Best Minimalist Personal Care Products – Fewer Ingredients, Less Packaging
My journey into minimalism may have started with personal care products. As a man, I likely use far less stuff than women when it comes to personal care, but there is still a lot of stuff marketed to men. For me, my minimalist personal care products are few in number, contain few ingredients, and have minimal packaging. As a result, when packing for a trip, I can easily collect all I need in one bag, and I’m ready to go. Here is my list of minimalist personal care products:
Shampoo and Conditioner
To start my list of minimalist personal care products, let’s begin with shampoo and conditioner. I use Plain Products shampoo and conditioner. I’ve tried shampoo bars but never found one that I like. Plaine Products shampoo and conditioner are made of biodegradable ingredients, are sulfate-free, palm oil-free, and come in reusable and refillable bottles. When you need more shampoo or conditioner, they’ll mail you a new bottle, and you send back your empty metal bottle—no plastic waste.
Bar Soap
For washing my body, I use bar soap. I’m currently using Good Bar Soap from Whole Foods, which is also available on Amazon. The soap is organic, contains unrefined shea butter, and is made with orangutan-safe West African palm oil. This soap reminds me of the soap that I made when I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Burkina Faso.
Coconut Oil as Lotion
If I want to replenish the oils stripped away in the shower, I use coconut oil. I use coconut oil for my skin, hair, beard, and pretty much anything. I might smell like a piña colada for a little bit, but there are worse things–such as coating my skin in questionable chemicals.
Tooth Paste
I use Tom’s toothpaste or a similar generic toothpaste from the grocery store. I’ve tried tooth powder and those little tooth tablets to remove more packaging from my life, but I have never found one that I liked as much as traditional toothpaste.
Bamboo Toothbrush to Electric
For many years, I used a bamboo toothbrush. I was drawn to them because they are plastic-free and biodegradable. Yet, after the insistent request of my dentist, I switched to an electric toothbrush to help remove plaque a little bit better. I went with the Oral-B Pro 1000, which Wire Cutter recommended. I can say that my mouth is left feeling cleaner with an electric toothbrush.
The only real downside (other than the plastic waste) with the electric toothbrush is the charger. I wish that the Oral-B toothbrush had a basic USB-C charger, so when I travel, I don’t have to carry around the big blocky charger for the toothbrush.
The Best Natural Deodorant
When it comes to natural deodorants, I’ve tried them all and by Humankind is my favorite. I use the eucalyptus scent.
By Humankind’s deodorant is scientifically proven to eliminate B.O. causing bacteria 40 percent more than other natural deodorants. In addition, the deodorant is refillable using deodorant-containing cardboard tubes, which cuts down on plastic waste. You can even set up auto-delivery, so you’re never without deodorant.
Organic Hair Pomade
My hair product of choice is a hair pomade from Badger. Badger’s hair pomade contains all-natural ingredients, and I am pretty sure you could eat it if you wanted (though I don’t think they recommend it).
Safety Razor: Better and Cheaper than Dollar Shave Club
I have been using a safety razor for more than a decade. The razor I use is an old 1950s Gillette safety razor. You can buy new safety razors for around $40 or splurge for something a little nicer. I use Feather Double Edge Razor Blades. Over the past decade, I have spent less than $50 on razor blades. That’s 10 cents a week, way better than any dollar shave club!
To lather up while shaving, I have an antique mug and shave brush. I keep a puck of shave soap from Badger sitting in the bottom, and I simply wet the brush move it around to build up a nice lather. While the lather is not as thick as the stuff from a can, it is more than enough to help the safety razor glide across my neck and clear away my stubble.