In one of the first posts here on Boomer Eco Crusader, I introduced three unwrapped—or naked—bar products that had helped me as I started my waste reduction journey. Replacing plastic bottles with bars is the simplest plastic-free swap you can make.

Since that early post, I’ve added many more bars to my personal care and household routines. Today’s post is a roundup of all my favourite bar products. I hope it will inspire you to give one or two of them a try.

As an aside, the working title for this post was All My Favourite Naked Bars. On further consideration, I realized that might bring an audience I’m not looking to attract to my blog, so I decided to go with something a little more boring.

Why bars are truly the simplest plastic-free swap

Living an eco-friendly life takes some effort. If you’re a creature of habit who doesn’t like change, you might be putting off making some changes. I’ve got great news for you! Swapping out one or two products in plastic bottles for bars truly is the simplest plastic-free swap you can make—and it’s one of the most impactful. 

In addition to reducing plastic and other packaging waste, bar products will save you money. You can read about how much money I’ve saved and all the other reasons I love bar products here.

Not surprisingly, when I sat down and made a list of all the bar products I use, it was a long list.

Roundup of my favourite bars

Are you ready? Here’s a roundup of all the everyday products I’ve replaced with bars.

Note: This is NOT a paid endorsement of any of these products.

Hair care

Let’s take it from the top—with haircare.

• Shampoo bars were some of the first bar products I adopted. They are super easy and economical. Once you get used to them, they’re no different from bottled shampoo. Two of my favourites are Honey I Washed My Hair from Lush, and Etee’s Shampoo Bar.
• Conditioner bars were a bit more of a challenge. I found one I liked from Lush but then they discontinued it. These days, I’m using Etee’s conditioner bars, and they work well for my short curly hair.  
• For travel, I love the combo Shampoo & Conditioner Bar from Pure Soap Works. Multi-purpose items are awesome for someone like me who likes to travel light, and with a price tag just over $2, you can’t go wrong.

Personal care

Now that we’ve got our hair in tip-top shape with the simplest plastic-free swaps you can make, let’s look at some bar products for the rest of our bodies.

• As an alternative to body wash or liquid soap, bar soap is a bit of a no-brainer. Once you make the swap, the savings really add up. There are a ton of quality, unwrapped bar soaps but one of my favourites is Pure Soap Works Aloe Vera & Vitamin E bar. It’s a moisturizing bar with a nice light scent and, like most of the products from Pure Soap Works, it retails for just over $2.  
• Facial moisturizer is another product that’s usually sold in excessive plastic packaging. After finding coconut oil a little greasy for daytime use, I was delighted to find the Argan Naked Facial Oil bar from Lush.
• Hand lotion is an essential product for our cold, Canadian winters. Last year, I found these hand lotion bars from Etee. The bar comes packaged in a tin and they also sell refills with no tin. They are a little greasy so they work better for nighttime.
• Speaking of nighttime, I discovered Lush’s Sleep massage bar when I was looking for something to help me sleep better. It hasn’t improved my sleep but it smells great and is an excellent alternative to body lotion.
• Another product I’ve been using for a few years now is the Aromaco deodorant bar from Lush. I tried several aluminum-free deodorants and finally settled on this one. It controls the stink and comes with no packaging.

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Cleaning and household products

Finally, bar products aren’t just for personal care. You can also get bars for cleaning and laundry. Let’s look at a couple I’ve tried.

• A few months ago, I decided to try a dishwashing bar. We mostly use our dishwasher but I still do hand wash some dishes. The Dish Block from No Tox Life works well if you have a few dishes that you want to quickly wash. You simply rub a wet brush on the bar, and then use the brush to clean the dishes. This product does have a place, although if you want to fill up a sink to wash a full load of dishes, you’ll need to find another solution.
• I’ve saved the best for last! Pure Soap Works Stain-Remover Laundry Bar is hands-down my favourite bar product. This is probably my favourite of all the bar products I’ve tried. Believe it or not, I still have the same bar I took a picture of way back in 2019—over three years later. This bar works as well as any other stain remover, sells for around $2, and literally lasts forever.

Whether you’re looking to get started with plastic-free living, or wanting to take the next step toward a sustainable lifestyle, try some of these products. You won’t be disappointed and it will be the simplest plastic-free swap you’ve made.

Have you tried any of these products? Are there other bar products you’d recommend? Tell me about them below.