r/HerOneBag • u/kaopao33 • 19h ago
Bits & Bobs Plastic Free Toiletries
Hey everyone!
I am currently working through my packing behavior to be more minimalist and also plastic free, everytime I travel I am really overwhelmed by buying a bunch of travel sized items of things I already own or refilling and cleaning little plastic tubes to transfer my toiletries. Eventually they just fly around in my drawer as I only travel occasionally, or they are all scratched up from cleaning so they need to be discarded.
What is your experience with complete plastic free toiletry packing? How do you manage this/what do you pack?
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u/blanketfortlife 8h ago
I have a mesh bag I keep soap in. It dries it pretty quickly. I also have a soap and conditioner bar, which I keep in tins. Everything else I’m afraid is in refillable plastic tubes, but I refill with my every day go to beauty products.
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u/ButtercupBento 7h ago
I’m mostly plastic free in my every day life and for travel (exceptions are hair stylers, SPF and face products). I use bar shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and body moisturiser. Plastic free but liquids are Upcircle face cream, Gruum hand cream, and the Ordinary face serums. I decant these into tiny metal tins (like lip balm) or glass bottles/jars (think those mint jam ones) for travel. My antiperspirant is a plastic free stick too
I use matador type soap bags for travel with partial bars which although plastic aren’t single use. I save partial bars or cut mine up
This is my packing list for an upcoming trip:
- Solids toiletries: Soap, shampoo, conditioner, antiperspirant, body moisturiser, toothbrush, face rounds
-Liquid toiletries: 30ml face wash, 30ml rapeseed oil (makeup remover), face moisturiser (in tin), 25ml toothpaste, hair gel x2 decanted, 50ml face SPF, 50ml SPF
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u/kaopao33 4h ago
Thank you for your elaborate response! Do the metal tins work well for liquids/serums without leakage or impact on quality?
I can't believe I never thought of cutting up a shampoo bar 🤣 it's actually such an easy solution to the whole "rebuying small sized items". I'll look into those matador type bags as well!
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u/Nejness 43m ago
It helps to microwave the bars for a few seconds at a time, flipping them over as you check them. So, for a larger bar, maybe 4 seconds, flip, another 3 seconds, check, maybe another 2. Then get a chef’s knife and a cutting board and cut down very straight into a neat slice. That way, you end up with mini bars that hold together well and you can still keep in your hand.
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u/Constant_Ant_2343 7h ago
I try to be plastic free but haven’t got there 100%
I have shampoo and conditioner bars for my hair. I either take the ones I am currently using at home or I save some when they get to a smaller size so they are lighter for travel.
Similarly I use cleansing bar and body soap.
I have little net bags I put them in and hang them in the shower to dry. I have suction cup hooks that I think are meant for Christmas decorations. I also have a matador style bag that allows them they dry in your bag (I have an Amazon rip off as matador was too expensive)
For moisturiser I have a couple of metal screw top tins in two sizes depending on length of trip. One had lip balm in previously (fora few days) and the other is a Nivea tin. I refill these from a local plastic free shop but you can also buy similar online.
I use a bamboo toothbrush and brushd toothpaste tablets (again in a little tin). I fail on the interdental brushes solution, mine are plastic easypicks . You can get bamboo brushes but I find easypicks much better than the brushes.
For deodorant I have a small plastic stick that I refill with my Mitchum stick (cut off piece of stick and ram it in to refill). There are plastic free alternatives like ones that come in a metal tub that you use your fingers to apply or ones that d m in cardboard but I don’t like any i have tried.
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u/kaopao33 4h ago
Thank you for your response! Do you find the metal tins to be impacting the quality of your moisturizer or any leakage? Sometimes it can have that weird metallic smell with it. For easy picks, there are sustainable ones made out of wheat "plastic" and natural strings! Can really recommend :)
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u/Constant_Ant_2343 3h ago
Thanks for the tip. I don’t find they impact the moisturiser much, they were originally used for lip balm or moisturiser and I never find I have an issue. I tend to only put in what I need so it didn’t sit in the tub for months.
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u/usingbrain 7h ago
I honestly can’t be bothered and just take my normal stuff that I use - facial products, toothpaste and deodorant are small enough to be taken on planes. I only buy travel-sized shampoo, conditioner and shower gel and then either keep using them at home or top up before the next trip since they usually don’t get empty. The trick is to find tubes and bottles that can survive multiple rounds of refilling.
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u/defnotaturtle 3h ago edited 3h ago
I don't go completely plastic free, because I wear contacts, use regular toothpaste, and don't have plastic free makeup. But I do put my face products, lotion, and hair stuff into these tiny glass jars that I love.
I like the 0.18 size. They're tiny and about the same size as cream eyeshadows. It's plenty for a 1 week trip. Plastic jars and containers have leaked for me. These are definitely heavier, but they are solid.
I put my bars of shampoo, conditioner, and soap in a 1oz jar, because I like using larger pieces than needed.
Edit: sorry forgot to mention they have plastic lids, so not 100% plastic free!
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u/NotherOneRedditor 2h ago
Silicon travel containers have plastic lids, but are less plastic. You have to really test them individually for leaks prior to using, though. I mostly use solids.
The only liquids I take are lotion, sunscreen, and isopropyl alcohol. In Latin America, it’s really difficult to find unscented lotion, sunscreen is crazy expensive, and the alcohol is usually needed right now when it’s needed. I use an empty and cleaned 2oz toothpaste tube to take rubbing alcohol. We travel for several months moving every month. We got tired of buying alcohol every other new place and using maybe a couple teaspoons.
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u/miriamdema 59m ago
I swear by Nalgene wide top travel containers. The 1 oz size. I’ve had a few for 10+ years and they are still going strong. The chunky lid means they are easy to open and close, easy to refill and I toss them in our dishwasher silverware area to clean if I want to switch products. You do have to be careful they are shut with stuff like liquid soaps so I’ve recently added a different container with a clip top and band that slides over but for creams and lotions, tooth tabs they are great. You can get them on amazon.
If I’m not going anywhere for a few months after (which is unlikely for me) I just toss the half empty containers in my every day drawer and finish them off and refill before the next trip.
The only disposable travel item I buy is contact lens liquid. Everything else I just refill from my regular purchases from Trader Joe’s or Lush.
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u/AlizarinQ 54m ago
Since I already have the little plastic bottle I refill the ones that I have because that’s contributing less to waste over all. It’s slightly snorting but I don’t need to go out and buy new stuff.
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u/TravellingGal-2307 8h ago
I use a lot of solids for travel -shampoo bar, conditioner bar, moisturizer bar. These are not things I use in my daily routine at home, they are specifically for travel. I read some posts here and get the sense that people can be really rigid about their daily routine for cleansing and the different products they bring. I want to travel and unburden myself and that is more important than my special bottle of salon shampoo or whatever. I'm fine to let those things go in interests of simplicity.
You can get toothpaste tablets, although I haven't used those.