Many people see shaving as an annoying part of their weekly or daily routine, but I like to treat it as part of my self care routine. When you slow down and take time to create a shave routine, it becomes a lot more enjoyable and sustainable too!
These tips will not only make your routine more eco-friendly, but benefit your skin as well. If you decide to try any of these out let me know what worked for you!
Don’t shave in the shower
I mentioned before that I think shaving shouldn’t be something that we just do without thinking. The first change I made to my routine was to stop shaving in the shower and instead use a bowl of water to rinse out my razor.
The average shower uses about 2 gallons per minute, so this saves a lot of water each time that I shave.
Another plus to this is that you get to take your time shaving, and you’re less likely to cut yourself or miss spots. You may even notice that you’re able to get a closer shave.
Sugar scrub
Exfoliating before you shave is an important step because it gets rid of dead skin and results in a closer shave and smoother skin.
It also prevents your razors from dulling quickly, because the skin because there’s no dead skin cells interfering with the blades.
Making your own sugar scrub at home is super easy and a great way to cut down on waste that would be created from packaged exfoliants.
All you have to do is take an empty jar or container and combine sugar with any skin-safe oil like olive oil, coconut oil, or vitamin E.
While sugar scrubs are pretty gentle, you should avoid using the scrub too often because it can damage your skin overtime if you’re not careful. One to two times a week is best for this exfoliant!
Shave Cream
Most conventional shaving creams come in either plastic or metal containers that cannot be recycled. Many people have started switching to more sustainable options such as:
- Body wash or bar soap
- Sustainably packaged shave cream
- DIY shave cream
If you’re not using a safety razor, you may notice that your razor already has a lubricating strip on it, which eliminates the need for shaving cream.
I usually choose to just use my bar soap, but if you prefer a more traditional option there are many DIY and sustainably produced choices.
Sustainable Razor
You may already know that people with zero-waste lifestyles have been switching to safety razors, which reduce the large amount of plastic that disposable razors create every year.
While I haven’t switched over to a safety razor yet (I’m still using up my disposable razor heads) I plan on using one eventually because they’re not only sustainable, but also a lot cheaper compared to disposable razors.
If you’re looking to switch to a safety razor soon, I found this article to be helpful for first time users.
While shaving has the potential to create a lot of waste, its easy to make small changes that make our routines more sustainable. Even if you’re not comfortable using a safety razor, making any of these swaps is a step in the right direction.
I hope these inspired you to make your shaving routine more sustainable and to make time to take care of yourself, have a lovely day!
Almost Eco-Friendly 