SOME BY MI – Vitamine C pure

“Promises” to be moisturizing, brightening, smoothing.
Size: 95 gr
Organic: no
Not tested on animals.
Price: 10 EUR
Price on sale: 8 EUR
Ingredients: Glycerin, Water, Sodium palmitate, Sodium Stearate, Potassium Laurate, Sodium Laurate, Coco-betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sucrose, Sorbitol, Decyl Glucose, Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C), Niacinamide (VitaminB3), Stearic Acid, Fragrance, lex Paraguariensis Leaf Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Ubiquinone, Boesenbergia Pandurata Rhizome Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Capsicum Annuum Fruit Powder, Fragaria Ananassa (Strawberry) Fruit Powder, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Peel Oil, Riboflavin, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Peel Extract, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Calcium Pantothenate, Inositol, Folic Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Limonene, Linalol
Made in South Korea

Marked OK for sensitive skin, though note that vit. C can be very drying and irritating. Also, vitamin C makes skin photosensitive, so apply sunscreen, if you are using it in the AM.

Zero waste packaging: yes or no?

The packaging isn’t zero waste, the facial bar comes in a paper box and the soap is wrapped in thin plastic foil, so I would grade this as a low-waste product. Both are recycled where I live, but that will likely not be the case for everyone.

Smell/how long does the smell last?

When you first open the bar, the smell is divine, like cutting into an orange (plastic wrap helps to keep the scent in…). I thought the scent will dissipate after having the bar open for a couple of hours, though this didn’t happen. I keep my soap bar in the shower, unwrapped, and after several months, it still has a gentle orange-almond smell.

When you use it, the scent is very gentle and dissipates almost immediately. I don’t quite care for scents in skincare products, my skin much prefers natural to no scent, but I had no reaction after this one and I’m pleasantly surprised with the formula.

How easy it is to use?+tips for use

Some By Mi Vitamine C soap bar is super easy to use. It lathers immediately and applies well. I also use it to remove sunscreen and makeup and it does the job well.

If I feel my face really needs a good wash in the evening, I wash my face twice. I apply the soap, massage gently, rinse and then repeat. I normally only use my hands, to avoid stretching or tugging on my skin, but I also have a small wash/massage silicone pad I use together with the soap.

The lather is silky and thick, but and not really foamy. It rinses off easily.

Does it work?Results/Looks and feel of skin?

The face bar promises to be moisturizing, brightening, smoothing. Now, I didn’t buy this soap, particularly for the brightening aspects. Knowing Some By Mi is a Korean brand, I am very much aware of Korean beauty standards and what they may bring.
I do have hyperpigmentation caused by sun damage, though I am not addressing it with soap. Why?

1. Soap only stays on our skins for a very short time.
2. Vit.C is a very reactive ingredient. It loses potency after a very short period of getting in contact with light, heat and oxygene. If you want vitamin C in yourskincare routine, it’s best to buy vitamin C in powder, keep it in the fridge and mix in the base product 1-2 applications at the time.

For my skin, the Some By Mi Vitamine C soap bar was not moisturizing. Especially after the first week of use, I felt my skin be a tad dried than usual. But it never got tight ( I never had the squeaky clean feeling).

Especially in the summer, after heavier sunscreen application, my skin quite enjoys it, but I only use it in the evening. In the morning, I just rinse my face with water.

Some By Mi low waste face wash for men

My partner’s skin type is the complete opposite of mine(mixed to oily), though he really enjoys the bar. His skin is cleansed well, but it’s not stripping. He says the scent is pleasant.

How long did it last?

It lasts exceptionally well.

My partner and I have been using the face bar for 3 months and still have 33gr left (1/3 of the bar). We both use it once per day though, so with a bit of calculation… it would last 1 person 4-5 months with 2 uses per day.

How to store the face bar?

I keep all my bars in the shower, away from water, but close enough I can reach it without a problem. I have a regular metal shower rack that allows airflow under the bars as well.

Who would I recommend it for?

I think this soap bar is best for mixed to oily skin. My dryness-prone skin is OK with it, which is actually already a lot. I wouldn’t recommend it for people with dry or reactive skin.

But with that said… I likely would buy it again for my partner for sure. The price is a bit high for me, but we have already gotten several months of use out of it.

Where to buy?

I got mine at Iherbs which is based in the USA and they ship to most countries of the world. If you’d like, you can use my code NTN955 for a $5 USD discount on your first purchase.

I have seen it on Amazon as well (which I’m trying to avoid) or Stylevana (they ship to limited countries).

More: Zero waste makeup tips and tricks

Recap

We both really liked this face bar. It’s not 100% plastic-free, it is more in the low-waste category, but we’ve been using it for several months now and we are both quite happy.
I wouldn’t recommend it to people with very sensitive reactive or dry skin, but it worked quite well for us.

The post Some By Mi Vitamine C soap bar – low waste face wash review appeared first on ZERO WASTE THINGS.

Part 1 here, in case you missed it.

Advanced zero waste tips that make your home more sustainable

Sustainable electricity: reduce and swap providers

Energy use can be addressed with some simple actions, but then some others are more complicated and expensive. A straightforward swap would be switching to an electricity provider that uses 100% renewable power (like solar or wind).

Other things that help save power in your home:

• reducing or eliminating air-conditioning (if you have it)
• LED-bulbs
• energy-efficient household appliances (repairing my still be better though, depending on what you have)
• double-pane windows (or a cheaper version: insulating your windows and doors)
• efficient heating
• improving insulation
• tank-less water heater

Saving water solutions

There is the obvious tip of not letting the water run when you aren’t actively using it and opening the tap more or less works too. There are also other ways of saving water, that will make it automatic.

The cheapest thing to do is to buy a set of silicone rings to insert in your tap. It physically limits the water flow, no matter what your general water pressure is. We installed it on taps where we don’t really need (or want to) change water pressure.

The next swap is a customizable shower head that can regulate the amount of water at any time.

Water-saving taps kitchen and bathroom taps are also really cool. They aerate the water as it’s flowing out, so it still feels quite luxurious. Chances are you are already using them if you live in a newer apartment.

Advanced zero waste tips for your wallet

Is there such a thing as a sustainable bank?

A couple of years ago, I didn’t really know exactly how banks work. Though the ins and outs are more complex, essentially they invest our money into the market. Most banks support and invest in the development of fossil fuels, plastic production, weapons… There are a couple that supports socially responsible companies, and they do not necessarily cost more than a classic bank.
Some are even some B-Corp Certified banks. Find the directories per country here.

You can apply the same principles to personal investments, insurance, savings, pension plans… Even if you can’t find an investment firm that is sustainable, you can ask them to adapt your portfolio.

Phone contracts

I’m still searching for a more sustainable mobile phone contract, that does a bit more than plant a tree when someone signs a contract with them. Most of the phone-related waste comes from production, so buying refurbished is a more environmental-friendly option.

Action-based advanced tips

Reducing waste with digital minimalism

Swap to Ecosia

You can swap your search engines like Google Chrome or Mozilla to Ecosia. You can donate the point you collect to a charity of your choice (the selection is huge).

Maintenance

Check your storage: delete old files you do not need. It takes space and energy to keep all of that. Especially if you’re still holding on to old movies, that you can now just stream.

Do regular maintenance on your PC and keep it dust-free.

Reduce the number of ads online and in your inbox

I unsubscribed from newsletters with pushy or overly promotional content. If I like the brand and want to re-buy, I will likely remember the name, but I do not want to see “YOU NEED THIS” in my email every day.

I also choose to have an ad block on my browsers and support blogs I read by purposefully buying via their affiliate links. There’s tons of work that goes into making high-quality content and the real authors should be paid (Google ads don’t really pay much on smaller blogs).

How you travel

Everything about how we do travel is ultimately unsustainable. I’m not strictly talking about flying (most aviation-related carbon footprint is caused by frequent business travel). Cruises and resort travel are the most unsustainable and polluting forms of travel. To read more about it, go to Mindful Feet’s library on responsible travel.

Engaging in a bit of zero waste activism

You can email companies you buy from(I a writing a couple of templates). It’s great to vote with your money, but it’s even better to tell the producers WHY. I sometimes email brands that are clearly greenwashing.
My logic is, that companies don’t really know why we stopped buying from them, or think they will get away with greenwashing until enough voices tell them no. I had some interesting conversations with companies this way too.

Buying online with less plastic

Asking for zero waste/plastic-free packaging when ordering online. Amazon has made a switch in my country, so I can in theory choose sustainable vs. non-sustainable packaging and they have added ship all my items in 1 package option. Even when this isn’t an option, I write a short sentence or two asking for no plastic in the “other comment” section when available.

Talking to people about waste

Have you heard of Climate Collage? It’s free workshop, explaining the issues of climate change, causes, and consequences in an interactive and understandable way.

They also train new instructors, if you want to participate this way. *The original workshop is free, though I have seen some people charging for it.

