So in this edition of things I love and other people may or may not care about, I present my low-waste beauty routine!

In the last few years, I've been trying to find beauty products that are affordable, free of harsh chemicals, effective, and somewhat sustainably packaged. In case you are searching for these things too, here's my long-winded breakdown of what works for me:

Skin Care: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay ―  It's kind of a messy product to use but the 1 lb. jar I have lasts forever (years!) and in addition to being safe to use, it really clears up my skin. Plus it's only $9, which in the world of acne solutions is quite cheap. 

Hair Care: I've tried a plethora of natural shampoos and had luck with very few of them until I found Acure Shampoo and Conditioner (Acure products can be found at Target). Recently, I switched it up and am now trying the Seaweed Bath Co. Balancing Shampoo and Conditioner. Both work for straight, oily hair, are free of sulfates/parabens/phtalates and are only $10 each, which honestly is the most I'll pay for hair care.

Hair Cleansing Rinse: I am addicted to using an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse for my hair to clear up dandruff. I fill up 1/4 of a bottle with ACV, dilute it with water, add a few drops of essential oil and then work it into my hair a few days a week. It works wonders.

Moisturizer: I use Coconut Oil or Almond Oil, basically whatever I have on hand. The bottle of Almond Oil I have has lasted me years, which makes me feel like it's lower waste, packaging-wise, because it lasts so long before I recycle it. Using oil on my face does cause breakouts though so I avoid that.

Face Moisturizer: Right now, I'm using Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15. I can pick it up at my neighborhood Walgreens, which I like, and it only has a level 2 rating on the Skin Deep guide so it seems safe to put on my face. It's kind of on the pricey side at $17, comes packaged in plastic and I go through it every 6 months so I don't know, still searching for a good option here...

Soap: I use whatever unpackaged bar soap I can find at the store when need be, like this one.

Razor: I'm a bit scared of safety razors so I picked up a Preserve Razor from Whole Foods last time I was there. Although the razor handle is plastic, it's made from recycled yogurt containers so it's not terrible. I'm trying to hold onto the razor handle as long as I can and just replace the blades in order to reduce waste.

Deodorant: In terms of eco-friendly deodorant, the only one I have had any luck with is Schmidt's Natural Deodorant, which comes in both plastic and glass packaging. Recently I took a nose dive into natural deodorants on the internet and think I might try Magnesium Oil next. I'll report back!

Dental Care: In addition to using Brush with Bamboo toothbrushes, I pick up Tom''s from Maine from Walgreens and then stock up on EcoDent floss at Whole Foods. Tom's has a level 2 rating on Skin Deep so it works for me. The tubes of toothpaste can't be recycled commercially but they are recyclable through TerraCycle, which works to divert hard to recycle materials from the landfill. Also, EcoDent Floss comes in a cardboard container, which feels like a much better option than all of those oddly shaped, plastic floss containers I've used for so long.

Makeup: My makeup is still of the drug store variety but maybe, maybe one day I'll shell out $100 on organic, recyclable makeup with RMS. I am almost 28 so perhaps it's time?

Makeup Remover: I use reusable cotton rounds (in black preferably) and water to remove makeup at the end of the day. No complaints, they do the trick and last forever.

A lot of this is not exactly zero waste, i.e. comes without plastic, single-use packaging, but it's much less wasteful than what I've used in the past. The majority of these products are rated safely on the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database, fit my budget, come in bulk quantities, can be found at my neighborhood Walgreens, Target or Whole Foods (which avoids the carbon footprint that comes with shipping) and they work, most importantly.

For more on the subject of zero waste swaps, I'm in love with my friend Celia's blog Litterless. This article is a great place to start if you're hoping to make a switch to a less wasteful, sustainable lifestyle.

Also, FYI, none of the above are affiliate links  ―  just sharing because I'm semi-obsessed and hoping someone may find something they need!