Plastic reduction has been a goal of mine for a long time - since way before I saw the contest being run by @livesustainably! That means I have a little bit of practice under my belt already! For this competition, I am going to show the dramatic changes I’ve made to my hygiene and beauty routine!

Body Wash

I am in the gradual process of exchanging plastic bottled soaps for natural and organic bars! One such example dates all the way back to my second Product Spotlight Series article which featured palm oil free OilAndAshSoap!

Shampoo

The change of shampoo occurred more recently - I attempted the Plastic Free Challenge for a week and tried to wash my hair using baking soda. It took some getting used to but I discovered that I still prefer soap… just not the stuff in plastic! So I looked up an alternative in my twelfth Product Spotlight series article and found palm oil free Coconut Milk Shampoo Bar!

Dry Shampoo

For the days when I skip a shower and save some water, I use the Orange & Lavender Dry Shampoo I featured in my third Product Spotlight Series article since it comes packaged in a reusable glass jar (and tin lid)! And as a bonus, part of the profits were donated towards the shop owner’s local Humane Society!

Razor

Shaving is a difficult habit to maintain since almost all razors are made of / packaged in plastic. That’s why I invested in an Albatross Stainless Steel Double Edged Safety Razor after I researched it for my eleventh Product Spotlight Series article! Replacement blades are extremely cheap ($1.50 for ten) and can be sent back to the company to be recycled!

Deodorant

I wrote a review about a delicious scented deodorant previously but it was packaged in plastic. Since then I have switched to a glass jar of organic deodorant from TheHippyHomemaker! It has a plastic screw top but I plan on reusing the jar and lid to make my own deodorant in the future!

Toothbrush

It’s difficult to refuse free products but I avoid the plastic toothbrushes my dentist offers… because I’ve found a much better alternative! I now brush with the Bamboo Toothbrush I wrote about in my sixth Product Spotlight Series article!

Floss

I never wrote a Product Spotlight series article for my floss, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t undergo the same scrutiny that my other products did! I use a glass packaged mulberry silk floss from the Package Free Shop! To be honest, it isn’t my favorite floss and has a tendency to get stuck between tight teeth so I am still on the lookout for a good alternative!

Feminine Products

This is the rare case in which I ADD “plastic” (medical-grade silicone) to my routine in order to reduce my overall waste - I’ve traded traditional feminine products (tampons) for a Lunette Menstrual Cup that I researched for my eighth Product Spotlight Series article!

Makeup

I don’t wear much makeup anymore but when I do, I try to avoid plastic as best I can. That’s why I only use certain products like the EcoTools Bamboo 5 Piece Brush Set and the tin of vegan Rose Pink Blush I featured in my ninth Product Spotlight Series article! I’m still on the lookout for plastic free makeup that fits my lifestyle! Any suggestions are appreciated!

So what did I do this week to reduce my plastic consumption? I used a bunch of my plastic free hygiene/beauty products and documented it for you to witness! It took much longer than one week to get to this point - in fact, I’ve been writing my Product Spotlight series since I joined Steemit in May! I have come a long way… but I’m actually excited that I still have a long way to go!

Morning Hygiene: glass jar of deodorant and homemade essential oil perfume in an aluminum bottle!

Makeup Time: Bamboo Ecotools, tin of Rose Pink blush, and glass jar of Herbivore lip stain!

Nightly Ritual: Bamboo toothbrush and glass jar of floss! P.S. forgive the unsightly paint job on the wall - we are in the process of renovating!

Did you reduce your plastic consumption this week?

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