Eco Friendly Carry On Essentials
By Tammy Swier
I like to travel light, after the airlines loose your luggage enough times, it just makes sense to condense your necessities to a carry on right? Travelling with kids makes this impossible, BUT I do make sure that everything we NEED is in the carry on, and everything we can do without is in the luggage. And if I am travelling sans children, I keep it to one carry on.
My actual carry on bag is not zero waste, it is a used designer bag I splurged on, on poshmark (I love poshmark) with the intention of it being usable for me, for my husband, for my kids as they become teenagers, and to hand down to my kids one day. If I ever splurge on a luxury item, I choose neutral and opt for something classic (not trendy) so it will last my whole life, as well as my daughters, and maybe even grandkids. I only purchase used luxury items, and always with heirloom lifespan in mind.
As for what is in my bag, zero waste, lifelong lifespan, multipurpose, refillable and eco friendly are what I choose.
Bonus tip: I save every little container and mini bottle I get from skincare samples etc… as these are even smaller than most refillable travel sized bottles you can purchase. I fill them with portions of my tinted moisturizer, hair oil, detangler. Just things I can get away with very little of for a week away.
This feels so good after a long day of travelling as a scalp massager, but also works to detangle hair straight out of the shower, or in a pinch throughout the day. I bring this instead of a brush, it works good for my wavy hair type.
Bamboo toothbrush, holder and floss kit.
I love this kit! the holder is perfect for keeping your toothbrush clean so you can just throw it in your bag and the floss container you can get refills for, reducing waste.
Bonus tip: Not being able to make the switch to toothpaste tabs, as my teeth are quite prone to cavities after being so morning sick with my babies, I have refilled those mini toothpaste tubes with a regular tube of toothpaste quite easily. So you don’t have to keep buying those mini tubes, just refill when done.
Travel size natural deodorant.
Even before I dove into a waste free lifestyle, miniatures when travelling just made so much sense. This travel size deodorant from routine is worth the one time investment. Once your done, you can refill it from your other routine deodorants, or break a piece off your tube deodorant and keep in here. It is so much smaller than a “mini travel deodorant”.
TSA compliant reusable zip lock bags
I have been using these bumkins bags since my kids were very little, and found them to be so perfect for snacks and lunches but alsp everyday use. I made the switch and never bought plastic ziplocks again. These particular ones have a pvc window on the front so yo can see what’s inside, making them tsa compliant for all your little liquids. I always pack a couple extra incase something leaks, I want to make a snack, whatever I might need a little bag for. So handy! These are completely washable, and last forever. I am still using the same ones I bought when my son was a toddler 10 years ago.
Meet my soulmate in water bottle form. I can’t live without this water bottle, and it’s the best investment I have ever made. I don’t know about you, but I spill a lot haha! This tumbler is like a sippy cup for adults. The top handle unscrews, turning into a wide mouth drinking vessel, but the drink never comes out as fast as an actual drinking glass, but more comes out than your standard coffee to go mug. The inside is stainless steel so you can sterilize it. I drink my water out of this daily, and I travel with it too. It has withstood the test of time, my white one still looks great after 4 years of daily use.
This tropical scented cowash is taking your zero waste shampoo and conditioner to another level. I switched to conditioning wash a few years ago after finding out it was especially good for curly hair. It cleans my hair without stripping it and drying it out, making my roots clean as can be, but my ends not frizzy. Which for me, was the dream. This cowash limits the need to bring a separate shampoo and conditioner, which makes your carry on just the slightest bit lighter.
All Natural Soap Cube for Face AND Body
My favourite soap to use at home and away is The Waters Soap by Tofino Soap Company. This soap smells like spearmint and coconuts, transporting me to a tropical paradise everytime I shower, it is purifying for pores and helps limit face and body acne, but is also the most gentle soap ever. Perfect for sensitive but acne prone skin. When I travel, I simply cut a corner off and keep it in a travel tin (below). The multipurpose aspect of this soap means I don’t have to pack a special facial cleanser or makeup remover. This cube does it all.
So this tin is to store my cowash and a little piece of soap. Any tin or container will do, I just like this one because I find square packs better than round, and not having any paint on it means it will never peel off.
I love the girls at So Luxury, and this is by far my favorite product of there’s. These little rounds are velvety soft on one side, and a little more textured on the other. I use them as makeup remover wipes, face cloths, I even have one set aside to use as a nail polish remover. There are so many in a pack, they wash so easily, and are the perfect size for travel.
This is something that’s always in my purse, regardless of travelling or not, because I can’t stand paper straws. This kit is great because it has enough sizes for anything you need, and comes with the cleaners as well. I prefer stainless steel over bamboo because I like investing in pieces I will have for the rest of my life, and I find the bamboo ones get wrecked and you can’t sterilize them like you can with stainless.
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