Sustainable September 2017 - Day Twenty Six

SEPTEMBER 26 (TUESDAY)

FASHION & BEAUTY - REUSABLE BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Good Day!
How are you going? Did you have any luck or have any fun making your own beauty products? Did you find a more environmentally friendly version for yourself to use now or in the future?

The idea for tomorrow is still on the Fashion and Beauty theme...

Sustainable September Day Twenty Six - Find Environmentally Friendly reusable products.

You may wonder what I am talking when I say reusable products. I mean finding replacements for single use items like disposable cotton make-up pads, disposable razors, even tampons.

Disposable make up wipes/pads. I used to buy single use wipes and make up removal pads. WHich is kind of funny because I dont use make up very often, but when I do I usually stick to mascara, eye shadow and eye liner, with a coloured lip gloss. I like to keep it simple. My skin (on my face) doesnt like foundation or concealers so I just dont use them unless it is for promotions work. But when it comes to my eye makeup, unless i want to look like a panda in the morning I use make up removal pads to get it off with eye-make-up remover. I got given some commercial Eye Make Up removal creams a long time ago, and instead of wasting it, I am VERY slowly using it up. That means i am still using make up removal pads... however they are no longer disposable. I bought a set of 5 make-up removal pads from Undisposed.

These little babies are amazing. I use my 'regular' make up remover on them and they work a treat. I rinse them off after my make up comes off, then throw them in the wash (in a cloth bag so i dont loose them) and put them through the wash. Simple. They often share a cloth bag in the wash with my handkercheifs and reusable feminine hygiene pads.

You could also make these if you wated too. I just find its easier to buy mine... and 5 is enough for me because i dont use make up very often, however you might need more depending on your makeup and facecare regime.

Disposable Razors is an interesting one. I haven't used a razor for a long time. As my best friend is a beauty therapist she would constantly tell me how bad shaving was for the skin and hair I wanted to remove. So i used to get her to do all my waxing. However she now lives in Melbourne so I can no longer just pop over to get her to do it for me. So I had to come up with another idea.

So I researched Epilators and ended up buying one at christmas time in the boxing day sales. This is not the ideal. There is a lot of plastic that came with my Epilator and even though it is reusable and rechargable there isnt really a way to recycle it when it no longer works for me. I will keep using it until it dies.

There are other options though. For those who haven't got a problem with shaving there are things called "safety razors" that are made out of all metal with a replacable blade. They vary in price from about $20 -$250AUD (in Australia) so shop around and check out online stores too. Finding one that doesnt come packed in plastic would also be a good outcome.

Another option for those who like to get treated to having their eye brows or other body parts hair free... threading. I have given this a go a couple times. It is the least waste I have seen of all those who do hair removal as a service. They use cotton (like magicians) and basically pluck out the hair in your arms/legs/lips/brows. I dont think they do private areas though. Mind you it is facinating to watch... like evil hair pulling magicians. hehehe. Maybe not evil... but it feels like that even though i find it completely facinating to watch.

Tampons & Menstrual Pads- There will me Too Much Information (TMI) shared here so you can skip the next two paragraphs if this doesn't apply to you. - So the last few years i have talked about the zero waste option of not using disposable tampons or menstrual pads. I bought some reusable menstrual pads and love them... but what I mentioned but didnt give a go until this year was this awesome thing called a menstrual cup. I am a menstrual cup convert. Why? well apart from the fact that there is no rubbish that i need to get rid of every few hours for the week that i get my monthly menace... the best part is that i can go 12 HOURS... yes you read that right... 12 HOURS... without having to change on a regular day! For me that is the best thing in the world. It also lines up nicely with having showers twice a day. I dont like to empty my menstrual cup down the toilet if i can help it because the blood often sits at the bottom of the toilet and can make for some interesting conversations. So i find a quick shower to empty it out and wash it in hot water with soap, rinse and then reinsurt works well. It also makes me a happy lady! For me I need to use my reusable pads for the first few days of my period because it is super heavy and will overflow my menstrual cup... but not by much. So a mix of the two works so well for me. But by about day 3 Idont even need to wear a pad... no leakage!!!! Woooohoooo!!! okay... yes... TMI... but for those who go through some stuff like i usually go through with periods, you might like to give these a go. They cost about $50 AUD but last several years. And considering i was spending about $5-10 per month on disposable feminine hygiene this is a much better investment for me. I love my Diva Cup. Never thought i would say that.... ehehhee.

