Nature-friendly and vegan toiletries to keep you clean and safe in the outdoors

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It can be liberating to go completely wild on outdoor trips: passing on the teeth brushing, allowing those mats to appear in your hair, wearing the mud smears as a badge of honour and who even needs to wash clothes on an adventure? Who’s going to smell you anyway?

But, even though J might dispute it, a little bit of self-care every now and again can do wonders. From stopping skin irritations and preserving your outdoor gear to giving you a self-esteem boost and energy top-up. Because let’s face it, adventuring is mucky business.

Nowadays there are LOADS of products you can use to de-gunk you and your gear. But not just any will do. When you’re out in these epic landscapes, you’ve gotta make sure you’re helping to protect them too.

This is important for your own well-being and the welfare of the habitat around you.

Products that are vegan, use natural ingredients and minimal packaging will have a much lower impact.

Finding these kinda products can be a bit of a conundrum so we’ve done the legwork and compiled a list of vegan toiletry essentials. Everything you need to stock up for a trip with peace of mind, knowing it’s cruelty-free and good for the places you’re exploring!

Here you’ll find a list of companies and brands that make vegan toiletries to use outdoors, for men and women. It includes all the must-have toiletry staples to have in your wash bag and products to keep you safe and healthy outdoors.

In this article you will find:

1. Vegan toiletries
2. Outdoor essentials to keep you safe and healthy
3. Period products
4. Eco-friendly soaps for your gear
5. Where to buy vegan toiletries
6. FAQ’s

First off: be concious of where you wash

Before we start just a word about washing in the outdoors. If there are washing facilities – whether it’s in campsites or even public toilet sinks – it’s always best to use them as much as possible. If however, you’re deep in the wild this may not be possible.

Here’s some good practice for washing yourself and your gear:

• If using soap or cleaning product, always wash 200ft away from a water source in a bucket or tub.
• Never dump soapy water into a natural water source – even if your soap is made from natural ingredients, they may not be natural to that area.
• Practice leave no trace as much as possible to reduce your impact on the places you roam.

1. Vegan toiletries

The ideal things to take in your wash bag may differ depending on where you’re going and for how long. But, these are some of the essentials that will come with you on most trips:

Eco-friendly soap and body wash

Arguably the most important item on the list (even J stretches to carrying a bar of soap on lightweight trips). Nowadays finding natural and vegan soaps is pretty easy in most shops and supermarkets.

In the UK:

• Faith in Nature vegan soap – 100% vegan company with a range of toiletry products that are plastic-free.
• Friendly cruelty free vegan soap – a certified vegan and cruelty free company from the UK, who’s soaps are plastic-free.
• Alternative by Suma – cruelty free with no platic packaging and made in the UK.
• Sea to Summit Wildnerness Wash – another all over adventure washer. Can be used on you, dishes and clothes.
• Dr Bronners natural soap – bar made from natural ingredients.
• Oliva – soap made from olive oil with complete natural ingredients.
• Bentley Organic biodegradable vegan soap – made with organic ingredients.

In the USA:

• Dr Bronners natural soap – also available in soaps that can be used on you and your gear.
• Campsuds biodegradeable soap – the all round adventure soap that can be used on skin, hair, clothes and cooking pans.
• Sea to Summit Wildnerness Wash – another multi-purpose soap that can be used on you and your gear.
• Alpine provisions vegan biodegradeable soap – cruelty and platic-free, made with natural ingredients.
• Booda Organics raw vegan soap – all their products are made from raw vegan ingredients and come in coll designed packaging.

Vegan shampoo and conditioner

For short trips, you may not need this. Personally, I’ve often found it can be more hassle than it’s worth. On longer trips, however, they’re essential. The vegan shampoo and conditioner industry is growing at the moment so there are actually tons of brands to choose from.

In the UK:

• Sea to Summit shampoo and conditioner leaves – these come top of the list as they’re not only vegan, they’re also biodegradable and the best option for lightweight trips!
• Hi Bar shampoo bar – another option made for the outdoors, but only their mosturise, volumise and fragrence-free bars are vegan.
• Faith in Nature vegan shampoo – have a huge range for different hair types including plastic-free bars!
• Alternative by Summa cruelty-free shampoo and conditioner
• Lamazuna biodegradable shampoo and conditioner – avilable in a range of products to suit different hair types.
• Friendly shampoo and conditioner made from natural ingredients – one bar lasts as long as three bottles.
• Jason – company with a huge range of vegan-friendly toiletries.
• The Body Shop – have some vegan ranges which are clearly listed in store and online.

