Last month was Plastic Free July and I set some plastic-free goals for the month and I hope to do this every month from now on! One of the best things about Plastic Free July is that it gave people the incentive to try something new which is more eco-friendly. At the end of every month, Practical Green Life is going to do an 'Eco favourites' blog so you can see what we have tried and enjoyed! Make sure to keep an eye on our Instagram for other recommendations!
My absolute favourite this month:
1) Wild deodorant-
Wild deodorants are a 100% natural deodorant without any of the nasty bits like aluminium. It is completely plastic-free and compostable and delivered right to your door. I started using this in April but as the summer has arrived it has been a lifesaver.
How does it work? Wild offers an initial order of your choice of case and refill scent. From there you can arrange when you would like your next delivery and what different scents you would like to try. I have a coral case and my go-to is the coconut scent. On my second delivery, the case did break when I tried to use my new refills, but after a quick chat with the customer service team, they explained why and sent me a new case free of charge. By far some of the best customer service I have ever had! The trick is to give the bottom of the refill a bit of a wiggle before using a new one, this is because the bamboo and essential oils can make it get a bit stuck (this has worked every time since). Even with the initial problems, I would give this a 4.5 out of 5.
2) Fresh Farmacy facial soap by LUSH.
Fresh Farmacy is a face wash bar made with kindest of ingredients nature has to offer, such as lavender, chamomile, elderflower with hints of rose and tea tree. I'm a redhead so sensitive skin is my curse, but this face wash is perfect for me. I have been finding other facewashes either too gentle to help with my oily skin or the chemicals too strong and drying. It has been fantastic for keeping my skin clear of breakouts after wearing face masks to work or in shops, and it is completely plastic-free. Some people say they are not such a fan of the scent but I quite enjoy it. A little trick I learnt from the reviews was to cut the bar into sections before use and it helps it last longer. Sometimes it can be a bit drying which is the only downside and I am yet to find a plastic-free moisturiser so that will be a goal for another month. I would rate this product 4 out of 5!
3) Ginger anti-dandruff shampoo by The Body Shop-
This has also been a go-to of mine for the past year, as I am still loving it I have to put it in our first favourites. The body shops recycling scheme makes this purchase not just good for your head but good for your heart. It really works, it smells great and I love it. What can I say another solid 4 out of 5.
4) Ocean Salt By Lush-
Ocean Salt is a face and body scrub that smells like a margarita cocktail! I tried this years ago and never remembered the name, but It has been essential in keeping my face clear of a breakout from the stress of Covid and wearing face coverings. It is quite powerful and if you get it near your eyes or mouth it is like being in the sea and getting a wave in your face. But just like the sea it is very refreshing and does wonder for my skins. I have been using the smaller size as it is rather expensive, but a little goes a long way so I would recommend this unless you were planning on exfoliating everything! This one is also a 4 out of 5.
5) Vegan face mask kit by Fruit of the Nut Tree on Esty-
This was a gift from a friend for my birthday and has brought me so much joy and laughter. It is so satisfying to make your own masks and my favourite one is the matcha and rosewater mask. It really did make my skin feel so soft and refreshed. I will be saving the recipe to try it again. It was a bit messy and some didn't suit my skin but it was still fun and gave me some more inspiration for plastic-free skincare. I would give this 3.7 out of 5.
6) Coconut and shea butter shampoo bar by Faith in Nature-
This has made it into my favourites this month because of where I found it and how good it smells. This is the first shampoo bar that I have found in my local supermarket. It's bad really that it has taken this long for me to see a truly plastic-free shampoo on a supermarket shelf, because of this I simply couldn't leave it there. It smells absolutely divine! The only downside is that it was rather pricey, which is a shame because Faith in Nature is trying to compete with all of the high-street brands which people are used to at a cheaper price. I will give this a 3.9 out of 5.
That concludes the first monthly favourites, let me know if this was helpful? What have your favourite products been this month?