15 Best Sustainable [Travel Size] Toiletry Products
One of the easiest things you can do to be a more sustainable traveler is to swap out your synthetic, single-use toiletries for natural products you can use (and refill) over and over again. To get you started with this switch, we’ve created a list of the 15 best sustainable toiletries for all your travel needs — AKA products that are compact enough to take with you on the road. Keep reading to learn more.
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What to look for in sustainable products
If you’re new to the world of shopping sustainably, you might not know what to look for when leveling up your travel toiletry bag. Fortunately, there are just a few criteria to watch out for as you're reading labels and deciding how/where to spend your money.
For the most part, you’ll want to invest in items that are:
Vegan
Cruelty free
Non-toxic
In addition, it’s in your best interest to buy from companies who prioritize ethically sourced ingredients and who use thoughtful, zero waste packaging (that’s either compostable, refillable, or easily recyclable). This way, you can reuse or recycle every part of that packaging, meaning no new waste is generated through your purchase.
15 Sustainable Products for Your Travel Toiletry Bag
1. Best sustainable product for washing your hair: HiBAR
This shampoo and conditioner set from HiBar is an amazing option for keeping your hair clean *and* moisturized. These zero waste wash bars are plastic- and soap-free — but they have a highly concentrated, natural formula that delivers “beautifully soft, silky, and manageable hair.” And not only is this product designed to fit comfortably in your hand, but each bar can last as long as two big, bulky bottles of liquid shampoo. Talk about sustainability and convenience!
Price: starting at $27
2. Best sustainable product for washing your face: Ethique
The Bliss Bar from Ethique is a solid, yet gentle facial cleanser that’ll help you wash the day away in no time. This soap-free face wash is a great choice for all skin types, as there aren’t any added fragrances or essential oils included here. Instead, this product contains a “luxurious blend of creamed coconut butter, vegetable glycerine, and kaolin clay” so you can remove dirt and makeup without stripping your skin or disrupting your natural moisture barrier.
Price: starting at $17
3. Best sustainable product for washing your body: 100 Senses
This 100% soap-free product from 100 Senses is a shampoo-shower-shave bar all rolled into one — meaning you can “say goodbye to your shower clutter forever.” In fact, this bar is specifically formulated to cleanse your skin, scalp, and hair with its exceptional lather and non-drying 5.5 pH (to protect the skin's delicate moisture barrier). All in all, this body bar offers deluxe performance and superior skin conditioning you take with you anywhere.
Price: starting at $26
4. Best sustainable product for shaving: EcoRoots
In the market for an eco-friendly, reusable razor? Check out the Safety Razor from EcoRoots. This stylish shaver is plastic-free and easy to use — and most importantly, it won’t leave you with any unwanted razor burn. Made from zinc alloy and stainless steel, this design is durable, reliable, and promises a smooth finish (thanks to its double-edged blades). You can either buy this razor on its own, or spring for the shaving kit complete with soap and replacement blades.
Price: starting at $40
5. Best sustainable product for exfoliating: Primally Pure
Dry brushing is one of the best (and simplest) beauty rituals around. The practice of dry brushing is proven to exfoliate, detoxify, and improve the appearance of your skin — and it might even increase circulation and/or help you release toxins. With that said, nobody makes a better dry brush than Primally Pure. Their classic body brush is made from 100% natural materials to hopefully empower you on your journey to live a non-toxic and low-impact lifestyle.
Price: starting at $16
6. Best sustainable product for moisturizing: Fat and the Moon
Fat and the Moon sells several types of moisturizing creams and oils, most of which are designed for multi-use across the body. In other words, they create minimalist and multi-purpose skin care that feels nice on your skin and is better for the planet. The brand’s signature All Cream provides full body hydration (courtesy of aloe and rose water) — but it also contains shea butter to protect the skin and trap all the good moisture we need to stay supple.
Price: starting at $20
7. Best sustainable product for smelling fresh: Meow Meow Tweet
While there’s no shortage of eco-friendly deodorants these days, we’re big fans of this deodorant stick from Meow Meow Tweet. This zero waste deodorant comes in a paper tube, but there’s also a cream form (in a glass jar) depending on which application you’d prefer. Either way, you get a combination of plant and mineral powders — plus essential oils — that’ll keep you dry and smelling oh-so-fresh. Choose from lavender, grapefruit, and eucalyptus scents.
Price: starting at $5
8. Best sustainable product for brushing your hair: Zero Waste Store
Ready to ditch your plastic comb in favor of a more sustainable option for brushing your hair? If so, you’ll want to check out this cutie bamboo hair brush from Zero Waste Store. As the brand’s name implies, this brush is a zero waste, plastic-free product that’s made entirely from bamboo (a naturally compostable material). What’s more, the bamboo bristles help stimulate your scalp and leave you with healthy, shiny strands that steer clear of any frizz, knots, or static.