Related: How I got my partner to join in on the zero waste

Other ideas to get active are also:

• participating in workshops
• starting a community garden
• run (or join) local FB groups
• get your workplace or municipality involved (Zero Waste Europe is a great official resource)
• start a blog
• join or organize a clean up (!always with a brand audit)

Incorporating minimalism

Minimalism can go hand in hand with zero waste and sustainable living if this is your jam. Some people really enjoy having less stuff and they find it freeing. For some, it is too strict and can provoke insecurities, feelings of lack, and resentment. Find what you are comfortable with. In any case, I find philosophy of minimalism helpful with my mindset, though I feel no need for extremes.

Stop junk mail in the mailbox

You can put stickers on your physical mailbox asking for no junk mail/promo material. If that fails, you can maybe cancel it at your designated post office.

This concludes the advanced zero waste tips list for now. Have any others? Let me know in the comments below.

The post Advanced zero waste tips: zero waste alternatives PART 2 appeared first on ZERO WASTE THINGS.

Food waste related swaps and actions

Reducing meat consumption

I actually included eating less meat on my zero waste swaps for beginners list, though it might be worth mentioning it here as well. Meat production is resource-heavy and incredibly polluting. I saw yet another news this week about a polluting incident from an industrial pig farm where I live (France), one of (apparently) many.

I finally got around to reading Eating Animals, a book by Jonathan Safran Foer and I can recommend it enough. It’s written in a non-judgemental common-sense way.

Help eliminate stereotypes about plant-based meals

Sharing yummy recipes that are either vegetarian or vegan or better yet cooking vegetarian/reduced meat feasts for others helps with the stigma that vegetarian food is boring or bland. If you are looking for inspo for some gourmand plant-based meals, I can recommend A Cookbook (That Happens to be Vegan) by Shannon Martinez and Mo Wyse (or any other cookbook by Shannon Martinez).

Reducing food waste

Tackle your own food waste with:

• meal planning/ batch cooking
• buying “ugly” vegetables
• you know those single bananas in the store that people tear off a bundle of bananas? Those normally get thrown in the garbage. Buy all the bananas. Buy the singles. Encourage stores to offer “damaged” fruit to kids or adults for free.
• learning how to preserve fresh foods longer/better
• make good use of the freezer, learn what freezes well and what doesn’t
• buying food produced in the country where you live reduced waste, helps the local economy, and avoids disasters like the kind that happened with quinoa in South America
• DIY things like nut “milks”, they are super easy to make and taste so much better than store-bought ones. Plus, raw ingredients for making nut milks are much easier to find without packaging (all it takes is your favorite nut, hot water, and a blender).

You don’t always have to follow a recipe

We get so caught up in following recipes sometimes, that we forget the basics. Soups are normally just vegetables cooked in either broth or spiced water. You can also blend it with a stick blender for a creamy soup.

My mom used to make a “minestrone soup” that I’m sure culinary experts certainly wouldn’t call that, but it was a great way to deal with leftovers. I make “everything” soup about once a month. You can even freeze ingredients until you have sufficient quantity.

Composting

If you don’t have a composter, or a yard to have one, you can get a container with special worms that compost and you keep them inside. It’s called vermicomposting and it’s great for tighter living quarters.

Buying cooking equipment that lasts “forever

After our old pans warped and lost their coating, we got a cast iron and 2 heavy-duty stainless steel pans. We had to go to a specialty store and they were a bit more expensive, but the food tastes so much better and they last a lifetime.

Growing some of your own food

Herbs are the simplest to grow and fit even the smallest apartments. I find parsley and thyme the easiest to grow, but I also had success with balcony radishes (they take about 1 month from seed to harvest) and strawberries.

For a more advanced option, join or start a community garden, organize a seed swap, and/or plant old heirloom varieties. Too much of our industrial food production comes from a handful of varieties, which is not great for several reasons. I got mine from individuals on eBay.

Re-use plastic containers and items that would go to the landfill in your (balcony) garden.

Reduce personal and home waste

DIY some of your own beauty products

Some cosmetics are ridiculously easy and fast to make, like hair rinses, clay masks, body scrubs, toners.

Swapping out plastic packaged body lotion for oils (pure or mixed oils) can also be great, depending on your skin type.

I’ve also seen that I don’t use a lot of the beauty items and creams that magazines tell me I should. Products I have eliminated are micellar water, makeup cleansers, cotton rounds, setting powders, 95% of products I’ve used on my hair… Learning about my skin and hair helped me take care of them better, and it so happened that that meant less stuff.

Repairing household machines and avoiding single-use add-ons

Each year, Europeans produce more than 16 kilograms (35 pounds) of electrical waste per person. About half of that junk is due to broken household appliances, and the EU recycles only about 40% of it.

Euronews

Be mindful to choose appliances without single-use replacement parts, like vacuums without replaceable bags. It will save material and money in the long run.

Swifter brooms are too convenient, with replaceable cloths, but you can make or buy washable ones.

I have an option of 2 repair cafés where I live, though that’s not an option for everyone. Most appliances are designed to break just about 2 years after warranty expires. And in many countries appliances get sealed so you can’t repair them. The EU passed legislation in October 2019 that appliances will need to be repairable for 10 years, the law is supposed to take effect in 2021.

Slowly swapping to sustainable fabrics

Clothes can last a long time, though they might need some mending along the line. If you are lucky and live close to an actual seamstress, they can fix or modify it professionally.

As an advanced zero waste alternatives to synthetics materials, you can try to buy clothes made out of organic cotton, linen, or hemp.

Next are household linens, like towels, sheets, etc. Careful of shedding of microplastic in synthetic fibers, by using a Guppy bag or a filter.

I also found out a couple of years ago that detergents contain microplastic, which is not on the ingredient list. This is how I do my laundry.

Advanced zero waste alternatives part 2 is HERE…. focusing on actions to take vs. single items to swap out.

The post Advanced zero waste alternatives for greater impact PART 1 appeared first on ZERO WASTE THINGS.

What supplements do vegetarians need?

I’m not a major supplement user and I’m actually glad the craze didn’t make it to Europe in the same way. Just look at this really common sense approach to supplements and vitamins for vegetarians and vegans from the UK’s NHS.

With good planning and an understanding of what makes up a healthy, balanced vegetarian and vegan diet, you can get all the nutrients your body needs to be healthy without the need for supplements.

However, if your diet isn’t planned properly, you could miss out on essential nutrients. Vegetarians need to make sure they get enough iron and vitamin B12, and vegans enough calcium, iron, and vitamin B12. Women are thought to be at particular risk of iron deficiency, including those on a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Some groups are advised to take vitamin supplements, regardless of whether they follow a vegetarian or vegan diet.

NHS.UK

Let food be thy medicine (first)

I’ve actually used food to successfully manage conditions that may or may not be autoimmune, may or may not be hormonal related. … I say may or may not be, because there just isn’t enough research done for those conditions, no known cause or cure. So I did what I always do, turn to research and try things that are most likely to make my body stronger and healthier with better nutrition, selecting foods that have been proven to be healthy, not just hyped, or subjected to current trends (like the no fat in the 90s, then no dairy, no this, no that…).

*To please my mom (and other people who wasted to treat me with eating sausages) I specifically talked to my physician about eating meat/not eating meat and how that could affect my body. At that time, I’ve been a pescetarian (vegetarian that eats fish) for about 6 years. I wasn’t, particularly mindful of my diet, but I also didn’t eat just junk food. If I had to describe it, I guess it would be a standard middle Europe diet, just no meat, which meant lots of wheat-based foods (bread and pasta), veggies, seasonal fruits… I was tested for all sorts of nutrient deficiencies. I was healthy. No issues.

Most potent changes I’ve made while staying vegetarian

1. increasing my fat intake (coconut and olive oil)
2. increase of omega 3 (eating more fish, or omega 3 supplements)
3. increasing my protein intake with each meal
4. reducing refined sugars (sugars are often the culprit of inflammation and cause all sorts of issues)

Should you be supplementing protein and can we find it zero waste?

As a vegetarian, I find protein to be the hardest to “replace” or something we aren’t told enough we need to substitute. The other thing is also, that they can get pretty pricey long term.

The truth is, when I was younger I could get away with a lot more. As my body ages, I can’t just eat whatever and feel good. I need to be more careful about my proteins.

Now, you can start to substitute it with tofu, tempeh, edamame, or the like, but it’s really pricey where I live. It’s just sold to us as the “classic” vegetarian or vegan protein option and it doesn’t mean they are the best. I eat several types of lentils and beans as a base and add eggs whenever I can.

For busy days I just get protein powder. It’s not the best, but I try to buy organic and 100% pure (meaning no additives, fillers, preservatives, and artificial flavors). 100% protein is harder to dissolve, you might get clumps, but I do not mind. If I whisk it or put it through a blender, it comes out pretty smooth.

Available protein supplements:

• whey protein (made from animal milk, normally cow as a by-product of making cheese or butter)
• plant-based protein (peas, soy, bean, lentils, seeds… or a mix of plants)

*I have used collagen protein powder in the past (still looking for a zero-waste alternative), but that’s not the same as protein powder.

Plant-based proteins are easier to digest for most humans, I have tried peas protein and seed protein and really disliked both.