There are a range of menstrual cups available on the market too... depending on price and what you are looking for...

And this is just a few... I think there are a few different options here in Australia too. So that is pretty interesting! There are also a whole heap of reusable menstrual pads and free patterns avaiable on the web to make your own. I have saved some links in my Eco and Environment Pinterest Board if you want to check them out there. 

Extra Swaps. There are also a few other things that you could swap out in your beauty and fashion regime. Like cotton wool buds. They are often little sticks of plastic with cottonwool attached to the ends. They are used for all kinds of things. I recently found (at the Wasteless Pantry) that you can get bamboo Cotton wool buds, that come wrapped in a cardboard container so the cottow wool buds can be composted after they have been used. Next time you go to buy these little things, buy the eco friendly ones instead and then compost them! :) 

ACTIVITY - look at where you could make a swap immediately. Do you need to buy some new cottonwool buds (not balls)... then get the Bamboo ones instead! Need to buy a new pack of tampons or a new razor... how about getting ones that are eco friendly and plastic free! Make a simple swap today! :) 

I hope this finds you all well.

Much Love, 

Daena 

ps. I am about to have a bath with the epsom salts I got at the Wasteless Pantry the other day... My body is complaining after i did bootcamp today! oh the joys of being fit and energetic! :) 

p.p.s A friend of mine shared with me a new Zero Waste store that has opened up not far from her in Halls Head (Which is the other side of Perth City to me). It is called The Glass Jar - A Wastefree Eco Pantry! Their catchphrase is so cool... "Saving the world... one container at a time!".  So if you are south of Perth, Western AUstralia and The Wasteless Pantry is too far from you... check out this shop. It is only about a month old apparently... so they need all the support they can get!!!!:) 

So many things to say... (but maybe I need a better title)

Hey everyone,
So I've been a busy little bunny.

This year so far has been filled with weddings, anniversaries, funerals, birthdays, catching up with friends, and continuing to get healthy.

I got my contract renewed for all of this year, so I am back working for the Social Justice Unit. Which as you all know, is a passion for me. Doing things for others, and creating kindness in everything. Plus its nice to get paid! heheheh.


I am still working on my kindnesses. This year I was introduced to a "Charity" that I hadn't heard of before. I was introduced to Days for Girls. Days for Girls is groups of people all over the world (there is a group right here in Perth, Western Australia), who are committed to providing girls in third world countries access to feminine hygiene products, so that they don't miss school. I ripped this next bit straight from the international webpage...

What is Days for Girls?

Every girl in the world deserves education, safety, and dignity. We help girls gain access to quality sustainable feminine hygiene and awareness, by direct distribution of sustainable feminine hygiene kits, by partnering with nonprofits, groups and organizations, by raising awareness, and by helping  communities around the world start their own programs. Thanks to a global grassroot network of thousands of volunteers and supporters on 6 continents, we have reached women and girls in 76 countries on 6 continents.  It's working. You can help us reach the rest.

Imagine…

What if not having sanitary supplies meant DAYS without school, DAYS without income, DAYS without leaving the house? Girls use leaves, mattress stuffing, newspaper, corn husks, rocks, anything they can find...but still miss up to 2 months of school every year. It turns out this issue is a surprising but instrumental key to social change for women all over the world. The poverty cycle can be broken when girls stay in school. Learn more 

Mission:

Creating a more dignified, free and educated world through access to lasting feminine hygiene solutions. 

Days for Girls International is a grassroots 501(c)3 non-profit. Women, and girls discover their potential and self-value, are equal participants and agents of social change and are given opportunities to thrive, grow and contribute to their community's betterment while ensuring quality sustainable feminine hygiene.

Vision:

Every girl and woman in the world with ready feasible access to quality sustainable hygiene & health education by 2022.​ 

If you want to know more about the international organisation you can read more here. 

