9 Zero Waste Skin Care Products That You Should Try
Zero waste skin care products for every eco-conscious and zero waste babe.
Self-care means something different to everyone. What does your self-care routine look like? Enjoying a book, sipping on a hot cup of coffee? Lighting up a candle and taking a bath? Discovering new hiking trails with friends?
How about indulging yourself with natural, eco-friendly skin care products?
It may seem like your skin care regimen is the last thing you need for self-care, but it’s actually one of the easiest things to incorporate into your life.
What’s more, it’s easier now more than ever to find zero waste skin care products. So what? It means you can feel good about treating yourself with environmentally-friendly products.
For instance, EcoRoots’ products are never packaged/shipped with plastic, and we try to use ethical and organic ingredients as much as possible.
I know what you’re thinking.
Is anything actually natural nowadays? Isn’t eco-friendly just a trendy phrase coined by marketers who want to make money from the climate crisis?
I admit, some companies exploit the labels natural, organic, or green.
But here at Ecoroots, we’re devoted to upholding zero waste, natural, and organic standards. From solid facial soap bars to reusable cotton rounds, we source and offer high-quality products that are just as safe for the environment as they are for your body.
Unfortunately, most skin care products use plastic packaging. Take facial cleansers and lotions, for example. If you visit the beauty counter at the mall or the bath products aisle in a store, chances are that the product you’re looking at is packaged in plastic.
This is also true for body wash, shaving soaps and creams, and any type of body oil. You might be tired of hearing about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, but did you know in 2019, it was measured to be twice the area of Texas?
Unbelievable, right? While much of this plastic floats, other large plastic products in the ocean hurt marine animals.
Most commonly, animals get entangled in bags or choke on other plastic items.
Additionally, a lot of skin care products contain microplastics.
Lots of it.
Wastewater treatment plants pump out around 8 trillion microbeads into waterways each day. What are microplastics? They are teeny, tiny pieces of plastic so small that even water treatment plants can’t filter them properly. (Note that microbeads are a type of microplastic that are visible in products like cleansers or body wash.)
Their end destination? Oceans and marine animals’ stomachs. But that’s not all. Humans are at risk for ingesting microplastics by eating fish that ate microplastics. The simple truth is, those exfoliating beads in face wash or polishing beads toothpaste are simply not worth it.
So we’ve compiled this list of 9 zero waste skin care products that use, less wasteful packaging, and zero synthetic ingredients.
Let’s check them out:
Zero Waste Skin Care Products We Recommend:
1. Shea Oatmeal Facial Soap - Exfoliate Without Microbeads
A good skin care routine starts with the most sensitive skin on our bodies--the face. One unique thing about our oatmeal facial soap is that it’s a solid bar. Here is where we eliminate most of the plastic waste in the personal care industry.
The packaging.
As for the ingredients, we included plant-based organic and vegan components to thoroughly cleanse your skin without using microbeads. These ingredients include organic oatmeal and shea butter, which helps irritated skin. In other words, if you have sensitive skin and/or battling acne, this facial soap bar is worth trying.
Another highlight is the Shea butter which is very moisturizing, packed with vitamins A, E & F, and essential fatty acids that soothe irritation, while oat reduces itching, helps remove dead skin cells, and gives the skin an overall smooth texture due to its amazing properties. This bar is lightly scented.
Plus if you build your bundle you can save 20%!
We recommend lathering the soap on your hand instead of rubbing directly onto your face. And good news: you can use this soap for your body to complement your zero waste skin care regimen.
This soap comes in a 4-ounce (120-gram) solid bar with eco-friendly packaging!
2. Yay For Earth Face Lotion - A Youthful Glow Without Artificial Ingredients
After washing your face, moisturizing it is just as important. Even if you use a gentle exfoliator like our French clay soap, some of the skin’s self-made oils will be washed off. On top of hot baths and showers that dehydrate and irritate your skin, you have to make sure you’re taking the right precautions.
Good news: we stocked up on YayForEarth face lotion to give you the best weapon against skin irritation. It highlights the simplicity of natural ingredients like olive oil, beeswax, shea butter, and pomegranate oil. Many cosmetic brands use synthetic ingredients and claim the formula is safe for the skin. Others mix in natural ingredients that aren’t beneficial to the skin besides aesthetic reasons.
But YayForEarth is different. The spotlight shines on olive oil as a natural moisturizer. On the other hand, beeswax is known to fight against bacteria and viruses. Yes, it’s true! So skin with acne and eczema will be happy to soak in all these beneficial properties.
To top it off, pomegranate seed oil helps prevent and delay visible signs of aging. It does these several ways:
- First, punicic acid in pomegranate seed oil makes skin thicker and more elastic.
- Second, the antioxidants in pomegranate encourage your body to make more collagen--the protein that holds skin together. Lastly, the pomegranate seed oil is a natural sunscreen, making this lotion a perfect daytime moisturizer. Nevertheless, it’s also an ideal moisturizer to apply before bed.