The brand I keep rebuying is made by Orgainic, they have whey and vegan protein, made in Germany according to the EU organic standard. They have a no BS approach that I like, no industrial waste, and products made in small batches. Equally relevant, they taste the best from all of the brands I’ve tried. It is sadly, not zero waste(the vegan protein powder currently comes in a paper-plastic bag, so it’s also not entirely zero waste), but it has a very good and unique zipper system, so I reuse the bag.

Omega-3 fatty acids

How can we get omega-3 fatty acids naturally?

There are different kinds of omegas (ALA, EPA and DHA, I recommend looking into this more if you’re interested) and plant-based sources like chia, ground flaxseeds, flax oil, and walnuts do not absorb well in the body. They only contain ALA, which the body has to convert into the other two, that the body can use. This process isn’t as successful as by getting omegas from animal sources.

Good vegetarian sources of EPA and DHA are ghee (clarified butter) and other full-fat dairy products. Eggs have some as well.

*making ghee at home is pretty simple, for where I live, it’s about the same price as buying it

Omega 3 is abundantly present in fish, but beware that fish can also contain crazy levels of metal and other caused by pollution. Everything we dump in our waters accumulates in fish. Plus, there is the problem of overfishing.

If nuts are not great, what is there for vegans? There is some research on omega 3 made from algae, but there needs to be more research on efficacy (most studies were funded by the industry).

Plastic-free supplements: omega-3

For a zero waste omega-3 supplement, you can get fish oil (like cod liver oil) in a glass bottle. They started making it in a gel pill form because it’s easier to dose and honestly, it tastes a bit yuck. A matter of personal preference-disgust scale.

The brand Solgar makes gel omega-3 supplements that come in a recyclable glass bottle and the oil was purified to eliminate mercury. It’s a good vitamin & supplements brand, I’ve had several kinds from them through the years.

Before supplements became more available where I lived, I ordered a lot from Iherbs (they are in the USA). Use code NTN955 for a little something something off.

Vitamins B12

How can we get vitamin B12 naturally?

Vitamin B12 is only found naturally in food from animal sources, for vegetarians cheese, milk, eggs. Vegans should be supplementing, or eat food that has B12 added.

Plastic-free supplements: B12

For a plastic-free B12 supplement, there are two options.

Again, the Solgar brand, made in the USA, uses a glass bottle.

A bit closer to home, made in France is the Inolab and they have a low waste option, with a sachet.

Vitamin D

How can we get vitamin D naturally?

Naturally occurring vitamin D in foods like fish, butter, cheese. The benefit of getting D with food is also that it comes with other vitamins and nutrients that work in synergy.

By hanging out in the sun (10 min per day is the recommended amount). Vitamin D gets stored in our bodies, so just a handful of cloudy days will not make us vitamin D deficient.

I do take vit. D almost year-round at the advice of my physician.

Plastic-free supplements: vitamin D

Plastic-free supplements of vitamin D are actually really easy to get. The most common form around here is in a glass drip bottle. I normally buy it in my local pharmacy, so I do not have a link. Solgar should have them as well but never tried theirs.

Cod liver oil is also a good supplement for getting more vitamin D (for omnivores and pescatarians). It might actually just be the winner here because it naturally has omega 3, vitamin A and vitamin D (plus several others). Green Pasture is a no-hype that makes supplements the traditional way in the USA (gel form comes in a plastic bottle though) and Rosvita brand is made in Norway.

Before supplements became more available where I live, I ordered a lot from Iherbs (they are in the USA). Use code NTN955 for a little something something off.

Plastic-free supplements conclusion

I actually do not supplement zink, iron, or iodine as some sources suggest. I try to make sure I get a wide variety of vegetables, especially green ones. If you are on a tight budget, frozen vegetable mixes work very well and are available year-round.

I can say that since I had tests done, I can be a lot more confident in supplementing and not supplementing. I try to eat mindfully and intuitively, supplementing with natural synergistic foods. With that said, I supplement vitamin D, omega-3 on and off, and vitamin B12. If you are eating fish, cod liver oil hits several points. I also have a bag of protein powder on hand for busy days.

Other studies I used writing this post

• 9 Science-Backed Benefits of Cod Liver Oil by Healthline
• omega
• vitamin B12

P.S. I’ve learn tons about nutrition for women from this book.

You might also like: Zero waste period solutions

The post Zero waste plastic-free supplements and vitamins I use appeared first on ZERO WASTE THINGS.

In full transparency, I made all purchases with my personal money. This is a non-sponsored review. All opinions are my own. If you wish to buy the Ecoegg, please consider buying via my affiliate links. It shows appreciation for my work and time and helps to pay for hosting, that keep this blog going. It is of no extra cost to you.

Ecoegg review: How does Ecoegg laundry Egg work?

The official website presents the Ecoegg as a zero waste replacement for laundry detergent and laundry softener.

The laundry egg has anionic and non-ionic surfactants which have no charge on their hydrophilic end, similar to organic laundry detergents, but in dry compact form.
(If you want to know more about the difference between soap and detergent, I wrote tons more in my post about why I’m not using natural soaps to do laundry.)
The pellets are to soften your water which means you do not need to use a softener.

The ecoegg laundry egg pellets do not contain any palm oil, SLS or SLES, parabens, petrochemicals, enzymes, phosphates, or microplastics.

ecoegg.com

It’s free of harsh chemicals, is vegan, not tested on animals, suitable for kids or people with allergies. It saves tons of single-use plastic with replacing laundry bottles or bags, and the refillable laundry egg is guaranteed to reusable for 10 years.

How I do laundry so it’s fast, efficient and zero waste.

Review of the Ecoegg

If you have read any other Eco egg, eco laundry egg reviews, you saw they are mainly positive. After reading everything I could online and comparing ingredients (making sure it is a detergent, not soap), I decided to try it as well. I was worried about efficiency, ruining my washing machine, possible skin reactions, wasting money and resources on something that doesn’t work and noise levels.

I bought and an reviewing:

• Ecoegg casing (the egg) with fragrance-free pellets for 70 washes: 12.36 EUR (photo below)
• Ecoegg refill fragrance-free pellets for 210 washes (returned): 9.40 EUR
• Ecoegg refill Spring Blossom pellets for 210 washes: 8.74 EUR

Ecoegg costs and savings | Ecoegg review

PLASTICS SAVINGS: They estimate you will save 40 bottles every year if you do 7 loads per week, but that also depends how much and what kind of detergent you would normally use (estimation includes replacing laundry detergent bottles + softener bottles).

Prices for the Ecoegg vary a fair bit and you might find different sizes, depending on what they are doing at the time. I was able to find 2 variations at the time of purchase.

At the time of purchase on amazon.de, the Ecoegg egg came with pellets for 70 washes, which totals to 17c per wash, but after the initial investment into for the laundry egg casing, the cost per load is 4 cents. That is 0.0416 EUR for the scented version and 0.0447 EUR for the fragrance-free option. (I had 1 month free Prime test, so shipping was free.)

The official website ecoegg.com brakes down the cost to 14p per wash or 10p per wash when you buy the refill (they have smaller sizes than what I bought).

As a comparisons, the cheapest laundry detergent from the refill shop was 20c per wash (0.20EUR) and I still had to lag it from the other side of town.

I got all of them from Amazon, which I try to avoid, but the price was nearly halved compared to the original website (and those were the only two options I managed to find). I initially thought I might not need to buy the Eco egg casing itself (just make a small fabric bag from scraps), but their customer service advised against it. The efficacy was only tested with the egg, so they couldn’t recommend it. Alas, I bought the set, the Ecoegg casing (the egg) with fragrance-free pellets. At the time of purchase, I couldn’t buy just the egg casing.

The link below is the one I got. The link is affiliate, which means I get a very small percentage of the sale (without any cost to you) which would help pay to cover the costs and work involved of hosting of this website. You can use the link or not. What No matter what you choose to do, try to buy the Ecoegg from the “official Ecoegg” Amazon store. I have seen some resellers, and you can’t never bee too careful.

Ecoegg review – instructions and other products

Do you need Ecoegg Detox Tablets?

Their website recommends using their detox tablets before starting to use the Ecoegg and every month thereafter to have your washer free of build-up.

As I describe in my zero waste laundry guide, too much laundry detergent and ward water create a build-up in the washer, so it is wise to do a thorough clean up every once in a while and I’m glad they mentioned that. Having your washing machine built-up free makes it more efficient and working much longer. However, do not use a soap-based laundry detergent and I’m very conservative with detergents and softeners, so I’m guessing (and guessing is all any of us can do without opening the washer) it’s probably relatively OK. Just to be on the safe side, I got a washer “detox” cleaner from my local drugstore for 1/3 of the price with the same ingredient list, in a recyclable paper packaging.

I would say, if you’re heavy handed with detergents/softeners, you have hard water or you’ve never done a “detox”, then buying some cleaning tablets might not be a bad idea, especially when switching to a milder, less aggressive laundry detergent like Ecoegg.

Is it for colors only or does it also work for white clothes?

