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Skincare

Get Glowing with the Best Summer Skincare

Sun, surf, and sand: the things Summer is known for can wreak havoc on your skin. Protect, soothe, and hydrate your skin with my favorite summer skincare for glowing skin. 

I almost never wear makeup, which means I prioritize clear, healthy, radiant skin. Summer is a great time to go “no makeup,” and these favorites of mine will help you feel confident in your own *skin.*

For Clear Skin: Hydrate from the Inside Out

It sounds cliche, but it really is true: for healthy, clear skin, give your body lots of water, eat a balanced diet with an emphasis on colorful fruits and vegetables, and work out! Every system in our bodies is interconnected; nothing exists in isolation. Working out promotes blood flow and release of toxins, contributing to clearer skin with better collagen production. 

In the summer, you’re likely sweating more which is great for toxin removal, but could leave you missing electrolytes if you don’t replenish them! Unfortunately, lots of electrolyte drinks come loaded with sugar at best, and colorings and flavorings at worst. Two better choices for replenishing electrolytes are coconut water and Skratch Hydration. Skratch is made from real fruit, and has the right proportions of electrolytes to match what’s lost from sweating. Skratch’s Sport Drink Mix has been my go-to post-run drink for years. It does have sugar, with a ratio of glucose and fructose to speed fluid absorption in the body. Lemon+ Lime is a classic, but Fruit Punch is another flavor we’re trying out and also loving. All flavors come from real fruit with only functional ingredients. It’s also gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, kosher, and vegan.

Use their Everyday Hydration for a balanced electrolyte drink with zero sugar (and also zero sweeteners). Don’t expect it to be sweet, though; that’s the whole point! I’m currently drinking the Tangerine+Orange flavor. It also blends well into smoothies!

Coconut water is nature’s electrolyte beverage! I prefer the taste and ingredients of Harmless Harvest Coconut Water to VitaCoco, personally. Harmless Harvest contains only one ingredient: Organic Coconut Water! It’s got another, unexpected appeal: it’s pink in color! This is due to varying antioxidant levels that are present when you process the coconut water as naturally as possible.

Each of these also contains sugar (except for the Skratch Everyday Hydration!), so just watch your dosage, and only drink them when you’re thirsty. 

Get Bright, Glowing Summer Skin with Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerhouse ingredient for bright, blowing skin, so it’s a staple in my summer skincare routine. My favorite for years has been Farmacy’s 10% Waterless Vitamin C Serum. Whenever I wear it, I get compliments on how healthy my skin looks! Vitamin C can sometimes be irritating, so if you’re trying a new one, keep it away from your eyes and test it out slowly, and definitely not before a big event. 

Another Vitamin C I’ve been trying lately is from innisfree. This Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening Serum is fragrance free and has lots of other effective ingredients. It contains antioxidants such as Vitamin E and ferulic acid, green tea enzymes for exfoliation, and tangerine peel and niacinamide for extra radiance (“glowiness”).

Soothe Irritated Skin with Hypochlorous Acid

A surprising ingredient to add to your summer skincare routine is hypochlorous acid. Brought into the “mainstream” by Tower28, hypochlorous acid is essentially a sanitizer for your skin. It helps to kill bacteria and also reduces redness. If you’re about to get a break out, use the Tower28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray after cleansing and before the rest of your skincare routine. It’s even accepted by the National Eczema Association. On days when my skin is irritated, I apply the Tower28 Daily Skin Barrier Redness Recovery Moisturizer after active ingredients like Vitamin C serums, but before sunscreen. It calms, reduces redness, and gives my skin some extra hydration. Don’t let pool days, sunshine, and sweat irritate your skin. Keep it glowing by keeping it calm and hydrated!

