Zero Waste Shopping

I've been using reusable shopper bags like this one for years, long before I had even knew what zero waste meant.

In Scotland, there's been a 5p charge on single-use plastic carrier bags since 2014, but even before then I carried around one of these shoppers. I've had a fair few over the years but this green one is my current favourite. I picked it up from Chiaralascura at a vegan festival last year. It's really thick material and has a clasp on it to keep it closed. I would estimate that I probably carry this bag around pretty much every single day without fail. It's always in the bottom of whatever bag I'm using just in case I need to pick up some shopping.

If you're trying to cut down on plastic or take some steps to becoming zero waste then this is probably one of the easiest things you can do. Plus, if you like in the UK then it's going to save you money in the long run if you keep having to purchase single use carrier bags.

Zero Waste Periods

Let's face it, no one likes getting their period. I am currently sitting on my sofa with a hot water bottle on my stomach because of cramps and I'm not exactly thrilled by it.

However, we (women) all get periods so we need to think about what products we want to use. I'm lucky because I get light periods due to the birth control I use (it's a UID if anyone is interested).

I read something a few weeks ago about how the average sanitary pad contains the equivalent of four plastic bags. We've become a nation who are trying to cut down on our plastic bag use, yet women are using lots of plastic each month without even thinking about it. Then there's tampons which come with plastic applicators, the name alone tells you they aren't good for the environment.

So what options do we have?

I know quite a few people who swear by the menstrual cup. I have tried one, but it just wasn't for me. I'm sure it probably takes a while to get used to. I just didn't have the patience and found it all a bit awkward.

So I decided that I would try reusable menstrual pads which I bought from this great shop on Etsy here. They're really comfortable, soft, and they look so much more fun than regular disposable pads. Plus, while each pad costs a few pounds to buy you'll be saving money in the long run and really cutting down your plastic use.

So how do you wash them?

I just soak them in some cold water and then throw them in the washing machine with my regular washing. Once the wash is done, I just hang them up to try and they're good to go again.

If you haven't thought about how much plastic you use each month for your period, then I recommend that you do. There's a few different options on the market which will not only save you money but will also dramatically cut down the amount of plastic you. I'd also love to know what products and companies you're using in the comments.

DIY Himalayan Face Scrub

There are so many recipes for making your own face scrubs, but this one is my favourite at the moment because it's so simple.

I've used lots of face scrubs over the years and more recently I had been using the St. Ives apricot one, but in reality it's not the best for your skin. It's one of those products that uses the word 'natural' but is full of unnatural ingredients. It's also quite harsh on your skin, so I'm not sure how much good it was doing.

So I decided it was time to experiment with making my own face scrub. I looked at lots of different salt and sugar scrub recipes, but this recipe (if you can even call it a recipe) caught my eye because it's so simple. The only two ingredients you need are Himalayan pink salt and coconut oil.

The Himalayan pink salt is great for your skin because it's draws all the toxins out and coconut oil balances it by acting as moisturiser. You just need to be be careful not to scrub too hard.

If you want to make your own Himalayan face scrub then you just need to mix a few spoonfuls of coconut oil with some salt until you have the consistency that best works for you. If you have sensitive skin then you may want to use a bit less salt, but other than that it's pretty straight forward.

Do you have any recipes for your own DIY face scrubs? Let me know in the comments below.