Both works and you can add stain removers, like washing soda or bleach without a problem. But it does not have a bleaching effect.

How often does the laundry egg need refilled?

I got 210 washes refills and my instructions say you put 3 bags of white pellets and one bag of black pellets into the egg case. That suffices for a loads of 6-8 kg.

You need to add pellets when they fall below a specific line marked on the egg with the 210 refills. After 6 months of use, the beads are smaller and more compact, but nowhere near the designated line, so I would say it’s probably accurate. I somewhat regret not counting the washes, but I didn’t know I’ll be writing an Ecoegg review when I started using it. It seems close enough to me, but if you measure it, let me know in the comments below.

If you have 50 or 70 washes refills, then they estimate for a refill is every 2 months or 7-10 weeks depending on how much laundry you do. Hotter and longer cycles will use up the pellets faster.

Info for short cycles or handwashing

For short washing cycles or handwashing pre-soak the beads for 10-15 min. After testing it, presoaking them for about 20 min is best for my laundry machine/cycle/water. I don’t soak for cycles longer than 1 h.

Can you use the Ecoegg in an HE machine?

Yes. I had a chance to test in 2 different washers (I moved in this time and switched washers), both were HE machines.

In general is pretty straightforward to use, you just put the egg directly in the drum with your clothes and take it out when the washer is completely finished. There’s no visible soap left or anything.

My experience with noise levels

I have read reviews of the Ecoegg where reviewers said the sound is minimal or they do not hear it at all. This was my experience:

1 apartment: I’m talking about a 55 m2 apartment and the washing machine was in the bathroom. With the door closed, the sound was manageable.

2 apartment: the new apartment is bigger, with a different layout, etc. and the washing machine is different – the inner plastic “bars” on the drum are bigger and have a swirl – and it’s too loud for my comfort.

So I tried ditching the laundry egg casing and made a small fabric pouch for the pellets (not recommended by their customer service). I think it washes even better this way, maybe the beads get soaked more this way and the sachet takes longer to dry, but there is zero rambling.

Ecoegg review with stain tests

In general, I have now tested the Ecoegg in 2 front load European style washing machines in two locations (we moved in between) – so in two different waters. I do about 4 loads per week, normally nothing gets really stained with the exception of kitchen towels.

I normally do a short 40-50 min cycle on all of our clothes, at 40°C (which corresponds to 104 °F, I believe that is marked as cold on American style washers).

Both washing machines were about 3 years old, mid-range and newer high efficiency. I liked the old one – before the move – better, I think it did a better job regardless of washing liquid, but most of the tests below were done with the new one.

The short version: my review is very positive. It was passed all my tests for normal use and relatively light stains. It cleans sweat stains well and it’s gentle on all fabrics.

Results of stain tests with Ecoegg |laundry egg

I stained 3 small 100% cotton fabric remnants with coffee, grape seed oil, regular Pilot blue ink pen, red beats, dried cranberry, organic ketchup, organic black mascara (non-waterproof), and grass.

All stains had a 1h soak-in time, no pre-treatment, just straight in the wash. I applied stains 1 patch at a time, so all the test patches had the same soak-in time.

I washed all patches in the same cycle- the cycle I use most often with is mix 40 min, 40°C.

I added a couple of kitchen towels in the wash with the stain patch for efficient tumbling. I used the same ones in all the test washes.

I tested the same stains with the same cycle settings with

1. Ecoegg only,
2. Ecoegg + 2 TBS of soda percolate directly in the drum
3. water only,
4. organic laundry detergent

I only tested each detergent once.

*photos are subjected to change of light and auto-contrast. I did what I could to take before and after photos in same conditions, but refer to descriptions as well.

TEST 1: Ecoegg only before and after

The coffee stain was about 90% gone, still, a bit visible, oil stain was gone, the ink stain was still there, so were the mascara and lipstick (I didn’t try to scrape them off before washing, it was maybe 40% gone), beat stain 100% gone, not visible, organic ketchup stain 90% gone, slightly visible and the grass stain was unchanged.

TEST 2: Ecoegg + 2 TBS of soda: before and after

I added some washing soda in the wash to see if the stains would come out cleaner without extra work for me. I put it in directly in the load, no soaking, no changes to the cycle or temperature.

Coffee stain 90% gone, barely visible, oil stain was gone, the ink was still visible, but cleaned slightly better than washing with Ecoegg. I was hoping washing soda with help with mascara and lipstick stain, bet the result was equally poor as washing with just Ecoegg. Red beat stain was 100% gone, not visible at all, ketchup was still visible and the grass stain was still very much there. All in all, results of the second test were very similar to the first one, washing soda only helped with the coffee and ink stain, but not enough to bother. Test failed, but now we know.

TEST 3: organic fragrance-free detergent: before and after

I used Briochin organic fragrance-free detergent (suitable for white and colored textiles, concentrated formula, efficient at 30 degrees), the recommenced amount for the load size.

Coffee stain 90% gone, barely visible, oil stain was gone, the ink stain hardly changed(this was the worst result from the 3 tests), mascara and lipstick were quite comparable to the other two tests – still very much there. Red beat stain was 100% gone, not visible, organic ketchup stain 80% gone and the grass stain was still very much there.

I was actually a bit disappointed with this test, I thought “a proper detergent” will perform better than the Ecoegg. The ketchup and ink stains were the worst from the 3 tests and everything else was very similar.

What happens if I pre-soaked the stains?

If you just look at the original tests, it would appear the Ecoegg is kind of bad and doesn’t work well. I knew even before the tests that Ecoegg doesn’t do great with heavy stains, at least not as a stand-alone. Also, I wash on very short cycles and cool water, which is not what the average person does, especially not with stained clothes.
So, for my final test, I did what I would normally do with heavy stains. I pre-soaked them in hot tap water with washing soda and washed them at 60°C (140 °F) for 1h 15 (synthetic cycle). By this time, test swatches were several hours old.

The ink was disappearing in front of my eyes in the soaking phase, so I had to relabel swatches with a piece of tread.

The ink stain is a tad visible but nearly there and the only visible stain in this test is lipstick (I would say about 90% gone).

This test also reinforces the importance of soaking stains beforehand (I’m normally in too big of a hurry to do) and that I maybe do not need a standard detergent as back-up.

Is Ecoegg really 2 in 1, can it replace a fabric conditioner?

In my experience yes. The softness can’t be quite compared to commercial softeners like Silan or Lenor, those make clothes even a bit fluffy and ultra scented if that description makes sense. I would say the softness when using Ecoegg is comparable to organic softeners I was using (I used Rainett). They are gentler, less scented, and better for the environment, and I would say, a bit less potent than the major brands.
Softness and the desire for soft clothes are pretty relative though and though I don’t notice a major difference and I actually don’t need/want my clothes to be ultra-soft.
My partner on the other hand enjoys very soft clothes. His review: his clothes are slightly less soft than usual, but not enough that he would want to add softener.

*Dryer makes clothes soft weather of not you use a softener. I have newer owned one, I dry everything on a rack.

Ecoegg review: how does it smell?

If you are used to your laundry smelling super fresh or floral sweet after you wash it, you will be disappointed. I am used to mildly scented laundry detergents and I prefer them that way.
Scents can often be a cause for itchy rashes so I first ordered scent-free. I was getting a yearly supply after all and didn’t want to chance it.

Side note: Egoegg is awarded allergy friendly by Allergy UK, so it should be a good detergent for sensitive or eczema-prone skin, but I had issues before and I’m extra careful.

After testing both, fragrance-free and scented versions, both came out approximately the same. No scent, or maybe I should say “neutral wet clothes” scent. If you ever used laundry soap nuts, then you know they have a gentle earthy smell. It doesn’t smell like that, it really is a “nothing smell”. Nothing ever came out musty smelling, even if I forgot to take a load out for several hours.

I like my clothes to smell gently fresh, and I have found a low waste solution without adding softener, and I’ll post it in a future post.

UPDATE AFTER ALMOST 1 YEAR

I had to refill the egg in May 2021, so the pellets did last almost a full year, doing 4-6 loads per week. Some of the black pellets were broken (and much smaller in size). I could tell the difference, the water was visibly soapy after the refill and clothes were much softer. I think I could have refilled it a couple of weeks sooner and it would have been perfect, but all in all… I’m still very happy.

Where can you buy it?

You can get the EcoEgg and/or refills from their website, they ship out of the UK.
The other option is Amazon. At the time of purchase, Amazon was by far the cheapest option so I got it there. You might be able to get it in your local drug store or other natural online shops. I haven’t seen it in my local zero waste shops yet.

Ecoegg laundry egg review final thoughts

Just from general washes, I knew the laundry egg does well for day to day washes, stuff that isn’t too dirty. I kept a commercially made organic detergent around the house as well, to deal with heavier stains. Clothes never stink (but don’t smell fresh\floral either). For this Ecoegg review, I’ve tested Ecoegg on heavy-duty stains and I was surprised it does OK with a bit of help from a stain remover.

