Shaving sustainably is easier than ever. Eco-friendly shaving products, such as reusable safety razors and natural shaving creams, help reduce waste while keeping your skin healthy. Whether you’re looking for zero-waste alternatives or non-toxic ingredients, these sustainable shaving essentials make your routine better for you and the planet.

Ingredients to avoid in shaving creams & gels

Sulfates

• Purpose: Used to create foam and lather.
• Why Avoid: Sulfates are known to strip natural oils, which can lead to dryness, irritation, or sensitivity. Beyond health concerns, sulfates have a significant environmental impact: some are petroleum-based and may be contaminated with chemicals like 1,4-dioxane, a known carcinogen, while others are plant-based, often derived from palm oil, which is linked to widespread deforestation.
• Common Names: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES).
• Alternatives: Plant-based surfactants such as Coco-Glucoside, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, or Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate (SLSA).

Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals

• Purpose: Formaldehyde is used as a preservative
• Why Avoid: Known carcinogens and irritants; Persistent in the environment and harmful to aquatic life.
• Formaldehyde-Releasing Ingredients: DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15, Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylene Glycol, Formalin, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Bromopol
• Look For: “Formaldehyde-Free” labels; Plant-based or safe preservatives, such as Vitamin E, rosemary, food-grade sorbates/benzoates, ferments, glyceryl caprylate.

Parabens

• Purpose: Parabens are used as a preservative.
• Why Avoid: Linked to hormonal disruption and potential long-term health effects.
• Common Names: Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben.
• Look For: “Paraben-free”, Plant-based or safe preservatives, such as Vitamin E, rosemary, food-grade sorbates/benzoates, ferments, glyceryl caprylate.

Phthalates

• Purpose: Most commonly added to synthetic fragrances to prolong scent.
• Why Avoid: Phthalates are linked to hormonal disruption and environmental harm.
• Common Names: Diethyl Phthalate (DEP), Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)
• Look For: Many products are now labeled “phthalate-free”, or seek fragrance-free products or those with natural oils for scent.

PEG (polyethylene glycol) compounds

• Purpose: PEGs serve as a thickener, emulsifier, humectant, or surfactant.
• Why Avoid: Petroleum-based chemical, non-biodegradable; Can cause irritation and be contaminated with harmful byproducts like ethylene oxide or 1,4-dioxane.
• Common Names: PEG-100, PEG-40.
• Alternatives: Natural Emulsifiers such as lecithin, beeswax, or plant-based emulsifiers. Plant-Derived Humectants like aloe vera, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid.

Synthetic fragrance

• Why Avoid: Often a cocktail of chemicals that can not only trigger allergies, irritation, or dermatitis, fragrance information is considered proprietary and ingredients are not required to be fully disclosed. This allows companies to potentially hide any chemical (especially phthalates, see below) under the umbrella of fragrance, leaving consumers in the dark regarding chemical exposure. Therefore, going fragrance-free is ultimately the safest choice.
• Common Names: Usually labeled simply as ‘Fragrance’ or ‘Parfum.’
• Alternatives: Besides products labeled as “fragrance-free,” seek those using natural essential oils for scent.

Synthetic dyes

• Purpose: Colorant
  Why Avoid: Unnecessary, Potential carcinogens, Pollute water
  Common Names: D&C or FD&C [color] No. [number], such as FD&C Blue No. 1
  Alternatives: Dye-free. Be wary of products that are marketed as using natural colors, as these are not evaluated by the FDA and may be subject to adulteration or contamination.

Silicones

• Purpose: Silicone is used to create smoothness and seal in moisture.
• Why Avoid: Silicones are synthetic polymers and are not biodegradable; they can build up on skin and clog pores.
• Common Names: Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclomethicone, Amodimethicone, Silicone Quaterniums, Trimethicone
• Alternatives: Natural oils such as jojoba, argan, or coconut.

BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole) & BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)

• Purpose: Preservative and synthetic antioxidant used to prevent product degradation
• Why Avoid: Potential carcinogen; linked to hormone disruption and skin irritation. BHT is formulated from toluene
• Alternatives: Natural substances like tocopherol (Vitamin E) or rosemary extract.

DEA (Diethanolamine) & Other Ethanolamine Compounds

• Purpose: Foaming agent and pH balance
• Why Avoid: DEA can cause organ toxicity and possible neurotoxic effects. It can react with other ingredients to form nitrosamines, which are potential carcinogens.
• Common Names: Triethanolamine, TEA, Cocamide DEA, Cocamide MEA, DEA-cetyl phosphate, DEA oleth-3 phosphate, Lauramide DEA, Linoleamide MEA, Myristamide DEA, Oleamide DEA, Stearamide MEA, TEA-lauryl sulfate 

Isopentane & Isobutane

• Purpose: Propellants in pressurized aerosol cans.
• Why to avoid: Fossil-fuel derived, contribute to VOCs and air pollution

Natural shaving cream

Many people seek shaving cream for sensitive skin, and like any skin product, I believe that those marketed for sensitive skin simply contain fewer chemicals. Think about it. Many ingredients in skin care products, including shaving cream, are made with a plethora of substances known to cause skin irritation. I believe it isn’t necessarily that a large number of people have sensitive skin, but rather that most products have toxic or at least irritating ingredients in them. Unfortunately, shaving creams derived from natural ingredients are rare, and those packaged without plastic are even harder to come by.

