Low Waste Simple Living Bathroom Solutions

As a marine mammal biologist I am an eco-conscious person, I am dedicating my career to protecting these species and key to their survival is a healthy ocean environment. We all hear about the large patches of garbage in the ocean and I don’t want to contribute to that problem if I can help it! This year I’ve been exploring low or no waste bathroom solutions to cut back on how much I am throwing away. Here are just a few ideas to consider…

Homemade Makeup Remover – I’ve been making this for years (15+) and it’s still my favorite go to make-up remover. I use this on my eyes to take off eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara. I use my favorite toner for the rest of my face. You just need three simple ingredients…

• 1 cup of distilled water
• 1 teaspoon baby oil
• 2 tablespoons baby shampoo

Put all three ingredients into a mason jar or container and shake well. I like to pour a portion of the mixture into a small 3 oz. makeup bottle (small enough to pop in your travel bag if needed) and put the jar with the remaining remover under my bathroom sink for later use.

Bamboo Rounds – To use the above homemade makeup remover and my toner I was using two cotton rounds each day which comes out to 730 cotton rounds per year multipled by many many years. I finally found the BEST reusable makeup remover pads made from bamboo and they have over 40k 4.5 star reviews on Amazon. A 20 pack runs just $8.99 and they come with a washable bag so you can just pop them in the laundry at the end of the week.

Toilet Paper – For several years now we have used Grove bamboo toilet paper which is made from 100% sustainable bamboo. Here is what Grove has to say about it…

Our Grove Co.™ 100% Tree-Free Toilet Paper is crafted from FSC®-Certified bamboo chips and packaged in recycled and recyclable cardboard boxes. And unlike traditional toilet paper, our pesticide-free and panda friendly bamboo regenerates just 3 months after harvesting, while trees take a staggering 20 years! With soft, strong, and thick 3-ply sheets, each mega roll is equivalent to 4 regular rolls, ensuring you get more with less waste. Free from added dyes, inks, or scents, our plastic-free toilet paper is made with you, your family and the planet in mind.

I’m still on the search for a tube free toothpaste (I made my own and I’ll just say salty toothpaste isn’t great) and shampoo and conditioner bars I like. If you have any recommendations or your go-to favorites leave a comment below!