The gorgeous picture in the feature image came from my book shoot but as we had to cut a few bits and pieces, it had to go. I was so happy to have it sent to me by the lovely and talented photographer Rob Palmer, so that we could do up a little post on some of our favourite low tox tools used every day. You’ll notice that many of them are much more expensive than the average purchase one might make for such things, but the kicker? They LAST and their materials are friendly to you and our beautiful planet, so for me, it’s always worth to wait a little and get something truly great, rather than rush and buy a cheapy. Chipping away at our plastic usage is a life long journey but so much the the plastic in these sorts of items is extremely hard to get recycled, so our daily tools are worth putting a priority on, in supporting products made with natural materials.
I’d love to hear from you if there are any go to low tox tools you like to use that aren’t listed?
And don’t worry if you’re international, we’ve got a handy i herb list at the bottom for you!
Hope you find it useful and enjoy the resources. Alexx x
#1 An Exfoliating Dry Body Brush
A dry body brush is used to exfoliate the skin but also to encourage circulation around the body to improve lymphatic function and help your body remove toxins. Apply moderate pressure and rub the brush in circular motions all away around the body. Start from the feet working your way up. Aim to draw the brush into the heart with each stroke. Doing this before a shower is best as you may have some dead skin (microscopic of course!) that falls away.
When choosing a brush go for one that hasn’t been chemically treated and is made with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood. Biome has a great selection including this Tampico Plant Body Brush $45.
# 2 An Eco-Friendly Toothbrush
It’s estimated that in Australia alone over 30 million toothbrushes are used and disposed of by Australians each year, amounting to approximately 1000 tonnes of landfill each year. Crazy, right? The good news is that there are so many environmentally friendly options at super cheap prices, so making the switch is a no-brainer.
When looking for a low tox toothbrush, The bamboo brush option ($3.95) made from biodegradable bamboo is great – especially for little kiddies or sensitive teeth, as the bristles are quite soft. This is the most environmentally friendly choice. There’s also the Life Basics charcoal toothbrush ($8.95) which provides a great ‘super clean’ feel due to the deodorising charcoal. It’s also 100% biodegradable and plastic free.
# 3 A Long-Lasting Razor
Like toothbrushes and so many other personal care products, razors are largely made from plastics which are then discarded in landfill. An eco-friendly alternative is this Biome Parker stainless steel razor ($43.95) which will last you a lifetime. The only thing you’ll need to do is buy replacement blades, which can then be recycled by your local council – yay!
# 4 A Bacteria-Resistant Tongue Cleaner
Bacteria often grows on the tongue as it’s a warm and moist environment. Using a tongue cleaner daily is one of the most effective ways to eradicate those toxins from your mouth, freshen your breath and ward off any opportunistic nasties that want to make your mouth their home. This tongue cleaner from Black Chicken ($12.00) is made from 100% copper – the most ideal metal for use as it is bacteria-resistant and able to expel toxins without contaminating the scraper over time. Honestly, once you start using this, just a warning, you can NEVER GO BACK. It is one of my absolute favourite things and I never leave off on travels without it.
# 5 A Versatile Eco-Friendly Comb
BIOME has a beautiful range of biodegradable combs made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified beechwood. They’re vegan, anti-static, great for all hair types and all ages.
# 6 A Hardwearing Hairbrush
My hairbrush is a bit of a splurge item but it’s honestly worth every cent and I’ve had it for years with no signs of slowing down. I use the Shu Uemura small round hair brush ($63). It’s made from 100% natural bristles and handle is made of Kotibe wood.
# 7 Bamboo Makeup Brushes
There are a few really great eco-friendly makeup brush sets around now. This vegan set from EcoTools is so reasonably priced at $27.95 and packaged in a cotton and hemp case rather than a synthetic plastic case. The handles are made from bamboo, the bristles made from cruelty-free synthetic taklon are 100% cruelty-free and the ferrule is made from recycled aluminium. It’s so great to see the lengths some brands will go to ensure each aspect of their product has been thoughtfully considered and I swear the eyeliner brush in this set is the best, firmest little brush – brings out the past make up artist in me!
# 8 A Super Soft Body Scrub Brush
When it comes to brushes for the shower and bath you want to avoid those with plastic components. Heating plastic is never a good idea, even more so when you’re using it to help rub creams and lotions into your skin (read more on this here). Instead, opt for brushes with plant-based bristles made from bamboo or cactus and a handle made with sustainably sourced wood like this Hydrea Vegan Dry Body Brush from Nourished Life ( currently on sale for $19.95!). You’ll get a safer non-toxic option and one that is better for the environment. Yay!
#9 A Natural Nail Brush
Biome has a great selection of nail brushes to choose from. Like the body brushes I mentioned above, you want to look for those with alternatives to plastic bristles like bamboo or vegetable fibres. The base should ideally be made from sustainable bamboo or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood.
#10 One Extra Special Shower Cap
I am a big fan of having something you LOVE even if it serves a basic purpose. When it comes to shower caps… and all things really, focus on buying quality and buying WAY less often. These Louvelle shower caps ($40) are right up there as art in my eyes – a stylish, movie star shower or bath? Because you’re worth it!
International? No probs: We’ve got you covered with iHerb’s Offerings.
- Dry Body Brush: Earth Therapeutics, Purest Palm Body Brush
- Toothbrush: The Dirt, Bamboo Toothbrush with Charcoal Bristles
- Tongue Cleaner: The Dirt, Pure Copper Tongue Scraper
- Comb: Bass Brush, Wide Tooth Comb
- Hair Brush: EcoTools, Styler + Smoother Brush
- Bamboo Makeup Brushes: EcoTools Brush Set
- Nail Brush: 100% Natural Bristle Nail Cleansing Brush
- Shower Cap: EcoTools, Shower Cap
So there you have it. No compromise or el cheapo plastic stuff in our low tox bathrooms – they are perfect for sending links to relatives / partners when it comes to birthdays and general gift giving situations. Why not make it easy on them who are so often scared they’ll get you – their hippy crazy friend – the wrong thing. Am I right?
Low Tox. Healthy You. Happy Planet.
