Author: Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

Sustainable Options Overview

TLDR: It seems that the worry over what’s in our hair dye is slightly overblown. From the studies I’ve read, not too much dye comes into contact with your skin, and the stuff that DOES get on your skin isn’t usually absorbed to a dangerous degree. What you should avoid is dyes containing a chemical called PPD. If you do that, even pregnant people don’t have to worry. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582739/ 

Why you should care: For this product, it comes down to plastic. I couldn’t find ANY dyes that didn’t involve plastic in some way. This is where the “adoption” part of my research comes into play. Am I willing to give up plastic, which is harmful to the environment, and stop coloring my hair? At this time, no. Coloring my hair is such a part of what makes me happy and what makes me feel comfortable in my body that giving it up would be too much of an ask. But if you can do it, I applaud you! The other issue is PPD—it’s not great for your health, and it’s looking like it’s pretty bad for the environment. https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/original_article/pdf/244736/20240623-5018-er6oe3.pdf and https://www.annallergy.org/article/S1081-1206(13)00737-0/abstract 

What you should buy: IroIro with 10% discount code: 10-3B6C8A9C List of ingredients: https://iroirocolors.com/blogs/news/iroiro-semi-permanent-hair-color-ingredients 

In my research, there aren’t any dyes that are totally natural that’ll give you fun, long-lasting colors. There are dyes that will do the job with minimal synthetic chemicals that are also vegan and cruelty-free. (Henna is an all-natural dye, but experts caution against it as it reacts with each person’s hair differently and can cause some pretty odd streaks and patches. Get a professional to show you how to do it the first time!)

P.S. You know how all hair dyes tell you to do a patch test before applying and then you don’t do it? Actually do the patch test. There is a small risk of anaphylaxis. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0536.1996.tb02348.x 

NOTE: The IroIro pink lasts forever: https://www.reddit.com/r/HairDye/comments/1chk2we/approach_iroiro_with_caution/ Purple seems to fade to pink: https://www.reddit.com/r/HairDye/comments/rwgqw7/iroiro This person didn’t like the platinum: https://omgluie.com/omgluie-hair-dye-review-iroiro-semi-permanent-hair-color-in-140-iro-platinum 

Additional Reading:
https://www.greenmatters.com/p/eco-friendly-hair-dye
https://sustainablykindliving.com/12-best-non-toxic-natural-hair-dye-brands
https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/original_article/pdf/244736/20240623-5018-er6oe3.pdf This study does a good job of telling you potential risks, but it’s definitely fear-mongering. It doesn’t tell you the LIKELIHOOD of potential risks. 
Arctic fox ingredients: https://incidecoder.com/products/arctic-fox-hair-color 
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/24/well/hair-dye-health-cancer.html

Image Credit: Elizabeth Lies

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

Sustainable Options Overview

TLDR: Get good ingredients ‘cause this stuff is getting absorbed into your skin. And keep it sustainable! 

Why you should care: Lotion gets absorbed into your body. Plus, the bottles are a waste of plastic, which takes resources to make and then lives in our landfills and oceans. Gross. 

What you should buy: https://www.shopetee.com/products/lotion-bar or less expensive option would be to make your own 

I hate lotion that’s too thick, but I also hate lotion that’s too thin. I want the Goldilocks of lotion, dangit! I’ve tried this one https://www.plaineproducts.com/shop/#hairbodycare and found I was constantly reapplying. I actually really liked Ethique https://ethique.com/blogs/ethique-products/why-should-you-switch-to-a-solid-moisturiser but it’s made in New Zealand and some ingredients are sourced from Samoa, and the carbon footprint is too high for me.

There are also a lot of sustainable options that come in glass jars. I keep lotion all over the house, and I know I’m going to knock one over or a pet will so that won’t work for me either. I need something in aluminum or cardboard.

I decided that cardboard was the most eco-friendly. And I went with a vegan option that didn’t use beeswax since I have a lot of questions about the sustainability of beehives from my honey research and potential glyphosate in beeswax. I can attest that the bars actually do last a long time so you only need a small amount.

