A complete list of eco-friendly body products to always have in your travel bag that are ethical and better for the environment.
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With so many different products out there, it can be difficult to know which brands are actually eco-friendly and which ones use ingredients that are not only harmful to your body but to the environment too.
There are small changes we can make in our day-to-day lives and in our travel lives that can make a difference to the impact that we have on the environment.
As travelers, we do not always have access to ethical and eco-friendly travel products. If you are a nature traveler like me who mostly travels to remote nature destinations with not many options around you, having everything you need on hand is a game changer. And you do not have to feel forced to buy products you would not usually purchase from companies you would not usually support. So preparing for our travels before we leave home is essential to doing our part as explorers of the earth.
In this post I will share a list of 13 eco-friendly body products you can stock up on for your next trip that will fit easily into your travel bag.
WHAT DOES ECO-FRIENDLY BODY PRODUCTS MEAN?
When a product is eco-friendly, it means that it is made from natural ingredients instead of toxic chemicals, synthetic materials and ingredients that are harmful to the environment.
Eco-friendly products are also packaged in biodegradable and/or recyclable materials. Instead of plastics and other packaging that cannot be naturally broken down by the earth.
Creating green, eco-friendly and sustainable body products is more than just the ingredients used. It is the entire package from the inside out.
Important values that align with eco-friendly body products:
- Responsibly sourced ingredients.
- The use of organic ingredients – not using synthetic ingredients or GMOs.
- Recyclable and/or biodegradable packaging.
- Reducing the use of single-use plastics.
- Cruelty-free – do not test on animals.
- Transparency about ingredients used and where they are sourced.
- Transparency about the working environment of the brand you are supporting.
WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE ECO-FRIENDLY BODY PRODUCTS OVER BIG NAME BRANDS?
I could speak about this question forever! but let’s start at reason number one:
Big name brands (meaning the majority of brands you see in super markets, pharmacies, malls) do not care about you, your health or the planet. The evidence is as clear as day when you actually research the ingredients they use, look into the ethics of their companies, where they source their ingredients from and how their manufacturing processes affect the environment.
Even when big name brands claim to be “eco-friendly, sustainable, natural and healthy”, they have done the absolute bare minimum to be able to make those claims on their products. And majority of these brands use plastic and synthetic fibers to package their products – which is not eco-friendly at all.
When we switch to the eco-friendly alternative, we can use these products with a clear conscience knowing that we are doing our best to keep the planet (and our bodies) clean and free from harmful chemicals.
I always say that nobody is perfect. Humans will always have an impact on the natural world in some form or another. But we can be perfectly imperfect by trying our best every day to make conscious decisions in our day-to-day lives to lessen the impact we have on the earth.
13 ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS TO PACK FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP:
Let’s dive into our list of eco-friendly body products that you can easily pack into your travel bag to meet all of your body care needs while still taking care of the planet.
1. MOON CUP (MENSTRUal cup)
Not only are menstrual cups more sustainable and eco-friendly than mainstream tampons and pads, they are so convenient for when traveling and adventuring on your period.
I have been using a menstrual cup for over 7 years now. And I will forever be a moon cup girly.
Unless you are buying organic, natural, unbleached tampons and pads, the majority of these products are being made with dioxin (bleach), pesticides, fragrances and other toxic chemicals that are harmful to our bodies, cause cancer, infertility and hormonal imbalances.
This menstrual cup from Saalt is created with your health in their best interest. It is 100% medical-grade silicone, BPA and latex free and is non-toxic.
Good quality menstrual cups usually last up to 10 years! That means one cup replaces about 3000 tampons that cause a lot of waste. And the majority of brands used by women are not even biodegradable.
You can also wear your menstrual cup for up to 12 hours. Which makes long travel days and adventures so much more convenient when you do not have to change a pad or tampon every couple hours.
A menstrual cup is so small, easy and convenient to take with you on your travels no matter how long your trip is because they are reusable for so many years.
For women who are skeptical about using a menstrual cup, I have two more options for you…
2. BIODEGRADABLE TAMPONS AND PADS
If you have always used tampons and/or pads, I know switching over to a moon cup can be a bit overwhelming. Thankfully there are many more earth conscious brands today than ever before who are meeting our feminine needs while still caring for the planet.
One amazing brand who’s mission I love is Moon Pads. Their biodegradable tampons and pads are made with 100% organic cotton plant-based materials.
Moon Pads invests its profits back into helping to eradicate period poverty.
Conventional tampons and pads can take thousands of years to biodegrade. Where as organic cotton tampons and pads (free of plastic and toxic chemicals) take up to only one year to biodegrade.
