Treat Yourself: How to Have an Eco-Friendly Spa Day at Home

Fall is nearly upon us, and what better way to welcome the season—and gear up for the holiday hustle—than with a self-care day? If you're looking to indulge in some self-facing TLC in the spirit of sustainability, this is your sign to have an eco-friendly spa day at home.

Rewarding for both you and the planet, a sustainable spa day is a perfect way to get skin conditioned and prepped for the colder weather ahead. Welcoming these drier conditions can be difficult on both your complexion and your mental health, making your spa day an essential practice for wellness—both inside and out.

Convenient, inexpensive, and extremely luxurious, an eco-friendly spa day includes all of the essentials—with a sustainable twist. When stocking up for your self-care day, be sure to verify the eco-friendliness of your options by checking labels for organic and all-natural ingredients, and opting for waterless and plastic-free whenever possible.

How to Create an Eco-Friendly Spa Day at Home

Step 1: Set the Mood

Begin your day by lighting your favorite soy or coconut wax candle. These alternatives can be found in all your favorite scents and colors, so there’s no need to sacrifice in scent or aesthetic for the sake of sustainability.

Crafted from renewable resources and designed to decompose, alternative wax candles are the perfect way to indulge in sweet aromas and a little relaxing mood lighting while honoring Mother Nature.

Step 2: Take Advantage of Tools

Enlisting the help of plant-based spa tools can ensure even silkier locks and skin. Integrate a bamboo hairbrush or dry brush (best used pre-bath or shower) into your spa routine for a well-rounded, full-body spa session.

Step 3: Draw a Bath

Once your aromatherapy starts doing its thing, queue up some tunes, draw a (low-level) hot bath, and allow steam to take over the scene. In terms of bathing products, consider going plastic-free where possible. Bar soaps, for example, are a low-waste alternative to traditional shampoos, conditioners, and body washes.

Is super smooth skin among your spa day goals? When it comes to luxury shaving, low-waste shave soap is an eco dream team. Shave soaps are essentially shaving cream in a jar, delivering the same creamy lather minus the wasteful packaging.

The same goes for plastic-free razors, a heavy-duty and enduring alternative to your traditional disposable razor. Reusable and long-lasting, safety razors are the ultimate swap.

Step 4: Get Cozy

Cozying up in your favorite bamboo towel is a comfortable means of locking in your dewy, post-bath glow. The extreme softness of bamboo fibers is gentle on both skin and hair, decreasing irritation and combatting frizz. 

Step 5: Mask Up

Follow your soak with an all-natural face mask to provide proper nourishment to your skin. Don't be afraid to venture into the kitchen for some DIY ingredients like oatmeal, raw honey, or fresh avocados. This is a fun way to put nature's gifts to work, all while leaving your complexion plump and gleaming.

5 Eco-Friendly Spa Day Products

Looking to swap out some of your current beauty essentials for more sustainable options? Here are some options to help you elevate your own eco-friendly spa day.

1. Waterless Cleanser, $40

Dew Mighty's waterless cleansing powder is full of vitamins, antioxidants, and brightening actives that leave you with glowing and hydrated skin. It's both effective and sustainable, making it the perfect alternative to traditional waterlogged facial cleansers.

2. Bamboo Hair Towel, $34

Ettitude's Bamboo Hair Towel is made from 100% sustainably-sourced bamboo. It's gentle on hair and a pro product for taming both frizz and flyaways, leaving hair silky smooth. This eco-friendly option is your new good-hair-day essential.

3. Low-Waste Shampoo and Conditioner, $26.50

HiBAR's Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner is a low-waste hair-centric alternative that leaves manes moisturized and renewed. Formulated with coconut oil and rice protein, this shampoo and conditioner combo will hydrate and strengthen your hair with less planetary impact. 

4. Plastic-Free Razor, $84

Say goodbye to disposable razors: This plastic-free razor by Leaf Shave is the reusable razor you've been looking for. The heavy-duty metal razor comes with three additional blades to ensure the longevity of your shave. The silicon sleeve on the handle provides both comfort and ease without sacrificing in sustainability. 

5. Solid Body Moisturizer, $45

For your final round of moisturizing, the Daily Stone from Kate McLeod is hydration, concentrated. A blend of cocoa butter and natural and essential oils leaves skin smooth and supple minus any added water or synthetics—and it comes in a reusable bamboo container.