Reimagining your grooming, beauty, and self care routines for a zero waste world can seem daunting. From the detective-level research on packaging to second-guessing mixed reviews on a product’s effectivity – it can be easy to assume a zero waste bathroom is unattainable. Let’s take it one step at a time and tackle your zero-waste lotion options.
Keeping your skin healthy, hydrated, and irritation free is difficult enough before you add in zero waste stipulations- but this list will ease your fretting mind, smooth your skin, and lighten your [trash] load.
No Ifs or Ands, Just Butt[er Block]s
Ethique Eco-Friendly Solid Butter Block, Jasmine & Ylang Ylang – Hydrating Solid Body Lotion is made from organic cocoa butter and lasts as long as two bottles of liquid lotion. Ethique’s packaging is compostable, and the lotion bar is TSA friendly, cruelty free, and 100% vegan.
To use the butter block simply wipe it across the skin you intend to moisturize, and then rub product in with your hands. A little goes a long way. It works best on damp skin right out of the shower.
SPF AND A Zero Waste Lotion
Photo courtesy of Nordstrom
Aesop Avail Body Lotion with Sunscreen is your zero waste lotion savior with built in SPF 50 and 80 minutes of water resistance making it a summer fave and probably your new MVZWP (Most Valuable Zero Waste Product).
Moisturize and protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays year round with Avail Body Lotion with zero guilt and zero waste. The lotion bottle is 100% recyclable and comes with no secondary packaging making it a must have any time you plan to venture outside.
Naked Massage Bar: A Zero Waste Fantasy
Photo courtesy of LUSH
Yikes. No, no, no. I’m talking about the naked (no packaging) Therapy Massage Lotion Bar from LUSH. This little baby smells incredible and has a 4.7 star rating on the LUSH website. While LUSH is calling it a massage bar – it in no way means you can’t enjoy its luxurious organic cocoa butter and organic shea butter base sans massage. And if you take a scroll through the online reviews you’ll see many expectant mothers who swear by it for preventing stretch marks. THAT’s an added bonus if I’ve ever heard one. So go ahead, indulge in a buttery moisturizer that smells great and leaves you with a smile and zero waste.
Feeling Sensitive? Get Over It with Dream Cream
Photo courtesy of LUSH
$7.95
Do you have a hard time choosing beauty products that won’t irritate your skin? If so, you’ll want to check out Dream Cream from LUSH next time your skin is feeling thirsty and irritable. Dream Cream is formulated from a calming blend of oat milk, lavender, and chamomile. For that punch of hydration cocoa butter and olive oil save the day. Still worried about flare ups? The added rose oil should soothe any skin redness or irritation. The scent is light and fairly neutral so no worries about harsh scents causing allergies or headaches, and no oily residue either.
If there was ever a zero waste heavy hitter, it’s gotta be LUSH. While Dream Cream does come in a BPA-free recycled plastic pot, LUSH encourages you to bring your empty (and clean) pots back to the store, where they’ll trade you for a free, fresh face mask when you turn in five plastic pots or bottles! The pots are then up cycled for continued use in store.
Get Buttered Up
This simple Every Body Butter by Fillaree is as basic and waste free as it gets. Containing only 3 ingredients and either Lavender Grapefruit scented or Unscented it’s an affordable, straightforward, and green-as-it-gets zero waste lotion. This body butter is buttery to the touch and a little goes a long way. Keep in mind that since it is a body butter it can feel a little greasy on your hands after application. The label also mentions you should use up the product within 45 days, but as the jar is modest in size that shouldn’t be hard to do.
Feel great about a clean product, soft skin, and hey, a glass jar to put stuff in (or recycle) once you’ve used up your body butter! Fillaree has great products, refill subscriptions, and the option to refill yourself at a local refill station. Find a refill station near you!
Zero Waste Lotions = Hiding in Plain Sight
After making the effort to go zero waste, it’s still totally possible to use luxurious and effective lotions and body butters like you did before you chose to go green! Your skin will stay hydrated and benefit from vegan, organic and sustainable ingredients. Pamper yourself while treating Mother Nature to some self care as well with zero waste lotion products.
If you’re excited to try out a product on this list make sure to share it with others who are looking to take the zero waste pledge.
All non-Amazon prices are accurate as of: 2020-04-10 and are subject to change.
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API