10 Best Travel Plastic-Free Toiletries For Hair, Skin, and Body [2024]

Updated August 2024

Switching to plastic-free toiletries when packing for travel is one of the best things you can do for the environment and yourself.

Though it may sound like it’s not much to opt for a toiletry item with less plastic packaging, every little bit counts in efforts to reduce the massive amounts of plastic use in virtually every aspect of our daily lives.

While the exact percentage of plastic used in the travel industry and tourism varies, the packaging sector is responsible for around 31% of all plastic use, and much of this is associated with travel-related activities, including toiletry packaging.

In today’s post, I’ll share the best plastic-free toiletries for hair, skin, and body, plus accessories that are perfect for travel and great solid alternatives.

These plastic-free toiletries are environmentally friendly, solution-oriented, and great for reusing, no matter where you go.

Also by choosing solids over liquids for your toiletries, you’ll also avoid the occasional spill that happens when packing and traveling with liquids, which is a bonus win!

Let’s explore the top plastic-free toiletry options for your next adventure!

9 Best Travel Plastic-Free Toiletries For Hair, Skin, and Body [2024]

Plastic-Free Hair Care 

1. Saphus Shampoo and Conditioner Bar Set

Made with a blend of castor oil and aloe vera, make the switch to these eco-friendly toiletries with Saphus shampoo and conditioner bar set, a great plastic-free shampoo and conditioner bar set.

Designed for travelers, these bars are free from harsh chemicals and come in minimal, biodegradable packaging.

What I appreciate about these bars is that they are pH-balanced, which means they are gentle on your hair and scalp.

The fact that they are compact and lightweight, they save space in your luggage and eliminate the need for bulky plastic bottles.

I’ve used other shampoo and conditioner bars and this is my favorite so far. The conditioner, unlike other brands I’ve tried, actually moisturizes my hair. The bars are super easy to use, take up way less space in my shower and they’re all natural. 

read more reviews here

♻️ BUY the Saphus Shampoo and Conditioner Bar Set here

2. Ethique Eco-Friendly Shampoo Bar

Another great option for plastic-free hair care on the go is these Ethique shampoo bars!

Aside from being one of the most popular plastic-free toiletries, this shampoo bar is made with ingredients like fairly traded cocoa butter and Samoan coconut oil, which helps give hair volume and nourishment.

Each bar lasts at least 80 washes, equivalent to 3 bottles of liquid shampoo, and the packaging is recyclable and compostable.

Formulated with vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainable ingredients, it’s perfect for conscious travelers.

I bought this bar shampoo for a trip with low expectations because it’s different than what I’ve always used. It turned out to be easy to use and left my hair clean and feeling very soft. I love it, probably won’t go back to liquid shampoo in plastic bottles. 

read more reviews here

♻️ BUY the Ethique Eco-Friendly, Plastic-Free Shampoo Bar here

3. HiBar Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner Bar

The HiBAR Moisturize Shampoo Bar is another great choice for plastic-free toiletries, especially for those of you with thick or dry hair.

The ingredients, which include rice protein for strength and coconut oil for hydration and are free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, makes this a great solid shampoo bar for the road.

These HiBar shampoos (and conditioners) are vegan, cruelty-free, and safe for color-treated hair! Plus, the packaging is 100% recyclable and compostable.

I love this product, not only because it leaves one’s hair soft and silky and clean; but especially because it leaves no trace of plastic behind. There is so little waste as the small cardboard container can be recycled and the product eventually goes down the drain. I think this is a wonderful shampoo in more ways than one!

read more reviews here

♻️ BUY the HiBar Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner here

Plastic-Free Body Wash

4. Ethique Refreshing Lavender and Peppermint Soap Bar

When it comes to body wash, plastic-free/bar alternatives, you may think that there isn’t much to think about because body soap already comes in a bar.

However, it’s still important to look at the ingredient list and see not only if the bar has ingredients that could achieve what you’re looking for in a body wash but also that the ingredients aren’t harmful to you and the environment. 

This natural, plastic-free body soap bar by Ethique is a no-brainer. It contains soothing lavender oils and invigorating, tingly peppermint for that fresh, clean feeling.

Its ingredients make for a much more natural approach to body wash while not sacrificing a great lather.

I’ve used this body bar soap 3 times so far and will say it lathers well, I use with a loofa. The scent is pleasant and not strong at all. Since it is winter I was worried about it drying out my skin but I’ve not noticed that at all!

read more reviews here

♻️ BUY the Ethique Refreshing Lavender and Peppermint Soap Bar

5. EcoRoots Patchouli Hemp Organic Body Soap

The Organic Body Soap from EcoRoots is a great choice for a travel plastic-free body soap.

