Most shower gels and body washes contain non-biodegradable ingredients like fragrance oils, which create algae bloom when they wash down drains and go into the sea. This chokes oxygen out of the water, and harms marine wildlife. Here are better brands.
Avoid essential oils for pregnancy/nursing and affected medical conditions. Never use human shower gels or shampoos on pets as the PH is different- read more on how to give your dog a bath, naturally.
An Organic Aloe Vera Body Wash
This organic aloe vera body wash is gentle and ideal for all skins, with a clean fragrance that contains aloe vera to sooth and replenish skin in the shower. Free from palm oil. Also in a 5 litre package (ideal for professional use like hotels to decant, or for beauty spas/swimming pools)
An Organic Calendula Body Wash
This organic calendula body wash is ideal for sensitive, dry and irritated skin, and fragrance-free. It combines calendula with aloe vera, sunflower seed oil and calming ginger extract. Free from palm oil.
Refillable Body Wash (with Yorkshire water)
Miniml Body Washes are made with Yorkshire water, and naturally fragranced. They can also be used as bubble bath. Once empty, you can find local stores for refills, or send them back using QR codes, and the bottles are washed, emptied and refilled to send back to you. Choose from:
- Nourishing Coconut
- English Lavender
- Pink Grapefruit
- Tea Tree & Mint
Powder Body Washes (for day or night)
The Powder Shampoo is a company that makes natural powders that you mix with water, to convert into body wash. Sold with refills in aluminium tins, these save you paying for water! Choose from day (turmeric, lemongrass, ginger) or night (lavender).
Shower-Friendly Soaps-on-Ropes!
Kleensoaps makes natural vegan soaps (no palm oil). What makes these great is that they have an attached rope, so gravity drains the water after use, just hang them up in the shower, to avoid having to buy a slatted soap dish, to stop them going mushy. The range includes Blue Velvet (bergamot, cedarwood and ajowan, with activated charcoal, ideal for oily skin).
As these soaps are not widely sold in shops, stock up and keep extra ones under the sink. So you have enough for a few months, to save on postal fees.
Exfoliating Natural Konjac Sponges
These exfoliating natural konjac sponges are the ideal alternative to nylon bath sponges, which leach microplastics into the sea, once rinsed. Made from Japanese potato fibre, they are also vegan friendly (sea sponges are made from living creatures, cut away with knives by divers).
Sold in zero waste packaging, konjac sponges are gentle enough for all the family. Just rinse to activate a gentle sponge that can be used alone or with your favourite cleanser, then rinse. After a few months, just bin to naturally biodegrade, or cut up and compost.
One sponge should last 2 to 3 months, with normal use. Use the attached rope to hang it up to dry, in a well-ventilated area. Sold in a pack of 3 or 6, the colours correspond to added ingredients for different skin benefits:
- White (konjac root)
- Green (French clay)
- Black (bamboo charcoal)
- Orange (turmeric)
- Red (red clay)
- Purple (lavender)
A Quality Water-Saving Showerhead
For older showers, water-saving showerheads are easy to fit (use a qualified electrician), and could save you on bills. Which? magazine suggests this test to see if it’s worth the investment.
Place a 2-litre container on the shower floor. If it takes less than 12 seconds to fill when the shower is running on full, you could benefit from a low-flow shower, which is easily replaced. This aerates the water so it’s a bit like a rain shower, which still gives you a nice shower, but with far less water.
If your showerhead is clogged with limescale, Mira has a post on how to fix (and prevent) using cleaning vinegar (instructions are different for fixed showerheads). Learn how to fix a dripping showerhead.
ShowerRing is a good little buy, placed over the shower drain to stop hair and other gunk blocking the pipes. Made from from stainless steel and silicone, this fits a wide range of drain sizes for walk-in showers and shower stalls.