A plane ticket, a cabin bag, and... those darn plastic pouches enforced by airport security! Every summer, we repeat the same ritual: transferring shower gel, shampoo, and sunscreen into tiny 100 ml bottles. What if we changed tactics? Enter solid cosmetics, lighter, more sustainable, and just as effective... if not more so!
Every year, nearly 980 tons of packaging from "travel-size" products end up in the trash in the United Kingdom alone, the equivalent weight of two Boeing 747s... and that's just one country! These mini-bottles often contain twice as much plastic per milliliter as standard sizes: an ecological and economic absurdity.
In 2025, the European rule of a maximum of 100 ml per container is still in effect: any liquid, cream, or gel must fit into a one-liter bag. Needless to say, after the toothpaste tube and the jar of sunscreen, space becomes scarce. Solid versions, however, pass through the control without a hitch, as they are not considered liquids.
The global solid cosmetics market is experiencing double-digit growth: a +12% CAGR and an expected symbolic threshold of 2.5 billion dollars by 2026. Bar shampoos, tablet toothpastes, push-up deodorants... the "waterless beauty" trend is here to stay.
Here is the shortlist of essentials, all available in solid form (yes, they exist, we've tested them):
- Olive oil over-fat soap: replaces shower gel and facial cleanser, even for babies.
- Hazelnut powder bar shampoo: lathers generously, even in hard water, and rinses off in a blink.
- Detangling conditioner: mini-tablet that prevents knots without weighing down.
- Aluminum salt-free push-up deodorant: withstands cargo hold heat, zero leakage in the bag.
- Concentrated white clay toothpaste: 90 ml is enough for 200 brushings, recyclable aluminum tube.
- Mineral SPF-50 solid sunscreen: 80 g bar equivalent to a 200 ml tube, without titanium dioxide.
- Nourishing after-sun: block rich in sweet almond oil, perfect for soothing skin irritations.
- Perfume balm: vegetable butter + wax, targeted application, no risk of breakage.
Stubborn sunscreen, waterproof mascara, trail dust... the face endures all sorts of things. To dissolve everything gently, a solid natural makeup remover with jojoba oil is impressively effective. Compact like a pebble, it melts upon skin contact and rinses off with warm water. Zero plastic enthusiasts are already praising the bar format, like the solid natural makeup remover with jojoba oil, Comme Avant: just four ingredients, no more, and a fresh almond scent that brings to mind the South.
To visualize the space-saving at a glance, here's our little "before/after":
- Shower gel 250 ml -> Overfat soap 75 g
- Shampoo 100 ml -> Shampoo bar 60 g
- Toothpaste 75 ml -> Toothpaste tablets 45 g
- Bi-phase makeup remover 100 ml -> Cleansing tablet 20 g
- Sunscreen 200 ml -> Sunscreen bar 80 g
Result: we free up to 600 g in the suitcase and make room for that novel we always put off... or for a spare swimsuit.
Sometimes we fear that the bars might melt or stick. The solution? Cut the bars in half (half a soap, a quarter of a shampoo) and slip them into small perforated stainless steel boxes. One night of airing is enough for them to dry before hitting the road again. Bonus tip: bring a soap net, which serves as a hanging soap dish AND a light exfoliant... clever, right?
A family of four going away for two weeks typically uses an average of 1.8 kg of plastic from disposable cosmetics. By switching to solid products, this number drops to less than 200 g of packaging (paper or aluminum), which is a reduction of nearly 90%. In terms of luggage, this eliminates about 1 kg of liquids: convenient for staying under the critical 8 kg limit allowed in the cabin... and for avoiding extra charges at the check-in counter.
The bar shampoo alone exemplifies the current craze: a market valued at 11 billion dollars in 2024 and already an anticipated 16.9 billion by 2032. Consumers are advocating for short, waterless, sulfate-free formulas; evidence that the time has come to rethink our hygiene habits.
A "superfatted soap" is a cold-processed soap, enriched with unsaponified oils (about 8%), which leaves a protective film that is ideal for sensitive skin or skin dried out by the sun.
Traveling without plastic isn't just a whim of an extreme environmentalist, it's simply common sense. Solid cosmetics lighten the luggage, simplify security checks, and give a nice snub to single-use waste. This summer, true freedom might be slipping a soap that smells of the scrubland and a shampoo that lathers just right into your bag... and the satisfaction of leaving the beach as clean as you found it.
Author Audrey on 14 November 2023
Health and Beauty : Medicine
Author Audrey on 18 November 2021
Internet and Webmaster : Communicate