It's funny, but when it comes to taking care of our own personal hygiene and dedicating time to In our search for products that care for both the environment and ourselves , it seems like everything else in our lives takes precedence. We take our reusable bag to the supermarket, but we still buy a liter of shower gel—and we always have two tubes of toothpaste at home. We try to prepare a healthy dinner, but then we don't even have 10 minutes to properly take care of ourselves before going to sleep (not to mention the morning rush).
Today we want you to give yourself importance. Just 10 more minutes in the morning and another 10 at night. No more. We want to ask you to pamper yourself and, in the process, pamper our planet .
We know that finding natural products that also reduce our environmental footprint is not easy. That's why we want to make your job easier and share with you our sustainable morning and night routine. Let's get started.
Good morning! ☀️
The toothbrush and toothpaste
There are two types of debates: healthy and productive ones, and those that are best left alone. Those endless debates that begin with a seemingly simple question and end... well, never end at all. One of them (and perhaps the best known) is the chicken-and-egg debate, but another equally dangerous one is the one about brushing teeth. Better before or after breakfast?
Since we started this article with the intention of finishing it, we'll skip that part. We'll move directly to our recommendations.
The brush
Here we have two options.
The bamboo wood brush, Biodegradable and compostable (bamboo), easy to find at any herbalist or organic store. It's important to choose a brush with black bristles. They last longer and don't fall apart like other bamboo brushes. The ones from the Yaweco are doing very well.
The toothbrush with interchangeable head: Although most are still made of plastic, you can buy it once and forget about it. All you'll have to worry about is changing the head when necessary.
And if you can, go for the hybrid: a bamboo toothbrush with an interchangeable head . They also make them from cane sugar .
Toothpaste
It's curious how many things we realize are full of unpronounceable chemical ingredients, but we tend to look the other way out of laziness. One of those things is undoubtedly toothpaste. We're so used to the convenience of the old-fashioned tube that even thinking about finding an alternative seems like a world of trouble. That's why we wanted to make your job easier and recommend this one. Georganics .
With glass container With a 60ml capacity, this toothpaste is perfect for traveling and sharing at home. Many natural toothpastes come in containers where the only way to get the paste is by dipping a wet toothbrush directly into the container. We understand that if it's just for you, it's fine, but if you have to share the little bottle, you might think twice. This one, on the other hand, comes with its own wooden spatula . It is also available in a amount of flavors It's impossible to get tired of them: mint, green tea, coconut, citrus... But don't be alarmed if you notice that brushing your teeth doesn't produce as much foam as you're used to. It's normal. They're toothpastes with natural ingredients, and although they don't look the same, for practical purposes, they both perform exactly the same function.
Now it's time to shower, but this time without plastics.
Solid shampoo
It seems unbelievable, right? How am I going to wash my hair without my bottle of shampoo and my liter of gel? Maybe this fact will change your mind: are currently consumed one million plastic bottles every minute And it's estimated that by 2020, that number will have increased by 20%. This means that an average of 20,000 bottles are purchased every second.
Now that we know the facts, let's talk about the advantages of solid shampoo. If you notice, one of the first ingredients in a bottle of traditional liquid shampoo (if not the first) is water. To achieve the desired effect, you need to use quite a bit, and the more you use per use, the more bottles you'll buy. Solid shampoo is highly concentrated , which means that each wash will require much less.
Just like with regular shampoos, there are many types of solid shampoos. We like the foam that comes out and the feeling that we're actually washing our hair, not just getting it wet. This one Idaro We love it: “Enriched with five essential oils, (it provides) in addition to hydration, all the strength that (it provides) rosemary and juniper, the protection of lavender, the anti-inflammatory effects of sage, and the activation of blood circulation in the capillaries of sweet fennel oil.”
Another advantage is that these shampoos They take up very little space when traveling and you don't run the risk of it being taken away at any security checkpoint.
