We are two friends living on opposite coasts (Brooklyn, New York and Santa Monica, California) that share a passion for living a minimal, zero waste lifestyle and on a mission to help others do the same.
Harper. Lives in Brooklyn with a +1. Sassy pup. Matcha. Wine. Whiskey. Cheese. Proscuitto.
Charley. Lives in Los Angeles with a +1. Doofy pup. Coffee. Wine. Whiskey. Cheese. Pasta.
Probably not a buy. We find that TANIT Revolubar Laundry Tablet ingredients might be risky in the production process, per EWG, as well as potential harm to marine life. We love that there is no PVA/PVOH. We also love that the packaging is thoughtfully crafted in compostable paper. Prices for TANIT are on the higher side, but more like in the median for other tablets and pods. Lastly, we love that the tablets are unscented.
LastObject detergent sheets are maybe a buy! We appreciate the very minimal packaging (comes in a slim, cardboard box) and that it is generally less heavy when compared to laundry pods, and much less wasteful compared with traditional liquid detergents that come in plastic jugs. Pricing is in range with other options out there. Our only callouts are that, like laundry pods and other laundry strips/sheets, this product does include PVA (see note below).
NOT a buy. We absolutely loved finding ROSERAY Laundry Detergent Tablets as a mess-free option that did not use PVA/PVOH. We also loved that it is mostly recyclable paper packaging for the products. Our clothes came out clean and relatively scent-free (which we love). Unfortunately, the price is so high that can’t recommend this as a viable option.
Not a buy. While we like that the product works and has simple ingredients, and very reasonable cost per load, we don’t love the plastic packaging and scoop — especially when the product doesn’t really require it. There are other options out there at similar price-point and much more eco-friendly packaging, such as Aspen Clean’s Oxygen Bleach.
OK Buy. Meliora’s Bath and Body Soap is a great addition to the shower routine. The bars smell light and lovely and leave skin feeling soft, not dry. On top of that, they are Leaping Bunny Certified and contain good ingredients. Overall, the soap was not the cheapest in the sample, but the Meliora bars were cheaper than any liquid body wash. Plus, the bars ship in either recyclable paper boxes or package free in a paper envelope.
We are a fan of Aspen Clean’s Oxygen Beach Remover! We love the clean ingredients, EWG verified and Leaping Bunny certified, the zero-plastic packaging, and most importantly, the product works — our whites sheets are whiter. Top it all off, the pricing is very reasonable compared to standard Oxi Clean products!
GREAT buy, particularly for infant and toddler aged kids! Our kids LOVED Bubbsi’s Body Cream’s animal shaped bottles, which are made of a soft food-grade silicone, and it became an extra bath toy for us. We love the clean ingredients and very light coconut scent. While it is a bit pricier, it feels like we’re paying a bit extra for a bath toy and lotion in one, and it does get more affordable when you buy the refill pouch!
GREAT buy, particularly for infant and toddler aged kids! Our kids LOVED Bubbsi Shampoo & Wash’s animal shaped bottles, which are made of a soft food-grade silicone, and it has become an extra bath toy for us. We love the clean ingredients and very light coconut scent. While it is a bit pricier, it feels like we’re paying a bit extra for a bath toy and soap in one, and it does get more affordable when you buy the refill pouch!
Mixed. We hesitate to recommend Seaweed Bath Co Face Dewy Face Lotion with SPF given the ingredients that have come to light as well as its cost. We absolutely love the spreadability of the sunscreen and adore the dewy texture it leaves our skin. We also love that it is SPF 30 and that it contains more Zinc Oxide than typical sunscreens, thus relying more on the mineral elements. We will update the article as we learn more.
A STRONG BUY. We used Cocokind’s Resurfacing Overnight Sleep Mask for five months, 1-2x a week and found that it was like a gentle peel — you can definitely feel like working (tingling a bit) on your skin but much gentler than a retinol product that our skin could never really handle. The next day my skin was definitely peeling a little bit and much brighter/smoother without any irritation. We love that the ingredients are relatively clean, but while scent can be a bit odd, we were OK with it. All in all, we love the results for our skin and we LOVE the affordable price point.
We’re disappointed in ourselves…to have waited THIS LONG to replace our Shout stain remover spray. Meliora’s Laundry Stain Removal Soap Stick is almost too good to be true — zero-waste, clean ingredients, affordable, and most importantly, it works! Buy, buy, buy.
Dropps are a MAYBE BUY from a cost and convenience standpoint, but we do want to note that this product does include a polymer called Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA). Additionally, while still a cost effective option, there are now other options that are at a similar or lower price point, especially since they seem to no longer offer their super bulk option (or 1,000+ pods) for significantly lower pricing.
BUY. Cloud Paper Bamboo Toilet Paper is a BUY. The paper has a slightly softer touch and it is on the cheaper end of bamboo toilet paper. We like that you can buy one-time though the subscription is much cheaper. Also, you can buy a super-bulk option of 80ct if you have the space!
While we have been strong Dropps laundry pod fans since we reviewed it in February, Meliora’s Laundry Powder might be giving them a run for their money! We purchased the lavender scented laundry powder from Meliora and a fan of its simple, biodegradable ingredients, low waste packaging and incredibly affordable price.
MIXED. Thrive Market Hybrid Bath Tissue is not our favorite toilet paper in terms of feel. We also do not like that it isn’t plastic-free. However, given that it is the cheapest toilet paper that we have reviewed, one which would almost pay for a Thrive Market membership, we cannot give it an outright ‘no.’
IT IS DEFINITELY A BUY. We love Caraway’s 4.5qt Sauté Pan so much —that it has become our most-reached-for pan, even when we just need to fry 1 egg 😂. Others in the family (my husband, my mother when she stayed with us for a weekend) have commented on how beautiful it is. It is very non-stick (food slides right off!) and so very easy to clean. Most of all, we love that we don’t need to worry about PFOA or PFAS with this pan, and looking to slowly replace our existing cookware with Caraway! BUY BUY BUY!
Not a buy. Unfortunately, Amazon Aware 100% Bamboo Toilet Paper is not a buy from us. The convenience of Amazon does not make up for the higher cost and the less-than-stellar softness. While the toilet paper is sturdy and strong, and made of 100% bamboo, there are better bamboo and recycled options on the market.
BUY. If you can give up the softness of the drugstore brands in exchange for sustainability, then Seedling by Grove Collaborative Bamboo toilet paper should be in your bathroom. It’s cost effective and made of super fast growing bamboo, which is much kinder to the earth than cutting down trees. Plus, the packaging is all recycled paper — zero plastic.
Note that Grove Collaborative has a membership, with a generous trial period. EVEN with the cost of membership, and if you just buy TP for one person from Grove, the cost is still below average TP prices.
MAYBE Buy. There are better options for bamboo TP out there. We like that each box saves 36 pounds of trees. We like that Bippy is thoughtful about recyclable packaging, but wish that the rolls weren’t wrapped in extra paper. We like that it didn’t shred or tear apart at all (a lot). Big plus that the TP is unbleached and the price is just below the median, t̶h̶e̶ ̶p̶r̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶b̶i̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶ ̶h̶i̶g̶h̶ but the paper is just a bit too rough.
BUY. Who Gives a Crap Bamboo Toilet Paper is a great alternative to traditional toilet paper. Bamboo regenerates more quickly and requires less resources than traditional TP. The cost is right on par with Quilted Northern, and even though it is not the cheapest normal toilet paper alternative, the rolls are decently sized. Did we mention that they were soft and strong too (and zero pilling)? Big win.