Protect Your Skin to Keep it Glowing Without the Sun

You might be tempted to get a bronze “glow” from sun by tanning during the summer, but this is a bad idea. The sun’s rays may give you some temporary color, but in the long-term, they’ll contribute to dark spots, fine links, and wrinkles, and increase your risk of sun cancer. Stay sun safe and keep your skin glowing for decades to come by using a clean, mineral sunscreen. My post on How to Choose a Clean Sunscreen for Summer 2024 has my favorites to wear from workouts to weddings. Some notable standouts are: All Good Mineral Sport Sunscreen, Supergoop! Mineral Sheer Screen, and ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40.

That’s it: 4 simple summer skincare tips for glowing skin, all summer long. Time to get glowing. 

xx

 Disclosure: Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualified purchases. I would never recommend anything I don’t personally use, and the income helps me run my site! 

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Buy the Best Health & Wellness Gifts this Black Friday

Snail mucin may be trending, but you won’t find it on my list. Check out these other beauty, health & wellness gifts for your Black Friday shopping. Dive in!

 

Beauty, Health & Wellness Stocking Stuffers 

Herbivore is one of my favorite beauty brands, and I just added their limited edition Hot Coco Coconut Oil Body Scrub Mini to my cart. This would make a great stocking stuffer and it’s on Black Friday sale for up to 20% off.

 

Give Them R&R with These Wellness Gifts

This dry brush from Goop is a great way to add relaxation and exfoliation into your daily ritual. Gift it to yourself  or anyone on your list for a Goop-approved health & wellness gift.

I swapped out my foam roller for a cork roller months ago, and I love that it’s natural and sustainable. Here’s a similar one on Amazon, currently on sale with a $10 coupon. 

High-Tech Wearable Wellness

You can’t have a health & wellness gift guide without some wearable tech! My Garmin Watch and Oura Ring are the two pieces of tech I wear 24/7, and they definitely help me improve upon my fitness and performance. The Oura Ring and a smart watch like the Garmin Forerunner should be top of your list for health & wellness gifts this year. Read on to learn why!

Garmin Forerunner GPS Multisport Watch

As a runner, a Garmin GPS Watch has been a staple for me for years. The Forerunner series is specifically tailored to runners, as the name suggests. It’s also a multipart watch, and can be used in GPS mode with other sports like running and swimming. This makes it a good entry point for anyone wanting to dabble in triathlons! 

My current Garmin watch is the Forerunner 245 Music, and it’s currently on sale as a Black Friday Deal for up to 43% off! My version is a 245S where the “S” means it’s a smaller form factor. Since I have small wrists, this fits better on me. If you want a Small and a sale, the slightly newer version (255S) is on sale for up to 25% off!

The music feature means you can load music on the watch itself and connect it to your headphones, without carrying your phone around the gym or on a run. (I don’t run with music, read my running coaching blog to learn why!).  

Oura Ring: The Gift of A Sleep Lab on Your Finger

The other wearable in those pictures above: my Oura Ring! It’s my favorite piece of health tech and I wear it 24/7. It monitors HR, HRV, temperature (pair it with Natural Cycles!), and SPO2 to bring you insights into your sleep and total body wellness. My referral link will get you $40 off the Oura Ring, and many styles are already on sale for Black Friday. If you buy just one thing for yourself this year, make it this!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This income goes to supporting this website. As always, ideas and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.

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The Best Clean and Eco-Friendly Natural Deodorants

My Sustainable Swaps Series helps you change one thing to make a meaningful impact on your environmental footprint. A great place to start is reconsidering items you use every single day. Deodorant is a staple of modern hygiene, but its impact on people and planet stinks. These natural, eco-friendly deodorants actually work, and come in recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging. 

why you should switch to an eco-friendly deodorant

Traditional deodorants rely on aluminum to block up sweat glands and stop your sweat from reaching the surface of your skin. They often come with other ingredients like phthalates and parabens, and are packaged in single-use, non-recyclable plastic. 

The deodorant industry produces 15 million pounds of plastic waste each year. While the scientific evidence linking aluminum and parabens to cancer or other health risks is debatable, my personal philosophy is to choose products that have smaller, natural ingredients lists. Since so much of our chemical exposure cannot be controlled, I try to limit my exposure wherever I can. 