Beeswax, which is used in lots of cosmetics, also contains harmful chemicals.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278691523002089 and https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969719353045

Additional Reading:
https://ecoroots.us/products/yay-for-earth-zero-waste-lotion
https://www.glam.com/1222963/best-solid-body-lotion-bars-for-sustainable-moisturization/https://www.sustainablejungle.com/lotion-bars/
https://ecoroots.us/products/lotion-bar
https://attitudeliving.com/products/body-butter-leaves-bar

Photo Credit: Romina Farías

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

Sustainable Options Overview

TLDR: “Choosing a reusable cotton q-tip is an eco-friendly option that can reduce your environmental footprint, as well as your spending.” https://ecofriendlyhacks.com/reusable-q-tips/index.html 

Why you should care: This photo will tell you everything you need to know https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/article/seahorse-ocean-pollution

What you should buy: https://www.walmart.com/ip/8-Count-Reusable-Silicone-Q-Tip-Cotton-Swabs-Portable-Swab-Ear-Cleaning-Makeup-Women-2-In-1-Set-Case-Cosmetic-Mirrors-2-Pack-Green-Grey/6617918475

“Single-use Q tips contribute to the global plastic waste crisis. An estimated 1.5 billion cotton swabs are produced every day in the world and the average person throws away approximately 415 of them each year, according to a report by market intelligence company Acute Market Reports. These products are frequently found in landfills and oceans, polluting the environment and posing a threat to marine life. By opting for reusable Q tips, individuals can play a part in minimizing their ecological footprint.” https://ecofriendlyhacks.com/reusable-q-tips/index.html 

Don’t use a Q-tip for cleaning your ears: https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-dangers-of-q-tips-1048870 If you’re going to use it to clean your ears, buy this: https://www.amazon.com/Handmade-Removal-Cleaning-Cleaner-Keychain/dp/B07PTPX4GZ I like brass because it contains copper, which has antimicrobial properties! https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3067274/ 

It sucks that my pick is a Walmart buy. But I honestly couldn’t find what I wanted elsewhere except Amazon, and I tried! UPDATE: I’ve had this for months, and it’s working really well!

This is another option: https://lastobject.com/products/lastswab?Color=Turquoise I don’t like that it’s made of “durable materials,” which tells me absolutely nothing about what it’s actually made of. I also think the plastic carrying case is completely unnecessary. 

Some Q-tips say they’re compostable/biodegradable. I’m extremely skeptical of this. I’ve tried composting those Q-tips and three years later they haven’t decomposed one bit!

But, if you HAVE to buy regular Q-tips, I’d recommend these from The Humble Co. https://earthhero.com/products/the-humble-co-biodegradable-cotton-swabs-100pk “These organic cotton swabs with bamboo sticks go a step further than traditional eco-friendly cotton swabs by using only sustainably sourced, and “panda-friendly” bamboo, and packaging everything in a recycled paper box.” https://zerowastememoirs.com/zero-waste-eco-friendly-q-tips/ 

There are other brands out there like https://zerowasteoutlet.com/products/biodegradable-swabs-bamboo-cotton?sscid=11k9_83q7v& but they don’t have the sustainability that The Humble Co does. I emailed and asked! https://www.reddit.com/r/ZeroWaste/comments/gf5q2l/has_anyone_tried_those_silicon_qtips_and_if_so_do

Additional Reading:
https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/39fj3w/ive_used_this_thing_as_an_ear_cleaner_for_the
https://lochtree.com/blogs/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-reusable-q-tips https://citizensustainable.com/q-tips/#google_vignette 
https://www.amazon.com/Pampoo-Case%E4%B8%A8Reusable-Packaging%E4%B8%A8Strengthen-Stick%E4%B8%A8Eco-Sustainable/dp/B08NCP6CLR/#customerReviews
https://www.amazon.com/BOETECO-Reusable-Makeup-Silicone-Cotton/dp/B082YLNPGK
https://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-Reusable-Portable-Silicone-Beauty-Black/dp/B085737GM8/
https://www.thehealthy.com/ear-nose-throat/reusable-q-tips/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ZeroWaste/comments/gf5q2l/has_anyone_tried_those_silicon_qtips_and_if_so_do/
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/22/magazine/ear-wax-removal-ear-pick.html https://www.greenmatters.com/p/zero-waste-q-tips-reusable

Photo Credit: Jen Theodore

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

Sustainable Options Overview

TLDR: It’s better to invest in sustainable bath towels for your own health and the health of the planet.

Why you should care: “Towels marketed as ‘ultra absorbent’ often shed microfiber plastics when washed and dried.” https://www.leafscore.com/eco-friendly-bath-products/best-eco-friendly-towels/ Microfiber plastics pollute our soil and water. Plus, we rub these towels all over our bodies so they should be made of stuff that’s safe for our skin.

What you should buy: https://www.the-citizenry.com/products/mara-organic-waffle-towel-set?v=44255203918011 

These towels are effing expensive! I got them on sale at Christmas.

