Use the information in this blog to remove the plastic from your personal care routine! You can find these products in our Wellness Department as of the time this blog was written. You can also opt to save some money and make your own plastic-free personal care products*! All of the recipes feature ingredients available from our Bulk Department or ingredients packaged in glass.
Hand soap, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, laundry detergent, dishwasher concentrate, shower gel, and Dr. Bronner’s all-one soap are also available in bulk from the Wellness Department. Bring your own jars from home to fill up! You can also reuse old plastic lotion and shampoo bottles.
Body Scrub
At the Co-op: Araceli Farms Lavender Scrub
This local scrub is made with Dead Sea salt, sugar, shea butter, coconut oil, and essential oils. The glass and metal packaging is reusable (great for shopping bulk!) and recyclable. Araceli farms is woman- and Latinx-owned.
DIY: Lavender Scrub
- 1 cup organic granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp softened coconut oil
- 5-10 drops lavender essential oil
- Optional: ½ tsp dried lavender flowers
Place sugar in a small container with a good-fitting lid. Add the coconut oil 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring in between. The consistency should be similar to wet sand, so if you achieve that before 3 tablespoons are added, stop there.
Use scrub after showering or soaking in the tub to remove dead skin. Pat skin dry and gently rub in scrub in a circular motion all over your body. Rinse well. Store in a glass container at room temperature for up to 1 month.
Deodorant
At the Co-op: Booda Butter Naked Coconut Cream Deodorant
This is a fragrance-free deodorant made with baking soda, coconut oil, shea butter, tapioca flour, and cocoa butter. It is handmade with organic ingredients. Some folks with sensitive skin can experience irritation from baking soda. If this is you, you can try our baking soda-free DIY version below!
DIY: Tea Tree Oil Deodorant
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup arrowroot powder
- 10-20 drops tea tree essential oil
- 10-20 drops lavender essential oil
Soften coconut oil with low heat. In the summer, ambient room temperatures are usually high enough for coconut oil to be soft. In a small bowl or glass jar, mix together coconut oil, arrowroot powder, and essential oils. Apply to dry underarms as needed. Store in a glass container at room temperature for up to 1 month.
Toothpaste
At the Co-op: Auromere Ayurvedic Mint Toothpaste
This toothpaste uses a blend of ayurvedic herbs like neem, licorice, peppermint, and spearmint. Fine clay acts as a gentle cleanser in this toothpaste. It’s formula is also highly concentrated so each jar lasts longer than conventional toothpaste because you use less each time you brush.
Bonus! You can also find plastic free floss (Senza Bamboo 100% Plastic Free Silk Floss, MamaP Vegan Dental Floss) and toothbrush (Green Panda Bamboo Toothbrush) options in the Wellness Department.
DIY: Minty Toothpaste
- ½ cup coconut oil
- 4 tbsp baking soda
- 10 drops spearmint essential oil
- 5 drops peppermint essential oil
Soften, but do not melt, coconut oil with low heat. In the summer, ambient room temperatures are usually high enough for coconut oil to be soft. Combine ingredients in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly until completely combined and the mixture is smooth. Transfer to a glass jar with a good-fitting lid. Store at room temperature for up to 1 month.
Body Wash
At the Co-op: Booda Organics Suds of Love All-in-One Soap Bar
This soap bar works as a body wash, shave cream, and shampoo! It’s made with olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, and sodium hydroxide and is formulated to soothe dry, itchy skin and scalp.
You can find dozens of plastic free bar soap options at the Co-op! Many come from local vendors as well.
DIY: Honey Citrus Body Wash
- ⅔ cup liquid castile soap such as Dr. Bronner’s
- ¼ cup raw liquid honey
- 3 teaspoons sweet almond oil
- 30 drops sweet orange essential oil*
- 20 drops lemon essential oil
Combine ingredients in an old body wash bottle or glass jar. Mix or shake to combine. Gently shake before each use. This recipe has a shelf life of up to one year!
*Sweet orange and lemon essential oils are energizing. For a calming blend try lavender and chamomile.
Shampoo
At the Co-op: HiBar Solid Shampoos, Camamu Shampoo Bars, Moon Valley Herbal Shampoo Bars, Acure Shampoo Bar
With such a variety to choose from, look for a shampoo that best suits your needs.
DIY: Basic Shampoo
- ¼ cup distilled water
- ¼ cup liquid castile soap such as Dr. Bronner’s
- ½ tsp sweet almond or grapeseed oil
- Optional: 20-30 drops essential oils*
*Some winning combos include eucalyptus and tea tree, peppermint and tea tree, & sweet almond and lemon, but you can go with your favorite!
Combine ingredients in an old shampoo bottle or glass jar. Mix or shake to combine. Gently shake before each use. Use within 1 month.
DIY: Dry Shampoo
- 2 tbsp arrowroot powder
- For red hair: 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- For brown hair: 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- For black hair: 2 tbsp activated charcoal powder (this is not available plastic free at the Co-op)
- For blonde, silver, or white hair: 2 tbsp arrowroot powder
- Optional: 6 drops essential oil of choice
Combine ingredients in a small glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Apply to roots in between washes. Use a makeup brush or your fingers. Work through strands with a comb. Store at room temperature for up to 1 month.
Conditioner
At the Co-op: HiBar Solid Conditioners
HiBar Solid Conditioners come in three formulations: moisturize, volumize, and maintain. These bars are safe for treated or colored hair and are free from sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and silicone.
DIY: Apple Cider Vinegar Conditioning Rinse
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 16 oz water
- 16 oz spray bottle
Combine ingredients in a spray bottle and gently shake. To use: spray shampooed hair with conditioner until hair is thoroughly saturated. If you have long hair you can pour about ¼ cup directly onto strands, avoiding your scalp. Rinsing is optional. If your hair is dry, rinse out and apply coconut oil to ends every 7-10 days.
*It’s always a good idea to test a small amount of any new product on your forearm to see how your skin reacts. Rub a small amount of product on skin and wait a few hours before using more.