This facial lotion comes in a recyclable/reusable glass jar and metal cover weighing 2 ounces (59 milliliters).
You might also like this wonderful Aloe Vera Lotion made with organic and botanical ingredients. High in vitamins A, E & D, this Aloe Vera Lotion does wonder for pre-post sun exposure. Great for face & body. The packaging is plastic-free, Recyclable, or Upcyclable glass jar with metal lid. A little goes a long way!
You can also try this zero waste moisturizer. This zero waste moisturizer is made with finely-ground powder of discarded argan shells, a natural by-product of the argan oil industry and rich in antioxidant Vitamin E.
3. Zero Waste Dry Body Brush - Exfoliate Without Toxic Additives
What is Dry Brushing?
Dry brushing is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. You take a body brush (look for one with firm, natural bristles) and use it to gently massage your body in an upward motion. This process brightens the skin and also makes your moisturizer more effective, as it sloughs off dead skin. And as the name implies, the brush and your skin should be—you guessed it—dry while you do it.
Body brushing is the most effective and natural way to exfoliate, helping you to achieve smooth, soft, and naturally glowing skin and even skin tone. Use the sisal body brush for wet or dry massage to stimulate circulation, unclog pores and exfoliate dead skin.
- Made from Natural Fibers
- Biodegradable Sisal Bristle, Hemp Rope & Bamboo Handle
- Vegan & Cruelty-Free
Regular body brushing prevents ingrown hairs, improves the look of cellulite, promotes blood circulation, and lymphatic flow for natural detoxification and elimination of toxins.
How to use: Start at your feet and move up your body. Brush your skin using wide, circular, clockwise motions. Continue moving up your body, to your knee, armpits, and inner thighs. Use lighter and move gentle strokes on your chest, breasts, and abdomen.
Care Tips: Rinse the sisal body brush well with water after each use during the shower and hang to dry with the attached string. Store in a clean, dry place.
The size of the brush is 10 x 5 x 2 inches!
4. Reusable Cotton Rounds - Spotless Skin Without Single-Use Products
Have you ever used up another packet of disposable cotton pads, thrown away the plastic packaging, and thought, “Isn’t there a better alternative?”
Well, you’re not alone.
Keeping skin clean and healthy doesn’t have to be wasteful anymore. The cosmetics industry still has a long way to go, but it is growing with our needs for more environmentally-friendly alternatives. And guess what? We’re glad to be a part of this revolution.
Say goodbye to cotton balls and disposable cotton pads! There is a better option.
EcoRoots’ reusable cotton rounds are made of biodegradable cotton and bamboo. More importantly, they are certified organic, using harvesting practices that benefit both workers and suppliers. To keep the product together, we do not use plastic stitching or materials.
You might notice that the pads shrink a little when you wash them--this is totally normal. Remember to wash each pad after each use and then let them air dry on a flat surface.
The best thing about these pads?
Soft enough even for the sensitive skin around your eyes, these cotton pads are suitable for the whole face. You can use them for any step in your zero waste skin care routine: apply moisturizing cream or primer, wiping off makeup, cleansing your face. Pair this set with our natural makeup remover and our vegan toner.
One order includes 10 washable cotton pads in a recyclable paper package.
5. Oragnic Body Wash - Total Body Clean Without Plastic Bottles
When we use liquid shampoo or body wash, they usually come in plastic bottles. These are not great for a zero waste skin care regimen, but news flash: the greener alternative has always been available.
Now, it’s available in truly organic, vegan, and skin-nourishing options.
Our vegan solid bar body wash makes use of olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, sunflower seed oil, castor oil, peppermint leaves, peppermint leaf oil, and grapefruit oil.
Moisturizing olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, and castor oil leave skin soft after a shower. Sunflower oil is full of vitamin E and it also helps the soap lather effectively. Peppermint leaves and peppermint leaf- and grapefruit oil exfoliate the skin gently and lend a punchy, refreshing scent. Great unisex bars - balanced and gentle, available in seven scents: Lavender, Sage, Patchouli, Grapefruit Calendula, Peppermint, Tangerine Lavender and Lemongrass.
More importantly, the ingredients are crafted under fair trade practices, meaning workers and producers are always paid a fair wage under ideal working conditions.
This organic body wash comes in a 4 -ounce solid bar and is package-free.
If you are looking for a great plastic-free travel alternative, look no further! Learn more about our best bar soaps here.
Indulge your shower routine with this organic body soap, a clean, refreshing bar formulated to gently cleanse all skin types. Our natural body wash is naturally scented, with organic ingredients, herbs, and oils, that will leave your skin feeling nourished, healthy, and soft. Cold-pressed by hand in small batches, never contain synthetic fragrances or colorants, parabens, sulfates, or animal products.