It’s super eco-friendly and the cheapest detergent I’ve ever had. As a side benefit, it saves space in the bathroom too and time in the store (I do not have to buy anything from the laundry isle for the next year, imagine that??). In the end, I don’t regret buying it and I’ll most likely be re-buying when my supply runs out.

Hope my Ecoegg review proves useful to you, if you have any questions, let me know.

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The post Extensive Ecoegg review with stain tests – non sponsored appeared first on ZERO WASTE THINGS.

The simplest Aroma Zone alternative is your local zero waste store if you are lucky to have one. But if you don’t, and most people don’t, I would first look in:

• organic stores for small producers of carrier oils, essential oils and clay.

• your local Indian or Asian store for plant powders and henna

• fair trade and direct trade shops for oils and butters.

Aroma Zone alternative in France

Day by day chain zero waste store has a couple of basic DIY ingredients you can buy in bulk in your own container. They also have zero waste beauty finished products.

Slow Cosmetik maybe closest alternative to Aroma Zone, they have DIY ingredients from various smaller brands but you order and pay on the Slow Consmetik page and your full order is shipped together no matter the producer.
They also have Ayurvedic plant powders, that are sometimes hard to find. They are also great for purchasing finished clean beauty skincare. Not everything is zero waste or plastic-free though.

The selection is big enough to complete with Aroma Zone, and so are their shipping rates: for deliveries in France: 4.90 euros Colissimo and 3.90 euros Mondial Relay.

Revel Essence is another certified organic shop to buy cosmetic ingredients with prices really comparable to Aroma Zone. They work directly with producers, without intermediaries. The website gives a sort of similar feel to Aroma Zone, they have a really wide selection of essential oils and more plant extracts.

My cosmetik is another shop selling most DIY cosmetics ingredients, emulsifiers, butters, equipment, and all that jazz. In full disclosure, I haven’t ordered anything from them yet in quite a while, since most things come in plastic bottles, and plastic bags and there are already decent alternatives in the top two suggestions.

Private Green is a vente prive deal page for organic brands only. So far, I have seen My Cosmetik, Formule Beaute, and other brands selling DIY cosmetic ingredients, oils, and they often have zero waste sales as well. The savings are really up to 50%, they didn’t just inflate price to make it look like you are getting a deal.

I also have to mention a herbalist based in Paris called Maison Neroli. They sell essential oils, floral waters, perfumes, and oils from small French distilleries.

Joliessence is a France-based bauety shop with international shipping (though many countries excluded). See my review below.

I sometimes also use Beaute Prive. They are an aggregate for all sorts of beauty brands (and small spa companies), big and small, the nasty and organic, small and zero waste. Essentially, it’s a private sale site for all skincare and makeup related brands with reductions up to 60% or so. For organic or zero waste products, select the category on the left side.
They get their products from overstocked stores or special discounts and in my experience, the items were always original and in mint condition.

Zero waste or organic brands they carry are the likes of Lamazuna, Feel Natural, NAE, Alepia, Beauty formula (cosmetic ingredients), Blinx (menstrual undies), Fleurance nature, Nacomi, Christian Lenart (I wasn’t a fan), Glamza, Nuxe Bio, Pulpe de Vie (had the apricot scrub, was OK), Boho Green (low waste -ish makeup), Retour à l’essentiel (organic essential oils)… you get the idea. Using this link, you get 5EUR off a 15€ purchase.

I also purchased essential oils directly from Pranarôm, La Compagnie des Sens, Ladrôme all with good success. All are organic and made in France (and available in my organic store or a bigger parapharmacie).

Aroma Zone alternatives based in Europe

Joliessence is a Provence based lab working directly with producers and artisans to eliminate much of the handling resources and costs. They have organic certified oils, essential oils, pure organic cosmetic ingredients, and some cosmetic packaging as well. They also have harder to get essential oils of higher quality than Aroma Zone for medicinal purposes.

Their shipping is zero waste too, my packages are always wrapped in craft paper. For shipping costs, I can say they are one of the most reasonable ones for shipping outside of France as well and their shipping policy seems to be based on Aroma Zone’s shipping policy. They have a smaller fee for small packages and international orders can be as low as 5 EUR to Germany and 12 to the UK.

Ordering via this link will get you an additional 5,00€ (on an order of 35€).

Bioflore is another great all-rounder based in Belgium, doing deliveries all over the world. They have everything, essential oils, carrier oils, floral essences, but also soap making ingredients and emulsifiers. I like the page layout, it’s a lot clearer and simpler to Aroma Zones. You can surf based on your concern, and they will have just the most potent and tested ingredients. The recipes are simple and efficient. Love.

Free shipping for orders over a reasonable amount, 4.95€ for shipping to France, 7-12 for other European countries, and they also do worldwide shipping.

Kosmetikmacherei is a small shop in Vienna, Austria. They have all the basics plus some more. They are also the only shop where I could buy aluminum tubes for DIY creams. Though totally optional in your DIY cosmetics, metal tubes help preserve homemade cream for longer by preventing oxidation. If you happen to go there in person, be mindful of opening hours, they aren’t open every day.

Eccoverde is a European online store with organic products, oils, clays, good quality plant powders, makeup, and finished products. You can really get anything there, prices are a bit higher than Aroma Zone, but the quality is often higher, plus you are supporting local artisans.

They carry many European and foreign organic brands, some bigger ones and many smaller ones as well, like Dr. Hauschka (all plastic-free packaging, it’s either metal or glass), Zao, even have the Korean skincare brand Whamisa with some glass containers.

They deliver CO2 neutral to over 90 countries and the shipping rates are very reasonable.

Where to buy craft paper/bamboo packing for DIY cosmetics?

 After many hours of searching, I found 2 options, and only 1 is suitable for an occasional DIY maker, like me. Dynamica, a Swiss company, has some kraft paper/bamboo packaging for lips balms and and small pots. From what I can tell, orders from Switzerland have limits, orders from EU start from 95 EUR. That is still too big of an order for me, I just don’t use/make that much.

Which brings me to the next option…

Etsy. There are a couple of sellers selling paper lip balm tubes and paper tubes for zero waste deodorants. Where and how they are made is often not disclosed. Etsy has changed their rules years ago, even back in the days when I had my store on it. They allow factory-made imported products to be sold as handmade, so do a bit of research where things actually come from.

For personal use, I ordered a couple of refillable metal lipstick cases from Lush. The cases are made in France.

To conclude this Aroma zone alternative post, let me leave you with this last shopping address from my grandma. Europe has a great (now somewhat forgotten) tradition of herbalists and herbal pharmacies, not found online. They have all sorts of forgotten plants available in tea, powder, maceration forms… Often those are found also in monastery shops, an ancient tradition from the times when monks were local healers and medicine men.

The post Want to shop sustainably? Tested Aroma Zone alternative(s) appeared first on ZERO WASTE THINGS.

Using clay might also be a good addition if you are transitioning from an industrially made SLS based, powerful shampoo to a less harsh shampoo or a no-poo regimen. Clay will absorb excess oil and make the transition easier.

Rhassoul clay is a traditional natural skin and hair goody, used in beauty rituals for centuries. You can also find it under names like Moroccan red clay or ghassoul clay.

It is naturally occurring in the Atlas mountains in Marrocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The area is rich in minerals, rare animal species, and precious plants.

It is extracted in brown chunks, but after drying and refinement it has a brown-gray color and it’s a really fine powder.

Rhassoul clay is also rich in minerals, namely ghassoulite with traces of silica, iron, calcium, magnesium, dolomite, quartz, and others. There aren’t a lot of clinical trials or medical literature on clays in general, though there is some evidence showing it can restore damaged skin barriers. The natual silica works as a very gentle exfoliant and makes hair shiny without excessive drying.

The benefits rhassoul clay for hair and scalp

• it adds volume, even to thinner hair
• exfoliates scalp gently
• natural silica makes hair shine
• great for absorbing excess oils
• as a raw ingredient, it’s budget-friendly
• super easy to make

The biggest benefit of using rhassoul clay in a hair wash is that it cleanses the scalp and hair while being non-stripping and gentle to scalp and hair follicles. I have tried white illite clay hair mask and bentonite hair mask on my hair, but I found them either too gentle or too stripping.

The challenges of rhassoul clay hair wash

• naturally available only in Altas mountains
• it can get messy, like really messy
• clay can stain things if you don’t rinse it off
• for some hair, it’s hard to completely rinse off depending on your hair and water – it’s better on low porosity hair

I have naturally curly hair, medium to high porosity hair, and a sensitive scalp. So far so good. I tested hair masks and have been doing a rhassoul clay hair wash for about 1 month now.

General tips

Remember to never use metal pots or metal spoons with any sort of clay.

When making any sort of mask or shampoo with this clay, note it can absorb about 150% of its weight, the clay will expand quite a bit so get a big enough bowl.

Rhassoul clay likes to clump a bit, especially if you didn’t add enough water from the get-go. Adding a bit is OK, adding lots more water results in clumps.

For best benefits, buy pure and cosmetic grade.