Fortunately, there are many alternatives to aluminum-based, plastic-packaged deodorant on the market today, and trying them is easy. I’ve tested quite a few: relaxing at home, dancing at weddings, and completing sweaty workouts. These are the best natural, eco-friendly deodorant options. Freshen up and green your routine with one of these!

Compostable deodorant tubes

These natural deodorants come packaged in compostable tubes, and they’re available on Amazon or at Target, so they’re easy to add to your next order! 

Native: Coconut & Vanilla

This deodorant smells great and goes on sooo smoothly from the coconut oil it contains! This type does contain baking soda, but it doesn’t bother me. Some other brands with baking soda formulations have irritated my skin, but for whatever reason, this one does not! 

Native Plastic-Free Deodorant holds up to hot runs, daily life, and any other time you sweat. The tube is made from paperboard sourced from responsibly managed forests. Plus it’s free from Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates, and Aluminum. 

 

 

Raw Sugar: Vanilla bean + Charcoal

Another good option? Raw Sugar Vanilla Bean + Charcoal. This deodorant smells yummy and comes in a combination of a biodegradable paper tube with recycled plastic parts. It used to be available in 100% biodegradable packaging; if you see it, get it ! It’s also free of aluminum, baking soda, talc, parabens, and propylene glycol. 

It can take some time to adjust to a new deodorant, so don’t be discouraged! It can take up to two weeks to transition, but most people adjust and are able to use a natural deodorant immediately, with no need for any special detoxing. 

refillable deodorant

Meow Meow Tweet

Quirky name, excellent deodorant. I like the Baking Soda-Free Grapefruit scent. Its light scent is gender neutral, it applies easily, and keeps you smelling fresh. It comes in a small glass jar, so just use a clean finger to scoop out a pea-sized amount for each underarm. It will warm up and melt into your skin. 

With Meow Meow Tweet’s bulk refill program, you can purchase a large glass jar of deodorant and use it to refill the small glass jar that you’ll keep your daily product in. When the large jar is empty, send it back for free to Meow Meow Tweet. They’ll sanitize and reuse it as part of their closed loop, 100% waste free bulk refill program. When your small jar is empty, just clean it out with hot water and mild dish soap, to remove any old product before you refill it with fresh product. Super easy and sustainable. 

Meow Meow Tweet products can be ordered online with a subscription service so you receive new deodorant every few months and never run out. Their product ships in small boxes filled with corn starch packing peanuts–just run them under hot water and watch them melt away! Meow Meow Tweet has an entire range of sustainable and bulk product options that I’d love to try! 

I also love how it’s vegan, made with organic ingredients, and they give back to diverse organizations promoting Earth & Nature, Social Justice, and Animal Justice. Learn more about their values here.

Making the Switch to  eco-friendly deodorant

It can take up to two weeks to adjust to the new deodorant, because that’s how long it can take for your body to purge the aluminum and other chemicals from your last deodorant. I’ve typically noticed a few days of transition, but was able to adjust very quickly to the deodorants on this list. If you have a big event coming up, try to switch more than two weeks in advance, or wait until afterwards to see how your body responds. 

Whether you’re trying a natural deodorant for the first time, or switching to one with more sustainable packaging, congrats! You can feel good about making a Sustainable Swap that’s better for people and planet. 

What’s your favorite natural deodorant?  Drop me a line in the comments below. 

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This income goes to supporting this website. As always, ideas and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.

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How to Choose a Clean Sunscreen for Summer 2024

 

Choosing clean skincare is one way to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Using a clean sunscreen is a great place to start, since we use it daily, our skin is highly absorbent, and it washes off into the ocean eventually. So, it’s important to pick a sunscreen that really is clean for you and the planet. Sunscreens help protect us from skin cancer, so it’s important to make sure that what you’re using is both effective and wearable. Every choice we make has an impact on the planet, so it’s wise to make conscious tradeoffs that make sense for you. In this blog post, I share my holistic approach to sun safety, and the clean sunscreen products I’ve tested and passed. Let’s dive in. 

