The Reduce Report

Personal Care, Skincare & Makeup

It’s a BUY. We purchased Gaia Body 5% Bakuchiol Facial Oil primarily to help with dry skin and it delivered! It absorbed into our skin much better than other oils we have tried in the past (including argan, plum seed, squalane, blue tansy and more. Skin feels dewy and plump, and when we put it on before bed, our skin feels moisturized in the morning (not the case in the last couple of years after having a baby). We also appreciate that there are studies that say Bakuchiol is comparable with Retinol, without the irritation…

Apr 14

Apr 14 LastObject Laundry Detergent Sheets Review 2024 | Eco-friendly, plastic-free laundry sheets

LastObject detergent sheets are maybe a buy! We appreciate the very minimal packaging (comes in a slim, cardboard box) and that it is generally less heavy when compared to laundry pods, and much less wasteful compared with traditional liquid detergents that come in plastic jugs. Pricing is in range with other options out there. Our only callouts are that, like laundry pods and other laundry strips/sheets, this product does include PVA (see note below).

Mar 24

Mar 24 Biokleen Oxy Bleach Remover Review 2024| Eco-friendly plastic-free stain remover

Not a buy. While we like that the product works and has simple ingredients, and very reasonable cost per load, we don’t love the plastic packaging and scoop — especially when the product doesn’t really require it. There are other options out there at similar price-point and much more eco-friendly packaging, such as Aspen Clean’s Oxygen Bleach.

Mar 17

Mar 17 Aspen Clean Oxygen Bleach Remover Review 2024| Eco-friendly plastic-free stain remover

We are a fan of Aspen Clean’s Oxygen Beach Remover! We love the clean ingredients, EWG verified and Leaping Bunny certified, the zero-plastic packaging, and most importantly, the product works — our whites sheets are whiter. Top it all off, the pricing is very reasonable compared to standard Oxi Clean products!

Mar 16

Mar 16 Bubbsi Body Cream Review 2024 | Natural, Organic Baby Moisturizer

Baby & Kids, Personal Care, Skincare & Makeup

GREAT buy, particularly for infant and toddler aged kids! Our kids LOVED Bubbsi’s Body Cream’s animal shaped bottles, which are made of a soft food-grade silicone, and it became an extra bath toy for us. We love the clean ingredients and very light coconut scent. While it is a bit pricier, it feels like we’re paying a bit extra for a bath toy and lotion in one, and it does get more affordable when you buy the refill pouch!

Mar 15

Mar 15 Bubbsi Creamy Coconut Oil Shampoo & Wash Review 2023 | Natural, Organic Baby Soap and Hair Wash

Baby & Kids, Hand & Body Soaps, Haircare, Personal Care

GREAT buy, particularly for infant and toddler aged kids! Our kids LOVED Bubbsi Shampoo & Wash’s animal shaped bottles, which are made of a soft food-grade silicone, and it has become an extra bath toy for us. We love the clean ingredients and very light coconut scent. While it is a bit pricier, it feels like we’re paying a bit extra for a bath toy and soap in one, and it does get more affordable when you buy the refill pouch!

Feb 25

Feb 25 Cocokind Resurfacing Face Mask Overnight Treatment Review 2024 | Eco-friendly, clean, exfoliating, bakuchiol facial mask

Skincare & Makeup

A STRONG BUY. We used Cocokind’s Resurfacing Overnight Sleep Mask for five months, 1-2x a week and found that it was like a gentle peel — you can definitely feel like working (tingling a bit) on your skin but much gentler than a retinol product that our skin could never really handle. The next day my skin was definitely peeling a little bit and much brighter/smoother without any irritation. We love that the ingredients are relatively clean, but while scent can be a bit odd, we were OK with it. All in all, we love the results for our skin and we LOVE the affordable price point.

Feb 25

Feb 25 Meliora Laundry Stain Removal Soap Stick Review 2024| Eco-friendly plastic-free stain remover

We’re disappointed in ourselves…to have waited THIS LONG to replace our Shout stain remover spray. Meliora’s Laundry Stain Removal Soap Stick is almost too good to be true — zero-waste, clean ingredients, affordable, and most importantly, it works! Buy, buy, buy.

Feb 18

Feb 18 Dropps Laundry Pods 2024 Review | Sustainable, Biodegradable Laundry Detergent

Dropps are a MAYBE BUY from a cost and convenience standpoint, but we do want to note that this product does include a polymer called Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA). Additionally, while still a cost effective option, there are now other options that are at a similar or lower price point, especially since they seem to no longer offer their super bulk option (or 1,000+ pods) for significantly lower pricing.

Feb 17

Feb 17 Meliora Laundry Powder Review 2024 | Eco-friendly, plastic-free laundry detergent

While we have been strong Dropps laundry pod fans since we reviewed it in February, Meliora’s Laundry Powder might be giving them a run for their money! We purchased the lavender scented laundry powder from Meliora and a fan of its simple, biodegradable ingredients, low waste packaging and incredibly affordable price.

