One of my all time tips for buying vintage and second hand is to not fixate on sizes.
Sometimes a dream piece is a few sizes too big or too long or maybe just slightly out of fashion (shoulder pads, looking at you). So the best solution is to take it to a alteration service, preferably one that can also do dry cleaning with eco friendly products. I recently discovered 1 Stop Wash in London that those all these things. Few months ago I found a vintage Christian Dior piece that was about 3 sizes too big and looked worse for wear. I took it to 1 Stop Wash and they had it altered and dry cleaned and voila! Perfect vintage blazer.

Highly recommend their service and you can find them at 100 Caledonian road London.
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I think most of my sustainable female readers have heard of the menstrual cups ( a silicone cup used as an alternative to menstrual products such as pads and tampons) however I also know that some of my readers don't get on with these cups. So I went out and looked for alternatives to the sustainable menstrual cups that were still in line with being eco friendly whilst aunty flow is visiting. 

Period panties
First up was trying the period panties. I tried a pair from Wuka which are reasonably priced at £19.99. The way these work is that they have a reusable pad lining within the knickers. So when you are on your period you pop these on and throw them in the wash at the end of the day. Its advised to have a few of these to rotate during your period and then wash them for the next month. I personally found the knickers to be very comfortable especially to wear at night time. The only downside to these is that if you would need to change them on the go you would need some sort of carry bag to keep the used pair in. I still highly recommend them especially for girls who prefer pads over tampons. 
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Tampons with reusable applicator
If you prefer tampons and applicators (if you don't need applicators then any organic tampon brand works fine) then this is the brand for you. They provide you with a reusable applicator that comes with a nifty pouch where you can carry the applicator and your tampons in. It works like any other applicator just this one is reusable and all you need to do is making sure to wash it between use.  They offer a subscription with different frequencies for customers so that you are always stacked when in need. Its a great product and alternative to the dreadful single use applicator that ends up in landfill. 

Makeup wipes are the lazy girls best friend. Its also the OCD girls best friend. It was also once upon a time my best friend. Its always so easy to grab one and wipe off make up after a long day or even on holiday when you dont want to pack your 5-step skin routine. But like we all know, makeup wipes are extremely bad for the environment. If you flush it down the toilet it end up in the ocean and if you throw it in the trash it ends up in landfill. They are made of non-biodegradable plastic fibres and even the ones who are biodegradable have to be recycled and processed with specific procedures. So to avoid risking more pollution, I have 2 great alternatives for you that will remove the need of wipes.


Option 1 - The makeup eraser towel
This product has been around for a few years however I only started using it recently. At first glance it looks like a normal towel and if you like me have ever tried using a regular towel and warm water to remove mascara you know the dreaded result. But just like the name this works like magic, all you need to do is damp it and it removes all your make up without you needing to scrub half your face off. I use it about 7-10 times before I throw it in the wash and then its like brand new again. Seriously I cant recommend this product enough, and its travel friendly as long as you can get hold of water.


Option 2 - Natural oil
My mum taught me to use coconut oil to remove my makeup. It only takes a pea size of oil and you rub it all over your face before rinsing. It works well and helps moisturising your face overnight. If you want to travel with it you can get a small size mason jar (I save the little ketchup and mayo ones some hotels provide) and take a chunk with you. Once I forgot to bring any and I asked the hotel I was staying with for some olive oil which worked fine. This process also requires water but if thats not at hand you can use tissues to remove the excess oil.

​We all want to do our bit for the planet, and even if you dont (if you dont please reconsider your existence) there are institutions that now have to do their bit as part of regulations. In this posts instance its the issue of the plastic straw. The regulations to swap out the plastic straw felt like an overnight phenomenon and it wasnt long until we were all fiddling with soggy paper straws. Now paper straws are a good start but lets face it, we all hate them. I’m personally a slow drinker and it doesnt take long before my paper straws start to shred pulps in my mouth like a bad mixer. 


So what can you do to not face this dilemma? Not to worry, I have two solutions for you that even though requires some preplanning, does eliminate the problem. The preplanning part is to remember to take this out with you. I imagine its a little more difficult for fellas however I have seen some guys put the straws in their back pocket. Also what a better chat up line than pulling out a straw from your pocket at a busy bar? 


Wallet friendly option - Bamboo straws by Zuperzozial.
These straws are made from bamboo (the most sustainable tree resource we have) and you get 6 in one pack plus a cleaning brush. The good thing about these is that you can also use them at home with guests and the brush makes cleaning easier. 






Luxury option - Stephen Webster last straw in sterling silver.
As part of the #laststraw campaign Stephen Webster designer a sterling silver straw that can be personalised with a name. Part of the proceedings also go to a charity for ocean plastic. Its pricey but its a luxury item, I personally love mine. Word to the wise, dont put this one in your back pocket.


Free option - No straw!
This is the easiest of them all, skip the straw if youre not in a need of one. Ask your waitress to bring a drink without the added straw beacuse we are all capable of drinking with no straws if you left yours at home there is no suitable sustainable alternative.

Hygiene and keeping clean is important to everyone. Its not like fashion or travel where theres a choice, but is important for our wellbeing. The maintenance of keeping fresh usually comes in small plastic solutions such as roll on deodorants, plastic toothbrushes and toothpaste. The good news is that there are new innovative alternatives to these classic staples in the bathroom. I recently started using these products below and here is my review on the items.  
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Bamboo toothbrush by Eco-Bru
Bamboo toothbrushes have been around for a while now, as I have mentioned before bamboo is incredibly sustainable due to the speed of growth and small amounts of water it requires to fully develop. I tried a few brands in the past but I always found most brands flimsy. This one has a sturdy round shaped shaft and depending on the colour of preference the bristles and end grip have a colour. I took this with me travelling recently and I have no complaints. I do hope they make these with charcoal soon as thats my favourite type of toothbrushes.

Deodorant by Elsas organic skin food
This deodorant is quite the fun gem. Liquid deodorants easy to apply with hands but this also came with a little wooden spoon if you don't want to use your fingers. You apply it directly on to the skin and it does the job! The product comes in aluminium which is infinitely recycle as well as one of the largest natural resources on the planet in terms of quantity. You can also reuse the tin for other purposes, like using it for storing home made soaps and shampoos. 

Toothpaste by Truthpaste
Most (if not all) liquid toothpastes come in a plastic container. It comes in travel and full size. The first thing to point out about these toothpastes are that they dont foam so a little goes a long way when its mixed with water. Its made of all natural ingredients and if fennel isnt your vibe then go for the traditional peppermint flavour. ​