In the USA:

• Sea to Summit shampoo and conditioner leaves – the ultimate shampoo and conditioner for lightweight trips.
• Hi Bar – vegan shampoo that’s plastic-free.
• The Body Shop – have a range of vegan shampoos and conditioners for different hair types.
• Tea Tree Tingle by Trader Joe’s

If you see showering as just time taken away from being outdoors, Batiste dry shampoo is available to save you from a greasy mop (available in the UK and US), or you can try a DIY dry shampoo.

Sustainable deodorant

In the UK:

• Lamazuna plastic-free deodorant bar – made form organic natural materials.
• Jason vegan deodorant – comes in stick form and arange of options for men and women.
• Green People eco-friendly deodorant – have a wide range for men and women.
• Faith in Nature vegan deodorant – made from natural materials and offers a good proetction all day.
• Earth Concious vegan cruelty free deodorant – comes in a tin and is made from natural ingredients that are kind to your skin.
• Ben and Anna sustainable deodorant – an earth concious brand that makes a range of sents and types of deodorants.

In the USA:

• Alpine Provisions vegan deodorant – ideal for sensitive skin.
• Booda Organics cruelty-free deodorant – made from coconuts and comes in a cool tub.

Toothpaste

In the UK:

• Jason all natural toothpaste – contains natural whiteners.
• Georganics vegan toothpaste – you can also get toothtablets from these guys which you use instead of paste and water – less waste and fuss.
• Lamazuna organic toothpaste – that’s plactice-free.
• Dr Bronners flouride-free toothpaste – made form natural ingredients.

In the USA:

• Dr Bronners – all in one toothpaste.
• Bite vegan oral hygiene products – 100% vegan company.
• Aesop vegan toothpaste – with a stand out flavour and comes in a tube.

Vegan face wash

The type of face wash you use is a very personal choice depending on your skin type. It’s important to find the right one for YOU.

When you find the one that works, it’s a match made in heaven and you may not want to deviate from your perfect find. So here are a few brands with nice vegan skincare products:

In the UK:

• Simple vegan cruelty-free face wash – they’re a completely vegan skin care brand.
• Jason soap-free face wash – vegan beauty brand with tons of products to suit different skin types.
• Conscious Skincare natural face wash – packaged in a recyclable glass bottle.
• The Body Shop vegan face wash – have a huge range of products for different skin types.
• Green People foaming face wash – made for all skin types

In the USA:

• Simple cruelty-free face wash – double whammy as it’s vegan and cruelty-free.
• Fleur and Bee – completely vegan skincare brand
• The Body Shop face wash – all of their tea tree range is vegan.
• Youth to the People – 100% vegan brand and PETA approved.

2. Outdoor essentials to keep you safe and healthy

Outdoor adventures often require protection from the elements. These are some of the essentials we take on every trip to keep safe and make the most of the outdoors.

Some of the products, like suncream and mosquito repellant, are particularly important if you plan on spending time in the water. The chemicals can wash off and pollute water sources so it’s reeeeally important to use nature-friendly options.

Eco-friendly suncream

It’s never a bad idea to have suncream with you on a trip. Even on overcast days, the sun’s rays can be harmful. So lather up and get out there.

In the UK:

• Odylique cruelty-free vegan suncream – made from fairtrade ingredients.
• Organii reef-safe suncream – packaged in recyclable materials.
• Jason suncream – water resistant.
• Sun Bum vegan suncream – container made from recycled materials.
• Hawaiian Tropic reef safe suncream – PETA-approved suncream.

In the USA:

• Sun Bum gluten-free suncream – different SPF levels for varying levels of protection.
• Bare Rebublic suncream – 100% chemical-free suncream.
• Hawaiian Tropic suncream – best budget vegan suncream.

Bug repellent

Some people are fortunate in that they don’t get bitten much. I am not one of those people. If you’re like me and are always fighting away blood-sucking critters, a tub of this stuff is essential.

In the UK:

• Incognito vegan mosquito repellent – not only are they cleverly named, they use 100% certified natural ingredients and even make a soap you can wash with to keep the bugs at bay.

