Ethique Review: Eco-Friendly Solid Beauty Bars

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Ethique Review: Ditch the Plastic Packaging with These Fabulous Solid Beauty Bars

Based in Christchurch, New Zealand, Ethique is committed to making fragrant, buttery, and bubbly hair, face, and body solid beauty bars using natural ingredients and compostable or reusable packaging. I had the opportunity to sample a good number of the brand’s offerings, and I must say, I am very impressed with many of these products! I decided to share my thoughts on all of them in one long blog post, so it might take a while to get through it all. I’ll try to be concise, too, because that’s a lot of products to cover. Alright, I won’t waste any more time on the intro, because this post is already going to be massive. Enjoy the reviews!

Ethique Peppermint & Teatree Foot Balm Bar, Ethique Pumice & Peppermint Foot Polish

Ethique Pumice & Peppermint Foot Polish ($12.81 for 120 g) – Pumice is personally my favorite natural exfoliant, because it’s one of those deceptively gentle finely-milled scrubs that can polish the skin really well, but also can be super abrasive if you overdo it. It couldn’t be more perfect for a foot scrub! With that said, I really like this solid bar, and I keep it in my shower to use every other day. It makes my feet smooth from pumice, soft thanks to coconut butter, and refreshed from the mint oils. Because this bar contains butters and oils, it may leave the floor and your feet a little slippery, so just make sure you are careful and watch your step. For the record, this is one of the best Ethique products I’ve tried!

You will LOVE it if:

• Your feet could use some scrubbin’ 🙂
• You embrace the low-waste, eco-friendly lifestyle.
• You want a quick way to care for your feet in the shower without a major time commitment.
• You love products with minimal ingredients.

You will HATE it if:

• You have very sensitive feet.
• You are allergic to any of the ingredients.

Ingredients: Theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter, pumice, bicarbonate of soda, Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, stearic acid, cetearyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, dehydroacetic acid, Mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, Mentha spicata (spearmint) oil, mica. 

Ethique Peppermint & Teatree Foot Balm Bar ($14.23 for 100 g) – This solid block is perfect for nourishing dry and rough skin, especially the heels. I would recommend using it at night, otherwise it might be too slippery in your shoes, unless you’re wearing socks. The balm also contains peppermint and spearmint oils that deodorize and refresh, which feels so relaxing after a long day on your feet.

You will LOVE it if:

• You have rough, calloused feet.
• You embrace the low-waste, eco-friendly lifestyle.
• Your feet get very tired at the end of the day.
• You love products with minimal ingredients.

You will HATE it if:

• You are allergic to any of the ingredients.

Ingredients: Theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter, Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, caprylic/capric/stearic glycerides, Euphorbia cerifera (candelilla)) wax, benzyl alcohol, dehdroacetic acid, Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil, Mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, Mentha spicata (spearmint) oil.

Ethique In Your Face Face Cleanser for Oily-Normal Skin, Ethique Damage Control Solid Shampoo Bar

Ethique In Your Face Face Cleanser for Oily-Normal Skin ($17.79 for 120 g) – This facial cleanser bar is pretty versatile, and in a pinch easily doubles as a body wash or a shampoo bar. So travel-friendly! It smells amazing, creates mounds of fluffy bubbles, and dries fast so it’s easy and not really that messy to store in the shower. With the super short ingredient list and lack of wasteful packaging, this cleanser is definitely one of the most eco-friendly products out there. However, you guys know that I chose to only use facial cleansers that register within pH 5.0 to 5.5 when mixed with water, and I find anything higher than that to be drying. On my testing strips IYF shows between 8.0 and 8.5 which is above my comfort level. On the bright side, if you are not too concerned about the pH level, one cleanser should last you a very long time!

You will LOVE it if:

• You embrace the low-waste, eco-friendly lifestyle.
• You travel a lot.
• You are looking for multi-purpose products.
• You love products with minimal ingredients.

You will HATE it if:

• You only use low pH cleansers.
• You have dry skin.
• You are sensitive to any of the ingredients.

Ingredients: Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, sodium chloride (NZ sea salt), raspberry (Rubus idaeus) puree, sodium hydroxide, theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter oil, Ricinus communis (castor) oil, mandarin (Citrus reticulata) & sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) essential oils.