Solid body and hand soap
We know that it is difficult to find one that does not leave that rough feeling after using it, so that is why we want to recommend this one to you. BCS . A soap made primarily from natural components in which the main ingredient is Olive oil . You can now forget about cracked heels or dry elbows; this shampoo will leave your skin feeling like a baby's. BCS is also a Spanish distributor, a pioneer in the search for and marketing of the latest innovations and trends in personal care products, most of which are paraben- and silicone-free.
And after the shower, the creams.
Let's talk about ComfortZone . ComfortZone is a brand characterized by its transparency and the attention they pay to the formulas they create. They are very committed to the environment and they have a whole line of 'Zero Impact' products, certified by Ecocert. The line is called 'Sacred Nature' and its products have highly effective formulas, rich in natural and organic ingredients that respect the natural balance of our planet, without depleting its resources.
The carbon footprint left by its packaging is offset by the purchase of carbon credits generated during the creation and protection of forests in Italy, Costa Rica and Madagascar (in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol). In addition, ComfortZone helps to develop the vegetation required to restore oxygen which is extracted from the environment.
We fell in love with Comfort Zone before they launched this new product line, so the products we recommend unfortunately aren't part of these initiatives. Still, ComfortZone ensures that the packaging for all its lines is produced using the minimum amount of material possible and limits packaging to a single material, avoiding external materials. All the waste they have is recycled, and everything they produce is either recyclable or compostable .
We're very clear that once we finish using the products we have, we won't hesitate to try Sacred Nature's, in addition to continuing to research to reduce our use of plastic in our personal care products.
We like to use the Tranquility body lotion for after shower and face cream Sublime Skin Cream to start the day feeling good.
Finally, the deodorant.
Natural potassium alum mineral deodorant
It is very important not to confuse this natural deodorant with synthetic alum deodorant. (Ammonium Alum) – look at the label! (It should say Potassium Alum).
This natural deodorant in the form of an almost transparent stone is activated by wetting it beforehand or applying it directly to wet skin . It is a mineral without toxic components, composed of aluminum sulfate and potassium salts, which unlike synthetic stone, are not absorbed by the skin.
Aluminum is chemically inert, unlike the aluminum chloride hydrate found in most deodorants and the synthetic stone of the same name. This means that not only It is eliminated through perspiration but it disappears when we shower, without the risk of releasing aluminum in the process.
We like to think that sweating is natural. Through sweat, the body releases waste products and toxins, regulates body temperature, and maintains a neutral pH. Ideally, the deodorant we use should be able to control sweating without blocking natural perspiration, and alum stone is perfect for that.
The deodorant is odorless , so your armpits may not smell like roses or eucalyptus, but you will definitely smell like nothing.
Although you can find stones in their natural state without plastic, it's true that we don't always have a herbalist or specialty store at hand. In organic stores, they usually sell it either in stick format or in a small plastic box. It's true that we need to minimize our use of plastic, but this stone will last so long that it will ultimately pay off. Plus, if you buy it in a box, you can always reuse the box to store your pills or forks, which we already know disappear just by looking at them.
After a long day, short routine?
Well, now it's time for the wonderful task of removing your makeup, if you've worn it, or cleaning the residue left on your face after coming into contact with the pollution to which those of us who live in the city are unfortunately exposed.
We like to use the micellar water from ComfortZone to remove our makeup and apply it with our reusable cottons .
Reusable cotton pads
Forget about having to remove your makeup with toilet paper again because you forgot to buy makeup remover pads before getting home. These Earth Sider reusable makeup remover pads Not only do they benefit the planet, but they'll also save you a lot of money on disposable discs. Each of them is made of biodegradable bamboo fabric easy to clean and reuse again and again.
They come in a mesh bag that makes it easy to give the bags a thorough wash from time to time. Just put it in the washing machine with the discs inside, let it air dry, and that's it! Plus, this bag is perfect for storing unused discs and for traveling with them without losing them.
To finish, we like to use our tonic and ours night cream from ComfortZone, brush your teeth and go to sleep.
And with 10 more minutes and a little thought when purchasing your next personal care products, you've got it. An easy, simple, and sustainable routine. Are you up for trying it?