Price: starting at $16
9. Best sustainable product for brushing your teeth: The Humble Co.
Brushing your teeth every day is a non-negotiable for good hygiene — and you’ll need a quality toothbrush to make it happen. For a sustainable option, we’d recommend this design from The Humble Co. This brush has a 100% biodegradable handle (made from sustainably-grown bamboo), as well as eco-friendly packaging and an inside wrapper made from recycled materials. The best part? It’s also dentist approved, so you know it’ll get the job done.
Price: starting at $6
10. Best sustainable product for sun protection: Raw Elements
Sun protection is a must-have part of your travel toiletry bag, and even better if you use a sunblock that doesn’t harm the environment. Our favorite is the World Reef Day Stick from Raw Elements. Aside from offering broad spectrum, 30+ SPF protection, this stick applicator is also plastic-free, fully recyclable, and biodegradable to boot. Not to mention, it’s made from non-GMO (and certified organic ingredients), and it’s both reef safe and cruelty free.
Price: starting at $20
11. Best sustainable product for clean hands: by Humankind
When there’s no sink in sight, it’s nice to have another option for cleaning your hands. By Humankind is a big help in this case, thanks to their moisturizing hand sanitizer that comes in pocket-size aluminum bottles (with reusable pump caps). These bottles are specially designed to reduce single-use plastic waste while on the go. Plus, the formula has 65% alcohol to meet CDC recommendations — i.e. your hands will be properly sanitized when using this product.
Price: starting at $15
12. Best sustainable product for cleaning your ears: LastObject
Replacing disposable cotton swabs with a reusable option is a practical step towards a more sustainable lifestyle. Our favorite design comes from LastObject, a brand that’s on a mission to eliminate single-use beauty products. Their signature LastSwab is an affordable, reusable alternative to traditional Q-tips®. This little number is simple to use, easy to clean, and best of all, it replaces over 1,000 single-use cotton swabs that would normally end up in our landfills.
Price: starting at $12
13. Best sustainable product for period care: Saalt
If you have a period, you’ll definitely want to travel with products that support your menstrual hygiene. For sustainable period preparation, we’d recommend a menstrual cup like this one from Saalt. This convenient cup is a zero waste item and is designed to last through dozens of monthly cycles (making it an ideal choice for travel). The coolest part? Saalt donates 2% of their profits to providing period care and menstrual health education to communities in need.
Price: starting at $29
14. Best sustainable product for wearing makeup: Elate Beauty
Good news for all the makeup lovers out there — there are some amazing makeup options available with both ethical ingredients and sustainable packaging. Take Elate Beauty, for example. This brand has created the perfect minimalist beauty products that are also vegan, cruelty-free, and carbon neutral. While you can’t go wrong with any of their formulas, their Refresh Foundation offers the optimal amount of sheer coverage to give you a natural glow.
Price: starting at $32
15. Best sustainable product for storing your toiletries: Matt & Nat
Chances are, you’re going to need somewhere to stash all these incredible toiletry finds. Enter: the Blair Vegan Toiletry Case from Matt & Nat. Crafted with 100% sustainable materials and ethical practices, this little toiletry case has all the room you need to organize and store your small essentials. Better yet, this bag is durable and easy to clean — meaning it’s primed to come on all your travels and hold up to constant use over long(er) periods of time.
Price: starting at $33
Sustainable toiletries FAQs
Learn more about sustainable toiletries with the help of our FAQ section.
What are eco-friendly toiletries?
Eco-friendly toiletries are skin care and body care products made from natural materials or ingredients. These sorts of toiletries are typically free of plastics, synthetics, and other dangerous substances that might impact your health or damage the environment.
What qualifies as eco-friendly products?
Along with containing natural ingredients, eco-friendly products often use recycled (or recyclable) packaging and reduce their emissions output as much as possible during production. In other words, eco-friendly goods don’t cause harm to the environment during any stage of manufacturing — from production to packaging and every phase in between.
How do I make my bathroom more eco-friendly?
There are tons of small steps you can take to transform your bathroom into a more eco-friendly space. For starters, you can swap out single-use toiletries for more sustainable options that can be used over and over again. In addition, you can incorporate energy-efficient lighting, conserve water with a low-flow shower head, and even choose a responsibly-sourced toilet paper.
How do you get plastic-free toiletries?
Lucky for you, plastic-free toiletries are more popular than ever — meaning, there are lots of companies selling sustainable and zero waste products. Some of the best online brands for plastic-free skin care and body care items include HiBar, The Humble Co., Zero Waste Store, and LastObject.