WEEK 18: BODY WASH: face, hand and body wash; shampoo & conditioner
AVOID tons of bottled products. SWITCH to unpackaged soap.
1. PROBLEM
1. Plastic packaging
A mistake in the design of the modern products. Shall+Should be fixed.
2. Plastic product itself,micro beads, harsh and toxic Chemicals (source)
Our world is full of toxins. More and more studies are linking these toxins to cancer, autoimmune diseases, birth defects, and more. Why not eliminate some toxins that are easy to eliminate? Like the ones in our shampoo bottle. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has a database rating the toxicity of over 71,000 personal care products. A rating of 0 is nontoxic. A rating of 10 is very toxic. Here’s a peek at a few popular shampoo brands:
- Pantene, Suave, Herbal Essences, Garnier Fructis, Dove, Aveeno, Rating: 5
- TRESemme, Head & Shoulders, Rating = 6
- John Frieda Root Awakening Normal Hair Shampoo, Rating = 7
- L’Oreal Everpure Volume Shampoo, Rating = 8
Harmful ingredients in these and many other commercial shampoo products include:
- Benzyl Alcohol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Linalool, Methylisothiazolinone, rating = 5
- Benzyl Salicylate, Lilial, Formaldehyde Releaser, rating = 7
- Synthetic Fragrance, Oxybenzone, rating = 8
OTHER REASONS PLASTIC PACKAGING SUCKS
- Remember that when you buy a shampoo bottle, about 50% of that product is water. So instead of paying for water, paying for soap isn’t too bad right?.
- Easy for travel too — no leakage and no issues in a carry on.
- Many like hand wash for hygiene puroses. 1) No study has ever proven that soaps are not as safe as a hand wash. You just need to wash your hand throughly for 20–30 seconds. 2) People assume soap will accumulate bacteria (yew how many ppl touched it!). Err..The soap gets washed every time it’s used. Does anyone wash the bathroom knob or handwash pumps which are touched by a million dirty hands? Bathroom door knobs? Nope.
2. SOLUTION
Organic & Unpackaged soap? Shampoo Bars? Conditioner Bars? Yep. They exist.
hand wash
face wash
body wash
shampoo
and conditioner
ALL in ONE (or 2). with no packaging waste or plastic waste.
2. SOLUTION
1. GO CRAZY: NOPOO METHOD + SOAPNUT/BESAN/Shikakai powder
P.S Wash your hair off after applying apple cider vinegar!
This if for your hair. (I have to try this someday. For now, I am very happy with my soap+shampoo bar) You can wash your body with baking soda solution.
2. ZERO-WASTE: BUY NAKED
Lush and WholeFoods!
Naked/Unpackaged products mostly tend good for you as they are usually all natural and organic; usually cheap (except lush); good for the environment, and good for local small businesses who produce them for you.
A total win-win-win-win situation.
4. LOW-IMPACT 1: Buy packaged soap in paper
India: Bare Necessities (Expensive), Chandrika (Cheap). Checkout local organic stores and Look for paper wrapped soaps (and avoid popular chemically plastic cover wrapped brands)
5. LOW-IMPACT 2: Buy products in returnable packaging or refill your containers.
US: Tons of bulk stores (Package Free Store and Integral Yoga in NYC)
6. LEAST IMPACT: BUY PRODUCTS IN BULK and transfer them to smaller containers.
Anywhere!
Well, if you really love shampoo and liquid products. Consider buying them in bulk. Saves the environment a bit and you will save you money too!
3. FIN
Switching to organic, unpackaged products is so so easy. Probably my easiest transition. Hope you try it to. Cause there are certain things you can only do with a soap…..
K Bye…..
