Like a lot of people, I’ve really made an effort in recent years to reduce our waste and eliminate the use of things like single-use grocery bags, plastic wrap, and plastic snack bags. However, spending so much time at home in 2020 illuminated how much more I could still do. Earlier this year we made the swap to reusable paper towels, cloth napkins, and silicone straws. As someone who used to go through a roll of paper towels a week, I’ve been amazed at how I don’t miss any of it.
I’ve also cleaned up my beauty regime this year. I am admittedly quite late to the clean beauty revolution. I’ve always hated spending money on beauty products and didn’t want to try something only to dislike it or have it not “work”. Last year, I decided to use up everything I already had and slowly make the switch to clean products. I turned to my friend Ashley, my clean beauty expert, for most of the recommendations below and now I can’t imagine going back to anything I used before.
Let me know your favorite “green and clean” products in the comments!
Silicone straws: We actually never used straws prior to buying these but now I can’t imagine my morning smoothie without them.
Cloth napkins, Microfiber cloths, and Paper towel alternative: The biggest question I get when people find out we don’t use paper napkins or paper towels is, “don’t you have to do way more laundry?” I was already doing a load of towels a week, and now just add these to that load. The napkins get pulled right out of the dryer and folded. No, they don’t get ironed. I’m not psycho.
Zip Top kids snack containers: I love these. They are easy for kids to open and close, and they’re dishwasher safe.
Bentgo kids lunch boxes: I’m pretty sure every school-aged kid has one of these and for good reason. Even though they say dishwasher safe, I hand wash. The latch on Caroline’s first Bentgo box melted/cracked in the dishwasher.
Stasher Bag bundle: Stasher bags are an investment, that’s for sure. $55 for four bags is crazy to me. I got mine on Prime Day for $30ish and love them so much I’ll continue to add more as the years go on.
Hydro Flask 40oz bottle: Probably the least original item on the list but I add it because I’ve tried every water bottle – Nalgene, Camelbak, Swell, the ones with time markers – and this is my favorite. I drink a lot of water and like it ice cold. This bottle checks those boxes. My only complaint is it doesn’t fit in my cup holder.
True Botanicals Hydrating Anti-Aging Routine: I got this set for Mother’s Day and still haven’t used it all, so a little goes a long way. The Chebula Active Immunity Serum is now my desert island product.
True Botanicals Moisture Lock Overnight Mask: This was the product that turned me on to True Botanicals. I read somewhere “it’s like drinking a 160z glass of water for your face” and it’s true. I wish I could bathe in this stuff!
Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer: My sister just gave me this bronzer for my birthday and I’ve really liked it. Can’t beat the price either!
Acure Dry Shampoo: A dry shampoo that works way better than any of the other brands I’ve tried – clean or not.
Trader Joe’s Marula Face Oil: When Ashley told me about this product I was a bit skeptical but it’s an exact dupe for the Drunk Elephant Marula Oil and it’s $6.99. There’s also only one ingredient – it doesn’t get any cleaner than that!
Beauty by Earth Self Tanner: The only self tanner I can use. I’m too pale for every other brand I’ve tried. This stuff is perfect and doesn’t streak.
Beauty by Earth body wash: This body wash is 4x the price of the Target brand I used to buy but it lasts forever. I checked my Amazon cart and haven’t purchased it since February.
Everyone Lotion: A basic, clean and unscented body lotion.
Rose Inc. Concealer: I just bought this last week and absolutely love it. A little goes a longggg way which I love making it feel weightless.
ILIA Tinted Lip Balm: I love how buildable this lip balm is. It can look like tinted chapstick or real lipstick depending on how you layer.
ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint: I have never worn foundation, only tinted moisturizer, but after not wearing makeup for most of 2020, I have come to really dislike putting it on most days. Thankfully this product feels more like part of my skin regime than makeup, and doesn’t have me wanting to wash my face the minute I get home.
Native Deodorant: I was admittedly very late to the natural deodorant train. The only other brand I’ve tried is Tom’s and Native works way better, IMO.
Love this! Definitely need to try your desert island product and the reusable paper towels!