What “Reef-Safe” Sunscreen Really Means

In searching for a clean sunscreen,  it’s important to avoid “greenwashing,” a tactic some companies use that applies non-regulated labels like “clean” to their products to make them appear better than they are. You’ve probably heard of reef-safe sunscreen, but what does that mean? The “reef-safe” label usually means that the sunscreen is oxybenzone- and paraben-free, but there is growing evidence that octinoxate, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate, and avobenzone are not safe for the planet or people, either. I’ve seen “reef-safe” sunscreens that contain these chemicals, so be sure to check the ingredients before you buy. My sunscreen “winners” do not have these ingredients. 

My 5 Rules for Clean Sunscreen

The sunscreens with the harshest chemicals are traditionally “best” at blocking the sun’s rays, but that comes with a personal and environmental cost. So as part of my clean skincare routine,  I’ve opted for clean sunscreen products with minerals as physical blockers to the sun’s rays instead of chemical blockers. I’ve tested many to find the best ones that withstand water sports, sweating, and daily life. I typically have two groups of sunscreens I use for specific areas of my life: Waterproof, for sports and outdoor activities, and Daily for everyday use, suitable to wear to work, to a wedding, under makeup, etc. I’ve tested dozens of sunscreens in search of the best, and these are the rules I use to assess them. 

My Rules for Clean Sunscreen

Any sunscreen I wear must be:

  1. Non-nano, non-coated zinc oxide
  2. Remaining ingredients are “clean”
  3. Waterproof
  4. Something I’ll actually wear
  5. Effective

Clean & Green Mineral Sunscreens

How I Assess Clean Sunscreen Ingredients 

Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a great resource to check product ingredients that I use all the time! It has helped me find many of the sunscreens which made it onto this list. With the available research on efficacy and safety, I only use sunscreen that is mineral-based: non-nano, non-coated zinc oxide. To me, there’s enough evidence (or lack thereof) to avoid certain ingredients in products I use daily. So, I avoid parabens, phthalates, and other suspected endocrine-disrupters. EWG rates each ingredient in a product by concerns related to allergy, cancer, developmental, and use restrictions. They also state when the data available is limited, so you know when there are gaps. 

What it Means for Sunscreen to be Effective

Sunscreen meant for activities where I’m swimming or sweating MUST be waterproof, otherwise it’s effectively useless. This requirement is so important that I verify it with my own use testing (rule #5). But, if it’s not something I’ll wear (because it’s greasy, smells bad, is hard to apply, etc.), then it’s also effectively useless, because I just won’t wear it! I have very sensitive skin, so if it irritates me, it fails rule #4. Similarly, sunscreens that are difficult to apply lose points with me.

  Quick tip: moisturize your skin before applying mineral sunscreen for easier absorption! 

Lastly, for me to consider a sunscreen “effective” it has to keep me from getting burned or tanned. I look beyond the “SPF 30 UVA/UVB” label.  I start by using EWG’s sunscreen effectiveness rating, or Consumer Reports (but they rate fewer mineral sunscreens, currently). Then, I test the sunscreen myself. The Waterproof ones are easier to assess because I wear them for longer periods of time, under more intense sun conditions where the risk of burning is higher. The Daily sunscreens are more difficult to test, so I rely on the previous ratings, and using other sun protection measures to balance out my risk of sun exposure.

 

Clean Sunscreen Testing Results

The TL/DR is that All Good Mineral Sport Sunscreen is hands down the best Waterproof, reef-safe, clean sunscreen I’ve ever worn that fits the requirements above. For the Daily category, I have 3 favorites: Supergoop! Mineral Sheer Screen or AO 6000x Elemental Screen, for daily use with no tint, no makeup, and Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint, which is the closest thing to foundation that I ever wear. In a pinch, I also wear the All Good Mineral Sport on my face for everyday wear–it’s really not greasy at all and goes on so smoothly. I did try All Good’s “Face” sunscreen, but didn’t like it as much as the Sport formulation.

