Zero Waste Bathroom Must-Haves

One area of the household that is often overlooked when it comes to sustainability is the bathroom. It is so easy to get stuck in our habits and gaslight ourselves into thinking that just one shampoo bottle, one roll of toilet paper, or one plastic toothbrush doesn’t waste that much. And if you’re comparing yourself to mass polluters, like Unilever, you’d be right. But if we all take up the mentality that little changes matter, we can really make an impact. Ayoooo, collective action!

If half of all American households switched to solid shampoo and conditioner bars, that would create a huge ripple effect and divert SO much plastic from filling up the landfill. In my opinion, that sustainable swap is very much worth it. Especially when the swap is even better than the less sustainable option. 

With that in mind, let’s explore some sustainable bathroom must-haves that will actually be a value-add to your humble bathroom abode. From plastic-free deodorants to reusable cotton rounds, we gladly provide sustainable swaps that will make your bathroom routine more green without sacrificing comfort and convenience. 

Refillable Shampoo & Conditioner

One of the easiest swaps to make is switching to refillable shampoo and conditioner. This is because it provides exactly the same product experience – you can even use the same bottle you’re currently using – just dispense, lather, rinse, repeat as you normally would. The big difference? You’re not getting a new shampoo bottle every. time. you. run. out.

If you do happen to accidentally recycle your shampoo bottle before you’re able to come in to refill it, don’t sweat it! We have pre-filled aluminum bottles that come with a free pump! It’s super convenient and safer than storing a glass jar in your shower. But you can totally still borrow a jar from the free jar library and transfer it to a shower safe container when you’re home too! You’ve got options, and we’ve got salon-quality shampoo and conditioner for you. Our bulk haircare products are clean, vegan, certified cruelty-free, and contain NO phthalates, parabens, or other yucky stuff. This means they’re safe for color treated hair too! Give it a go, you won’t regret it! 

Zero Waste Cosmetics & Facial Care

Plastic is EVERYWHERE when it comes to makeup, facial care, and cosmetics. From plastic mascara tubes to single use sheet masks, it feels like you can’t escape the disposable consumerism of it all if you want to take care of your facial skin. But at Vessel, we actually do carry quite a few low waste, zero waste (if you compost the packaging), and plastic free refillable cosmetics!

A few of Brook’s faves are the vegan lip jellies, bulk zero waste night cream, refillable mascara, and cotton facial rounds. Try making just one swap next time you run out of something! We usually have testers of the cosmetic products too, so come on in and try before you buy. 

Sustainable Shave Routine

We really recommend using a safety razor or stainless steel reusable razor if you’re someone who likes to shave. You buy it once and use it for your lifetime (unless you misplace it). Plus, the blade refills are waayyyyy more affordable than plastic cartridges from mainstream companies and disposable razors. You do have to be a bit more intentional with the disposal of your used blades, but the payoff is worth it: a great, close shave and peace of mind knowing you’re not adding thousands of plastic razors to the landfill. Plus the used blades can be recycled if stored properly! 

(Image courtesy of: Leaf Shave)

Some of our favorite razor brands to check out are Leaf Shave and Rockwell Razors. We don’t have any for sale in Vessel… yet. But we do have a great zero waste vegan shave soap that makes a rich, creamy lather no matter what body parts you’re shaving!

Plastic-Free Deodorant

When we think of bath & body care products, we think of smelly smells that smell. And sometimes the smelliest of smells can come from your armpits! To combat that, at Vessel we stock natural, vegan, non toxic deodorants that are aluminum-free but still get the job done. The key ingredient in the deodorants that we carry is magnesium hydroxide. This extra special naturally occurring mineral neutralizes the odor-causing bacteria and it’s an essential nutrient that your body actually needs! (Studies show that magnesium can help with muscle recovery and even aids in sleep and neurological function. Neat!) 

