5 Easy Bathroom Product Swaps to Make Right NOW

10% of all processed plastic from landfills ends up in the oceans. Majority of that plastic is from thrown away single-use bathroom products like shampoo bottles, toothbrushes and razors used in our everyday routines.

How do we reduce this impact?

The #1 tip I share with people, is to look at what products they throw out the most in their garbage. Once these products have been identified, it's time to do your research on some eco-friendly alternatives.

I've written a quick guide to 5 eco-friendly alternatives for everyday bathroom products, including links and things you should know.

1. Shampoo + Conditioner

The average person goes through 1 bottle of shampoo every few months, which contributes a lot of unnecessary plastic waste. So a great package-free alternative is shampoo and conditioner bars.

My favourite shampoo bar is Honey I Washed My Hair from LUSH, which they claim can last up to 80 washes (approximately 3 bottles worth of shampoo) and it hasn't disappointed me so far.

Another alternative to conditioner is using apple cider vinegar, which can often be found in glass bottles at your local grocery store.

TIP: make sure that the apple cider vinegar is unfiltered and still contains the "mother" to obtain the best natural benefits.

EXTRA TIP: This also applies to body wash, try substituting it for a body wash bar that you can find locally at a farmer's market (or even LUSH), to reduce impact of shipping, packaging and manufacturing.

2. Shaving Razor

For individuals that shave regularly, it is recommended that your razors are replaced every 5-10 shaves (as recommended by Gillette) or when they become dull. Doing so for hygienic reasons and to have the best shave can result in contributing a lot of plastic waste.

Metal razors are a great solution, with its only disposable component being the blade. The blade can be disposed of properly on your own according to municipal guidelines or sent to recycling programs to be safely recycled and reused.

I recommend Albatross Designs Flagship 3-Piece Razor which is suited for both men's and women's shaving needs, is made with zero plastic and comes with extra blades (NOTE: Albatross Designs also has a blade take back program).

TIP: you can even make and use your own 3-ingredient sugar wax which is dissolvable for easy clean up and disposal in the compost bin!

3. Toothbrush

It is recommended by dental hygienists to change your toothbrush every 3 months. Theoretically, this results in approximately 2.3 billion plastic toothbrushes thrown away annually by the North American population. Just imagine the global impact if we factored in the toothbrush disposal of other countries.

I recommend Sprmal Bamboo Toothbrushes, which come in cardboard packaging of each individual toothbrush for travel and easy recycling.

TIP: the bristles of a bamboo tootbrush CANNOT be composted, so you must break the head off before you throw it in the compost.

4. Deodorant

Deodorant and anti-perspirant is another everyday product that can be used up and thrown away in a matter of weeks. Fortunately, there are eco and body friendly alternatives to common drugstore brands.

A budget friendly zero-waste deodorant bar that I recommend is Aromaco from LUSH. This fresh-scented, aluminum free deodorant is great because you can buy the amount that you need and it comes with paper packaging only.

But if you don't mind a higher end price for a product of higher quality packaging and scent then I'd recommend Routine's Cat Lady Natural Deodorant, which comes in a pineapple-scented cream formula that claims to last 3-6 months of use.

5. Cotton Rounds + Cotton Swabs

For most people, cotton rounds and cotton swabs are a commonly thrown out product. The rounds themselves may not contribute much plastic but the packaging sleeve they come in gets thrown out when they're used and cotton swabs have the plastic stick between them.

A great alternative is reusable cotton pads, which can be thrown in with your regular laundry to be washed and reused for your daily routines. I'd recommend FarmGirlDesigns Assorted Facial rounds for a pack with a bit of personality (although plain white is available too).

TIP: Making your own rounds with materials you already have is even better! I prefer to crochet them but there are ways to sew them as well.

Cotton swabs also have a plastic rod, which can be replaced by bamboo or paper-based rods. Although swabs aren't completely necessary (especially in my personal routine), they can come in handy, so I recommend Coralov's Bamboo Cotton Swabs which come in cardboard, plastic-free packaging.

Overall, these quick and easy swaps can actually make a world of difference in the environmental impact of our everyday routines.

With this guide I hope you realize that making a small plastic-free transition like this is only a reflection how easy it is to lead a zero-waste lifestyle.