We are two friends living on opposite coasts (Brooklyn, New York and Santa Monica, California) that share a passion for living a minimal, zero waste lifestyle and on a mission to help others do the same.
Harper. Lives in Brooklyn with a +1. Sassy pup. Matcha. Wine. Whiskey. Cheese. Proscuitto.
Charley. Lives in Los Angeles with a +1. Doofy pup. Coffee. Wine. Whiskey. Cheese. Pasta.
MIXED buy. We enjoyed using the Papr deodorant. All natural ingredients, 100% paper packaging, a pleasant smell, lovely texture, and of course limited white residue. The only snag with Papr Deodorant is how much more it is even compared to already expensive deodorants like Myro, Native and Hammond Herbs. Note: given this is a deodorant and not an antiperspirant, so Papr is aluminum-free.
NOT a buy. We love Seventh Generation as a company and enjoy many of their products. Unfortunately, the dishwashing detergent tablets are not one of those items. We would prefer the Seventh Generation powder given the same ingredients, cheaper cost, and still plastic-free option. For thsoe who like the convenience of pods/tablets over powder, we hope that the upcoming refills may cheapen the price in the future.
We thought Mother Earth Bamboo Toilet paper worked just fine (not super soft like most other bamboo toilet papers), but nothing to write home about. We like that there is no plastic in the packaging, made of bamboo and 100% biodegradable. But the price is pretty darn high.
MAYBE buy. With so few ingredients, and none of them being toxic, we really love the earth-friendly Eco-Me Toilet Bowl cleaner. It cleans really well and has just a faint mint scent. The drawbacks are that it costs a bit more than other available toilet bowl cleaners, and to us, we think the bottle could be reformed into the traditional toilet bowl cleaner bottle.
DEFINITELY a buy. We love Friendsheep Eco Dryer Balls. The 100% wool dryer balls are eco-friendly and reusable. While costing more upfront, you make it up in 3 months compared to Downy dryer sheets. We expect them to last for years, reducing carbon footprint significantly over time, and not contributing to landfills. These fun dryer balls are a perfect gift for someone trying to be more green.
BUY. Smart Sheep Wool Dryer Balls in XL were one of our first eco-friendly, zero-waste purchases. We wanted to get away from the scent heavy options at the drug store, while also saving money and not adding to landfills. These dryer balls have retained their shape over two years (no saggy balls here!) and help with removing static and un-bundling our laundry. They are a BUY from us.
NOT a haul we recommend. The recycled loofah was a highlight, but unfortunately not enough for the whole haul. We liked using almost everything in this haul (zero waste dish soap, natural sponges, laundry sheets, laundry sheet), but we were confused at the hand soap sheets. Moreover, many items were on the pricey side - the biggest reason for our overall no recommendation
Not a buy. While we thought Grab Green’s Liquid Dish Soap worked fine, we have some pretty major complaints. We don’t love that it comes in plastic bottles, certainly not plastic free, or even an attempt to reduce plastic here. There are some pretty questionable ingredients, including sulfates and benzisothiazolinone that we really don’t want in our dish soap. The scent (we got the Tangerine with Lemongrass) was too sweet for our taste - smelled too ‘artificial-soapy’ in our book. Finally, the price is pretty darn high 😔
MAYBE buy. We liked Who Gives A Crap Bamboo Paper Towels enough to give it a green light: bamboo paper is more sustainable than tree-based paper towels, the cost is reasonable, and the paper doesn’t shred in our hands. It’s not going to be as luxurious-feeling as normal paper towels, which is fine, but we tend to use reusable Swedish dishcloths like Redecker or DII. For those must-one-time-use paper, WGAC is good option.
Butter Me up Organics’ Bamboo Paddle Brush is a BUY! We’re a fan of how this brush handles and how it feels on our scalp. We love that it is 100% biodegradable, made from sustainable bamboo and natural rubber, and packaged in recycled cardboard. Plus, the price is great. What’s not to like?
We think Butter Me Up Organics Magnesium Lotion is a BUY! We love the simple ingredient list and the cozy shea, coconut and lavender scent. Great thick consistency that easy to apply. Jury is still out on whether this actually has improved my sleep, but it does make me feel calmer overall. Very reasonable pricing for an outsized amount of magnesium in the product!
BUY. We think Terra Beauty Facial Bars are a great option for a clay-based facial cleanser that is also zero waste. No more plastic tubes for your general face wash. We have been using it every day for about a year, and we still have well over half the face bar left! Combined with lavender that both smells nice and is antibacterial - we think that’s a win.
BUY. Soap Sense Foaming Soap Tablets are easy to use and smell great, thanks to essential oils. Made with limited ingredients, they drastically reduce the amount of plastic due to their compact size. Additionally, they are cruelty-free and paraben-free, and big plus for carbon emissions: made in the USA. Lastly, Soap Sense is one of the cheapest hand soaps when bought in subscription or bulk (the packages are super tiny, about 5” high!)
Not a buy. While we are a fan overall of Butter Me Up Organics and their commitment to zero-waste, we did not think the efficacy of Butter Me Up Organics Toilet Tabs or the price point warrants a buy recommendation from us.
100% a BUY from us. The DEET-free, natural Protector Mosquito and Insect Repellent is a steal when it comes to price and effectiveness. It is also made up of all-natural ingredients, relying on very pleasant-smelling essential oils to repel pesky bugs. The one drawback is that the vessel is plastic and not aluminum.
Elvissmart Bamboo Toilet Paper is a Mixed Buy for us. We like that its bamboo and unbleached. We like that it didn’t shred or tear apart at all - quite thick and tough. In fact we think we used less toilet paper because of it. However it comes in plastic packaging which is a big bummer. Price is relatively reasonable!
Not really a buy from us: While we enjoyed using Beautycounter’s Deo in Clean Rose, because of the combo of plastic and prohibitive cost, we are going to be a ‘no’ here. We liked how it worked and smelled. The case is designed very nicely and functionally, and the ingredients are clean. If the cost is not prohibitive for your situation, this refillable deodorant is still a step in the right direction, with reduced plastic use on every refill and cleaner ingredients.
MAYBE buy. We like Ingredients Matter Laundry Soap Powder for our tougher wash loads like towels and denim. With safe ingredients, mostly paper packaging, and a lovely scent, we could keep it on our laundry shelf. The cost is near the lower end and we like that you can be flexible with how much detergent to use (unlike laundry pods). The only drawback is using the powder on delicate cycles with cold water: the granules do not dissolve all the way.
It’s a buy! While the Full Circle Cleanya Colada scrubber sponge is a bit pricier than the walnut sponge, we like that the scrubber side is heavier duty and it looks great even if we leave it out on our counters! Not to mention that it’s made of cellulose, coconut husk and recycled plastic!
BUY: While Habitat Botanicals has the Buy One, Get One Free Daily Essentials kit, we recommend a BUY on the set! This way, you would get to try out all of the individual products and get a flavor for what you like! If you want to go down the individual route, we would recommend the zero waste shampoo, conditioner, and vegan deodorant. While the body wash was nice to use, it’s a bit pricy (not as pricey as liquid body wash though), as is the lip balm.
