As a beauty editor, my cupboard was overflowing with products in plastic tubes, bottles, and jars—not exactly eco-friendly. Drawing from years of testing products, I transformed my routine into a sustainable one without sacrificing results.
Leading brands now offer refillable options or bottle return programs for recycling. I regularly return plastic packaging to LUSH, where it's recycled, and receive a complimentary face mask in return. Brands like Loveli and Beauty Kitchen also provide refillable bottles, making it easy to reduce waste.
Read also: ‘Simone has a zero waste lifestyle‘
Skip the plastic bottle—solid bars deliver the same performance. I used to think liquid soaps foamed better, but that's a myth. A bar of soap cleans just as effectively, and switching to solid cleaners has eliminated at least two bottles from my monthly routine.
These concentrated blocks, infused with oils, herbs, plant extracts, natural butters, and other plant-based ingredients—free from SLS, alcohol, silicones, and parabens—offer a packaging-free alternative to liquid shampoo. Despite their compact size, one bar lasts for 75 to 100 washes. It took adjustment, but now they're my go-to for all hair types and concerns, performing as well as liquids.
Tip: Keep your bar dry outside the shower in a container.
Discover four additional tips in the August issue of Santé.
Text: Carlijn Biesemaat
