By Lottie Dalziel
When first going on my little waste journey I found the easiest way to make changes were room by room. There are so many quirky bathroom products around that can help you significantly slash your waste, so here are a couple of my faves.
1. Bamboo toothbrushes
Each year in Australia we throw away over 30 million toothbrushes which creates around 1000 tonnes of landfill a year!!! The solution? Make the switch to a completely biodegradable bamboo toothbrush - just remove the bristles and throw it in the compost bin once you're done.
Banish winner: bodecare Slim Bamboo toothbrush
2. Safety razors
Unlike other razors that are made from bright plastic cartridges that take hundreds of years to break down and what seems like only two shaves to be useless, safety razors NEVER need to be replaced! Learn more here.
Banish winner: 29L women's safety razor
3. Natural deodorant
Smelling great doesn't need to include nasty fragrances and chemicals. Natural deodorants are a simple but effective way to reduce the number of toxins and waste in your bathroom routine. Look for an ingredients list you can actually pronounce and recycled packaging.
Banish winner: Vegan Deodorant - SOUL
4. Moon cups
I cannot recommend moon or menstrual cups enough. You will use approximately 10,000 tampons in your lifetime - but what if I told you a moon cup could change it all. They last for 10 years so you'll be saving dollars and the environment. Need further convincing? Learn more here.
Banish winner: Lunette menstrual cup
5. Reusable makeup wipes
Do you churn through make-up wipes like there's no tomorrow? Look for reusable makeup cloths - not only are they reusable but they work better and have no chemicals leaving your skin feeling refreshed not clogged.
Banish winner: makeup removal pads from Sabbia Co.
6. Back to basics
We've made more plastic in the past 10 years than we have in the last century and a lot of it is due to consumerism. Think of how much make-up you have? Is your shower shelf full like mine? Then think back to what your grandparents had? I can guarantee it didn't look like yours! Bring back bars of soap and exfoliating brushes because who really needs a different body wash for night and day?
Banish winner: Beach Rd Naturals Coconut & Charcoal Cleansing Bar
There are plenty more waste-free beauty options but these are a great starting point. Comment your favourites below.
About the author
Lottie Dalziel is the founder and editor in chief of Banish. She has a passion for the environment and wants to help educate and inspire individuals to make small changes towards a more sustainable future. Stay up to date with her latest challenges on Instagram @banish.au.