6 Tips For Packing A More Sustainable Cosmetic Bag For Travel

Sustainable personal care habits may begin at home—but that doesn’t mean you should forego your earth-friendly routine when you’re out exploring it. While it may seem more difficult to maintain sustainable practices while on the road, it’s actually easier than packing a conventional carry-on—if you know the right tricks.

Most eco-friendly products opt for minimal packaging and fewer ingredients, which means getting creative with the make and medium. This also means that you’ll be able to forego conventional liquid-based personal care products—which can be a hassle at customs—and actually fit more of what you need in your dopp kit or cosmetic bag (or save space for one-of-a-kind souvenirs!).

Here’s how to pack a sustainable cosmetic bag for travel:

Ditch the aerosol sunscreen

No matter where you’re traveling (even if it’s just across town), it’s important to be mindful of the sunscreen you choose to use. Aerosol sunscreen may seem convenient in theory, but the amount of wasted product that flies past your skin and into the air and surrounding grass or sand is astonishing.

Instead, opt for traditional sunscreen. Most modern sunscreens rub in just as easily as an aerosol but instead of floating into the air, will actually make it to your skin. When shopping for sunscreen, read the label, and avoid Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, which causes harm to coral reefs and are banned in many countries.

Skip on mini toothpaste

Mini toothpaste tubes are cute, and, yes, convenient too, but how many brushes do you really get out of that little tube? Maybe a week’s worth before you throw it away? While we’re not suggesting you forego brushing your teeth while on the road, we definitely think there’s a better way to keep up with your oral hygiene without being wasteful.

Toothy Tabs by Lush work exactly the same as toothpaste, but instead come in a compact tablet form—in a glass bottle. Simply pop one of these guys into your mouth before brushing, crush it up (without swallowing), grab your wet toothbrush, and brush as usual.

Reconsider your face wipes

Anyone who has traveled on a long flight will agree: face wipes are the real MVP—but, unfortunately, they’re a straight-to-the-landfill product that isn’t doing the environment any favors. According to the FDA, face wipes are made from things like polyester, polypropylene, cotton, wood pulp, and rayon fibers—many of which are not biodegradable. But don’t worry: these days there are handfuls of eco-friendly options that will work just as well as your beloved one-use wipes. Opt for a cloth made from natural fibers that you can simply wash and reuse instead.

Choose bar soap over liquid

Whether at home or while travelling, stop buying your soap or shampoo in plastic bottles—instead, switch back to old fashioned bar soap and shampoo bars. Not only do bar soaps allow for an easy time going through airport security (they’re not a liquid, gel, or aerosol, and can stay in your bag!), they last longer and come with no packaging so not only are they more sustainable, they’re more economical.

We like the Shampoo Bars from Lush, which are made from essential oils and natural ingredients and are made to fit in a reusable tin carrying case. When shopping for a bar soap, the more natural, the better. Look for ingredients like vegetable oils mixed with aloe and seaweed, which will add moisture back into the skin without making it feel waxy—and don’t forget to pick up a reusable soap case for it while you’re at it.

Invest in a safety razor

Disposable razors are no friend to the environment. Most of the time they last for just one or two shaves before being thrown away—and not in the recycling. Most disposable razors are made of plastic and cannot be recycled as they are because of all the different types of plastics, rubbers and metals used to create the razor.

If you’re still using disposable razors when you travel, consider switching to safety razor. Many people don’t know that reusable razors are allowed to be brought in a carry-on bag, so there’s no need to pick up a pack of disposables once you reach your destination. What’s more, a one-time razor purchase is much more economical than constantly buying packs of disposables. It’s a win-win.

Don’t forget your essential oils

While packing an essential oil may not seem like a necessity, it’s actually a great remedy to have on hand—especially peppermint or eucalyptus. Most people find that a few drops of peppermint essential oil will alleviate headaches and migraines, while eucalyptus will help with any stress or anxiety that can sometimes accompany long travel days. It’s a great alternative to packing a travel-sized container of Advil or Tylenol.