What products should you choose to compose a more responsible toiletry bag? How to avoid single-use plastic? What are the pitfalls to avoid ? I used my own experience to answer these questions that we all ask!
5 years ago we decided to pay more attention to our daily consumption.
We started to eat less meat (because we were big carnivores)
and to pay more attention to our races in general . When we left to live in
Montreal , we further slowed down our consumption of meat, but for the rest it was "complicated" because all of our landmarks were shaken up, we no longer knew what to buy and where ... When we returned to Paris, start 2018,
I was aware that it was not enough . So I
decided to go further in this process and
do everything to avoid consuming single-use plastic while traveling but also at home.
Is it complicated to zero in on waste?
Some people do not dare to start because they think that "it's complicated", that "it takes more time" or that "it costs more" ... etc We were among these people, so I think we are well placed to testify that no:
zero waste is not that complicated , that
it does not take more time and above all that
in the long term it costs less !
Example: The average price of a disposable toothbrush is 2.5 €. The Caliquo rechargeable toothbrush is € 2.95 and refills cost € 1.25 per unit. Result after a year: if you change your head three times, rather than buying 3 toothbrushes, you are a winner!
Finally,
it is generally more practical when traveling because liquid products are replaced by solid products . This means that: no more hassle of liquid spilled in your bag / suitcase and above all more restriction of 100ml for cabin baggage.
Why did I choose to speak on this subject?
This is the first blog post where I speak on the subject of more responsible consumption and I hope there will be others. I am not an expert, I am far from perfect, but
it is a subject that fascinates me and where I constantly learn new things .
To start, I chose to tackle our hygiene and beauty products and therefore our toiletry bag. For some products we are not on zero waste at 100% because we would have to take everything in bulk and sometimes it does not exist for hygienic reasons. But I mainly selected products with packaging in paper, cardboard or reusable plastic.
The goal is of course to avoid single-use plastic packaging.
Promised
my ideas are: easy, fast and economical !
All the products I'm talking about here have been bought and tested by us for several months, even several years for some. For those who follow us on Instagram, you have surely seen our stories “Ecology passer”. It is through them that I shared our new purchases and especially gathered your advice which helped me a lot. So I chose to do this article in the continuity of these stories. I hope that you will discover things thanks to this article and especially I hope to learn new things thanks to you!
Presentation of the products to compose a greener toiletry bag
1. the soap
On the soap side, we alternate between
Marseille soap from Corvette and
“Nile” soap from Sloe . The first time, we bought the Nil soap in its reusable aluminum box so now we just buy the refill.
The Corvette
Marseille Soap La Corvette has been produced since 1894 at Savonnerie du Midi in Marseille , using the traditional cooking method of cooking with cauldrons. The Corvette is one of the 4 traditional Marseille soap manufacturers members of the UPSM "Union of Marseille Soap Professionals".
Economical, ecological and very effective, Marseille soap is used both for personal hygiene (skin, hair and teeth) but it can also be used to clean dishes or detach your clothes while traveling.
It is therefore a great multi-use product, essential at home and / or in your toiletry bag !
☞ Find all the tips on the Corvette blog:
www.la-corvette.com .
As for Sloe, it is a small brand that we discovered in December 2019 during a Christmas concept store. It was there that we met the founders:
Fanny and Bertrand .
They are sparkling and have a real desire to change things and I admire them very much for that! Besides, I love how they define their brand: “Sloe is for everyone who is aware of the climate emergency but who does not always know where to start. […] In short,
Sloe is for all those who want to stay clean without dirtying the planet ”!
Why we recommend the brands Corvette and Sloe
Sloe uses the cold saponification method , a
unique, ecological, artisanal and ancestral production which guarantees the best possible conservation of the properties of the vegetable oils used.
And
Corvette , makes
real Marseille soap according to the traditional method in cauldrons (hot saponification) , based on vegetable oils without perfume, coloring or preservative.
2. shampoo
As for shampoo, I currently have a treatment for eczema, given by the doctor, which requires me to use a shampoo bought in pharmacies. Hi the stressed chick, ah ah! But here are the ones that friends have tested and advised me:
I'm thinking of testing Sloe's after confinement, so I can give you a return before summer!
3. the toothbrush
At first I started with the idea of buying a bamboo toothbrush then
Chrystelle from the travel blog Wait & Sea made me realize that I had to be careful with bamboo objects. Some dishonest people are riding the ecology wave to make money…. So small certified ecological farms and / or fair trade are no longer sufficient to meet the great demand for bamboo and we are witnessing in particular in Asia, the deforestation of other species to make gigantic plantations ...
I discussed this with Fanny , the co-founder of
Sloe , for their part
they selected bamboo "Moso" to make their toothbrush. Moso bamboo grows in abundance and its culture does not require water. In addition it is a bamboo which is not consumed by pandas, so the impact of its culture is less for the environment.
Which brand of toothbrush with interchangeable head should be chosen?
My choice therefore turned, on Chrystelle's advice, to the
bioplastic toothbrush with the interchangeable head . So when the hairs start to do the hop face I just change my head! And what's great is that you just have to send the heads to Terracycle, who takes care of recycling them.
I bought our two toothbrushes from Altermundi because it was the only "responsible" store I knew near us.
Finally, I chose those of the Lamazuna brand but with hindsight, and after a discussion with our friends
Chloé & Gurkan from the blog Van life goes on , I realized that I had been tricked!