I met one of the Perth Days for Girls representatives at a talk she gave a group of CWA ladies, including my mum, sister and I. She told us all about what Days for Girls needed and what we could do to help. So some of my kindnesses over this last month has been providing some of the things she, and her fellow workers, need to send to girls. This in turn means that the girls go to school, instead of missing out because they are bleeding which is completely normal and healthy (gentlemen... it happens!)

The Perth Chapter are available on Facebook here and are always looking for supplies and donations (if you find a chapter of Days for Girls in your area, I suggest contacting them and finding out what they need most). 

What they do need (stuff for a pack): 
100% Cotton for the liners and Shields
Flannels/ Face Washers (bright coloured preferred over white)
Zip Lock Bags (28cm to 36cm)
Plastic Snap Fasteners (not metal)
Knickers (girls sizes 14-16 and womens sizes 8-10)
Small soaps (Hotel sized ones are perfect)
PUL - the only waterproof lining for shields that Days for Girls uses (It has limited sources so Chapters are happy to receive money for the purchase of this stuff). 
Bright Coloured fabric (100% cotton not required) to make drawstring bags to hold it all.

You can also check the website if you are inspired and start your own group or chapter. 

Apart from that, I have been doing my kind deeds everyday, sometimes more than one. It has been so busy.

Yesterday I went to my nieces 7th birthday party and helped a whole bunch of kids Ice Skate for the first or second time. I'm pretty confident on skates (years of Rollerblade as a young'en) so I could help kids, parents and toddlers alike (oh yes... the toddlers seemed the most adventurous). Happy Birthday AV! :)

I've been cleaning out my bookcases (a miracle for me) and donating books to charity and to libraries.

I've been cleaning out my clothing and donating all the stuff I don't use any more to charities and op-shops! Not to mention I have been going op-shopping and buying clothes from there. Reusing and recycling are kindnesses to the planet.

I helped a friend, who lives out of town get her musical instrument back from a group she lent it too a while ago. Because she lives out of town, I went a picked it up and stored it at my house until she was back in town. 

I helped create decorations for my sisters "Love Boat themed" valentines day birthday party.Happy Birthday V! :)

That beautiful life preserver I made from a $2 swim ring and a whole roll of Masking tape and a roll of red Gaffa tape

I spent time and money sourcing and buying knickers, flannels, cloth, soaps and other things for Days for Girls. I know I mentioned Days for Girls already but my sister, mum and i have been working with other interested people to get a range of stuff to the Perth organiser. Here are some of the things we have acquired between us.

Photo from the Days for Girls Perth facebook page: Fabrics from the CWA ladies, money and kickers from people of the hills (near where my sister lives). Mum and i dropped this delivery off on Saturday.

Bright face washers (I bought at IKEA) and the 9 packs of unpacked knickers (from K-mart), my next door neighbour supplied all the hotel soaps, my sister supplying all the other knickers in the photo.  Plus there were Snap lock bags not in photo which my sister also got. These were taken to Days for Girls Perth HQ on valentines day.

I bought and donated wool to be made into blankets for Wheelchairs for Kids, Nursing homes and for homeless people. 

Not to mention working and having a social life. This year I have been making a concerted effort to see people and catch up with old friends. 

Last year I was basically in hibernation with all the stuff that happened then. Dad passing away, mums cancer and her surgery, some personal issues of my own, not to mention trying to function as an ordinary human. Its been pretty full on this last year. But I'm so glad its over. 

Good things did happen though. I saw my Best friend Tanya get married to her now, hubby, Isaac and in a week they will be celebrating their first wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary! :) 

I got a 3 month contract for work in the Social Justice Unit of the Uniting Church, which turned into a 6 month contract and that has now extended again! YAY! I work with some amazing people! Pretty awesome there. 

We got a 'new' car. Our little blue baby had to go to Car Heaven after dying quite spectacularly. Our 'new' car is Silver and can hold a lot more stuff than the little blue one... which has been a blessing getting big things from the shops! So i have been trying to look after it better, hence the photos of me washing it on new years day ! we have had it for about 11 months now... time flies so fast. 

Like I said... so much to say...   and I know its not a day by day listing of my kindnesses, like I have done before, but at least you are seeing some of the things I'm doing. Or at least see that I'm sharing them.

Anyway, I hope this finds you all well. 
Much love, 
Daena x