Take a look around your bathroom and you'll probably find shelves lined with bottles, tubes, pumps and products you barely use. From skincare and shampoo to razors and shower accessories, it's easy to accumulate products that promise different benefits but add to the clutter, plastic and waste. The good news? Creating a plastic-free bathroom doesn't mean throwing everything away. It's about using what you already have, simplifying your routine and making simple, low-waste swaps as products naturally run out.

Our skin is our body's largest organ, so what we put on it matters. Ingredients are absorbed through the skin, while everything we wash off eventually makes its way into our waterways. By choosing natural skincare, refillable products and plastic-free bathroom alternatives, you can reduce plastic waste, minimise unnecessary chemicals and create a healthier, more sustainable bathroom that's better for both you and the planet.

Start With What You Already Have

The most sustainable product is the one you already own.

Rather than throwing away products because they're packaged in plastic, use them until they're finished. As each item runs out, ask yourself:

• Can I buy this without plastic?

• Is there a refill option?

• Could one product replace several?

• Can I reuse or recycle the container?

If you're unsure whether older skincare is still safe to use, read my article on Skincare Beyond the Date

Before throwing containers away, discover creative ways to give them a second life in Repurpose, Renew & Reuse

Simplify Your Skincare Routine

We have been convinced we need a different product for every part of our body. Face cream, eye cream, night cream, hand cream, foot cream, cuticle cream, lip balm and body butter quickly fill our cupboards, creating more clutter, more plastic and more expense.

Choosing multi-purpose products instead helps simplify your routine while reducing waste.

Our Naked Balm is made from four natural ingredients and replaces multiple products in one simple glass jar. It can be used primary as a body balm plus lips, hands, feet, cuticles, dry skin, baby skin, hair ends, after-sun care and dry patches, helping you buy less while still caring for your skin. Free from water means you use less, and save more!

Choose Refillable & Plastic-Free Alternatives

Every bottle you reuse is one less bottle that needs to be manufactured, transported and eventually discarded.

Simple swaps include:

• Refillable skincare like our Wander-less Collection - zero waste and natural!
  

• Shampoo & Conditioner Bars instead of plastic bottles - one bar equals 6 bottles!
  

• Our Home compostable tube range, 100% plastic free. Our much loved and award winning SUN Natural Deodorant Balm and BUG Balm
  

These simple swaps create a more low-waste bathroom while reducing the amount of plastic entering your home.

5 Simple Plastic-Free Bathroom Swaps

1. Bamboo toothbrush instead of a plastic toothbrush.
2. Natural dental floss made from silk or plant-based fibres.
3. Toothpaste tablets or toothpaste in an aluminium tube.
4. Bar soap instead of bottled body wash.
5. Shampoo and conditioner bars to replace plastic bottles.
6. Cotton face cloth or flannel instead of disposable cleansing wipes.
7. Reusable makeup remover pads in place of single-use cotton rounds.
8. Natural loofah or hemp exfoliating glove instead of plastic shower puffs.
9. Reusable safety razor with replaceable stainless steel blades.
10. Refillable skincare in glass bottles or refill pouches.
11. Natural deodorant in a tin, glass jar or refillable container.
12. Wooden or bamboo hairbrush and comb instead of plastic.
13. Plastic-free cotton buds with paper or bamboo stems.
14. Glass storage jars and refill bottles for bathroom essentials.
15. Bamboo toilet brush with a replaceable natural fibre head.

Replace Plastic Shower Accessories

Plastic shower puffs eventually wear out and release tiny plastic fibres into waterways.

Instead, choose natural alternatives like:

• Konjac facial Sponge - 100% biodegradable, made from plants, replaces plastic and reduces the amount of cleanser required to do the job so also a money saver! This is a game changer when it comes to gentle cleansing.
  
  

• Natural Loofah Mitts - gently exfoliate away dry skin while replacing plastic shower puffs with a durable, compostable alternative.
  
  

• Exfoliating Hemp and Cotton Glove - is perfect for everyday use, gently cleansing and exfoliating your skin while reducing plastic waste in your bathroom.
  
  

These durable alternatives gently exfoliate while helping reduce plastic waste.

Reduce Hidden Plastic in Your Bathroom

Not all plastic is in packaging form.

Many conventional body washes, facial scrubs, toothpastes and cosmetics contain synthetic polymers or microplastics that wash straight down the drain. Although plastic microbeads have largely been phased out in Australia, some products still contain ingredients that persist in the environment and contribute to microplastic pollution.

Common ingredients worth watching for include Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA), Nylon-12 and Acrylates Copolymer.

Learning to read ingredient labels is one of the easiest ways to reduce your exposure to unnecessary synthetic ingredients while making more environmentally friendly choices.

Read more about how plastic affects our hormones here Can Plastic Affect My Fertility? and a must is What Nasties Are Lurking in Your Skincare.

Recycle that packaging right

Not every skincare container belongs in your kerbside recycling bin.

Many pumps, tubes and cosmetic packaging are made from mixed materials that require specialist recycling, which is a problem, not unsolvable though!

Programs such as Banish BRAD and TerraCycle accept many hard-to-recycle beauty products, helping keep valuable materials out of landfill.

Whenever possible, reuse glass jars (perfect for all the DIY's below) at home before recycling them. 

Try Making Your Own

Making even one bathroom product yourself can dramatically reduce packaging waste.

Our DIY skincare recipes include:

• Cacao Vanilla Face Scrub

• Creamy Body Wash

• Whipped Body Mousse

• Warming Ginger Body Scrub

• Clay Body Bars

• Lush Lime Deodorant Balm

Browse the full DIY collection here

Small Swaps That Add Up

You don't need to transform your bathroom overnight.

Start small.

• Finish what you already own

• Replace products one at a time

• Choose refillable skincare or water free concentrated products

• Buy multi-purpose products

• Swap plastic accessories for natural alternatives

• Recycle empty containers responsibly

Every refill, every reused jar and every plastic-free swap adds up. Over time, these small choices create a healthier home, less waste and a bathroom that's kinder to both your body and the planet.

If you'd like a peek inside my own low-waste routine, read My Plastic-Free Bathroom Routine

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start a plastic-free bathroom?

Start by using the products you already own, then replace them with refillable, reusable or plastic-free alternatives as they naturally run out.

What are the easiest plastic-free bathroom swaps?

Shampoo bars, refillable skincare, home compostable deodorant, natural loofahs, konjac sponges and multi-purpose skincare products are all simple places to start.

Can skincare bottles be recycled?

Some can, but pumps and mixed-material packaging often need specialist recycling through programs like Banish BRAD or TerraCycle.

Are shampoo bars better than bottled shampoo?

Yes. They generally last longer, eliminate plastic bottles, contain less water and are ideal for both travel and everyday use. It's worth noting you may need to try a few to find the best that works for your hair.

What are microplastics in skincare?

Microplastics are tiny synthetic particles or polymers found in some cosmetics and personal care products. Choosing natural skincare with simple ingredients helps reduce the amount entering waterways.

Why choose refillable skincare?

Refillable skincare reduces packaging waste, lowers resource use and helps create a more sustainable bathroom while often saving money over time.

Would love to know what swaps you have started below!

Yours in nourishment

Sarah xx