I paid € 7.90 for the Lamazuna toothbrush while the Caliquo brand does the same at 2.95 € . The beginner's mistake ... But at least you are warned!
4. the toothpaste
After the toothbrush, my second fail was: the toothpaste ... I bought at the same time as our toothbrushes
the solid toothpaste on a wooden stick of the Lamazuna brand .
The peppermint taste was frankly not bad. But the solid toothpaste on
a stick was a really bad idea . Firstly: since you have to wet the head of your toothbrush to rub it on the toothpaste, the toothpaste is wet ... So after that you have to wait for it to dry before putting it in your toiletry bag. So not ideal for travelers. And secondly: after a while it falls from the stick so it becomes hell to use the little bits of toothpaste that remain.
Since that day, I learned from my mistake and so I turned to a solid toothpaste in a reusable aluminum box.
I chose Sloe's because they are the few to offer
toothpaste lozenges and frankly I love the concept: you crunch and you rub. It's easy, it lathers just enough and you have the feeling of freshness thanks to the natural mint flavor! Perfect !
5. the deodorant
For the deodorant I use the “
Superstar ” from the Canadian brand
Routine. that I had in a box during our trip to Calgary. I love its creamy texture which I find super easy to apply. Unfortunately the brand is not distributed in France… There is only one European distributor which is located in Denmark, so we will see if one day we go there, I will make myself a stock. So when it is finished I will use
Sloe's “Louga” deodorant cream .
6. cotton swabs and ear picks (oriculi)
I bought a metal oriculi two years ago in supermarkets but I can't find the extra washing experience. So I bought bamboo cotton swabs at Altermundi but it was quite expensive: € 4.90 per box of 100. We finally opted for
biodegradable paper cotton swabs which cost around € 2 per box. 200.
7. washable cleansing cottons
Two years ago I invested in
a kit of washable cleansing squares in eucalyptus, with a washing net and a travel kit at
Emma's Trends . Personally I use this kit as storage at home, but not when traveling because it is a little big knowing that I use one square per week. I take a few squares in my toiletry bag, depending on the length of my stay. Note that there is also a glove version if you prefer!
To wash them, nothing simpler I rub them by hand with soap. And if they are still stained I use baking soda, it helps to re-whiten them.
8. products for making up, removing make-up and moisturizing the skin
So, friends, it's now that I'm going to need your advice! Let me explain the situation to you: I wear very little makeup and besides I think I started to wear makeup around 16 and that since my routine hasn't really changed… Basically I use a moisturizer as a base , a good-looking powder, a black pencil and a mascara. And sometimes I put on a little red lipstick to spice it up a bit. So as much to tell you that my makeup usually lasts two years! But here I use a little the same brands since I was 16, which are big brands known to all and which are far from being green… So I need your advice to know which brands of cosmetics more ecological to choose ?
Same make-up removal side I have used make-up removing milk for a long time, now I use micellar water but apparently it is not great for the skin (and it is in a plastic bottle).
So I was advised to buy Jojoba oil to remove my makeup . In which I can
dilute a few drops of Tea Tree essential oil to disinfect the skin.
What do you think ?
9. feminine protections
Adios tampons, panty liners and disposable towels! I bought
a menstrual cup of the brand “BeCup” in supermarkets two years ago and frankly to try it is to adopt it. When traveling you just have to think of having a water bottle to clean it in the toilet when you have no access to a tap… But otherwise it's super practical, I no longer have the little irritations that I sometimes and above all I produce less waste. And for those who wish, you can complete the cup with
washable panty liners .
Otherwise, you can also invest in
washable sanitary towels made of organic cotton and / or
menstrual pants . I love the brand “
in my pants ”, I follow it on social networks and I find it really hot! (I did not expect to find washable sanitary napkins… Ah ah).
I have never tested their products but I find that they have succeeded in modernizing female protections .
It's design, while protecting your body and the planet! So it's threefold cool!
10. sun protection
It's difficult to find a solar range with refillable containers. Personally I use the
EQ brand sun and after-sun range because I know that at least the cream respects corals.
EQ is
certified ORGANIC by Ecocert® and
labeled Cosmebio® so it allows to reconcile
skin protection
and ocean protection ! In addition, all of their products are PETA certified. That is to say that they do not use any components coming from animals and that the products are not tested on them.
For the body I use
SPF 30 sunscreen to protect my skin from the sun. And for the face I had the
combistick index 50 that I had trouble spreading ... Suddenly I traded it against the
golden stick SPF 50+ which I clearly prefer, because it does not make a white mark. This format is often used by surfers and I find it perfect for hiking!
On the after-sun side, I use the
sublimating moisturizer which hydrates my skin well while leaving a delicious smell of coconut.
For further…
As I said above, I am not at all an expert in zero waste. I chose to do this article on "how to compose a greener toiletry bag" to help you in your research of clean and nomadic products. And above all, to avoid you making the same mistakes as me.
There are no small gestures when we are more than 7 billion to do them!
Here are some sites to help you in your zero waste approach:
I hope this article has helped you find the right products for your needs.
If you have any advice, don't hesitate to write them in the comments , I would be happy to include them in this article! And if you see new topics to cover here, or if you have ideas on a future eco-responsible subject on which you want me to write, I'm all ears!