Dr. Bronner’s Shaving Soap ($10.79 for 7-oz tube) – Ingredients are biodegradable, certified organic, vegan, and cruelty-free; many are also fair trade. This product is available in four scents or unscented. The only downside is that this shaving soap is packaged in plastic, although the fact that it is 100% post-consumer recycled plastic offers some consolation.

Are shaving cream cans recyclable?

Empty steel shaving cans are recyclable in your curbside bin. Plastic tubes may be, depending on your local recycler.

Shaving soap: the best shaving cream alternative

I remember, as a teenager, reading in a beauty magazine how we should never shave our legs with soap because it would dry out our skin. How the tides have turned! I admit I was a bit skeptical at first, but today I am a full convert to shaving soap. This shaving cream substitute lathers quite well, allowing for a smooth, close shave that leaves my skin feeling soft. Shaving soaps are easy to find from any local soap maker, or there are plenty of great online options.

As an added bonus, shaving soaps are a great zero-waste shaving product. They are minimally packaged in recyclable paperboard boxes, or without any package at all.

These shave soaps are the best alternatives to shaving cream that I have tried.

• EcoRoots Organic Shaving Soap ($12.99 for 3.5-oz bar) – Vegan, organic, and cruelty-free ingredients are used to make this shaving soap, which is manufactured in the USA. It will arrive on your doorstep with minimal, plastic-free packaging.

• Kitsch Shave Butter ($9 for 4-oz bar) – Natural ingredients and scent, and certified cruelty-free. Also free of parabens, phthalates, silicones, sulfates, & artificial fragrance.

Reusable razors

It’s time to cut the waste and stop using plastic disposable razors and switch to a reusable one. There is a large price range, from hundreds of dollars for a nice, fancy safety razor down to the grocery store brands.

Safety razors

I’ll be honest, after using cheap disposable razors for most of my life, using a safety razor was a bit of a learning curve, but not impossible.

EcoRoots

My first safety razor purchase was the EcoRoots Zero-Waste Shaving Kit for Women. Included are a rose gold (or black) razor (which was rated ‘best for women’ by Treehugger), 15 refill blades, and a bar of their shaving soap (listed above). Or you can purchase the Safety Razor only (made from zinc alloy and stainless steel) for $39.50.

I was a bit scared to use this razor for the first time, but it went smoothly (pun intended) without any major mishaps. It’s a tool that requires a little getting used to, especially the weight. My only complaint is that the metal handle can be a bit slippery.

Bambaw

Bambaw is an eco-friendly company based in the UK. Its razors are crafted from stainless steel, and are an excellent budget-friendly choice, costing around $17-$20. There are many models of the Bambaw Double Edge Safety Razor with 5 Safety Razor Blades to choose from. I purchased one with a bamboo handle, which is much easier for me to grip, while my teenage daughter uses a full metal style. Some come with a convenient stand, while all include 5 blade refills.

Merkur

If you want to splurge, safety razors made by the Merkur are frequently recommended. These high-end razors are made by a German company that has been operating for over 125 years. Prices range from $39.95 to $99.95, with starter sets costing $159.95.

Standard razors

If safety razors aren’t your thing, there are great options for durable, resusable metal razors.

Bulldog

The Bulldog Original Bamboo Razor ($14.99) is a solid, economical choice. It’s got 5 tempered steel blades and a biodegradable bamboo handle, which you can replace for only $2.49 if needed. Or you can go with the Original Glass Razor, ($19.99), with a glass handle made from 100% recycled beer bottles. The company is plastic-free, cruelty-free.

Best non-plastic disposable razor

If you do need a disposable razor, the Schick Intuition Bamboo has a bamboo handle, and its blades contain 75% recycled steel. The handle does feel quite flimsy, but it gets the job done.

Recycling razors & blades

Metal razors and blades can be recycled with a scrap metal recycler or possibly curbside (check in your area).

Your old plastic, disposable razors can be sent to one of these mail-in programs (at no cost):

• Edgewell brands (Schick, Skintimate, and Hydrosilk) can be sent for recycling with a printable shipping label.
• Terracycle’s Gillette Recycling Program accepts any brand of razor, blades, and packaging. Just sign up for a Terracycle account and join Gillette’s free program.

Final thoughts on eco-friendly shaving products

There are a lot of areas where it is impossible to avoid plastic, but shaving isn’t one of them. Luckily, eco-friendly shaving products are plentiful when you choose shaving soaps and reusable metal razors.

Now that you’ve transitioned to a green shaving routine, incorporate other eco-friendly products into your personal care routine. Discover ways to reduce waste with your hair care, sustainable skincare, and more.