Related: Lamazuna shampoo bar review

Basic rhassoul clay hair wash recipe:

1. rhassoul clay
2. water

How much you need depends on your hair length and hair type. A good start is about 3 tbs of clay with 6 tbs of water for shoulder length medium thick hair.

Additions and improvements for oily hair:

• add a small amount of bentonite clay
• use rose water, hamamelis water, cedar water, or black tea instead of pure water
• a couple of drops of tea tree or cedar essential oils

Additions and improvements for dry hair:

• add a small amount of your favorite carrier oil
• use nettle water instead of pure water
• add a spoon of oat flour or oat powder

Additions and improvements for sensitive scalps:

• test on a small patch for sensitivities before using, though it’s more often healing than not
• do not use essential oils to avoid irritation, or use a very small amount
• use chamomile tea or gardenia/ lavender water instead of water
• add a spoon of oat flour or oat powder
• add ayurvedic plants, like amla or brahmi

METHOD

Rhassoul clay as a hair wash is really simple.

I pre-mix the clay and water in a low glass so I know how much water I need. The consistency and texture are actually like you would melt milk chocolate and the scent is very gentle.

I apply it to wet hair in the shower. I massage my scalp well, leave it to sit for a minute or two, and rinse like normal. If I get consistency right, then it’s actually not a big mess.
You could finish with a conditioner or not, depending on your hair. I have simplified through the years and just put a bit of oil on my ends and it works for me (and that is huge for curly hair).

You can use it as a mask as well, especially if your hair is a bit oily for whatever reason. For a mask, I wet my hair a little and apply the mask starting with my scalp and roots. I keep it on for 15-20 min.

If you have tried a rhassoul clay hair wash, let me know how it went, or if you need some help, I’m here to cheer you on!

The post The humble rhassoul clay hair wash appeared first on ZERO WASTE THINGS.

Side note: Did you know laundry cleaner manufacturers aren’t required to disclose ingredients used in laundry detergents and stain removers? So they do not. Some still use microplastic and ingredients harmful to the environment.

Related: Zero waste plastic free laundry routine from start to finish

General tips before you apply a stain remover

I think you already knew this, but for people at the back, the sooner you can soak or wash off a stain, the better.

What is also good to know about natural stain removals is that there are 2 kinds of stain removal, actual stain removal vs. bleaching the stain so it becomes less visible. I describe this in more detail in my post on why I stopped making my own laundry detergent.
Most often, stain removals will do a bit of both. I find it often doesn’t matter which one it is really, though it is a bit gross to think sth. is still dirty, just not visible…

For best success, you need to know what we are dealing with. There are several types of stains:

1. PROTEIN BASED: blood, milk, ice-cream, various body fluids…
2. OIL BASED: oil, cosmetics, makeup…
3. TANIN BASED: tea, coffee, coke, berries …
4. DYE BASED: ink, colorants in food and drinks
5. COMBO: mayo (protein+oil), ketchup, most finished dishes, most processed food…

Each category has its own stain remover and you can treat some in the same way. The most important thing to remember is:

Never rinse/wash in hot water on blood (protein-based stains).

Never use a stain remover with soap on coffee or tea stains, use pure detergent only. By soap, I mean hand soap, body soap, laundry soap, laundry detergent with Marseilles soap…

So, what do you do instead?

You will want to rinse off the stain with cold, and I mean very cold water. Turn your tap water on the coolest it will go to rinse and soak the stain. Soak with what? Keep reading…

Pre-soak with laundry detergent

If your stains aren’t too old, I would probably just try to soak it with laundry detergent, or dish soap for oil-based stains (just be careful to rinse off dish soap before putting it in the washing machine, you might have a bubbly fiasco on your hands if not) and wash it in a warm or hot cycle if possible. I found we often use stain removers because are told we have to. Some laundry detergents are quite powerful, especially the powdered ones and that is why I got away with not using a stain remover on my clothes for so long. Enzyme based detergents are also quite good at removing stains.

*Washing soda

Washing soda is what I treat my oils stains on kitchen towels with. I have a special set of kitchen towels that I use just like a paper towel and those do get dirty often. Every couple of months, I will chuck them in the washer with a good cup of washing soda (not baking soda) and regular cleaner. Washing soda works by bleaching the stain, not actually removing it.

It can be quite harsh, so I do not use it on clothes and I try to not do it too often.

I buy it at my local zero waste store or organic store. You might also be able to find them in a hardware store, with solvents and cleaners.

It’s also what I used when I tested the Ecoegg|laundry egg.

A word on ammonia based stain removers

It’s often found in old-school “natural-looking” cleaners shelf where I live, so I thought I would include it here, though I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. Here is why.
Ammonia is great as a textile stain remover, for carpet spills, as a car seat cleaner, and works very well on all types of stains. I have used an ammonia solution on an old chocolate stain and it worked like magic. You can also find it in window cleaners or pots cleaners since it doesn’t really leave a residue. And very little goes a very long way…

…but it toxic to aquatic animals (it’s sometimes just dumped into rivers or oceans by the coal industry) and the fumes are highly toxic to humans as well. If you decide to use sth. like that, protect yourself, wear goggles, gloves, and use an appropriate concentration (5-10%), dispose of it properly. Also, ammonia stinks like sth. else and the fumes are harmful, so always do it outside or well-ventilated area.

Acid-based stain remover

Stage one: citric acid or acetic acid aka lemon and vinegar

Citric acid is found in lemons (and other citrus fruits) and acetic acid is vinegar. The problem with those two is that they are sometimes not quite potent enough in their natural states. Try lemon and vinegar on coffee and tea stains, grass, or other protein-based stains.

Use acid only in the pretreatment stage and never put it directly in the washing machine. Some types of rubber react with it and get damaged, which can get to leaks.

Health warning: do not inhale.

Also, do not use acid near metal buttons or decorations, they can get damaged as well.

Acid should also never be used on any type of stone or wood, no matter the stain. It works great on glass (just not glasses, since it can remove anti-glare or anti-blue light layers).

For what it’s worth: hydrogen peroxide and bleach

Hydrogen peroxide is hard to get and it’s not really used as a stain remover in my neck of the woods. I know it can be used as a good all-round brightening solution and it’s gentler on textile than bleach.

I really dislike using bleach on stains because I always manage to get it on something else as well and it tends to linger around, so I got accidental bleach stains weeks later.

My mom will use a diluted solution to clean tiles in the bathroom and it does a good job, but for me, the stink and elbow grease required just isn’t worth it.

So what do I use then?

Old school stain remover – Gallseife

Galseife is a mix of a vegetable hard soap and ox bile. It’s the stuff out great great grandmas would use to get stains out of wool, silk, or any kind of other textiles. It’s suitable for delicates as well, it preserves colors and can be applied as many times as needed. It’s 100 % biodegradable and not harmful to the environment (providing there are no harsh chemicals included). By buying organic you can control at least some of the ingredients.

It cleans oil and protein based stains very well, including makeup stains, fruit stains and dyes.

Sonett stain remover gall soap does quite well and is 100% zero waste, plastic-free. See it here.

*This is not a vegan product and honestly, I’m not sure we have to use animals for cleaning our stuff as well, except when it is a by-product (meaning when we are trying to use the whole animal).

Zero waste and natural Fuellers Earth or Terre de Sommières

Also known as bleaching clay, whitening clay, multani mitti, clay of Multan… It would normally be named after a town where it is mined.

I really like this one because it is naturally occurring all over the world and has been used since ancient times.

It is amazing on oil based stains, but it’s also a really all-around stain remover, for collar stains, deodorant stains etc. The best use for Fuellers Earth though is the dreaded red wine stain. It works as a natural dry cleaning agent, all you need to do is apply it to the stain and it will soak it in.

Where to buy:

• Powder here or on Iherb
• plastic-free stain remover bar from The Théophile Berthon

2 in 1 zero waste stain remover

Most commercially produced stain removers, including natural, zero waste stain removers are a cocktail of bleaching and cleaning agents.

A zero waste stain remover from another French soap maker La Savonnerie des Calanques contains both ox bile and Terre de Sommières and comes plastic free. See it here.

Key takeaways

1. never treat bloodstains with heat
2. never treat coffee or tea stains with soap
3. pre-treat with your regular detergent – it might be enough
4. acidic based cleaners are better for protein-based stains
5. don’t use washing soda in your washer

The post The best zero waste stain remover + some stain science appeared first on ZERO WASTE THINGS.

I also have some tips and suggestions on what kinds of bags and jars you should get, so you can be set up for success from the get-go.

Some zero waste tips to get you going

• I do not want you to think if you need to get everything right, all the time. Preserving your sanity and mental health is equally important and small incremental changes make plastic-free life achievable.

• Start with what you have already. Zero waste means less consumerism, not just swapping out plastic items for something paper or wood-based items.

• check at flea markets, second-hand shops, and swapping communities like Freecycle when you don’t need to buy sth. absolutely new.