The following link is actually a great primer on towel materials and it’s consistent with all my reading but in a much more concise form. The only info that’s not exactly accurate is the part about some fabrics being antimicrobial. Studies don’t support that so ignore that paragraph! https://fiveadrift.com/blogs/news/7-reasons-why-you-should-be-using-eco-friendly-towels 

I liked these towels because they last a long time. They have the GOTS and Oeko-Tex certifications, which means they were made with safe and environmentally friendly practices.  

Plus, you can throw cotton towels in the washer, whereas other materials don’t fare as well in a machine.

One of the big downsides of this product is that it’s made from Turkish cotton, which means a larger carbon footprint for shipping. But since I’m only buying it once and then keeping it for many years, I’m less concerned about this issue.

Additional Reading:
https://greenwithless.com/sustainable-organic-bath-towels/https://shrinkthatfootprint.com/eco-friendly-bath-products/
https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/organic-towels/
https://nontoxicdad.com/home/are-your-bath-towels-toxic-what-you-need-to-know
https://shrinkthatfootprint.com/eco-friendly-bath-products/

Photo Credit: pablo ramos

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

Sustainable Options Overview

TLDR: We know that plastic “normal” floss isn’t good for your health. More sustainable floss might not be good for the environment.

Why you should care:  “Dental floss is often made with PFAS. PTFE, commonly known as Teflon, is one of many PFAS chemicals and is widely used in floss. PFAS are associated with numerous health effects, such as impairing the immune system, cancer, fertility concerns, reproductive and developmental impacts, and kidney disease. Some PFAS are toxic at low levels and are known to build up in the body. PFAS in dental floss could be particularly concerning, considering you put it directly in your mouth and flossing can cause bleeding gums, providing direct access to the bloodstream.” https://www.consumerreports.org/toxic-chemicals-substances/dental-floss-without-pfas-and-other-harmful-chemicals-a9722832754/

What you should buy: https://www.shopetee.com/pages/plastic-free-floss 

Again, I’m recommending Etee. They’re based in Canada so they’re not too far away. They donate to good causes. They don’t do plastic. They don’t test on animals, and use safe materials. They care about their workers and supply chain. Their floss works. They address a lot of my questions about sustainability here: https://www.shopetee.com/blogs/sustainability/silk-or-no-silk-lets-talk-about-it

Floss is a fascinating topic. It’s one of those dental hygiene issues where the big health/safety, sustainability and adoption come into play quite separately. 

We know that plastic floss isn’t good for your health. It would be great if there was silicone floss that lasted for years so we could just reuse. One company called “simplyfloss” has this option, but the silicone floss doesn’t last very long. And because silicone is energy intensive to make, this wouldn’t be eco-friendly. https://simplyfloss.com/ 

I also looked at floss made of silk. But this paper says that silk floss isn’t practical for scalability reasons. https://www.openlca.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Report_Dental_Floss_LCA.pdf 

There’s also floss made of corn. Some reviewers said it tends to break easily. Others said it was great but pretty expensive. It claims to be compostable, but most of the time that really means it’s “compostable in an industrial lab” so make sure to ask the company for that information before buying. https://www.thereducereport.com/home/fresh-labs-corn-floss-2020-review-vegan-refillable-plastic-free-floss 

There are many options out there that say their floss is recyclable. That may be true, but odds are, your local recycling station won’t actually recycle it. Remember, only about 9% of plastic is actually recycled in the U.S. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/plastics-material-specific-data 

Additional Resources: https://greencoast.org/best-eco-friendly-floss/https://sustainablereview.com/reusable-floss-options-for-eco-conscious-oral-hygiene/

Photo Credit: Oana Christina

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

Sustainable Options Overview

TLDR: Electric toothbrushes aren’t sustainable. But if you already have one, do the world a solid and get a sustainable toothbrush head.

Why you should care: The toothbrush debate online is fierce. Educate yourself so you can join in!

What you should buy: https://www.brushmable.com/products/bamboo-electric-toothbrush-head-phillips-sonicare

We already have electric toothbrushes, which are not environmentally friendly. So I wouldn’t recommend getting one if you don’t already have it. Since I got it as a gift ages ago, for now, my husband and I are getting sustainable toothbrush heads. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41415-020-2124-3 

Ultimately, what you choose is going to depend on what type of electric toothbrush you have. Luckily, most sustainable toothbrush heads have taken this into account and don’t make you buy a whole new electric toothbrush just to use their better product.

I liked Brush Mable because it’s FSC. That means the bamboo was harvested sustainably and no one clear cut forests to make it. I bought in bulk, which means a lower carbon footprint.

Photo Credit: Henrik Lagercrantz

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

Sustainable Options Overview

TLDR: Store-bought hand soap is a waste of water and money. We’re getting scammed.