6. Fragrance-Free Facial Cream with Rosehip - Magical and Luxurios Without Wasteful Packaging
Need a gift idea that’s a guaranteed hit? How about a treat-your-self present that you’ll actually use?
This luxurious facial cream is fast-absorbing facial cream for day and night. This zero waste moisturizer helps reduce signs of wrinkles without clogging your pores, offering a youthful and glowing complexion ingredients. Unlike mainstream creams, we never use palm oil, plastic, or animal products.
The base for each cream is aloe vera, coconut oil, viamint E, rosehip seed oil and hibiscus flower extract.
Give yourself a radiant glow all day long. Gentle for all skin types, including sensitive skin. There are no fragrances added to this natural face moisturizer, but it does contain a subtle natural scent from the Rosehip Seed Oil & Aloe Vera.
You might try out our soap saver bag because of their fun, quirky shape to make sure you use every last bit.
7. Organic Body Scrubber - Nourishing Your Body Without Guilt
Before showering, a soothing body exfoliation is the next best step. Remember not to just focus on your face. Your whole body needs moisture, especially in typically dry areas like knees and elbows.
A sugae/sea salt + coconut oil scrub that gently exfoliates. This plant-based and vegan exfoliant is subtle scented with coconut oil that helps to awake the spirit. It's a treat to slough off dry skin on your body and is gentle enough to use on your face.
Colored naturally with organic ingredients.
- Good For All Skin Types & Whole Body
- Vegan & Cruelty-Free
- Palm-Oil Free
- No Synthetic Dyes or Fragrance
- Recyclable | Upcyclable Glass Jar & Cardboard Packaging
- Plastic-Free Shipping
6 oz | 170 g glass jar
Believe it or not, you can also use this oil / natural body exfoliant in your bath to lock in moisture and prevent razor burns. This Organic Body Scrub works wonderful with our Safety Razor and Organic Shaving Soap for a great and smooth shaving experience.
One container holds 6 ounces (170 grams) of product in a refillable glass jar and reusable or recyclable lid.
8. Zero Waste Deodorant - All-day Protection Without Harmful Chemicals
Still in search of a natural deodorant that actually keeps the BO away? Let me guess. You’ve tried everything from DIY natural deodorants to supposedly natural clinical strength deodorant. It’s time to leave the chemicals in the lab and out of your body.
Here’s the deal.
The Chagrin Body Soap & Salve company came up with a deodorant with a coconut oil base. Moreover, they only use natural ingredients like cornstarch, beeswax, jojoba oil, baking soda, shea butter, and rosemary oil extract to complete and hold the product together.
Coconut oil naturally fights bacteria, controlling underarm smell. What about cornstarch? This ingredient absorbs sweat without irritating skin like traditional deodorants. On the other hand, baking soda keeps bacteria from thriving on your underarms, even during physical activity.
While the unscented option is great for sensitive skin, our lemongrass and tea tree option offers an earthy, herbal smell. Additionally, lemongrass and tea tree help fight bacteria that cause the underarm smell.
To use, push up from under the paper tube to release deodorant. Warm the stick on your skin for several seconds and then smooth the deodorant onto your underarm like you would a traditional deodorant. Find more scents here!
One stick weighs 2 ounces (57 grams) packed in a compostable cardboard tube.
See all our zero waste deodorants!
9. Reusable Razor and Solid Shaving Soap - Smooth Skin Without Disposable, Cheap Razors
One major change you can make to achieve zero waste skin care is switching to a reusable safety razor. Plastic, disposable razors waste plastic and metal, totalling about two billion razors in trash cans every year.
While safety razors might initially seem tricky or even scary, they are actually easy to use. Our rose-gold safety razor is equipped with double-edged blades. Why is this important? It makes for a very efficient razor, preventing ingrown hairs and really making skin smooth post-shave.
We polished the razors to stop metal corrosion, but you can make this razor last by following simple precautions. Clean it after each use by rinsing with warm water. Pat it dry with a towel and set it somewhere away from water to make sure it dries powerly.
Wondering how often you should change out the razor blades?
Our reusable razor comes with five free blades. However, we suggest replacing the blade after seven shaves, but it depends on your usage intensity.
The good news is that the EcoRoots refill pack comes with 10 blades, so you don’t have to worry about restocking so often.
Although our safety razor is sharp, we also recommend using a shaving soap to ensure a close shave. This organic solid shaving soap weighs 3.2 ounces (93 grams), and comes in a round shape. The soap itself is made of hydrating oils that create a rich, foamy lather for shaving. Notes of lavender and citrus fruits like lemon and lime elevate your shaving experience while leaving skin velvety smooth. Check our shaving kit as well.
There you have it. It is possible to have a zero waste skin care routine that pampers your body and protects the planet.
How about you? Is there a part of your skin care routine you’d like to show off? A must-have serum, a delightful nighttime balm?
Tag us on Instagram or Twitter--together, we can get the word out on zero waste skin care!
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