Basic zero waste essentials

Plastic-free water bottle/thermos

Using a reusable plastic bottle saves tons of energy. In most developed countries tap water is absolutely drinkable. Healthy. Safe. Plastic packaging, on the other hand, has now been proven to often leech harmful chemicals into our water and food. In the studies, PET plastic has come out as the safest of the plastics (you can find the label on the packaging, usually in the bottom).

You would be surprised to hear how many people still buy bottled water every day. If your tap water isn’t contaminated in some way, is it good to drink. Chlorinated water doesn’t taste great, but can get a water filter (tap filter or pitcher filter).

I like bottles made out of quality steel, but if you use a plastic one, make use it is BPA free.

I’ve been using Thermos Light 500 ml and my partner has Flsk thermos bottle, 750 ml.

If you like drinking soda, get yourself a Sodastream. It will save you tons of money, plastic waste and you will have control of your sugar intake. I got my partner a SodaStream for Christmas several years ago and it is still the single most used machine in the kitchen.

Re-usable set of bags

I think everyone has heard of reusable bags for fruit/veg/groceries. In fact, any bag will do, as long as it is CONVENIENT and SIMPLE for you. You want sth. light, foldable and strong, preferably not too stretchy. I do not like the stretchy net bags (with holes in them), though very photogenic, they can stretch soo much, get saggy, fiddly, and are awkward to carry around the city when they are actually full. There is a reason why they are always photographed flat.

The big gorgeous looking weave baskets are beautiful, but not really practical on the go. They are a 1 occasion only item, and if you won’t use it, it just creates more waste.

If you are crafty, you can make bags yourself out of old shirts, old plastic bags, sheets etc.

I also like to reuse old paper (or plastic) bags – they pack small and are lighter.

Zero waste waterproof vessel

I have a deep glass container for food (Ikea), several standard medium and big jars, which I have accumulated from buying peanut butter, yogurt, jam… I removed stickers with rubbing alcohol or acetone.

Just these two items will serve you for work lunches, buying cake, fish, cheese at the market or shops and shopping at zero waste stores. You can use them in so many ways, jars are excellent zero waste vases, pencil holders, candles, glasses, lunch boxes, DIY terrariums, plant pots…

I like the simplest, no-fuss shape better. Jars with special shapes are really pretty, but a pain to clean and get liquids out. If your lids get rusty or damaged, you can buy replacements in bigger grocery stores or kitchenware shops (or online).

I do not have many ‘decorative jars”/special jars, lemonade jars… because they are often not recyclable. I break them or have too many, they go in the normal waste bin.

Jars and bottles with a wider mouth are better because they can go into the dishwasher, thin bottlenecks need to be washed by hand.

How to do your grocery shopping zero waste?

A lot of supermarkets are now ditching single-use plastic bags, though they just get replaced by a version of biodegradable bags. Sadly, not everything that says is biodegradable really is. It’s a bit of greenwashing mixed with honest hope. It is still better than using old fashion plastic though.

How to find a zero-waste store near you?

• often Google map is a good start
• blogs like mine: I have a full directory of zero waste shops in Vienna and how to avoid plastic when you are visiting Vienna, and write about eco-friendly, sustainable travel everywhere I go.
• Bepackt.com
• Zerowastemap.com

If you have a zero-waste store and a local farmers market near-by, you are all set. Most of us do not have this luxury though.

If there is nothing in your area, or the plastic-free shop is too expensive, you can still shop low-waste. We do not need everybody to be perfect, just do what they can.

It has been a while since I’ve been to Canada (so they might have zero waste shops now), but they have this crazy shop called Bulk Barn. It is a bulk shop, founded in 1982! where you can buy everything from candy, baking goods, flour, gluten-free organic flours, spreads, oil, nuts, dry fruit, tea, coffee, spices, herbs in bulk. They offer (or used to offer) free plastic bags, but they always encouraged people to bring their own containers. They will not appear on the zero waste shop list.
In France, there is a bulk section for nuts, pasta, cereal and some basic grains in many bigger supermarkets and health stores and the prices were pretty comparable to plastic-packaged foods.

When in your normal grocery store, follow these tips

Returnable packaging

Returnable schemes are the most efficient thing consumers and businesses can do in their zero-waste efforts. It literally creates no waste in the process, minus the energy and cleaners used to clean the bottles jars and bottles. It is how our grandmas used to buy milk, yogurt, and all preserved food., but it got phased out till the 70s. Some countries already have a deposit system for beer bottles and the consumer then gets some money back for the returned bottle.

Zero waste essentials for food storage

I do food prep for the whole week almost every weekend. I store all of it in my tall glass jars and it looks really pretty too. I found the big one (500 ml) fits just enough food for 1 meal.

Bee wax or vegan wraps

This is my DIY set of bee wax wraps and a big part of my zero waste essentials. I have several dimensions to fit bread, sandwiches, pastry, covering veggies in the fridge, you can make a lid out of them for bowls… There is honestly nothing better for storing bread, nothing moldy, nothing dry.

I also made a couple of different size bags for zero waste snacks on the go, I even had success carrying cookies in them.

Recycled aluminum foil

You can totally get recycled aluminum foil if you wish to keep using it. Where I live, aluminum wrapping and foil are recyclable.

From what I have seen, we are often too paranoid to “protect” our produce, or preserve them for longer. We were also taught that plastic wrapping mores food cleaner and safer, which is not necessarily so. Commercially made products will always last longer because they were treated with chemical preservatives, no matter what bag we wrap around them. A paper bag and fabric wraps are sufficient.

Zero waste bathroom essentials

Once you use up all your old creams, gels, and shampoos, you will probably want to get a bar soap, bar shampoo, organic oil for hair, and maybe even zero waste toothpaste.

Related: Zero waste makeup

I managed to find an organic facial cleanser with a pump in a glass bottle and tend to buy all my moisturizers in a metal tube, that can be recycled. Metal is also much better in terms of preservation because it prevents oxidation of the product.

I still use my normal toothpaste and use zero-waste toothpaste pellets for travel.

My favorite brands are German Dr. Hauscka (almost everything is either in glass or metal), they have all low waste essentials, American The Ordinary and Niod keep most of their products in glass). British Lush is also expanding its zero-waste line, and so is the French Lamazuna.

Low waste cleaning

In all my years or cleaning with organic products, I have found this essential DIY zero waste cleaner to be the winner.

All you need is a spray bottle, white vinegar, alcohol, and water. Mix the liquids in equal parts and pour them in the bottle. I use this on greasy and calcium stained surfaces, the toilet, mirrors, and windows. You can add some of your fav. essential oil. Essential oils are anti-bacterial, but alcohol already kills some germs (in this ratio, alcohol strength is 33% and you need a much higher percentage to disinfect).

I’ve used the same plastic spray bottle for years, repurposed from an organic cleaner. When it breaks, I will buy a metal or glass one.

Warning

A lot of zero waste products are still in the development phase they use natural ingredients, that have not been proven by science to be effective. The formulations aren’t quite where they need to be, though this is improving.
Some established brands are wanting to join the low waste wagon too, offering greener products, as a result of public pressure and profit. Organic is the highest growing market in skincare in Europe. This is great news for everyone, consumers get more choice, better products and new greener jobs are created.

I do have to give a word of warning here and it is called GREENWASHING. Greenwashing isn’t a new term. Essentially it is when a company uses branding and clever marketing to present themselves greener and healthier as they really are. A prime example of greenwashing is using a green bottle, putting the name new and natural on it, without changing the formulation, suppliers, or their process.

Getting proactive on all fronts

I do think it is very important that we all, our governments and consumers, hold our favorite brands accountable. I send countless emails to companies asking about their green policies, asking for more environmentally friendly packaging, telling them I stopped using their products after finding out it contains (not labeled) micro-plastic.

For your convenience, I have made a copy-paste template that you can send to any company. All you need to do is find their email on their webpage. Companies take emails send personally seriously, because it took you more effort to send it, especially if lots of people do it.

It is free for you to download and use and you do not have to give me your email.

Sign petitions when you can. Greenpeace always has sth. happening, but there are lots more organizations.

The biggest thing you really need, besides some zero waste essentials, is the motivation to keep going. Going low waste is more of a mentality shift, vs. getting glass pots out and buying a bamboo toothbrush. I can’t count the times I got frustrated and it just took so long to get things done. However, with a bit of help and community encouragement, once you get past the learning curve, things get simpler and easier.

If you have time, do check The Climate Collage for additional motivation and understanding climate change.

The post Zero waste essentials to jumpstart your eco-friendly lifestyle (with TIPS) appeared first on ZERO WASTE THINGS.

I am aware that beauty standards and the amount of makeup are relative and stir up many emotions, needs, and opinions. I’ve kind of found my own way with it, reducing plastic along the way and I only speak from my experience which will not work for everyone.

Plastic makeup packaging is causing harm on all levels

I’m 99 % sure every single item in your makeup bag is packaged in plastic. Mine was. Most likely the packaging will end up burned, in a landfill, or somewhere along our waterways. The plastic used for makeup is the soft (the “crappy” non-recyclable) kind. By that, I do not mean it cannot be recycled, it’s just that is very rarely is. It’s too expensive and the soft recycled plastic can’t be used for much anymore (the quality is just too low). But cosmetic brands keep on using it because it is cheap, convenient and light to ship.