Why you should care: Check the ingredients of your hand soap. It’s mostly water! All that water means a bigger carbon footprint when shipping. Plus, it’s a waste of plastic, which takes resources to make and then lives in our landfills and oceans forever. Gross. 

What you should buy: https://www.shopetee.com/collections/hand-soap They have regular hand soap AND foaming hand soap. You can buy their bottle or just reuse a bottle you already have!

I like Etee hand soap for SO many reasons. They’re based in Canada so they’re not too far away. They donate to good causes. They don’t do plastic. They don’t test on animals, and use safe materials. They care about their workers and supply chain. Their hand soap doesn’t have a strong scent, which is great if you have smell sensitivities. 

If you want to be even more eco-friendly, buy a bar of soap. But if you’re gonna go with liquid hand soap, this is your brand.

Photo Credit: CUNY Academic Commons

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

Sustainable Options Overview

TLDR: Paper towels are a waste of money and shouldn’t exist.

Why you should care: The average American spends about $200 annually on paper towels. Yuck. Do something fun with that money. Also, deforestation, water pollution, etc. https://www.greenmatters.com/p/impact-paper-towels 

What you should buy: Don’t buy anything! Cut up old clothes and sheets that can’t be donated. Don’t have any? Ask your neighbors. These make cheap paper towels that can be washed and re-used or just tossed if the mess is truly too yucky.

If you REALLY want to use paper towels then get these: https://www.reelpaper.com/products/reel-recycled-paper-towels They don’t ship with plastic and they’re 100% recycled material.

Photo Credit: Tray Schatzmann

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

Sustainable Options Overview

TLDR: Tissues are made of trees. Trees help us flight climate change. Stop cutting down trees and use handkerchiefs. 

Why you should care: “According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, nearly 15% of deforestation is caused by tree-cutting done to produce paper products, including facial tissues.” https://www.mic.com/impact/how-bad-are-tissues-for-the-environment 

What you should buy: https://lastobject.com/products/lasttissue-refill    

I bought these GOTS-certified hankies. You can order them with a silicon box, but I asked them not to send me one and just filled all the old tissue boxes I already had around my house. You can use OCEAN10 for a 10% discount.

I also added a wet-proof bag that says “dirty tissues” on a hook in each bathroom in the house. When someone uses a tissue they drop it into the bag. I wash them all once a week. Now I’m set for years. 

It helps the environment and saves you money in the long-run.

NOTE: Get hankies the size of tissues because you should only use your hanky for ONE nose-blowing sesh before putting it in the laundry bag. https://www.abc.net.au/health/talkinghealth/factbuster/stories/2011/06/02/3231404.htm 

If you REALLY want to use tissues, then I’d try this brand. https://www.naturalvalue.com/product-page/facial-tissue-boutique-2-ply-85-sheets-4-pack They got an A+ from the NRDC. But before you buy, ask them to ship the product to you without plastic.

AND whether you use a hanky or a tissue, make sure to wash your hands each time you blow your nose.

More info:
https://earthfriendlytips.com/best-eco-friendly-tissues/ and https://www.sustainablejungle.com/eco-friendly-tissues/ and https://www.nrdc.org/stories/best-worst-tissue-brands 

https://www.littleleaforganic.com/product/three-organic-cotton-handkerchiefs-in-a-gift-box/
https://www.greenfibres.com/organic-cotton-batiste-hankie VIOLET10x

Photo Credit: Rosemary Media

Please read the following post for important information on how I’ve chosen my recommendations:

Sustainable Options Overview

TLDR: Makeup has a lot of crap in it. Spend more money now to prevent health issues later.

Why you should care: Makeup isn’t regulated by the FDA. Lots of the stuff found in makeup is dangerous for your health. Ancient Romans used lead powder as makeup. It caused problems. Don’t be like the Romans. 

What you should buy: https://credobeauty.com 

I did this research a few months ago and forgot to save the links from my extensive reading. Please note that I spent days trying to find the best company for makeup. There are a lot of key terms thrown out there like “clean makeup” etc. that really mean nothing. See what chemicals the company tests for. Make sure it doesn’t test on animals. And keep in mind that plastic packaging and shipping distances matter. 

Buying a product on Credo Beauty is often more expensive than if you navigate to that brand’s website to buy it. BUY IT ON CREDO ANYWAY. That’s because you’re paying for a service. Credo vets each product it offers so you don’t have to. Pay for good service. This is the kind of crap they’re helping you avoid: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/clean-cosmetics-the-science-behind-the-trend-2019030416066 

See also: https://thefiltery.com/non-toxic-mascara/#how-we-tested-for-sweat-water-resistance

Photo Credit: Edz Norton