Inspired by Lauren Singer, who managed to fit two years’ worth of waste into one jar and blogs at Trash is for Tossers, I’ve been spending some time recently wondering how to reduce my own environmental impact.
I already shop at charity shops, which is a great way of reducing the amount of clothes that end up in landfill.
I’ve also started carrying a couple of canvas bags everywhere I go to eliminate the need for plastic bags.
And, as much as possible I try to use tupperware tubs (or, even better, glass jars) to store food rather than clingfilm, tinfoil and food bags.
However, I’ve also been looking for other ways to be environmentally friendly and one habit I’m keen to adopt is the use of eco-friendly toiletries.
Although sustainable products often have a reputation for being more expensive, in fact, using eco-friendly toiletries can be a great way of saving money as well as the environment.
Making your own is probably the cheapest way as you can ‘cook’ in bulk using cheap household ingredients. But if you either don’t have time for that or you’d rather use stuff made by professionals, there are plenty of affordable options you can buy that last much longer than the products you’re probably used to.
A few weeks ago I got in touch with Earth Conscious to see if we could work together on a post about making the switch to earth-loving toiletries. They happily sent me this Lavender natural deodorant to review and, if anything, I’m just annoyed I didn’t discover it sooner.
The deodorant comes in a tin rather than a bottle, which is a bit weird to begin with, particularly since you have to put your fingers in it as if you were adding Vaseline to your lips or Sudocrem to your face.
When you first place the deodorant under your arms, it feels a bit strange as if you’re about to start exfoliating. However, once you start to rub it in, it feels and smells amazing and there’s no risk of getting white marks on your clothing. You will need to wash your hands after applying the deodorant though.
I’m usually a pretty sweaty person and I don’t think the fact that I’m constantly running around in a hurry really helps. I sometimes have to reapply deodorant throughout the day but with this stuff, I’ve only had to put it on once in the morning.
The other night, after a long day at work, I made even Jake sniff my armpit to prove how great it was. “You don’t stink like you usually do,” I was informed. Ha!
If you’re wondering what exactly it is about this deodorant that makes it eco-friendly, it’s all down to the fact that every single ingredient is completely natural. The team at Earth Conscious even told me that it’s edible. Although they wouldn’t actually recommend eating it. There are better things out there to be eaten, after all. Also, unlike many toiletries, the ingredients pose no threat to marine life when it’s washed off in the shower. And finally, the round tin that it comes in could easily be reused for something else or recycled once you’re done.
At £4.99, it’s well priced for an eco-friendly deodorant, and while it may be a bit pricier than the deodorant you’re used to picking up in the supermarket, a little bit goes a long way. In my opinion, it’s also far better at tackling odours than your average spray or roll on, and it’s certainly long lasting too.
Have you tried any earth-loving products recently? Or perhaps you make your own? Either way, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below. Alternatively, you can find me on Twitter @CantSwingACat.