Alternative zero waste makeup options

Have you seen makeup refills around?
I love the idea, but… I’ve seen several brands not really reducing waste, just having a plastic refill, in addition to the bamboo casing. Hmm…

Paper is also not a perfect solution. It’s obviously not suitable for liquids., but more importantly than that, it is harder to ensure proper disinfection. My tip here is buying from credible sources, small-batch producers that use paper from controlled forests.

Swapping with girlfriends isn’t recommendable from a sanitary perspective.

Wood and metal are precious resources that often get used in zero waste cosmetics. Metal (mainly aluminum for skincare and makeup) is tedious and really polluting to make, but can (and is) infinitely reused.

There really isn’t anything perfect in a zero waste sense, but we do not need perfect. We just need better.

I like to buy the best quality I can, and use it up fully, to avoid wasting resources and product.

Zero waste makeup tips

I’ve eliminated “testing ” from my makeup routine. I only buy when I run out, and only products I’m at least 85% sure I’ll like.

Learn more about makeup, your skin, and application techniques

When I first started applying makeup I had no idea what I was doing, I just tried to imitate my friends. My mom doesn’t wear makeup, so she couldn’t help, and they were no Youtube tutorials back then. I wore a lot of colors I later discovered I didn’t like and didn’t look good on me. On occasion, I bought something I really liked and got me compliments, but I ascribe that to luck than anything else.

I wasn’t till my late uni years that I had more time and experience to actually sit down and learn a couple of things. This enabled me to stop mindlessly buying new products, that didn’t work for me. I also learned which products I really want to buy, and which I do not need. I finally figured out what I’m doing, and why… I even did makeup on some photoshoots in my best days.

Where (or from whom) I learned most:

• Lisa Eldridge YouTube channel + her book: she is a British celebrity makeup artist with loads of free tutorials. I do not use most of the products she uses, but I use many of her techniques.
• Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro, Bobbi Brown
• Makeup Artist Eye Charts, G. M. Reyna

Low waste eye makeup

I’ve started using eye pencils as shadows to save on space in my travel makeup bag years ago, and now it’s all I ever use. They apply like a creamy eye shadow and they are actually designed to stay on better. Win-win in my books. I get a natural or organic eye pencil in a wooden casing.

I even used a pink lip liner as an eyeshadow. It worked really well.

I always found organic eye shadows really limiting in color, mainly browns, and muted colors, so checking the pencil section broadens the selection a bit.

Old school Kayal (plastic free) makes for a great black eyeliner if you are looking for eyeliner replacement. They tend to be more intense than plain pencils.

I do still use a “classic” eyebrown powder, since I have issues ffinding a good shade and I feel the powder makes for a more natural look. Do you have any suggestions?

DIY low waste mascara/refills/classic

Mascara was so far the hardest thing to do zero waste, and I do wear it.

I have successfully made a mascara from a started kit on Aromazone, though it was fussy and still required a plastic casing.

In my mind, the plastic refills + casing does not save enough packaging to merit a much higher price tag, so I don’t buy them.

I’ve been a long time favorite of the organic cheapo Alverde 12h stay (cheap in countries with physical DM drugstores). It does the job, stays put in European city summers, and it’s easy to wash off.

Semi-permanent makeup

Just putting it out there, knowing most people reading this will not go for this option. Semi-permanent makeup treatments. The most common ones are eyeliner or eyelashes treatments, or microblading for your brows. You need to repeat the procedure every 16-14 months, depending, so you are not totally locked in.
Some of my friends are super thrilled with the results and it’s a huge time (and product) saver, but I do not have personal experiences with those. I’ve been tempted by microblading, but still rocking my own.
Something like this could work really well if you wear makeup frequently enough, or you always do it in the same way.

Related: How to choose a zero waste soap

Zero waste foundation

I tend to get an organic foundation in a glass bottle (not all glass is recyclable). I only cover the parts I need to and thin out/ blur the edges. I have rosacea, and on most days, I just cover the middle of my face (nose, between eyebrows, around my nose), I would say I probably wear foundation on about 1/4 of my face on any given day. This obviously makes the product lasts longer.
To be able to do that, I have a foundation that matches my skin tone perfectly with a decent longlasting coverage.

In the past, my skin tone changed quite a bit during the year (fair in the winter, tanned in the summer…), so I would buy 2: a lighter and darker shade of the same brand and mix them as needed.
If I would keep on buying different shades throughout the year, I would never use the whole bottle up.

Nowadays I would always wear sunscreen, so my skin tone is more even throughout the year.

I use liquid foundations by Sappho (14 shades) or Innisfree (24 shades, depending on the country of purchase).

I don’t like bronzes on my face and can’t be bothered with blushes or contouring on most days. If I’m in the mood for blush, a very light application of my lipstick does the job very well.

Zero waste setting powder/oil absorption

I do not have to use setting powders often, I try to take care of that with skincare products.

In the summer, I will sometimes use a freshwater pearl powder. Before you leave this page to never return again since I promised normally priced products, let me tell you, the powder set me back 3.50 EUR for 10 g on Aromazone.
Aromazone is a DIY cosmetics giant, but I do still buy from them once in a blue moon. To my knowledge, the pearls they use are sustainably sourced.

So, what is this freshwater pearl powder? It is a fine powder made from freshwater pearls that has been used in Asian beauty products since forever, and some very high-end traditional French makeup for about 100 years. It not only mattifies, but it also has added skincare bonuses. I keep it as 1 ingredient wonder and there is no need for preservatives.
It has a slight white cast (but less than zinc oxide sunscreen), so it’s not suitable for all skin tones.

I also used MUJI skin blotting paper, which works very well.

Low to zero waste makeup brand recommendations

Watch out for LUSH

Lush is just killing it in terms of innovation and range of zero waste makeup products they are currently offering. Their goal is to be really packaging free, and their refills actually being plastic-free.

I currently have their metal lipstick casings that come with refills protected with wax. You can just peel the wax off, insert and use. The metal casing is made by a French company (close to where I live) and there is a decent shade selection for the lipstick.
The problem is that you can only try them in their UK stores and the selection in the online shops vary from country to country. There also could be a potential breakage problem when peeling the wax off and inserting the lipstick.

I also use the casings for my DIY lip balms.

Lush also make an actual zero waste foundation with wax packaging, which looks really cool. I’m just not quite sure how to choose a shade online and based on YouTube reviews, it melts off, so I’m waiting for when they reformulate.

*Lush wax casing is compostable

I’m also a fan of Sappho

Sappho isn’t quite zero waste, they fall on the low to recycled packaging. They do have an impeccable ethos and I’m really happy with the quality, so I buy some favorites from them. They are on the pricier side, unless if you catch them on sale. I used to buy Dior sth. sth. foundation back in my non-organic days and the price was similar. I scored my first bottle in an organic store on sale and was then sold on texture, appearance, and longevity.

My favorite products from the brand are the primer and foundation.

The primer has 0 silicone (the thing that smooths out skin, makes foundation look flawless, last longer, and clogs pores) but I couldn’t tell, it’s that good. The packaging is recycled plastic. I would only use a primer on photoshoots and special occasions, so 1 tube lasted quite a while.

I also keep re-buying Sappho organic foundation. The container is made out of glass and it’s long-lasting. I really loved their first formulation, that thing lasted a full day, without retouches, but they have reformulated. It’s still pretty good, just not as good.

The problem with Sappho is the same as most organic makeup brands. They are smaller and so not have their own stores or many places that sell them to actually see and test the products.

Zero waste makeup application

In all honesty, you do not need a specific brand for makeup brushes to be zero waste. Many brands have always made brushes with wooden handles, and there is no way of getting around plastic bristles. Brushes last a really long time with proper care.

I do have an Ecotools travel kit (it has 4 brushes: foundation, blush, angle brush, and eyeshadow brush) but I do not like the foundation or blush one, the bristles aren’t soft and thin enough. I do not care for the case, it’s an extra product I do not need and the big brushes sometimes catch on them. But I do like the angle and foundation and I would buy singles if I would be buying them again.

I actually only use 1 brush, the angle brush on my eyebrows.

I use my fingers for applying foundation, I find the warmth helps with the application.

I dab my lipstick straight from the case and that gives a very natural look.

Zero waste makeup brands I want to try next

• Beauty made easy (vegan lip balms and lipsticks in 100% biodegradable paper)
• Colorisi
• Couleur Caramel

Both are local French brands with minimal packaging and I wanted to through those in there, in case you are looking for full zero waste makeup lines. I’ll update the post when I try them out.

Zero waste makeup is still in its infancy, so many products or brands aren’t available and I get it, it’s very hard to formulate good makeup products and use biodegradable packaging. Not everything I own is 100% packaging-free, so I balance it out with buying less.

Over to you,

How are you going with zero waste makeup? Is it hard? Easy to find?

The post Zero waste makeup hacks, tips, brands I like, products I repurchase appeared first on ZERO WASTE THINGS.