My Favorite Clean Sunscreens

waterproof and reef-safe sunscreen

    • All Good Mineral Sport Sunscreen: my fave reef-safe, clean sunscreen for face, body, water sports, and daily use. This spreads well, absorbs nicely, stays on, and actually protects you from the sun! 10/10. This comes in a large size which is good if you have several people needing to use it, or a smaller size perfect for a backpack, beach bag, purse, or car. 

Quick tip: keep small bottles of sunscreen in your car, purse, backpack, etc. so you always have some on the go! 

        • All Good Sunscreen Butter: higher SPF 50 and spreads well for face! This will turn your face a bit white, so unlike the Sport formulation, which can be worn daily, I’d recommend using the Butter only for water sports. However, I just bought their Tinted Sunscreen Butter and will report back after I’ve tried that on my face. UPDATE: The Tinted Sunscreen Butter is a bit too tan for my skin tone. I have very fair skin, so the tinted version might be a good option for someone with tan or olive skin tone. Linking both here!

Wear All Day Clean Sunscreens

      • Supergoop! Mineral Sheer Screen: this goes on smoothly, has a light feel, and wears well by itself or under makeup. It’s a bit pricey for the size, but for a makeup-free natural finish, it’s a great option. 
      • AO 6000x Elemental Screen: High-end skincare and sunscreen all in one? Sign me up! I found this on EWG’s list, and loved it! It contains New Zealand red algae, claimed to be 6000x stronger than Vitamin C. My skin is sensitive to Vitamin C, so it’s a great swap, and makes for a one-step, no makeup morning skincare routine.
      • Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint: Another great 2-in-1 Skincare+Sunscreen option! This is my favorite tinted moisturizer, and it’s packed with squalane, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. It makes my skin look dewy and hydrated, and my skin feels so soft after wearing it. It comes in a ton of shades and half-shades so you can find your best match.This is great for a minimal makeup look on days where you want some coverage. I don’t ever wear foundation; this is what I wear if I’m doing “makeup” for the day.

Honorable Mention Mineral Sunscreens

Solara Suncare is one of the newer brands I’ve tried lately. I haven’t worn them in all the same situations yet that I’ve worn All Good, but they make honorable mention because of their availability (Target!), and of course they meet the top 3 rules. I didn’t feel that Clean Freak and Time Traveler were *quite* as waterproof as All Good Sport, which makes sense: they’re advertised Water Resistant for 40min instead of All Good’s 80min. These are still great options, so try them out if you’re interested and drop a comment to let me know! Since making this post, they’ve also come out with some exciting sunscreen-as-skincare options that I can’t wait to try.

waterproof and reef-safe sunscreen

      • Solara Suncare Clean Freak: This is slightly harder to spread than the All Good Sport for a Waterproof formula to use on the body.Be sure to shake or knead it before use as well. I would use this as a Daily sunscreen for the body, since its waterproof rating is 40min. This is a great option to slather on before heading out on a walk or to the Farmer’s Market, somewhere you won’t be sweating or swimming but you will be a little active.

Wear All Day Clean Sunscreen

      • Solara Suncare Time Traveler: I found this to be a little heavier feeling than the Supergoop! or AO, or even the All Good Sport for Daily facial use, but it’s a great option for daily facial wear nonetheless. It might be a better option for winter. 
      • Solara Suncare Fortune Teller Brightening Sunscreen Serum: This is a new one I can’t wait to try! It features a brightening complex of Vitamin C and adaptogens to illuminate your skin as you wear it. 
      • Guardian Angel Super Peptide Sunscreen Milk: This formula is packed with ingredients to prevent and reverse environmental damage. I love when sunscreen doubles as skincare, so I can’t wait to try this formula!

