Keeping the planet clean while you clean YOURSELF: Linen soapbag and natural bar

I’m a shower pouf girl. Period (I’ve been called some things in my time but that’s one of my favorites!). I’ve been using the puffy, colorful, plastic mesh shower pouf since I think I made the childhood switch from baths to showers. It has been my shower accessory of choice ever since simply because the quick suds it creates after adding some liquid body wash, and I can quickly go over my entire body without needing to reapply. Given that, I've always HATE(D) using bar soap, being multiple kinds I've tried (glycerin, half-lotion, heck..even pure-castille which I think is better for other uses) would leave a waxy residue on my skin after showering. Liquid soaps, would not. So therefore, the plastic pouf with perfumed colorful liquid soap that didn't leave Heather's skin waxy constituted in my book (or my shower) as the perfect marriage....but not for the environment.

Since I’ve been actively (but gradually) switching my lifestyle over to environmentally-friendly methods of the such, hewing my old habits and therefore minimizing any further harmful impact on the environment, personal hygiene was naturally and eventually my next culprit. Which also meant, painfully and sadly targeting….the shower pouf.

A few years ago, I thought I was doing a tad better by switching my body pouf with one made from recycled plastic/materials, but, what happens to that pouf when it’s time to replace? Even though it is MADE from recycled materials, it eventually joins its previously disposed predecessors in the enormous amounts of trash already in landfills…and that’s that. Well that was not okay with me. Sure, it’s not like these get replaced every DAY, but, replacing a pouf even every couple of months or so (keeping it sanitized in-between) was still adding to the crisis-level garbage problem in the world. Again. Not okay in my book.

So I discovered this great alternative, a mesh soap bar pouch made entirely of linen, which acts as a soap "saver" (perfect for scrap pieces too) but also a gentle exfoliator when washing.

As I much preferred liquid soap when using the pouf, I did eventually switch to those with a natural formula (let’s not forget that chemicals and artificial colors that make up the ingredients in some liquid soaps harm the planet as well..you know...my perfumed colorful liquid mentioned above) but was inclined to have given the bar soap and loofah a test run. Using it inside the “pocket” is ideal as it is simultaneously making bar soap much easier to use, prevents slipping, and creating a nice lather. I found myself washing my skin better, taking a bit more time, using a gentle buff.

The fabric being linen, was gentle and didn’t feel rough on my skin. I was never one to exfoliate, one reason being I felt it irritated my skin. But everyone’s skin is different and some exfoliation methods are probably harsher to some than others, depending on your skin. I’ve always had pretty good skin, but I think this method is healthier too. Something definitely lacking with the pouf all these years, was washing the surface of my skin as thoroughly I was now. I was surprised at how smooth and polished my skin felt after showering.

The bar soap I happened to chose was an all-natural french-milled soap by South of France, with a lovely almond scent. There are many brands available offering natural formulas with yummy scents and beneficial results out there, so take your pick.

Elated at the fact that we have a 100% linen "loofah" housing an all-natural deliciously-scented bar soap, resulting in beautifully polished and smooth skin and no harm to the planet, I think we have a win-win….win. The pouch is also easy to clean after use.

…and I’ve restored my relationship with the bar soap after all these years.

In my next segment: A supplemental entry later on, addressing other fun personal hygiene tasks while keeping’ it…planet friendly :)