Here are four standard bathroom products that you can eliminate rather easily. Yes, the market tries to persuade you that you need this and that for the best look or feel. But are they truly all necessary? Here is your opportunity to fight back!
1. Shaving Cream
What is the purpose of shaving cream? Supposedly, it is to protect you from cutting yourself while shaving, correct? So I thought, until I really evaluated whether or not it served its purpose. Maybe 50% of the time. The other 50% of the time I would get cut, scratched, or hurt in some way. Both my husband and I shared this experience. Then I decided there had to be some way I could just live without it.
Alternative #1: Hair Conditioner. Conditioner is a perfectly useful alternative to shaving cream, and yet it clogs the razor and dulls the blade quicker. And as you will see in #2, we’ve eliminated this product, so its no longer an option at our home.
Alternative #2: Bar of Soap. Yes, the simplicity of a bar of soap does the trick! Scrub yourself down and shave in the process and you just eliminated another purchase for your bathroom. Guess what? My husband prefers this method too. We both agree that we cut ourselves far less, our skin remains soft and moistened, and we get a perfectly clean shave. My technique in order to avoid extra waste is to lather up one leg with soap, and before washing it off, I shave immediately, and then wash down. This works to help use the least amount of soap possible for both jobs of washing and shaving. We recommend a good natural bar of soap such as Dr Bronners.
Alternative #3: Nothing. Some would argue that you can use a little water and go for it (but I personally prefer the soap). 
Save yourself a few dollars each month and take it off the list. It works.
2. Hair Conditioner
Hair conditioner is a nice product to have. It does help produce that silky smooth appearance. But is it necessary? We’ve lived without it for quite some time.
Alternative #1: Apple cider vinegar (Approximately 1-2 Tbls. cider to 1 cup water). If you don’t mind the fragrance, try a squirt of apple cider vinegar in your hair for its natural de-tangling ability. Or add a bit of essential oils to balance out the scent.
Alternative #2: Coconut oil. Applying coconut oil after showering as a leave in conditioner is very effective. It can be used as a curling gel for my hair, or a smooth gel for my husbands hair. Just remember…a little dab will do you. Too much and you can have a greasy look. It is wonderfully nourishing for the hair.
Save yourself a few dollars and use something you already have or skip it altogether.
3. Make-up Remover
Alternative #1: Soap and water. Yes, it works quite nicely.
Alternative #2: Coconut oil. Apply a little coconut oil to a cotton ball and apply to eyelashes to remove mascara and all other products on your face. Moisten your skin while removing make-up at the same time.
4. Aftershave
Alternative #1: Shea Butter / Coconut oil Combo. Check out our homemade aftershave recipe. (The hubby thinks this works the best!)
Alternative #2: Coconut oil (surprise!). While not as soothing as the combo above, coconut oil makes a great alternative in a pinch.
I could go on to share how you can also make your own shampoo or go the no-poo/baking soda route, how to make an effective homemade deodorant, and so on, but we’ve already been there before. Check out all the wonderful uses for coconut oil that we have compiled for further inspiration.
This post is part of Fight Back Fridays.
What items have you eliminated in your bathroom? What creative alternatives have you discovered?
Hello!
My wonderful sister-in-law just sent me this link as I was asking for her natural deodorant recipe. I love you blog so far and am looking forward to spending more time catching up and trying many of your suggestions. Very inspiring! Keep up the good work, Lindsay!
First I want to mention how much I enjoy your articles. I am loaded with new ideas! Do you follow Zero Waste blog by Bea? She posted a good way to make razors last longer. Simply immediately dry your razor after each use & store in a dry place. My razor use to last only a week. Now it lasts nearly 6 months!
Great post!
I’ve actually started cutting down on the products I use everyday, and wanted to add a few of my favorite replacements.
Facial Cleanser: I now use the oil cleansing method to wash my face with olive oil and castor oil.
Facial Toner: Apple Cider Vinegar
Exfoliating Face Mask: Strawberry pulp/juice. This is really great for blemishes, oily skin, and blackheads!
Shaving Cream: Olive oil (talk about silky smooth legs!)
My fiance uses Aloe as an after shave. It soothes and “burns” and leaves his skin soft to the touch. A bottle will last him over a year when he plays his cards right. I found it works just as wonderful for my legs too.
Soothes the burn! Not burns him! Whops!
Add spray air freshener to that list! Expensive, pointless, and toxic.
Hi! I love your site and this post. A few questions: I use Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap for shampoo. But I find, especially living without hudmidity I need condition because my hair is so dry. How do you fix that? Would the apple cider vinegar work? Also, also have curly hair. My curls are pretty tight and my hair is very full and frizzy. I’ve been using hair gel for years, but I would like to try something natural. You mentioned coconut oil. How exactly does that work and what do you do? I always have to use a ton of gel–even when it says just use a little. Does it keep your hair from being frizzy? Thanks!
Ariana,
I don’t personally have curly hair, but all my curly-haired friends tell me that they never use shampoo. They say it dries out their hair terribly and makes it frizzy. They do use conditioner though, and a lot of it! There’s a book out called “curly girl” or something to that effect, and it explains why not to use shampoo on your curls and what else you can do to make your curls beautiful! Our library has it, check yours. Also a quick search on Google will probably give you some good information.
Hope this is helpful.
-Katie
I was wondering what you store your CO oil in (the jar that you use in the bathroom for moisturizer/hair styler)? I’m currently using a 2 oz. glass jar with a metal screw-on cap from MRH, and it is such a mess, especially in the summer when it’s liquid. It gets all over the counter and the cabinet shelf, even though each time I wipe is down and am super careful not to spill. We’re going camping in a week and there’s no way I can take this, but I don’t know what to use instead that won’t give me the same problem. What have you come up with? Thanks so much!
I keep a gallon glass jar in my kitchen of coconut oil for all my cooking needs, and then transfer a small amount to a plastic container I keep in the bathroom. I store it in the cooler when we go camping. If you add shea butter to it, it usually remains more stable as well.
Thanks! Where did you get your plastic container?