Whether you’re looking for a deodorant that can travel with you in a compostable paper tube, or you’re ready to go fully zero waste with an unpackaged deodorant cube in Desert Citrus or Earl Grey, we’ve got something that will meet you where you are in your sustainability journey. 

Eco Friendly Toilet Paper & Bidets

If you’re looking to get behind a zero waste bathroom, get your behind on board. For zero waste die hards, the holy grail when it comes to toilet activities is the bidet + reusable toilet paper duo. While we don’t sell bidets that plumb into your commode, we do sell portable bidet tubes! These are a great way to try out a bidet without committing to a whole new bathroom appliance. Plus, they’re great for backwoods camping too! 

Reusable toilet paper is really not as gross as it sounds, especially if you’re using a bidet. Essentially, you will spray your parts clean with the bidet and then pat dry with your reusable toilet cloth sheet. Pro tip: store a cute wicker basket or bin in your bathroom and simply toss the cloth in the basket after use. They’ll be ready to be laundered and won’t even be an eye sore! Très chic, very hospitable.

For those who aren’t quite ready for Toilet UnPaper®, we’ve got a more eco friendly, low waste alternative to traditional toilet paper. Simply swap your normal TP out for bamboo TP! We stock Who Gives a Crap in 4 packs and single rolls, so give it a try and see for yourself why bamboo is the superior bum paper. It’s softer, more durable, and more sustainable as it’s a regenerative grass that doesn’t require cutting down old growth forests. Yippee!

Plastic Free Oral Care

Toothbrushes are plastic. Floss is plastic. Toothpaste comes in plastic. PLASTIC PLASTIC PLASTIC! What are we, barbies? 

If you’re like us, you want to cut down on your intake of microplastics, so putting them directly into an orifice seems counter productive to say the least. That’s why we’ve got compostable bamboo toothbrushes (with plastic-free bristles – yes most bamboo toothbrushes on the market still have plastic bristles…) refillable, vegan, biodegradable floss; refillable plastic free toothpaste tabs; and low waste toothpaste in recyclable aluminum tubes.

These are the easiest 1:1 swaps we’ve got, in our humble opinion, so if you’re looking for your first sustainable swap, let it be your oral care. Smile brighter and go green for your pearly whites!

Zero Waste Menstrual Care

As a bonus, we also stock a few zero waste products for menstruating individuals! Yes, it is possible to have a comfortable, convenient zero waste period! Our favorite products are the Flex Disc (either plant-based disposable or silicone reusable discs) and this pH balanced vulva and cup wash.

Cost Analysis of sustainable products

While some sustainable bath and body care products may have a higher price tag upfront, you generally end up paying less for them in the long run as they are higher quality, more concentrated, or have more product with less packaging, giving you more bang for your buck. Take Brook’s favorite deodorant for example. The SolidSilk Deo Cubes ring up at $20 each. But since the ingredients are so effective and have zero “filler” ingredients, one jumbo cube can last 6-12 months or more.

A comparable natural product like Salt & Stone’s aluminum-free deodorant also costs $20, but only contains 2.6 oz of product, AND it’s wrapped in plastic packaging (boooo 👎). With the unpackaged SolidSilk Deo Cubes from NoToxLife that weigh in at 3.5oz per cube, you’re not paying for packaging, you’re paying for more product! Same price, more product. Plus, you’re supporting a local small business which will put revenue right back into your local economy instead of lining the pockets of some rich exec. 

What zero waste bathroom swap are you willing to make?

Did anything on this list strike your interest? Or maybe you’ve already tried a few of these options! We’d love to hear from you. Browse our sustainable bathroom essentials collection online to see what we have in-store. Or simply come on into Vessel, your local zero waste store in Escondido, CA to explore these options and more.

If you’re not sure if a swap will fit in your routine, don’t hesitate to ask. We absolutely LOVE finding creative ways to make sustainability accessible and achievable. We are always happy to give you advice to figure out which product will best fit your lifestyle. See you soon?