How to  Choose Clean Sunscreen Sprays, Sticks, & Balms

Liquid, butter, cream, lotion, stick, spray. Sunscreens come in lots of formulations. Personally, I don’t like sprays– they contain propellants which can be harmful for the environment–and in normal use, most of the spray goes anywhere but on the skin. Further, if it contains titanium dioxide, this can be harmful if inhaled as airborne particles (per California Prop65 warning), although titanium dioxide in a sunscreen lotion is OK. Since so many people still love sprays, I found a better one for you! Check out Blue Lizard’s Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Spray: no titanium dioxide, and a “new propellant” that claims to be more eco-friendly. But full disclaimer: I have not tested it personally.
 

However, I do recommend sunscreen sticks in some situations. A sunscreen stick can be handy because of its small size and no-mess portability. They’re good for a quick touch up on the go–think skiing or trail running–but it’s hard to ensure you completely cover larger areas. Toss the Sunscreen Butter Stick in your pocket or backpack for quick touchups, but don’t rely on it alone.

 I haven’t mentioned lip balm, so far. This has been a challenging sunscreen to find. All Good does make one, but it made my lips very white, so I never wore it (it failed rule #4!). Sun Bum goes on smooth, but contains some of the other chemicals I’m avoiding (homosalate, octisalate). I’m still searching for one that meets all criteria above, and will edit this post when I test some more.

Protekt lip balm, updated July 2023

I finally have a lip balm to add to the list! This one comes from Protekt, and it wears well, with clean ingredients! After applying, I recommend using your finger to gently massage it in,  and this helps avoid any white cast. 

Beyond Mineral Sunscreen: Throw Some Shade

To further protect yourself and minimize your impact, it’s important to not rely on clean sunscreen alone. Making your own shade will help minimize your sun exposure as well as your skincare usage. What’s the best way to keep your sun safety habits? Make it as easy as possible. Living in SoCal, I’ve embraced the Endless Summer, and that means I always grab a hat, sunglasses, and retouch sunscreen on at least my hands before going outside. 

Quick tip: Keep your hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen by the door to grab on your way out. Invest in a hat (or two!) that you love. Make it easy to stay sun safe! 

      • Apply SPF 30+ daily to face, neck, hands
      • SPF on the hands must be waterproof
      • Apply waterproof SPF 30+ before exercising outside or going in the water
      • When spending time outside, consider the following:
        • SPF as discussed above
        • Limit the time you’re outside
        • Make your own shade
          • UPF clothing, or really any coverup
          • Umbrella or beach tent
          • Wear a hat
          • Wear large sunglasses

Final Thoughts on How to Choose a Clean Sunscreen

Reef-safe, clean sunscreen can be a vital part of your clean skincare routine. To avoid greenwashing, don’t rely on marketing alone; always verify that ingredients are clean and reef-safe using a trusted source such as EWG. Be wary of promoted products, which are incentivized, can change with trends and promotions, and haven’t necessarily been tested for very long or with any criteria. Lastly, reef-safe, clean sunscreen is only a part of your sustainable lifestyle, and should be used with other sun protection methods such as minimizing sun exposure and wearing a large hat and sunglasses. This holistic approach will help you balance the risk of skin cancer with the risk that harsh chemicals pose to people and planet. 

 Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualified purchases. I would never recommend anything I don’t personally use, and the income helps me run my site! 

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Choose a Safety Razor for a Sustainable Shave

Switching from a traditional razor to a double-edged safety razor is not only sustainable, it’s surprisingly easy. As part of my Sustainable Swaps Series, this post will help you make the Sustainable Swap to a safety razor, changing just one thing to make a big impact on your personal waste footprint. Still not ready to switch to try a safety razor? Read on for a new middle ground razor I’m testing, and for free ways to recycle your single-use razors! 

Check out my Sustainable Swaps Series for more easy, Sustainable Swaps!

*UPDATED MARCH 2024 for how to recycle disposable razors and blades.*

 

but first, recycle your disposable razors and blades–for free!

