Did you know that each year, over half a billion plastic shampoo, conditioner, and body wash bottles are thrown out? With over half of the contents of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash consisting of water, these products typically need to be stored in plastic bottles, contributing to increased plastic production and subsequent waste. While we’re not suggesting you give up showering with soap or washing your hair, there are alternatives in the form of beauty bars; concentrated shampoos, conditioners, and body washes which eliminate the need for plastic packaging by producing products with the water content removed.
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Far from the slightly drying, stark white utilitarian bar soap of your youth, the new breed of beauty bars blend sustainability with skin and hair nourishing ingredients, providing a viable waste-free alternative that doesn’t require you to sacrifice your appearance. Plus, they look pretty great in your shower too. Here are our the best beauty bar brands for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
1. Ethique
Born in 2012 out of a desire to provide an alternative to plastic waste in the beauty industry, Ethique (French for ‘ethical’) was one of the pioneers in the eco-friendly body and haircare space. Now, the New Zealand-based brand creates a wide range of plastic-free shampoo and conditioner bars, as well as body wash, hand wash, and body lotion concentrates.
2. Nue Bar
Australian brand Nue Bar creates Naturopathically-formulated, soap-free haircare, body care, and skincare products, including shampoo, conditioner, face washes, and body exfoliants.
3. Higher Ground
Crafted from sustainably-sourced Australian botanicals, Higher Ground creates high-performance shampoo and conditioner beauty bars suitable for a variety of hair types. Vegan-friendly and biodegradable, Higher Ground also utilise water-free production methods, making it all all-round sustainable option.
4. Odacité 552M Soap-Free Shampoo Bar
Deriving its name from the approximately 552 million plastic shampoo bottles that end up in landfills every year, the Odacité 552M Soap-Free Shampoo Bar utilises cupuaçu butter and coconut, argan and castor oils to deeply cleanse hair and leave your locks feeling silky and voluminous.
5. Lush
Responsible for bringing beauty bars to the mainstream public, Lush has been producing plastic-free products well before eco-conscious consumption was a thing. The British cosmetics company has been making soap, cleansing, and even fragrance bars for years, recently introducing a new range of shampoo and conditioner bars into the mix.
Words by Arabella Johnson
