Reusable Alternatives To Stuff That Always Ends Up In Your Bathroom Trash
Is it just me, or do bathroom trash cans fill up faster than you can say "cotton swab"? In an effort to cut back on the never-ending mountain of discarded beauty and personal care products, we scoped out companies coming up with more mindful solutions for your routine. Each one of these essentials is formulated to be reused, refilled, or repurposed, and they're just as convenient to use (if not more so!) as the throwaways they replace.
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1. The Leaf Razor
This reusable razor comes with blades that you can insert yourself. To further customize your shave, the Leaf's design gives you the option of adding one to three blades. Its weighty, sleek handle can be used over and over; you just need to call in replacement blades when you run out. I've found that the gorgeous handle lends an almost ritualistic quality to shaving, but beware that the blades do get gunky quick, so you'll want to wash thoroughly in the sink between uses.
Leaf The Essentials Kit ($79)
2. The Last Swab
The Last Swab is an alternative to the 1.5 billion single-use cotton swabs used around the world every day. It's a reusable swab that's made from an easy-to-clean nylon and silicone blend.
LastSwab 4-Pack ($34)
3. Croon Cleansing Wipes
These soft microfiber rounds are an alternative to makeup removers or cleansing wipes. Just add water, and the superfine fabric will work to cleanse and exfoliate. They're perfect for traveling with limited space for bottles and serums, and you can wash each one up to 200 times.
Croon Cleansing Starter Fibers ($26)
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4. Dental Lace
Dental floss containers are notoriously difficult to recycle, but this one made of glass can be used again and again. Buy it once and order silk floss refills (that come in compostable packaging) when you're running low.
Dental Lace 2-Pack w/ Refill ($17.50)
5. by Humankind Deodorant
by Humankind is a new personal care company that's dedicated to reducing the amount of single-use plastics in our environment. Their natural deodorant comes in a refillable container that's guaranteed to last forever, and $1 of every purchase goes toward removing plastic waste from the ocean. The brand operates on a subscription program, so you'll never have to run to the store for an emergency refill again (and all their refills come packaged in compostable paper, naturally).
by Humankind Deodorant ($14.95)
6. Ethique Bar Soap
OK, so this one isn't technically reusable, but we'd be remiss not to mention the exciting array of bar soaps, shampoos, and conditioners on the market these days. All of New Zealand brand Ethique's come in plastic-free, recyclable packaging, work into a super satisfying lather, and will it last you longer than the bottled stuff.
Ethique SuperStar Cleansing Balm ($18)
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Emma Loewe is the Sustainability and Health Director at mindbodygreen and the author of Return to Nature: The New Science of How Natural Landscapes Restore Us. She is also the co-author of The Spirit Almanac: A Modern Guide To Ancient Self Care, which she wrote alongside Lindsay Kellner.
Emma received her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a specialty in environmental communications from Duke University. In addition to penning over 1,000 mbg articles on topics from the water crisis in California to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared on Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle, and Forbes. She's spoken about the intersection of self-care and sustainability on podcasts and live events alongside environmental thought leaders like Marci Zaroff, Gay Browne, and Summer Rayne Oakes.