Whether you switch to a more reusable razor or not, you can make a big impact simply by recycling your disposable razors and blades–for free. If you follow me on Instagram, you probably already know that I love Terracycle. Terracycle takes hard-to-recycle items and breaks them down so that they can be recycled or repurposed. And they have many free programs that make it really easy to participate! The Gillette Recycling Program is a free recycling program through Terracycle that accepts all brands of blades, razors, and plastic packaging. To use this free program, simply create an account with Terracycle, join the program, and start collecting your blades, razors and plastic packaging in an old shipping box. Once full, print your free label and mail it in. That’s it! 
 

WHY YOU SHOULD TRY A SAFETY RAZOR

Summer is here, meaning warmer temps, shorter shorts, and more shaving. Chances are, your current razor is partly or completely disposable. While disposable razors are convenient, the waste they generate really adds up. 

An EPA estimate from 1990 stated that the US produced 2 billion throwaway razors and blades annually. This figure has likely grown, since the US razor market hit $2.7 billion in 2021. 

If you shave regularly, safety razors present a great opportunity to make a small tweak in your routine for a big impact on your waste.

how to use a safety razor

I started using a double edge safety razor about 5 years ago, and have never looked back. The handle is reusable–you just replace the blade as needed– and the blades themselves are recyclable! They’re also cost-effective: a double-edge safety razor will cost you about $20 on Amazon, and last for years. Mine lasted about 5 years until it fell from the bathroom shelf and snapped. A pack of refill blades will cost about $10 for 50 blades, or 20 cents each. 

The safety razor might seem intimidating at first, but just go slowly until you get comfortable, and you will quickly love this razor!

 

 

 

 

Vikings Blade Safety Razor

 

 

safety razor shaving Tips

Starting with a new razor will feel a bit like it’s your first time shaving again, but with practice, you will get the hang of it in no time. 

To make the process as smooth as possible, follow the acronym, LEGS:

  1. Lather and Exfoliate: exfoliate to remove dead skin cells, then lather up with your favorite cream or soap.
  2. Go gently and slowly. The weight of the razor alone is often enough pressure.
  3. Start simply: avoid challenging areas like your ankles or knees until you’ve gotten the hang of using the razor. 

With practice, you’ll soon become a pro– just like you did with a disposable razor.  

 

safety razors and blades

There are many options for safety razors on the market. Here are some suggestions.

Recently I stumbled onto the Leaf razor, and I’m excited to try it! If you want to try a reusable razor but want a more traditional, multi-blade style, this might be for you! It comes in lots of appealing colors, and the many rave reviews make it well worth a try.

My current razor is this Vikings Blade razor.  Also on Amazon, I like how this Bambaw razor comes with its own stand, and it comes in lots of colors, too.

 I use Shark razor blades, but you may like to tray this sampler pack of blades to find your favorite!

To lather and moisturize before shaving, you can use your favorite soap, or a cream like this one from Eos. They have a partnership with Terracycle; you can send in the product for free recycling! 

Traveling with a safety razor

When traveling with a safety razor, be advised that TSA will not allow the blades in a carryon bag, but they are allowed in checked luggage.

 

recycling your blades 

When you’ve used a blade, it can be recyled (yay!) but not in your curbside bin. If your city doesn’t offer stainless steel recycling services, search for a manufacturer in your area that works with scrap metal; chances are they can take the blades and process them, along with any other scrap metal you may have around the house. 

As you’re collecting used blades to be recycled, store them in a safe, secure location so that children, pets, and other family members can’t be accidentally hurt by them. I keep mine in either old medicine bottles with locking lids, or in an old salt and pepper container, stored out of reach.

 

 

 

smooth sailing

If you’re trying a safety razor for the first time, congrats! You can feel good about making a Sustainable Swap that reduces waste. 

Go slowly, and experiment: if you don’t like a certain blade, try another brand. Find what works for your hair type, thickness, and preferences. 

Have you ever used a safety razor before? Do you have tips you’d like to add? A favorite brand? Drop me a line in the comments below. 

 

 Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.. I would never recommend anything I wouldn’t personally use, and the income helps me run my site! 

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