5 zero waste products that I regret buying
As a minimalist and sustainable lifestyle enthusiast, I ponder a lot before buying new things. I do a lot of research, read reviews, compare products, prices… However, every now and then I end up with a product that was a total waste of money.
First things first, this article was based on my personal experience with the products. We are all different and I am sure that some of these items might have worked for you. Unfortunately, that wasn’t my case. That’s why I’ve decided to share my experience - as it might help some of you that might be thinking about getting some of these items and are looking for someone else’s experience.
Without further ado, what were the sustainable lifestyle products that were a total waste of money for me?
Photos: Georganics
Georganics Natural Toothsoap
I got this one on a trip to London last year. I was there to do some research for a guide and it was my first zero waste travel.
When I saw it at Whole Foods, I immediately thought that it matched my needs.
Plastic free, sustainable packaging, no liquid… perfect to go through the airport security without all the fuss. Also, at that time, I’ve already heard wonders about that brand.
The concept is good. You have a toothpaste bar that actually looks like a soap, you wet the bristles of your toothbrush and rub these on the soap using circular movements. Then, you’re ready to brush your teeth as usual.
My experience: it surprised me how the product turned into a foam when I’ve started brushing. Not the most foamy experience of all but it was ok. The peppermint taste was also nice and, let me tell you one thing, I am not the biggest peppermint fan there is. However, for some reason, I’ve noticed that my gums became inflamed soon after I started using this product.
They were red, swollen and hurt. Even though I am committed to creating a more sustainable lifestyle because of the environment, I couldn’t keep using this product. My health and wellness comes first and I was sure that I could find another sustainable option in the market.
Georganics Natural Tea Tree Toothpaste
With Georganics being highly praised among the zero waste communities that I am part of, I’ve decided to give it another chance. Maybe it was just a problem with that product, maybe it wasn’t the right fit for me… also I didn’t want to create an opinion on the brand by just using one of their products - especially when it’s not one of their bestsellers.
So I’ve decided to try their regular toothpaste. The Tea Tree one was mentioned regularly and had interesting healing properties.
I’ve bought mine at Mind The Trash (as I needed a few more products). However, this product is actually quite easy to find among zero waste and eco-friendly stores.
My experience: let me start by saying that the texture is a little bit different than the one I’ve been used to my entire life. It’s dense, it broke into smaller pieces, the brushing experience wasn’t exactly the same and my bathroom sink up ended up a bit messy because of the coconut oil.
I know that this isn’t a toothpaste like the regular ones. And I was open to it. Open to go into something different, more natural, environmental-friendly, vegan and cruelty free.
However, my biggest problem and the one that made this experience unbearable was the taste. Yes, the taste. It’s awful, at least for me.
I’ve tried it for a couple of times, but I ended up scooping the toothpaste into the bin and saving the container (as it’s made of glass and can be reused after some proper cleaning).
I don’t want to offend any fans of this particular toothpaste. I am glad that it works for you. This is just my personal experience and, unfortunately, this (expensive) product wasn’t the right fit for me.
Photos: BEN & ANNA, BambooCup
BEN & ANNA Sensitive Japanese Cherry Blossom Deodorant
Swapping my regular Nivea deodorant to a more natural one, plastic free and without nasties was one of my main goals when I’ve started adopting a more sustainable lifestyle.
During my quest towards the perfect deodorant, I’ve stumbled upon this deodorant from BEN & ANNA. For sensitive skin, vegan, cruelty-free, plastic free and with a very subtle scent. It was more expensive than the regular deodorants from the same brand, however I’ve decided to give it a try. So I bought one for me and another one for my mother.
My experience: the effect wasn’t as long-lasting as the regular BEN & ANNA ones or as some other eco-friendly deodorants available in the market. I enjoyed the scent, as I am usually a fan of Japanese cherry blossom scents. It was so subtle that I couldn’t really notice it, which can be positive and negative at the same time.
But my biggest problem was that… the deodorant turned into a rock solid stick soon after I’ve started using it. The creaminess disappeared and the product didn’t transferred into my skin when I was trying to apply it. Which ended up being an unpleasant and ineffective experience. And in case you’re wondering, the same happened to my mother and yes I’ve storage it under the same conditions as the regular deodorant from the same brand… Such a waste of money!
Bamboo reusable cup
I was looking for a new reusable cup (my beautiful KeepCup shattered into a thousand pieces), when I saw these at a local store.
After about 15 minutes of pondering, I’ve made up my mind and decided to get one. Also, I kind of fell in love with the unicorn one saying namaste.
My experience: When I got to the office the next day, I’ve made my cup of coffee with soy milk and comfortably sit at the desk (I was temporarily sitting at my boss’s desk at the time). The moment I take my coffee to my lips, I feel the coffee spilling… into pretty much everywhere. At my boss’s desk!
What happened? The lid had a small rubber incorporated on the inside (which I haven’t notice) that wasn’t in the right position and therefore caused the spilling. Luckily, I had plenty of Kleenex at hand and nobody noticed. It was my second day at the company… can you imagine it?!
In case you’re wondering, yes… I kept using this cup. However, I started drinking my coffee with the lid off. Just in case.
EcoTools concealer brushes
Creating a more sustainable and cruelty-free makeup routine has been one of my main goals for a few months now.
Because of my dark circles, concealer is one of my makeup staples. Tired of applying it with my fingertips, I’ve decided to look up for a more professional yet environmental friendly solution.
Vegan, cruelty-free, made with recycled materials and at an affordable price… EcoTools seemed to make the cut. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the case.
My experience: Besides the result not being as good as the one I used to get while spreading the formula with my fingers, the sensation while I was applying the product wasn’t pleasant at all. I felt like the bristles were pinching my skin. And yes, I’ve cleaned the brushes before using them for the first time. A total waste of money, as I have no idea what to do with this set.