3. FREE BLEED PANTIES
Free bleed panties are another amazing alternative to add to your eco-friendly body products collection.
Little Plant Lady is a small ethical business based in the US with the most amazing handmade free bleed panties! She makes all of her pieces with organic cotton, free from an harmful chemicals and dyed naturally with plants. This is my number one recommendation for comfortable panties. You can use my discount code TRAVELTOYOURNATURE15 for 15% off your purchase from Little Plant Lady.
Free bleed panties are super comfortable, can hold up to 4 tampons and are leak free. They are easy to wash after each use and can be re-used over and over again.
I personally use both menstrual cups and free bleed panties depending on the day and what I am doing. But most of the time I prefer to sleep in my free bleed panties and use my menstrual cup during the day.
4. BIODEGRADABLE TOOTHBRUSH OR BAMBOO TOOTHBRUSH
Choosing an eco-friendly and sustainable toothbrush can be tricky! Eco-friendly toothbrushes can be made from recycled plastic, making them not actually biodegradable. Or the bamboo used to make bamboo toothbrushes is from unprotected forests being chopped down unsustainably.
Our first option is from Dr. Bright. A natural eco-friendly toothbrush that comes in compostable packaging. It is made from natural corn-starch based materials.
Our second option is from Sea Turtle. A bamboo toothbrush made from well-managed forests to ensure there is no deforestation involved. Even the bristles are 100% plant-based. Making this a great option for a sustainable toothbrush.
I highly recommend buying a few eco-friendly toothbrushes to carry with you on your travels depending on how long your trip is. Even when you find bamboo toothbrushes along your trip, they are not always made in the most sustainable ways.
5. REEF SAFE SUNSCREEN
This is a BIG one! A must-have in your eco-friendly body products bag.
Story time: I was traveling in the Galapagos Islands where the water in this one cove I was visiting is extremely clear. I saw a man completely covering every inch of his body with sunscreen. The moment he got into the water, ALL that toxic chemical sunscreen came off, making the water completely white and murky. Not only was it in the water but it was floating amongst the reef where an abundance of wildlife lives.
When we swim with toxic chemicals on our skin, not only is it bad for our health, but it literally destroys the environment. It bleaches and kills reefs, causes DNA mutations in corals and harms the ocean life.
Many companies will claim that they are reef safe but if you have a look at the ingredient list, you will still find a number of toxic ingredients used such as Oxybenzone (also a hormone disrupter), Avobenzone, Octinoxate and many more.
As a nature lover, you are looking for a mineral-based sunscreen that does not harm the marine environment in which you are swimming.
The best brand I have found and used to date, is Badger. Their Reef-Safe Sunscreen works so well in protecting you from the sun while also protecting the ocean. It is made up of only 4 natural ingredients: zinc oxide, sunflower oil, beeswax and vitamin E.
It is our responsibility to take care of the natural world that surrounds us by making conscious, eco-friendly and sustainable choices in our day-to-day lives.
6. NATURAL CHEMICAL-FREE SOAP
Did you know that most body bars and washes are actually detergents? Nothing about common soaps in the supermarkets are natural. They are a toxic mixture of synthetic ingredients, artificial colors and fragrances, chemical preservatives and detergents.
The chemicals used in common soaps do not break down in the shower. There are millions and millions of people using these “soaps” every single day, that then wash down the drains into septic tanks and water treatment facilities. It has been proven that these chemicals wash up into eco-systems, build up over time and negatively affect the environment and wildlife.
Majority of the common brands also package their products in non-degradable plastic. That’s about 11.7 billion plastic packages from soap bars ALONE each year just in the US.
Not to mention the chemicals used in these soaps are harmful to human’s health too.
There are many amazing natural soap brands out there to choose from that are made purely from natural ingredients and biodegradable packaging.
Here are a few suggestions for you with a variety of natural scents:
– Bali Soap, Green Collection
– O Naturals Organic Natural Soap
– Little Seed Farm Organic Goat’s Milk Soap with Activated Charcoal (amazing for your skin!)
– The Bubble Factory – Lavender Collection
7. CHEMICAL FREE SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER
As with all of the previously mentioned eco-friendly body products, we need to be checking the ingredients of the shampoo and conditioners we are using. There are secret sneaky ingredients even in so-called “natural” hair are products that are as harmful as the chemical soaps that are used.
Some key ingredients to look out for are sulfates, Parabens, Triclosan, Polythylene Glycols, synthetic fragrances, colors and preservatives, Formaldehyde, chemical dyes and many more!