This soap, made from organic ingredients, herbs, and oils, offers a clean, refreshing wash without the use of synthetic fragrances, colorants, parabens, or sulfates. It nourishes all skin types.

The soap’s unisex appeal makes it versatile, while its travel-friendly nature and recyclable cardboard packaging enhance its eco-credentials.

One bar can replace up to two plastic body wash bottles, so truly, less is more with this product.

Crazy how just changing your soap can improve your skin so drastically. I love this soap! It’s the only one that has never left me feeling dry. I’ve been struggling with some minor breakouts, ever since I started using this soap, it has helped dramatically. My skin always feels refresh.

read more reviews here

♻️ BUY the EcoRoots Patchouli Hemp Organic Body Soap here

Plastic-Free Face and Skin Care 

6. EcoRoots Shea Rose Clay Facial Soap

Looking for skincare and facial cleansing products that are plastic-free, specifically, can be a challenge.

However, one facial product that could solve that problem is Rose Clay Natural Facial Soap.

Made with several ingredients, including virgin shea butter, mango butter, rose petal oil, rose hip, French pink clay, and creamy coconut milk, to name a few, this product is not only eco-friendly but extremely nourishing.

With so many different facial soaps created for specific skin types, from dry to oily, rest assured that EcoRoots’ facial soap line has a facial bar soap for your specific skin combination.

This product is vegan, USDA Organic, cruelty-free, and zero waste.

This bar just feels so natural! Leaves the face feeling genuinely clean..with no film or residue left over. Has a refreshing smell as well. Will be buying more when I run out. Definitely my go to facial cleansing bar!

read more reviews here

♻️ BUY the Shea Rose Clay Facial Soap here

Bath & Toiletry Accessories  

7. Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case

A perfect solution for carrying and traveling around with a few bars of soap.

This case is a fan favorite, as its material is flexible fabric that is leak-proof, durable, and adapts to the size of your bar, whether it’s a brand-new bar or a smaller used one.

One of its other cool features is the Dry-Through Technology, which allows soap to dry even while stored, which eliminates the problem of mushy soap bars.

It offers a “roll-top” closure that allows for a better seal.

It fits standard and smaller-sized shampoo and conditioner bars and stands stable on flat surfaces when packed.

As a frequent traveler who often finds hotel-provided soaps underwhelming, I can confidently say that the waterproof soap bar case has been a game-changer for me. This compact and well-designed case allows me to carry my preferred bar of soap without the worry of it making a mess in my luggage.

read more reviews here

♻️ BUY the Matador Flatpack Soap Bar Case here

8. EcoRoots Soap Saver and Exfoliator

This soap saver is both a carrying case and an exfoliator in one.

It is designed to help you store your full-sized soaps and small bits to maximize the use of your bar.

Made from sustainable sisal, a 100% natural fiber from the agave cactus family, this soap saver bag is ideal for using up soap remnants or whole soap and shampoo bars.

Its textured design produces a creamy, rich lather while exfoliating and massaging your skin.

Plus, this soap bag is so easy to maintain. Simply rinse when not in use and hang it to dry after each use.

Unlike traditional plastic bath sponges, sisal is naturally antimicrobial, which is crucial for travelers who don’t have enough time to let things dry before packing up.

The soap saver bag was exactly what I was looking for. It’s not a hard plastic or rigid case like the typical soap cases and is eco-friendly. It’s easy to use when traveling, which is what I purchased the bag for. 

read more reviews here

♻️ BUY the Ecoroots Soap Saver and Exfoliator

9. Earth Harbor Agave Leaf Holistic Cleaning Cloth

Instead of going for the usual bath sponges made of plastic, switch it up for this cleansing cloth that promises 3-5 months of daily use.

Like the exfoliating and soap bags, this cleansing cloth is made of sisal, an antimicrobial fiber perfect for traveling.

Also, it’s just so much easier to dry and store this cleaning cloth than a typical round sponge or even a reusable washcloth, as both take forever to dry!

This washcloth is thin enough to pack anywhere in your luggage and long enough to use for body cleansing.

This is a very nice fiber washcloth that can be used all over, long enough to grab a corner and scrub one’s back. There are 2 textures with larger loops on one side. It’s generally soft with lots of scrub power. I think I’ll probably order a second one to cover home and travel.

read more reviews here

♻️ BUY the Earth Harbor Agave Leaf Holistic Cleaning Cloth

10. Ethique Haircare Storage Tray for Shampoo and Conditioner Bars

The perfect bar shampoo and conditioner accessory is this tray that is easy to travel with.

