Earth Day 2020: The Best Planet And Travel-Friendly Beauty Products - Forbes

Earth Day 2020 Beauty Skincare Forbes Travel Earth Organic Takamichi Beauty Room — Unsplash

When hairstylist Takamichi Saeki of Takamichi Hair and his wife Marie decamped from Manhattan to Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy three years ago, they were looking forward to several things: having more room, a backyard, and a stronger sense of community.

What they weren’t expecting? Discovering the amount of waste just the two of them were producing every week. “We were doing our own recycling for the first time, and realized we needed to change our lifestyle,” explains Takamichi.

Serendipitously: around that time, he and Marie were discussing opening a beauty and wellness-driven shop. Marie says, “It was pretty obvious that we’d be adopting an earth-friendly motto, and focusing on less waste.”

With that in mind, the couple launched Takamichi Beauty Room in the summer of 2018. Tucked away in a refreshingly hushed pocket of Gramercy, this jewel box of a shop purveys all things clean, green, and effective. “Our goal is to minimize plastic as much as possible,” says Marie, who exclusively works with brands that use glass (instead of plastic), offer refills, and are produced in solid form (like shampoos and soaps).

And to celebrate Earth Day’s 5oth anniversary on April 22, ahead are 12 products that are kind to the planet, and when the time is appropriate – wil make perfect travel companions as well.

WELdental Chewtab Toothpaste Tablets, $2.50

“These efficient chewable toothpaste tablets come in glass jars, and the refills in compostable pouches,” explains Takamichi. “They also contain Xylitol, a natural 5-carbon sweetener that starves harmful bacteria and nourishes the beneficial bacteria to balance the oral microbiome. What’s not to love?”

Takamichi Beauty Room Mary Allan Instant Enzyme Glow — Takamichi Beauty Room

Mary Allan Instant Enzyme Glow, $90

“Once activated with water, this scrub turns into a mask-like texture that gently exfoliates without drying the skin,” says Marie. “The sun-dried watermelon pulp offers an ultra-soft exfoliating action, while fermented papaya enzymes and rice powder remove debris and pore-clogging build-up – leaving the skin ultra-smooth and glowing.”

Kate McLoed Daily Stone, $45

As a former pastry chef, cooking to nourish one’s insides was second nature to Kate McLoed. But she didn’t think about nourishing one’s outside until a fateful moment when her sister-in-law handed her a chunk of cocoa butter to help heal her irritated, flaky skin. Inspired by the ingredient’s restorative properties, she experimented for two years in her kitchen, until she landed upon a blend of moisturizers that featured cocoa butter in a lightweight, sculptural, and hand-held form.

Kahina Prickly Pear Seed Oil Rollerball — Kahina Giving Beauty

Kahina Giving Beauty Prickly Pear Seed Oil Rollerball, $40

This tiny, but mighty product by the philanthropic brand – it’s renowned for championing fair wages of Morocco’s Berber women and sourcing ethical ingredients since 2008 – harnesses the power of prickly pear seed oil. Since it’s packed with vitamins E and K, a single swipe is all it takes to brighten dark under-eye circles, calm the ruddiest complexions, and instantly impart a fresh glow.

100 SENSES The Ultimate Body Bar, $26

“Every year, Americans use almost 1.4 billion plastic bottles for liquid soap, which doesn’t even include shampoo and conditioner,” says Takamichi. ”It's a staggering number that could be easily reduced by switching to solid products.” So try this innovative bar, which replaces soap, shampoo, and shaving cream. It has a pH of 5.5 (ideal for balanced skin), foams up to a rich, hydrating lather, and has been milled four times so it won’t melt in your shower.

Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Stick, $14

Once you get past the adorable illustrations by Jeff Kurosaki, you’ll discover a deodorant that isn’t just gentle to the planet – the packaging is biodegradable – but really works. And that’s because of a hand-crafted blend of potent essential oils and absorbent minerals that keep you feeling fresh and confident for hours on end. It also works wonders on other potentially odiferous areas, like the small of your back and feet.

Kelsen Skincare Shampoo Conditioner — Dominic Cooley

Kelsen Travel Kit, $32

Despite the brand’s sporty credentials – it was co-founded by pro skaters Curren Caples and Sean Malto, and pro surfers Jack Freestone and Mikey February – this is a lifestyle brand for everyone. This TSA-friendly trio of shampoo-body wash, conditioner, and hair pomade are free of microplastics, formulated with organic ingredients, and infused with an irresistible woody scent. Even better? Kelsen is donating one percent of all sales to 1% For the Planet.

The Hello Cup The Clams — Bri Hammond Photography

Limited Edition Hello Clams Cup, $33

This trailblazing New Zealand company is shifting how we look at periods. Available in varying sizes for your flow, Hello Cups are fashioned from hypoallergenic, medial grade TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) – as opposed to silicone (which can’t be recycled). Also, each cup will last for almost five years, can be worn for up to 12 hours through everday activities (from swimming to sleeping), and save up to 10,000 tampons from filling landfills. And to help empower girls through education, Hello Cup is donating 10% of the proceeds from this limited-edition item to the non-profit One Girl.

Ethique Sampler Range Face Sampler Organic Skincare Sustainable Wellness Nautral Earth Day — Ethique

Ethique Face Sampler, $20

You might be familiar with solid soap, shampoo, and body moisturizer, but what about about skincare? With this adorably packaged set by Ethique, the visionary New Zealand company dedicated to natural beauty bars free of unsustainable plastic packaging, you can treat your complexion to a full range of planet and skin-healthy products, ranging from the Gingersnap exfoliant to The Perfect face cream.

Mahalo Balm, $90

Founded by Maryna Kracht and inspired by her lush home of Kaua’i, every Maholo product is lovingly crafted in small batches at her studio, encased in eco-friendly bamboo packaging, and brimming with distilled botanicals (think turmeric, macadamia, and neem). And if you’re like most people with more than a single skincare concern, reach for this indulgent multitasker, which helps alleviate a range of skin woes, from acne to eczema.

hello charcoal floss picks vegan eco-friendly earth day fluoride free toothpaste — Hello Products

Hello® Activated Charcoal Infused Floss Picks, $6.99

Floss picks may be convenient, and help make the mundane (but necessary) activity a little less boring, but many of them are produced with single-use plastics. So swap them out with these versions, which are made with activated charcoal, vegan wax, and sustainable bamboo. Also: the eye-catching black color makes it hard to forget to floss, if you’ve fallen out of the habit.

Bathing Culture Mind and Body Wash Travel Size — Bathing Culture

Bathing Culture Travel Sized Mind & Body Wash, $8

Biodegradable and organic, this invigorating body cleanser is chock full of natural oils (including coconut, olive, and sunflower) and infused with a heady scent inspired by the California redwoods to help reset both body and mind. And because its formula is so concentrated, a small dollop will produce enough lather for all your bits and parts.

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