Toiletries are one of those necessities in life - we all need at least a few grooming products on our bathroom shelf! However, shopping for plastic-free toiletries is a whole new challenge for many of us. Our handy guide will take you through all the ins and outs of this type of product, including the various formats available and where to buy them.
Whether you're after a shampoo bar, some toothpaste tablets, or a gift set of travel-sized toiletries, we'll share the best plastic-free options available at Amazon and Waitrose. Our top 10 list includes brilliant brands like Ethique, Nuud, and Faith in Nature, which will all look great in your zero-waste bathroom space!
Quick List - Top Plastic-Free Toiletries
little soap company
100% Plastic-Free, Natural, Vegan and Organic Soap Bar
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When you think about how many plastic toothpaste tubes we get through in a lifetime, it makes sense that this is one of the first products that many people switch. Toothpaste tablets, which are typically sold in paper packaging or glass jars, not only minimise plastic waste but they're easy to use too.
While tablets do need crunching up before you brush, it only takes seconds and the advantage of not having to guess the precise amount of toothpaste to squeeze out of a tube makes up for this. Plus, they're tiny and make virtually no mess, so you could even pop a few in your bag for freshening up on the go!
Are you guilty of hoarding bottles of cleansers and body lotions? Next time you stock up on skincare products, consider making the switch to plastic-free options like solid bars or glass jars instead.
There are loads of lovely moisturisers and serums that are available without plastic but that still deliver effective, luxurious care for your face and body. After all, it's what's inside that counts - not the packaging!
When we think of haircare, we usually associate it with a bottle of shampoo next to a bottle of conditioner - but plastic is so passé! Solid shampoo and conditioner bars with natural ingredients are the way forward, providing gentle cleansing for your hair without stripping away its natural oils.
Not only are these alternatives good for your hair, but they're also affordable and safe to take on your travels - there's no need to worry about spillages in your suitcase with a shampoo bar instead of a bottle!
The shower is another area in which plastic-free options can really make an impact! Choosing a solid soap instead of a body wash in a bottle not only saves on plastic packaging but also means that fewer preservatives are used - plus you’re not paying for a product that's largely made up of water!
Just make sure that the bar of soap you pick doesn't have plastic wrapping. Many solid products come in biodegradable cardboard or are wrapped with a simple paper band. Some even come naked - the ultimate in eco-friendly packaging!
Single-use cosmetic wipes are incredibly damaging to the environment. Consider switching to biodegradable makeup wipes for a more sustainable alternative.
Cotton buds and pads can be found in most people’s bathrooms, but they're only suitable for one use before you chuck them away. Cotton buds often have plastic sticks that cannot be recycled and they typically come in a plastic tub too. Bamboo buds make a good alternative as they're sustainably produced and won't pollute the environment.
Rather than purchasing single-use cotton pads to remove makeup or clean your face at the end of the day, we recommend opting for reusable ones. Switching to these means you’re not just cutting down on plastic waste, you’re cutting down on waste full stop!
Sanitary pads contribute to a lot of the world's plastic waste - make a change by switching to cloth pads instead.
If you're always heading off on an adventure, the products you take to help you freshen up will need to be as portable as possible. Many plastic-free toiletries are actually really well designed for this purpose, especially (as we mentioned earlier) solid bars. Some may require a small tub to protect them, but this shouldn't cost you too much.
Prefer liquids over bars? You can decant large glass bottles into smaller containers (plastic-free ones, of course) to make things easier. For total convenience, look for trial-sized products that are ready to go when you are!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ethique Saving Face Serum | ![]() | Luxurious Hydration for Your Face | |
2 | Shade All Natural Suncream SPF25 | ![]() | An Award-Winning Natural Suncream Suitable for All Skin Types | |
3 | little soap company Soap Bar with Rose Geranium | ![]() | 100% Plastic-Free, Natural, Vegan and Organic Soap Bar | |
4 | Nuud The Carefree Deodorant | ![]() | A Deodorant That's Planet and Skin-Friendly | |
5 | Jestilo Reusable Makeup Remover Pads | ![]() | Lightweight and Machine-Washable Cotton Pads | |
6 | Dentin Toothpaste Tabs | ![]() | A Convenient Alternative to Toothpaste Tubes | |
7 | EcoShoots Bamboo Cotton Buds|Pack of 4 | ![]() | Value Pack of Cheap and Cheerful Bamboo Buds | |
8 | Faith in Nature Natural Soap Bar - Rosemary | ![]() | Inexpensive, With an Uplifting Scent | |
9 | Funky Soap Marshmallow and Nettle Shampoo Bar | ![]() | Handmade Soap That Leaves Locks Soft and Shiny | |
10 | Friendly Soap Conditioner Bar - Lavender and Geranium | ![]() | A Bar to Keep You Free From Frizz |
This solid face serum is made from lovely moisturising oils such as cupuacu, shea, rosehip, and pomegranate. It quenches thirsty skin and delivers all the good stuff like antioxidants and fatty acids right where they’re needed!