In the USA:

• Badger Company bug vegan spray – anti bug shake and spray is vegan.
• Sky Organics deet-free bug spray – made with organic ingredients.

Wet wipes

Baby wipes, wet ones, wipes, whatever you call them, a packet always comes in handy on dirty trips. Whether it’s to freshen up or baby wipe showers are the only option, just make sure they’re biodegradable and remember to always pack them out and don’t flush them.

In the UK:

• The Cheeky Panda biodegradable wet wipes – come in baby wipes and facial wipes.
• Eco by Naty vegan wipes – kind to skin wipes.

In the USA:

• Water Wipes – some of the purest around so good for intimate areas.
• Eco by Naty biodegradable wipes – unscented and kind to skin.

Top tip: although wet wipes are a good way to freshen up, it’s recommended you don’t overuse them, especially if you have a front bum (they can upset your natural pH levels that help to keep infections at bay).

Hand sanitizer

When you’ve been clambering over rocks and up hills all day, it’s a good idea to give your hands a squirt before tucking into that sandwich. You never know what you might have picked up.

In the UK:

• Bentley Organic natural hand sanitiser – gentle on your skin but still kills germs.
• Beauty Kitchen – organic hand sanitiser

In the USA:

• Sun Bum vegan hand sanitizer – with coconut and naturally derived alcohol.
• Dr Bronners natural hand sanitizer – simple but effective formula.
• Alpine Provisions cruelty-free hand sanitizer – good for sensitive skin.

3. Eco-friendly period products

Periods happen. They’re completely natural and normal.

Chances are, if you spend a lot of time outside, you’re going to have a period on a trip. The products you use is a very personal choice so here are a few options of vegan companies, to help you find the right one.

In the UK:

• Mooncup – resuseable menstrual cup.
• Totm – reusable menstrual cups.
• &SISTERS Nüdie Period Cup – reuseable menstrual cup.
• ImseVimse vegan tampons – reuseable tampons made from cotton.
• Organyc single-use vegan tampons – applicator-free.
• Bloom and Nora – reuseable vegan sanitary pads.

In the USA:

• Femmy Cycle – reuseable menstrual cup.
• Saalt – reuseable menstrual cup.
• Organyc – single-use tampons.
• Claene organic cotton pads – single-use sanitary pads.

Take a peek at our female hygiene tipes to help keep you clean and safe on the trail

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4. Eco-friendly soaps for your gear

It’s not just you that gets covered in muck, your clothes and cooking kit also need a good scrub too. It’s important to make sure the soaps you use are actually good for your kit and don’t cause any harm to your surroundings either.

In the UK:

• Dr Bronners natural soap – comes in a bottle or plastic-free bar that can be used on both clothes and dishes.
• Eco Living vegan dishwashing soap – plastic-free and made from biodegradable materials.
• Sea to Summit laundry leaves – amazing stuff that I’ve used and was impressed by how easily they clean clothes. A small plastic case with 50 leaves for 50 washes.

In the USA:

• Dr Bronners eco-friendly soap – to use for all your washing needs.
• Sea to Summit wilderness wash – the ultimate adventure wash for you, your gear and pans.
• Campsuds eco-friendly travel wash – made from biodegradable materials for skin, hair, laundry and pans.
• No Tox Life all natural dish soap – for washing dishes.
• Sea to Summit laundry leaves – amazing stuff that I’ve used and was impressed by how easily they clean clothes. A small plastice case with 50 leaves for 50 washes.

These zero waste tips will help to protect the places you like to explore

5. Where can I buy vegan toiletries

Nowadays it is thankfully becoming a little easier to buy vegan-friendly toiletries. Gone are the days you had to source out a complete vegan shop, just for a bar of soap.

Some of these brands are stocked in high street stores and online such as those listed below:

In the UK:

• Ethical Superstore – they have a hige range of toiletries and most of the UK brands listed in this article. Products that are vegan and cruelty free are clearly identified.
• The Body Shop – not all of their products are vegan and cruelty free but they’re all clearly marked online and in store.
• Boots
• Superdrug
• You can also find ptoducts at independent and chain pharmacies as well as supermarkets.

In the USA:

• REI – there vegan products aren’t always clearly labeled but you can use their serach bar to find the ones on this list.
• The Body Shop
• The Vegan Cosmetics Store
• At independent and chain pharmacies and supermarkets.

6. FAQ’s