When you think of zero-waste and naked products, international brand Lush comes to mind. The company has been at the forefront of cute bath products and ethical business practices for years. However, their products are expensive and pretty hard to access here in the Philippines, so some local business owners decided to make their own zero-waste products and sell them.
I have been trying out different brands, some are better than others. One even scammed me. But after much testing, I find that these 3 brands are standouts based on their products, accessibility, and other practices. So if you're wondering what these brands are and why I think you should include them in your zero-waste journey, read on!
BeachBorn
Probably the gateway brand that introduced me to zero waste products. Beach Born is all about travel-friendly products that have a low impact on the environment, including hair care, skincare, and sun care products. I did a more in-depth review of this brand sometime last year but this article is meant to be a feature of different brands and their pros and cons.
Top picks from this brand: Witch Hazel Wash (great intimate wash), Shampoo Bars (great for cleaning makeup brushes), Classy But Not Brassy Shampoo (great for blondes)
Pros
They're the most accessible out of all the brands mentioned (they have local and international distributors)
Shopping is easy and convenient
Many of their products are affordable so they won't break the bank
Need your orders on the same day? Metro Manila residents can enjoy same-day delivery by ordering through Viber and waiting patiently for their order to arrive in a few hours
They have a safe all-purpose cleaner that can be used for home cleaning and pet shampoo too
Cons
If you want your naked products to hold up well without a container, Beach Born products unfortunately aren't too great at keeping their shape
In my experience, their skincare isn't the best for people with combination skin. It's better for people with dry skin or oily skin
Where to shop for these products:
RRAW
For people who love fun bath products and getting dewy skin, I think RRAW is a brand that they'll like. This Iloilo-based (represent!) brand has become well-known for its clay masks, flower-infused soap, body butters, creams, and more. Aside from that, they also make some really big shampoo bars that I highly recommend:
Top picks from this brand: Any of their shampoo bars (big and lasts long), Cucumber Cool Sunblock (SPF 75 and is a great base before makeup), Honey Moisturizer, and Tea Butter (both are great body lotions)
Pros
If you want bigger shampoo and conditioner bars, RRAW has big ones that will really last a long time and hold their shape well
Their creams aren't just great for your face, they're great to use on your whole body because they leave your skin soft and even silky (a must if you have a lot of tattoos)
RRAW has a wide range of skincare products for people of all skin types
People in and near Canada and Singapore can buy their products too!
Cons
Out of all the brands here, RRAW takes the longest to ship out your orders as they're based outside of Manila. I have reason to believe that this has gotten worse since the start of the pandemic too. Best to order ahead of time.
RRAW's products are pricier compared to many other brands
Despite having a lot of zero-waste products and reusable packaging, RRAW does use a LOT of plastic and extra waste for their products when they ship them out
A lot of their clay masks make me break out so I won't recommend them for people with combination skin or you can use it on your body instead
Where to shop for these products:
The Eco Shift
I only started using this brand this year but so far, I really like all the products I've tried from this brand so far. They're very serious about being plastic-free and in encouraging people to go that route. In addition to hair care products and packaging essentials, The Eco Shift also provides eco-friendly swaps and refills for hand soap, body wash, and laundry soap.
Top picks from this brand: Shampoo Bars (great for your hair and for cleaning makeup brushes) and Conditioner Bars (The best one I've found so far)
Pros
When The Eco Shift says they're plastic-free, they mean it. When they're shipping their products, it comes in a food container made of sugarcane fibers with wax paper that I just keep in my fridge
They may be Manila-based but they have distributors across the Philippines who they hold to the same plastic-free standards
In addition to helping people go plastic-free, The Eco Shift also donates to The Happy Kids Fund
Cons
They're not the easiest brand to buy from. While BeachBorn and RRAW have their websites and accounts on buying platforms like Shopee and Lazada, The Eco Shift only has their website and their local distributors
Unless you have friends in the Philippines who can ship this to you, you can't buy The Eco Shift products if you're based abroad
Not a lot of product variety. If you're not looking for zero-waste bath products, there isn't much on The Eco Shift that you'll like
Where to shop for these products:
My Final Thoughts
Zero-waste journeys are a slow and gradual process. And a great place to start is in your bath products. Trade out your shampoos, conditioners, and soaps for zero-waste options. Then you can move on to skincare, shopping, etc. You're not limited to the brands mentioned in this article. You can use this as a starting point and you can let yourself explore a bunch of different brands so you can find what works for you.
I'll be taking the next three Sundays off (it's mine and my sister's birthdays) so I'll be posting again in late October!
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