These zero waste toiletries are my favorite plastic alternatives to standard travel kits. Most of these options I’ve discussed in my zero waste bathroom post, but some special accommodations might be required when traveling. If you have plastic options now, please don’t feel the need to replace them just because. Keep the plastic until it’s no longer usable or needed (for example, I stopped using liquid soap so I stopped using plastic bottles).

Hair Brush

Wooden or bamboo hair brush is a great addition to any zero waste toiletry kit. I plan to switch when I need to purchase my next hair brush, but they are known to stimulate hair growth and bamboo is anti-bacterial, which is an improvement over conventional hair brushes.

Deodorant

I have not actually switched deodorants. But if you us a cream form and want to travel a bit lighter, you can use an Altoid or other tin can to travel with a smaller portion.

Eco-Friendly Mouthcare

My zero waste mouthcare routine includes a bamboo toothbrush and homemade toothpaste. The Bentonite clay in the toothpaste presents a unique problem because it can’t touch metal. So I use a small glass jar and a silicon stretch lid. But you can also reuse glass yogurt jars, or spice jars with a cork lid.  For the bamboo toothbrush, I wrap in a handkerchief or Beeswrap, but you can also get bamboo toothbrush cases.

Safety Razor

Air travel with a safety razor definitely presents a challenge. You’ll either have to keep them in a checked bag or buy the blades at a drug store when you arrive at your destination. In any case, you’ll want to keep your razor in a travel case, such as leather sheath or an Altoid’s tin.

If that’s not the route you want to go, disposable razors are allowed in carry ons. You can have a disposable razor designated only for travel.

Zero Waste Soap and Hair Care

Switching to zero waste soap is one of the easier swaps you can make. Once you find the right zero waste soap and hair care for, the question becomes how to travel with it. The soap bars get kind of slimy when wet, so it requires some planning when traveling.

Before my zero waste journey, I bought a plastic case for my soap. I still use it because I think the most zero waste lifestyle means using things as long as you can. However, if you don’t have a soap case, you can repurpose an Altoid’s or mint tin, and cut your soap to fit. You can also use Beeswraps. They can accommodate any size soap bar, they’re easy to clean between uses, and wax locks in moisture, so they don’t leak.

You can also use an all-in-one soap bar and cut down how many items you need to bring.

In Conclusion

It’s not necessary to change everything at once. As you move away from plastic, you can transition to these zero waste toiletries and storage options that you might already have around the house.

Don’t forget to pin this information for later!