Ideal for use on dry skin in addition to your normal face cream, or as your main source of hydration, this is a superb serum that's well worth the price. Best of all, the box it comes in is reusable and steam-proof, but it can be recycled once you're done with it.
This award-winning, all-natural suncream kicks plastic to the kerb, coming in metal tins instead. Containing just 4 ingredients, it's hardworking but gentle enough for use on sensitive skin.
Tested to European ISO standards, this cream is totally safe to wear all day and provides factor 25 protection from the sun's rays. Available in a regular 100ml tin or a 15ml tin that'll fit in your handbag, it's the perfect plastic-free product for summer!
Our number 3 product is as natural and sustainable as they come, manufactured with the finest natural ingredients and pure rose geranium essential oil and packaged completely without plastic. This divinely scented bar of soap is perfect for everyday use, but with a touch of luxury.
You can rest assured that this product is totally free of all potentially harmful or skin-irritating ingredients such as alcohol, SLS, sulphates, silicones, detergents, and preservatives. For an affordable luxurious soap that's 100% plastic free, we think this product deserves to be in our top 3.
This 100% vegan and fragrance-free deodorant is gentle on your skin but tough on BO. The sugarcane tube comes in a cardboard box, both of which are biodegradable. Nuud claims that each application will be effective for up to 7 days, so there’s no need to apply every day - unless you want to!
If you are concerned about putting unnatural things on your skin, then Nuud is the deodorant for you as it’s free from aluminium, parabens, and alcohol. It's also super concentrated, so a 20ml tube should last you around 10 weeks.
These gorgeously soft reusable makeup remover pads are not just plastic-free, but also help to save on bathroom waste. Naturally anti-bacterial and sustainable, bamboo pads are a great partner for your favourite cleanser.
If you're conscious of your impact on the environment, these lightweight pads will make a splendid addition to your plastic-free makeup bag. They're easy to clean too - just pop them into your washing machine with your regular laundry load!
Toothpaste tubes traditionally waste a lot of product and plastic. However, these handy little solid toothpaste tablets will save the day when it comes to dental care! As well as having carbon-neutral sugarcane packaging, they're made from biodegradable, food-grade ingredients.
If you're serious about going plastic-free, then these toothpaste tabs are the ideal first step - especially as you can get a 1-week trial pack to test them out. They're ridiculously easy to use too, just crunch and brush to release the minty goodness!
Cotton buds have so many uses, including tidying up eye makeup and nail polish, cleaning out ears, and more. These EcoShoots biodegradable bamboo buds skip over the plastic and make keeping clean simple without harming the environment.
These environmentally friendly Q Tips are made from organic cotton that is farmed without the use of pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides. Once you're done using them, simply toss it into your compost pile. Coming in a pack of 4, each with 400 cotton buds, this pack will last you a long time.
Faith in Nature offers a fantastic range of herb-scented soaps. Our favourite is this rosemary one, which has an uplifting unisex fragrance. It's made using high-quality ingredients and no parabens, SLS, or other nasties, so it won't dry out your skin.
Minimal ingredients also mean that your skin can fully take advantage of the benefits of rosemary to gently remove dirt and bacteria build up while balancing the skin. Packaged sustainably using fully recycled and recyclable card, this is an excellent eco-friendly option that won't cost the earth!
Handmade in London, this solid shampoo bar is a great way to cut down on plastics and waste in your bathroom. With a herbal infusion of marshmallow and nettle, it'll leave your locks super soft, shiny, and squeaky clean!
Free from artificial colours and fragrances, parabens, and animal-derived ingredients, this is a brilliant natural choice. It’s easy to use and, when stored in a suitable container, works well for overnight trips or relaxing weekends away!
Say goodbye to plastic bottles and hello to this conditioner bar that’s friendly by both name and nature! As well as being vegan, it's packaged in biodegradable card rather than polluting plastic.
If you like your toiletries to smell beautiful naturally, this bar contains luscious lavender and geranium essential oils. Using a blend of softening ingredients, including castor oil and cocoa butter, it leaves your hair feeling silky, manageable, and frizz-free.
We all know that plastics take hundreds - if not thousands - of years to break down, contributing to global warming and harming wildlife in the process. Thankfully, increased awareness means that more people (like you!) are looking for alternatives to products that are packaged in plastics.
Just a few simple switches when shopping for toiletries can make a huge difference to the planet, plus they can save you from having to haul a heavy bin full of rubbish outside each week! There are loads of amazing plastic-free toiletries available to buy online, made from recyclable materials like glass and paper as well as biodegradable materials like sugarcane. Read on to learn more...
Another small change you can make to help save the environment is by using recycled toilet papers - browse our top 10!
Written and researched by Sonata Winchester
No. 1: Ethique|Saving Face Serum
No. 2: Shade|All Natural Suncream SPF25
No. 3: little soap company|Soap Bar with Rose Geranium
No. 4: Nuud|The Carefree Deodorant
No. 5: Jestilo|Reusable Makeup Remover Pads
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