Ethique Damage Control Solid Shampoo Bar ($15.65 for 100 g) – If you love LUSH shampoo bars, you will like this one, too, as I found them to be similar. This particular bar was designed for normal to dry hair, and according to Ethique, one bar equals to 3 bottles of liquid shampoo. Sounds like a good deal to me! The formula includes peppermint oil that deodorizes and invigorates the scalp, and cocoa & coconut butters to nourish the hair. I use this shampoo every 3rd wash as a clarifying treatment, but I wouldn’t use it every day since it’s a little too stripping. However, my hair gets a lot dirtier and oilier than my skin, so I don’t look at the pH too closely. Like the cleanser, the bar dries quickly after use and doesn’t create gloopy mess on your bathroom shelf.

You will LOVE it if:

• You embrace the low-waste, eco-friendly lifestyle.
• You love products with minimal ingredients.
• You travel a lot.
• You like solid shampoos.

You will HATE it if:

• You are sensitive to any of the ingredients.
• You only use sulfate-free shampoo.

Ingredients: Sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium coco-sulfate, decyl glucoside, stearic acid, Cocos nucifera (coconut) butter, Theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter, vegetable glycerine, coco caprylate, cetearyl alcohol, coconut milk powder, Mentha piperita (peppermint oil), copper chlorophyll, lactic acid.

Ethique Lavender & Mint Bodywash Bar, Ethique Lavender & Vanilla Glow Solid Deodorant

Ethique Lavender & Mint Bodywash Bar ($6.76 for 160g) – First of all, this bar smells absolutely heavenly! If you are a fan of all things lavender, you will definitely love this one. Like most soaps it’s lightly drying and has pH around 9.0 when mixed with my tap water. I can see the benefit of higher pH face and body cleansers for people working with dirt, motor oil, and other highly clingy and sticky substances, but for my daily needs I think something gentle will work just as well.

You will LOVE it if:

• You prefer bar soaps.
• You love the smell of lavender.
• You embrace the low-waste, eco-friendly lifestyle.

You will HATE it if:

• You have dry skin.
• You are sensitive to any of the ingredients.
• You only use low pH cleansers.

Ingredients: Oryza sativa (Rice bran) oil, Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, aqua (water), Theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter, Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, sodium hydroxide, Ricinus communis (castor) oil, Mentha piperita (peppermint) & Lavandula augustifolia (lavender) essential oils, mica.

Ethique Lavender & Vanilla Glow Solid Deodorant ($17.07 for 70 g) – For the past year I had trouble using aluminum-free deodorants, they simply stopped working. I didn’t expect miracles from this little square either, but it was more effective than any others I recently used. It does actually make me sweat less and it smells very pleasant of lavender and mint, so I can definitely see this as a viable and healthier option if you aren’t particularly sweaty. Some natural deodorants also make my pits itch, but this one feels very soothing, which is another bonus.

You will LOVE it if:

• You love the smell of lavender.
• You prefer aluminum-free deodorants.
• You embrace the low-waste, eco-friendly lifestyle.

You will HATE it if:

• You are sensitive to any of the ingredients.
• You prefer clinical strength antiperspirants.

Ingredients: Propanediol (from corn), Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) juice, tapioca starch, polymethylsilsesquioxane, sodium stearate, saccharomyces ferment, equisetum arvense extract, salvia officinalis (sage) oil, bambusa arundinacea (bamboo) stem extract, lavandula augustifolia (lavender) oil, vanilla planifolia (vanilla) oleoresin, caprylyl glycol, phenoxyethanol, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, tocopherol (vitamin e), citric acid.

Ethique Lime & Ginger Body Polish, Ethique Saving Face Serum

Ethique Lime & Ginger Body Polish ($14.23 for 100 g) – One more delightful scrub with pumice, this time for the body! The lime and ginger mix is very invigorating, and the nourishing butters make the skin feel incredibly soft and smooth. Don’t overuse this scrub, it’s way more abrasive than it feels and will slough off dead skin in just a couple quick swipes. The only con is that it melts down too quickly. I used it twice a week and it lasted me less than a month.

You will LOVE it if:

• You like a fine-grain body exfoliant that is gentler than sugar, salt, and crushed nut shell scrubs.
• You like the idea of a body polish & body lotion in one bar.
• You embrace the low-waste, eco-friendly lifestyle.

You will HATE it if:

• You have a fuller body. This bar lasted about 5 uses and I’m size 6.
• You are sensitive to any of the ingredients.
• You have sensitive skin.

Ingredients: Theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter, pumice, bicarbonate of soda, Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, Bambusa vulgaris(bamboo) powder, stearic acid, cetearyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, dehydroacetic acid, Citrus aurantifolia (lime) oil, Zingiber officinale (ginger) oil, mica.

