*Items in this post are gifted, and have been marked with an asterisk.
Being environmentally conscious and saving money can often go hand in hand. By swapping things that we dispose of everyday for more sustainable, reusable options, we are both preventing more waste from going to landfill, and also saving ourselves money in the long run.
There is usually an upfront cost associated with buying reusable products- but you will usually recoup that cost over the course of the item’s lifetime. Remember, change doesn’t happen overnight, and you may wish to gradually make these swaps and start with buying one reusable item a month, for example. And if you’re really keen to save money and live more frugally, you could even try making some of these items from home if you’re handy with a needle and thread!
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Ohelo Reusable Water Bottle*
Ohelo is a small London-based business, selling insulated stainless steel water bottles in beautiful designs.
Their mission is ‘making beautiful reusables the new normal’ which is certainly a powerful mantra in the age that we are currently living in.
The bottles are made from durable 18/8 stainless steel, with a lead-free powder coating, a leak proof cap, and are BPA, BPS and BPF free.
I’ve been using this gorgeous bottle constantly and don’t anticipate ever needing to buy a single use plastic bottle again! Bottles are priced from £29.00.
Baba + Boo Reusable Make Up Remover Pads*
You may have already heard of Baba + Boo if you have been using reusable nappies for your child- their reusable cloth nappies and wipes are a must if you’re looking for more ways to generate less household waste.
However, Baba + Boo also make brilliant reusable products for women too- including reusable sanitary pads and also these brilliant make up remover pads.
Since this brand are so great at creating gentle products for babies- these reusable make up remover pads are brilliantly soft and remove traces of make up with ease.
Just pop them in the washing machine in the pouch that is provided and use them for years to come! Priced at £11.95 for a pack of 10.
Magnitone Microfibre Cleansing Cloth*
This fabulous washable cleansing cloth is something of a revelation as it removes make up with just warm water! Even stubborn oil based make up will be removed with this cloth. This is an amazing swap for face wipes which are not good for the environment.
This 100% Bamboo cloth is super soft- it feels amazing on your skin. All you have to do is pop this cloth in the wash at 30 degrees and you can use it 1000 times over- that’s years of use!
Priced at £20 for a pack of two cloths, or £50 for the luxury cleansing set.
M.O.B Collection Reusable Travel Bottles*
Did you know that the mark-up on miniature toiletries and beauty products is up to 7 times the price per ml compared to standard bottle sizes? M.O.B Travel Bottles are made from HDPE, and are made in the UK.
These bottles have been carefully designed to minimise leaks, and smaller bottles are available so you can even decant your favourite cleansers and other skincare into small bottles to take on a trip with you.
Prices start from £2 per bottle.
Mooncup*
If you’ve researched reusable sanitary products before, you may have already come across the Mooncup. The Mooncup is a reusable alternative to tampons, and is made of 100% medical grade silicone. The cup holds 3 times more liquid than a regular tampon, and can give up to 8 hours of protection.
There are two different sizes, based on your age and whether you have given birth. If you’re under 30 and haven’t had children, you need a size B. If you’re over 30 or have given birth vaginally, you’ll need a size A.
The Mooncup is a little tricky to use at first, and Mooncup say that it can around 3 cycles of practice to fully get used to using one. I would recommend starting to use the cup at home first, and perhaps use in conjunction with other reusable sanitary products if you are uncomfortable with removing the Mooncup at work or in a public place.
Priced at £21.99, and available directly from their website, and even in Boots.
ModiBodi Period Proof Pants*
Of all of the reusable sanitary products out there, I was most interested in trying the ModiBodi period-proof pants. They are essentially leak-proof pants which use fibre technologies to absorb liquid.
The fibres used on the pants are only 3mm thick, and are made from fabrics like bamboo, merino wool and microfiber so they also feel great against your skin.
There are several different absorbency levels- and I used the light-moderate absorbency in the ‘Sensual High Waist Bikini’ design. They were super comfortable, and are perfect for those days at the end of your period instead of using a liner.
Priced at £20.50 per pair.
Dame Reusable Tampon Applicator*
Anyone else found it really hard to give up plastic tampon applicators? Dame is the reusable answer to this. The plastic is made with self-sanitising technology which means that between uses you can just clean it with water and dry before storing it in the pouch that it comes with.
The applicator has been time tested, and with adequate care could be used for up to 10 years! How’s that for a serious reduction in single use plastic waste?!
The set which comes with a tin, application and organic tampons is priced at £24.99, and the applicator on its own is priced at £17.99. Dame also has a tampon subscription service for their organic tampons which is such an amazing idea- you’ll never get caught short again!
Top tips for switching to reusables:
- Start slowly- don’t feel like you have to switch everything at once. Slowly buy one reusable product a month and you’ll soon find that your household waste reduces considerably.
- Read reviews first- take the time to do your research to find the right reusable products for you and your preferences.
- Consider other reusables for your home! Beeswax wraps, unpaper towels, and unsponges are all amazing reusables that you can switch in your kitchen.
- Get on Pinterest. There are thousands of articles about saving money with reusable items- you’ll find more inspiration than ever!
