Have you ever paused in your bathroom and taken stock of how much plastic is sitting around holding what is generally very expensive water?

If not, try it. Maybe you'll be surprised, I certainly was.

I started with the shower: two 3/4 empty bottles of shampoo and conditioner, two new bottles of shampoo and conditioner, a bottle of body wash, a bottle of face wash, and a bottle of exfoliant. That's seven bottles just to wash my skin and hair!

Then I looked in my medicine cabinet and below the sink... same story, just worse.

My bathroom (and I am guessing yours, too) was essentially a home for plastic bottles, bottles full of stuff I either didn't use, rarely used, or probably didn't need. I resolved to kick my plastic habit and switch bottled items to solids, or bars. This was a scary adventure, as I have used the same products for years. I'm one of those brand-devoted individuals, one who is particularly anxious about taking care of her skin and hair.

I wasn't exactly sure where to start, given I knew little about solid shampoos and conditioners. However, while perusing a Lush store, I encountered their solid versions a few months before. At $10 a pop, I decided I would wait until I finished the bottles I had at home and look into the bars a bit more before spending $20 on them.

I'm happy to report that I finally finished those bottles and I've had nothing but stellar results with the new products I tried-- all of which are vegan!

Lush's Godiva two in one shampoo and conditioner bar is amazing. It's about $10 for a bar that lasts two to three months! A fantastic deal, even for people who normally buy inexpensive haircare brands-- $5 for shampoo and $5 for conditioner. To use, simply swipe the bar across your head twice and it lathers like crazy. (My stylist friend says the lathering agent can be drying but the other oils in the bar compensate.) Godiva leaves your hair feeling clean, but not that squeaky, gross to touch kind of clean that I've found with some "natural" haircare. Your hair may not feel silky smooth as you squeeze the water out of it, but it feels great afterward and is ready to style. Moreover, it appears to be good with all types of hair, including fine and coarse hair! They've got several kinds of shampoos and conditioners in bar form, so if Godiva doesn't work for you, try their others.

Next up is Coalface, their solid black face wash. This stuff gives you a great clean but isn't drying. It has tiny particles that act as exfoliants that aren't overly harsh. I really like this bar and will probably adopt it as "my" cleanser.

I also tried Aqua Marina which is more of a calming cleanser. It's nice, but I preferred Coalface. Aqua Marina looks something like sushi-- it's wrapped in seaweed. The cleanser is not literally solid, but more of a thick cream held together by the seaweed. To use, pinch a piece off and rub it into your skin. Just beware: you will find bits of seaweed everywhere!

The great thing about Lush is that almost everything is available in whatever size you want. The products come in bulk and are sold by weight, so I suggest going in and getting small quantities of a few products to find the one that works best for you.

Last, but not least, is bar soap for body. I've tried a few bar soaps before but they left me with an awful rubbery feeling. Don't know about you, but I prefer for my skin not to squeak when I move! Luckily, a friend of mine has a parent who makes soap from scratch. I've been using it non stop lately and I've got to say that I'll never go back to shower gel. What a gigantic waste of plastic! When you make the switch to plastic-free soap, make sure you try out several kinds to find the feel you like.

Take a look around your bathroom and kick that plastic habit! And please, share your findings!


Photo Credit: Lush