Feb 4

Feb 4 Caraway Home Sauté Pan Review 2023 | Non-Toxic Cookware

IT IS DEFINITELY A BUY. We love Caraway’s 4.5qt Sauté Pan so much —that it has become our most-reached-for pan, even when we just need to fry 1 egg 😂. Others in the family (my husband, my mother when she stayed with us for a weekend) have commented on how beautiful it is. It is very non-stick (food slides right off!) and so very easy to clean. Most of all, we love that we don’t need to worry about PFOA or PFAS with this pan, and looking to slowly replace our existing cookware with Caraway! BUY BUY BUY!

Jan 27

Jan 27 HeySunday Laundry Detergent Sheets Review 2024 | Eco-friendly, plastic-free laundry sheets

HeySunday Detergent Sheets are a buy! We especially appreciate the very minimal packaging (comes in a slim, uncoated cardboard envelope) and that it is generally less heavy when compared to laundry pods. Our only callouts are that, like laundry pods and other laundry strips/sheets, this product does include PVA…

Dec 2

Dec 2 Bubbsi Coconut Oil Balm Review 2023 | Natural, Organic Baby Moisturizer and Balm

Baby & Kids, Personal Care, Skincare & Makeup

GREAT buy! Bubbsi’s Coconut Oil Balm is our go-to baby balm, particularly helpful in the winter (we’re in New England) when the heat is on and our baby’s skin would stay chapped no matter what kind of lotion we used. We found this to be the most effective in combination with a humidifier. We like the solid form factor and found that a very little bit goes a long way. We also love to use this for baby massages. Appreciate the clean ingredients and refillable tub. It’s a buy!

Nov 26

Nov 26 Blueland Facial Cleanser Review 2023 | Eco-friendly face soap, zero-waste facial wash

Skincare & Makeup

A GREAT BUY. We love Blueland’s commitment to zero plastic and it stays consistent with their Facial Cleanser— no plastic in packaging, reusable bottle, no harsh ingredients (sulfate, paraben and phtalate free) and hypoallergenic. We also loved the scent and experience — it foamed up from a powder into a creamy gel-like consistency. The ingredients are hydrating, with plant-based Oat, Kaolin Clay and Vitamin E. It is a great everyday use facial cleanser and reduces our use of plastic bottles. Pricing-wise very reasonable when compared to other standard options. The powder format also reduces carbon footprint from shipping — liquid is just so much heavier.

Nov 20

Nov 20 Blueland Scrub Sponge Review 2023 | Eco-friendly, zero-waste scrub sponge

MOSTLY A BUY. We love Blueland’s commitment to zero plastic and it stays consistent with their Scrubber Sponge— no plastic in packaging, 100% plastic free and made without glues or adhesives (it is hand-sewn with cotton thread instead). We love the two sides — loofah on one side for scrubbing, and 100% FSC certified cellulose on the other side for softer washing. The fact that its hand-sewn makes it more durable than other scrubber sponges we have used in the past — and we really like the light blue color, it’s way more aesthetically pleasing than many other sponges. Only complaint is that it is quite a bit more expensive than even other eco-friendly scrubber sponge options, but if we’re doing an order from Blueland, we’re happy to throw it in with our order.

Nov 19

Nov 19 Weleda Skin Food Review 2023 | Eco-friendly, natural lotion

Personal Care

It is a buy! We think Weleda Skin Food is a BUY! We love the simple ingredient list and it really is a magical, thick cream that we can use on body and face. Its free of synthetic fragrances, colors, preservatives, parabens and phthalates. Ingredients include flower, fruit and root extracts, minerals and essential oils. It smells slightly herbal and altogether cozy. We love that Weleda is a Certified B corporation, and has been certified with UEBT (Union for Ethical Biotrade) and NATRUE (certified natural). This will be a mainstay in our cabinets!

Nov 11

Nov 11 Blueland Body Wash Review 2023 | Eco-friendly, zero-waste body soap

Hand & Body Soaps, Personal Care

: ITS A BUY (if you highly prefer liquid body soap over bar soaps). We love Blueland’s commitment to zero plastic and it stays consistent with their Body Wash— no plastic in packaging, no PVAs in the formula, no harmful ingredients. We also loved the scent and experience — the powder, when combined with water, becomes a creamy consistency, which was a lovely surprise. We like the scent and the ‘forever’ bottle that comes with the first purchase that we can reuse over and over again. Of course, the powder format also reduces carbon footprint from shipping — liquid is just so much heavier.

Nov 5

Nov 5 Blueland Cloud Cloth Review 2023 | Eco-friendly, zero-waste reusable towels

IT’S A BUY. We love Blueland’s commitment to zero plastic and it stays consistent with their Cloud Cloth— no plastic in packaging, made of 100% FSC-certified cotton fibers and cellulose, water-based and VOC free inks, and bleach-free. These cloths are VERY absorbent, reusable (can replace as many as 1,500 paper towel sheets!) and machine-washable. We also like the bold blue colors!

Oct 15

Oct 15 Blueland Pop-up Sponge Review 2023 | Eco-friendly, zero-waste sponge