Ethique Saving Face Serum ($29.75 for 70 g) – This solid serum bar was designed for normal and dry skin types as a softening, firming, and hydrating treatment, and I can totally see how it can benefit both. The consistency is rich, oily, and feels slightly heavy on my combination skin, but when I tried applying it on drier areas as a test, it sank right in and made the surface very soft and soothed. The serum is unscented and does not contain essential oils, so it’s also good for sensitive and reactive skin. Each box contains three little pieces, so you can keep one on your counter and store the rest in the fridge until needed.

You will LOVE it if:

• You prefer unscented skincare.
• You have normal, dry, sensitive, or reactive skin.
• You embrace the low-waste, eco-friendly lifestyle.
• You love products with minimal ingredients.

You will HATE it if:

• You have no way to protect the bar from heat. It melts really easily.
• You are sensitive to any of the ingredients.
• You have oily skin.

Ingredients: Theobroma grandiflorum (cupuacu) butter, Garcinia indica (kokum) butter, Rosa canina (rosehip) oil, Punica granatum (pomegranate) oil, Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, Euphorbia antisyphillitica (Candelilla) wax, caprylic/capric/stearic glycerides, Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter.

Ethique Jasmine & Ylang Ylang Butter Block, Ethique Bombshell Self Tanning Bar

Ethique Jasmine & Ylang Ylang Butter Block ($14.51 for 100 g) – I probably should have featured this solid body lotion earlier right after the body scrub, because these two make the perfect pair. I would use the scrub at night, and follow up with the butter block while the skin is still damp to really trap all that moisture. This rich mix of oils and butters is intensely nourishing and can revive even the most hopelessly dry skin. You should have seen my elbows! Unfortunately, this butter block shares the same con with the scrub – it melts too fast.

You will LOVE it if:

• You like the smell of ylang ylang.
• You have persistent dry patches that need some TLC.
• You embrace the low-waste, eco-friendly lifestyle.
• You love products with minimal ingredients.

You will HATE it if:

• You can’t stand “boho” fragrances.
• You are sensitive to any of the ingredients.
• You have oily skin.
• You have a fuller body. This bar melts really fast.

Ingredients: Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) Butter, Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Oil, Caprylic/Capric/Stearic Glycerides, Candelilla Wax, Jasmine & Ylang Ylang essential oils, benzyl alcohol, dehydroacetic acid.

Ethique Bombshell Self Tanning Bar ($32.65 for 65 g) – Perhaps, the most intriguing product in the entire lineup, this is the world’s first natural tanning bar. Does it work? That depends on your skin tone. As you can see in the swatch above, the tint has a warm undertone, but it’s not terribly orange. However, if you already have medium or deep skin tone, it won’t show up at all. This self-tanner is a little messy to use because it has the consistency of a body butter, so I wouldn’t recommend immediately going to bed or you may risk staining your sheets. The color develops over 4 to 24 hours, and lasts up to 10 days if the skin is kept well-hydrated. Also, since this formula is buttery and easy to spread, it’s easy to apply a streak-less layer. Even a beginner would be able to achieve very good results on their first try! By the way, the bar is said to be scented with mandarin, but to me it smells more like brown sugar.

You will LOVE it if:

• You like using self-tanners.
• You have fair, light, and medium light skin tone.
• You have never used self-tanners before, or you struggle to apply them without streaks.
• You embrace the low-waste, eco-friendly lifestyle.
• Normal self-tanners leave your skin feeling dry.

You will HATE it if:

• You are sensitive to any of the ingredients.
• You have oily skin.
• You have medium skin tone or darker.

Ingredients: Garcinia indica (Kokum) butter, water (aqua), Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) esters, cocoa (theobroma cacao) butter, Hydrogenated Olea europaea (olive) oil, dihydroxyacetone, erythrulose, glyceryl oleate, tapioca powder, soy lecithin, benzyl alcohol, dehydroacetic acid, mica, vanilla (vanilla planifolia) absolute, mica, ci77891, iron oxides ci77491, ci77492, ci77499.

BOTTOM LINE:

If you reached this far, you totally deserve a medal! 🙂 I hope you enjoyed my long review of Ethique products. I love the idea behind the simplicity of the ingredients, the eco-friendly packaging, and just the overall vibe of this brand. This review is already massive, so I will just end it with my top five recommendations, in no particular order:

• Saving Face Serum
• Pumice & Peppermint Foot Polish
• Lime & Ginger Body Polish
• Lavender & Vanilla Glow Solid Deodorant
• Bombshell Self Tanning Bar

Ethique products are palm oil-free, green, eco-friendly, cruelty-free, and vegetarian/vegan-friendly. For more information, visit ethiquebeauty.com.

Have you ever used solid beauty products from Ethique or other brands? Which of the products above would you love to try? Let me know in the comments!