunscreen, but will be finding better replacements as I do. Always finish your products as waste is just as unfriendly for the environment.

By being more conscious of our purchases and consumption, we can easily create an eco-friendly routine. I hope you find some inspiration in this list of eco-friendly bathroom product ideas. I myself am always looking to become more green, so feel free to leave me your product suggestions!