Even 100% natural shampoos and conditioners can come in non-biodegradable and non-recyclable packaging making it difficult to dispose of after use.
But no worries! I have found natural shampoo and conditioner bars that are so convenient and light to travel with and come in eco-friendly packaging:
– Kitsch Tea Tree and Mint Shampoo Bar (lasts for up to 100 washes)
– Kitsch Coconut Oil Deep Moisturizing Conditioner Bar
– Ethique Heali Kiwi Shampoo Bar
– Ethique Conditioner Bar
8. NATURAL TOOTHPASTE
The Better & Better store has formulated a natural toothpaste that is both kind to your body and in packaging that is also kind to the earth.
Common toothpastes do not have your best interest at heart nor do they think about how their customers can dispose of their containers afterwards. Better & Better strive for BPA-free sugar-cane tubes that can be recycled. Their toothpaste is also cruelty-free, free from harsh chemicals, artificial flavors and preservatives.
I always stock up on natural toothpaste for my trips because it is always one of the most difficult eco-friendly body products to find along the way.
9. REUSABLE RAZOR
Did you know that about 2 billion single-use plastic razors are thrown into landfills each year in the US alone? There is a simple, eco-friendly alternative to this – reusable razors!
This Bambaw safety razor is made from durable materials that can last a lifetime. I love that there are so many sustainable alternatives these days that can make us feel good about our body care routine whether at home or abroad. When we make these small changes we can reduce the impact we have on the natural world.
Having a reusable razor is a much more sustainable option and a definite must-have for your eco-travel essentials.
10. NATURAL DEODORANT
I have been using all natural products for all of my body care needs for over 10 years now. And the BEST natural deodorant I discovered just over a year ago is from Primal Life Organics.
It is full of healthy, natural ingredients and it actually works to keep you feeling fresh on all of your adventures.
Deodorant companies love packing their sprays and roll ons with toxic chemicals, synthetic fragrances and Parabens that get directly absorbed into your skin and are harmful to the environment. And as we already know, all of these common brands use plastic bottles for their packaging. Which gets dumped on the earth for thousands of years after use.
This deodorant from Primal Life Organics is also packaged in cardboard tubes that are safe for the environment.
I highly recommend adding this to your eco-friendly body products – it will also last you a few months!
11. Eco-friendly LAUNDRY DETERGENT
Fun fact: Our skin is our largest organ. Which means anything and everything we put onto our skin is absorbed into our bodies. And the toxic chemicals in laundry detergents are linked to so many health issues such as hormone disruption, cancer, headaches, nervous system challenges, respiratory issues and skin problems.
Common laundry detergents also run down drains and end up accumulating in nature. Negatively affecting the environment and harming the wildlife.
But common plastic packaged laundry detergents can be a thing of the past. I actually only recently discovered these amazing laundry detergent sheets that you can literally travel with anywhere and they are so easy to use.
You can wash your clothes trouble-free and recycle the packaging afterwards!
12. REUSABLE MAKE-UP CLOTHS
Just like with all of the common versions of the above mentioned products, wet wipes are no different. Wet wipes/makeup wipes are neither good for your skin or the environment.
They contain chemicals, preservatives and fragrances that are not recognized by your skin and cause irritations. They are made from non-biodegradable plastic and synthetic fibers. These fibers are also found to accumulate in the ocean and the natural world.
Thank goodness there are affordable and sustainable options available to us. Organic reusable make-up remover pads are a great start to a more eco-friendly make-up routine. They are reusable, all natural, biodegradable and zero waste – that’s everything we love to hear in a product.
13. DEET-FREE INSECT REPELLENT
We all know how we can get chowed by bugs and mosquitoes on our nature adventures. Some people more than others (my partner literally never gets bitten because they all come to me!). So having an insect repellent at hand is always necessary.
And if you are not using a natural insect repellent, the one you are using probably contains Deet. Deet is actually toxic and is banned in some places in the world. It is toxic to animals such as fresh water fish and birds. There are even studies showing that insect repellents may be causing unwanted hazardous interactions with the biological systems.
There are amazing plant allies who work very well in protecting you against insects and mosquitos. And these products are not harmful to you or the environment.
This natural repellent balm is a great alternative and comes in recyclable packaging.
Now that we have covered some amazing alternatives to our every day needs as travellers (and even at home), how many of these products will you be adding to your eco-friendly body products travel bag?
I would love to hear in the comments if there are any sustainable and eco-friendly body products that you would add to this list.
Love this dude. Thanks!