Looking for zero waste alternatives to your beauty routine? So are we. Find out my experience trying SOLITO’s products, the eco-friendly Kriim’s beauty line, for a month. Are these as sustainable as they say? What about good value for money?

Fortunately, nowadays, it’s becoming easier to find new zero waste brands and products. As more sustainable brands are entering the market and conventional brands are adjusting their practices to become more environmentally conscious. Exciting news for the zero waste enthusiasts!

SOLITO was one of my recent finds. This Spanish brand main goal is to reduce the environment impact, while helping us create a more respectful and conscious beauty routine. Most of their products are solid or come in a reusable package.

First things first, I became quite pleased with the buying experience - as there was no plastic involved in the package. Disclaimer: by that time it wasn’t possible to get SOLITO’s products at a local store here in Madrid (where The Sustainablist is based).

I’ve opted for the solid products, instead of the reusable package ones. As I want to reduce packages as much as possible. So here’s my selection: two soap bars (shea butter and rosehip), solid shampoo for oily hair, anti-frizz conditioner and the konjac sponge for sensitive skin.

When it comes to trying new products, especially the zero waste ones, it’s always a hit or miss. As beauty care products require more testing than the make-up ones, I’ve decided to try these for a month to give you a proper review.

Photo: Kriim Natural Cosmetics — **Photo:** Kriim Natural Cosmetics

The soap bars

Swapping the all-time shower gel to a eco-friendly soap bar was one of my latest conquests here at home. So, when I saw that SOLITO had a few options I got really excited.

I’ve started by using the rosehip one, as I’ve just had a positive experience with a similar one from Fill in Good. Unfortunately, it haven’t matched my expectations. In comparison to the Fill in Good one, the SOLITO rosehip soap is denser, make less foam and its scent doesn’t have a long-lasting effect. Also, I’ve noticed that my skin wasn’t as hydrated as it used to be.

Fortunately, the experience with shea butter soap was far better. The texture was richer, the scent lasted longer and I could tell that it had better results in my skin.

When it comes to durability, the rosehip soap lasted longer. And as it wasn’t quite pleased with the result, it actually felt like this soap was never going to end. Both have a nice quality/price ratio.

Would I buy these again? Yes, but… only the shea butter one.

Would I recommend these? Yes! Even though the rosehip soap haven’t met my expectations, it’s still a really good soap, with a natural formula, plastic-free and the price is quite reasonable.

The Konjac Sponge

Even though I’ve had skin problems most of my life, I’ve never been the biggest fan when it comes to creating and keeping a skin care routine. Yes, I’ve taken care of my skin on a daily basis but… for years it have been more of an obligation than anything else.

Nowadays, being over 30 and having the chance to work closely with skin care brands bin the past, the case is quite different. I try to find products that are gentle, simple to use and that I can easily incorporate into my routine.

That’s the case with the konjac sponge. I really enjoy how easy it is to use and I always get mesmerised about how something so hard can turn into something so soft.

As my previous experience with a konjac sponge was with the Garnier BIO one, it will serve as my standard for this review. As both brands have a similar philosophy (when it comes to ingredients) and price range.

My experience with SOLITO’s konjac sponge for sensitive skin was very positive. The cleansing experience is quite gentle and it doesn’t take as much to turn into something soft, in comparison to the Garnier one. Its soft state also lasts longer, which is an absolute plus if you want to use it daily (which was my case).

The SOLITO’s konjac sponge is also cheaper and comes in a 100% biodegradable package, making it a total win.

Would I buy it again? Oh, absolutely! However, I don’t know yet if I would buy this particular product or try one of the other versions they have available.

Would I recommend it? Yes, yes and yes. This product has a great price/quality and it will easily fit your needs. Just one trick… leave it in the shower, so you don’t forget to pamper your skin every day.

The shampoo

I happen to be quite picky in the solid shampoo department. Some plain and glossy soap bars tend to leave my hair sleek, which is a absolute no-no for me… because I have oily hair.

The solution? Using solid shampoos that include sodium coco sulphate in their formula. Which happened to be the case with SOLITO’s solid shampoo for oily hair.

The experience was quite pleasant. It cleaned my hair perfectly, the scent was nice and my hair got volume once dry. It was also cheaper than most brands in the market and lasted longer than the ones I used to buy at LUSH.

I find these a nice and quite affordable option. And in case you’re worried about the ingredients, these are natural and vegan.

Would I buy it again? Without a doubt! The formula worked perfectly on my hair type, the shampoo was quite affordable in comparison to most options available in the market and I am also contributing to a rather small national brand.

Would I recommend it? Yes! And in case you don’t have oily hair (blessed you!), they have solid shampoos for other hair types.

The conditioner

This was the biggest surprise out of this product bundle. As I have long hair with dry ends (yes, I am that lucky), conditioner is an absolute staple for me. So I was really curious to try this one.

The verdict? It smells amazing and I haven’t ended-up with that “leave-in” sensation after washing my hair, as it happened with conditioners from other brands. I am also a fan of its shape, as it’s easier to apply. Also, I could tell that my hair was really soft and properly hydrated.

Would I buy it again? Absolutely. I had a far better experience with SOLITO’s conditioner, than the one I used to buy from LUSH.

Would I recommend it? If you can’t go through life without a conditioner and you’re looking for a more sustainable option, I would recommend you to give this one a go. Especially as it has a really price/quality and leaves a lovely citrusy scent in your hair.