It’s lightweight, strong, and highly absorbent, which helps extend the life of the bars by drawing water away quickly instead of sitting in even the smallest puddle of water. Plus, it does not rest on other surfaces.

The tray is made of treated Diatomite, which is slightly porous by nature and perfect for self-drying.

The trays have ridges on them, so the bars do not slip off too much. It even has 2 labeled sections for shampoo and conditioner.

They come in 3 different colors.

Plastic-Free Toiletries Q&A

Solid shampoos vs. local water quality

Switching your traditional liquid toiletries for solid, plastic-free toiletries is one of the best ways to help the environment as a traveler.

However, despite the quality of the product, you should be aware of the different kinds of water you’ll be using with the solid shampoo/conditioner. Many times, the quality of the water available may impact the experience of the product.

The rule of thumb is that you can use any bar solution with soft water (water with more minerals such as calcium and magnesium) and not notice any weird texture or quality inconsistency with the product and your hair.

However, if you use it with harder water (no minerals added), a bar solution can make your hair feel waxy. 

This also depends on the specific brand of bar shampoo/conditioner that you use, as not each bar solution is made the same.

Pay attention to the ingredients of the plastic-free/bar solution, and if possible, look up the mineral content of the water in the cities you’ll be visiting and make your decision based on that.

Remember this varies from brand to brand and their ingredient use.

Choosing plastic-free options is a journey (and experiment)

No one is perfect, and any action is better than no action.

I think that as we become educated on the daily use of plastic, we can begin to be more conscious, aware, and careful when making decisions that will compound over time. 

Everyone starts somewhere, and whether this is your first time attempting to rethink your plastic consumption or you’ve been plastic-free for some time, let’s be understanding and accommodating to one another while we help each other on the journey to positively help our planet with each product we invest in.

I hope that this list will help you become more aware of the brands available and at different price points to consider on your plastic reduction journey.

Why go plastic-free?

Our plastic consumption and impact start when we pack for our travels, as we shop for the toiletry products that we will be taking with us, and continue throughout the journey.

Plastic, specifically single-use plastic, is pretty much everywhere.

Sometimes, we can’t really control purchasing products with plastic, such as certain medications or other essential items, but in many other ways, we do have control.

And a lot of it.

As travelers and as humans really, we want to see our world and all its beauty. 

We also want to see it clean. 

I have had many experiences where I visited certain countries and cities and was alarmed at the amount of trash, especially plastic trash, just chilling on the side of the road, the beach, and parks.

It’s horrifying, and I realized that I wasn’t making any good contribution by purchasing items, including toiletry items with plastic, to help.

It made me rethink my consumption and what I was doing, or not in many cases.  Can you relate to this? Have you had an eye-opening experience like this at some point (s) in your travels?

>> Read More: A Better Sense Of Self Through Travel

Unfortunately, recycling isn’t enough, especially since many places don’t end up taking the proper procedure to actually recycle and reuse the plastic as promised.

So, it’s time to stop relying on others and start looking at ourselves for this change we want to see.

As travelers, it starts here with plastic-free toiletry alternatives, and it expands into other areas of our lives (one blog post can’t cover all of them). 

How easy is it to go plastic-free?

Nowadays, many companies are creating their own plastic-free bar solutions, whether for hair care, skincare, body care, or other products.

A quick Google search will easily point you in the direction of many new and reputable brands quickly making their mark in the plastic-free/bar field. 

Keeping the environment and travelers in mind, these brands have created products that are the same quality as their liquid counterparts but save space in your suitcase.

As an added bonus, switching to plastic-free/bar solutions also removes the headache and confusion associated with liquid allowances worldwide and the restrictions that the TSA has regarding what you can take and what you can’t on board. 

The truth is that there are so many options available out there and reasons to go plastic-free.

The Wrap-Up: 9 Best Travel Plastic-Free Toiletries For Hair, Skin, and Body [2024]

Today, I hope to raise awareness of this life-saving switch with brands and products that are fan favorites and some of my personal favorites.

I hope this post helped you consider plastic-free/bar solutions for your next trip!

As you can see, there are many products to choose from when it comes to plastic-free toiletry alternatives. This post barely scratches the surface.

I hope this list has inspired you to do your own research and find plastic-free alternatives for travel toiletries and other products.

Have you tried plastic-free/bar toiletries? What has your experience been? Share with us below!

To more plastic-free and time-saving solutions for travel and life,

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