The big question is can we take care of ourselves without using multiple beauty products and with the least amount of waste? The answer is YES!
Today we are lucky enough to find many zero-waste alternatives for our hygiene and this for the greater good of our planet.
However, at Bergamott Cottage we like to simplify our lives, reducing the amount of products while being efficient. Without going into minimalism, we give you some alternatives here.
Eventually, what product do we use to wash ourselves with?
Solid soap and shower gel
The Marseille soap is the essential of a zero waste house, it serves as a detergent as well as as a grease remover. But what interests us here is that it is suitable for almost all skin types, however it can be drying but it remains an economical alternative. For sensitive skin, we turn to special cold-saponified soaps (often more expensive) but these offer a range that can adapt to oily, combination or dry skin.
The vegetable oils are much better preserved in these soaps, which makes them softer and more nourishing for the skin.
Small advice, it is important to dry your soap well away from water between each use.
For the unconditional fans of the shower gel, turn rather to an alternative in bulk. The composition of the latter in their version in supermarkets is more than doubtful. Thus you will have a better alternative for your health and a better health for the planet.
Solid and liquid shampoo
As we have seen above, solid shampoo is an excellent alternative to the mass-market products.
Our priority, a product that respects our hair and the environment and if in addition its production is local what do the people ask for ? The advantage of the solid version is that it is formulated without water and therefore more economical, it is easy to transport and when traveling by plane you are no longer subject to the famous 100ml liquid limit not to exceed.
The most complicated thing about solid shampoo is to find the one that corresponds to your hair type. There are also conditioners and solid hair masks to complete our zero waste range. All like our friends the solid soap, keep the same precautions of use.
In its liquid version, the bulk is a must for the same reasons mentioned above, but you can still be tempted by a homemade recipe for the most daring.
To moisturize your hair, castor oil can be applied and left on the ends of the hair for fifteen minutes before washing your hair.
Depending on the quality of your hair, certain oils such as argan oil can be used daily for styling and nourishing your hair.
You will easily find recipes for masks to do yourself.
Brushes and combs
Wooden brushes and combs are recyclable and more respectful for our hair, ditto for the brushes and combs for beard.
Some hairbrushes have bamboo teeth for this fully recycled! Moreover it is a cruelty-free alternative.
Oral hygiene
Our plastic toothbrushes are a real nuisance to our planet and replacing them with recyclable toothbrushes (most often made of bamboo) would reduce plastic waste by a factor of 8.
At Bergamott Cottage we like to personalize our toothbrushes by pyrography, it always makes an impact on our guests!
As for toothpaste, the solid version is often the darling of the zero-waste alternative, a bar of toothpaste is equivalent to two tubes of paste toothpaste, so it is more economical. Its paste version is available at some retailers in returnable glass bottles, otherwise once again nothing prevents you from making it yourself.
Toothpaste in tablet form also exists, which is more expensive but still effective.
Mouthwash ? DIY (Do It Yourself) products are easy to make and are a good zero waste alternative.
At Bergamott cottage we also think about dental floss, which is also called dental silk floss (biodegradable of course). The floss is sold in a glass or stainless steel bottle and you just have to refill it.
Cotton buds
How to replace our traditional plastic cotton swabs? Do you know the oriculis?
They are reusable bamboo or stainless steel ear picks. Otherwise, there are washable silicone sticks or a bamboo version, the latter is disposable and biodegradable.
Deodorant
Once again its solid version remains an alternative and its refillable roll-on version (harder to find) are available.
That's why at Bergamott Cottage we offer you a simple DIY. A word of warning, we're talking about deodorant here, not antiperspirant, and that makes a big difference. Antiperspirants block perspiration as the name suggests, whereas deodorant allows the skin to breathe and its composition kills the bacteria responsible for bad odors. DIY my homemade deo
DIY my homemade deodorant
Make-up removers
On this point it is rather delicate because we discovered a microfiber wipe of the brand H2O and we quote here this brand because they sell a make-up remover wipe or just soaked with water this last one makes an incredible job even on waterproof make-up.
Small downside the brand only resells these products during organized meetings (as for Tupperware).
You can also find washable makeup remover discs made of bamboo fiber, associated with coconut oil, you get a good and gentle makeup remover.
Face care
The konjac sponge used for two thousand years in Japan can perfectly replace the make-up removal discs for a more thorough and exfoliating cleansing of the skin, this last one exists in vegetable charcoal or matcha tea version according to your skin type.
Moisturizing cream
Before tackling the subject of moisturizing creams, we would like to clarify a certain point
- namely is it really necessary to have a day cream and a night cream?
- Does the price of a cream always justify its effectiveness?
Several studies have been conducted on this vast subject, first of all the big difference between day cream and night cream : well the day cream has UV antis to protect us from the sun throughout the year because the ravages of the sun on our skin are not related to the outside temperature as some would think!
Good to know, the sun cream can be used all year round, as an eco-responsible alternative opt for an organic mineral sun cream. Its composition does not cause any ecological damage, and when swimming in a natural pool, it is the only one authorized. For the others, you will have to go through the shower before each swim.
According to some brands, the night cream can be a little more moisturizing than its daytime version. Following this comparative study, it was deduced that the differentiation of these creams is mainly for commercial purposes (over-consumption).
As for the prices? The study compared a luxurious caviar cream, not to mention its name, sold for more than 300€ a jar, another well-known brand sold for around 100€ and finally a first price moisturizing cream for around 7€ in a low-cost store. Attention drum roll, the winner is the first price cream!
During this match, the first price cream is just as moisturizing or even more than these luxury competitors and in terms of value for money, no really it's a real bloodbath!
But the zero waste in all this ? Scientific studies and dermatologists agree that our skin is perfectly moisturized by a good organic vegetable oil, simply choose one according to our skin type.
Hair removal and shaving
Safety razors are unanimously approved! Gentle on the skin and environmentally friendly, they are the perfect alternative. For men, the old-fashioned cabbage cutter, for a western barber look. Solid bar soap saves the day once again and replaces pump foam!
And for hair removal, what about oriental wax?
Also called sugar or honey wax, because it is a caramel based on honey and lemon with a little water. Once the mixture is set, you get a sticky, malleable paste that is 100% eco-friendly.
And now, play on!