After discovering the world of nontoxic beauty, I’ve also discovered the body balms, a waterless moisturizer that contains wax to seal in moisture.

❌Avoid Toxic Ingredients – Most conventional body lotions are water based, can leak, are heavier, inconvenient, plus contain dimethicone, that seals moisture in the skin, creating a barrier that can lock in bacteria, oil, and other pathogens. They may contribute to increased acne and blackheads and can potentially disrupt the endocrine system. On top of that, most of the time the containers are made of plastic, that also leak a chemical in the product called BPA that can potentially interfere with the endocrine system, damage fertility and cause cancer.

❌Avoid Preservatives – preservatives are use to prolong life shelf of a product and you might see these labeled: Ethylhexylglycerin is not safe due to its performance as a contact allergen. People with sensitive skin and an existing skin condition are more likely to be impacted byproducts containing this ingredient.

Sodium benzoate is Bio-accumulative and cancer-causing food preservative, when combined with Vitamin C it can form benzene, a highly carcinogenic compound that damages the mitochondria in cells.

Potassium Sorbate: used to suppress formation of molds and yeasts in foods, wines and personal care products. In-vitro studies suggest that it is toxic to DNA and has a negative affect on immunity.

That’s why I switched to a body balm, made from nontoxic ingredients you can read, pronounce and even eat! (but let’s not be that extreme). I also look for unscented or made with Essential Oils if you would like the effect of aromatherapy.

I prefer to buy them without any extreme packaging or containers as I’m trying to minimize my waste. Some of the choices come in a case or, as a refill, or without a case.

Here are some of my most amazing finds:

Organic CHAGRIN VALLEY SOAP & SALVE Lotion Bar 10-$19

Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve it’s an Ohio Women owned family business, certified by WBE, this body balm is packaged in a reusable and recyclable metal tin. Comes in 4 other scents using only essential oils besides their unscented one.

Made with very plain and right ingredients: Organic Beeswax, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Cocoa Butter*, Organic Virgin Shea Butter*, Organic Mango Butter, Organic Virgin coconut Oil. *Ingredient is Fair Trade Certified

ECO ROOTS Lotion Bar $18–$20 (Amazon )

Ecoroots I a Low waste brand, Handmade Fresh in Small Batches in the USA Vegan & Cruelty-Free, Plastic Free (compostable & recyclable materials) and they also Give Back to make an impact. Their lotion bar is made from simple + organic ingredients: Wild-Crafted Candelilla Wax, Cocoa Butter*, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil*, Jojoba Oil*, Safflower Oil, Arrowroot Powder. *Organic Ingredients and it comes in a tin (recyclable) or as a refill in a compostable paper bag.

KATE MCLEOD Daily Stone $12-$45 (Sephora Terrain , Nordstrom , Anthropologie , Urban Stems)

Kate McLeod is a Climate Neutral Certified brand,Plastic Free, Vegan, Cruelty Free, Recyclable, Refillable and gives 1% For The Planet. The Daily Stone is a Concentrated Moisturizing Formula of cocoa butter concentrate, full of fatty acids to deeply moisturize dry skin. Ultra rich body butter bar glides on like silk and absorbs quickly, sealing in hydration without any greasy residue. It comes in Rose or Unscented and can purchased as a mini, refill, or with a bamboo case.

Ingredients: Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Fractionated Coconut) Oil, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Oil, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange / Neroli) Flower Oil, Boswellia Carterii (Frankincense) Oil

EMBER WELLNESS The Body Serum Bar $59-$65 (Free People , Haven Well Within )

Ember Wellness is a zero waste brand that’s using organic ingredients, vegan , hypoallergenic and cruelty free. The bar can be purchased a refill or with a travel tin.

Ingredients: C10-18 Triglycerides, ButyrospermumParkii (Shea) Butter, Candelilla Cera, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Squalane, Persea Gratissima(Avocado) Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Tocopherol.

ZERRA & CO. Lotion Bar $6-$16 (save 20% OFF with code LAURABRUJ20 )

Zero & Co. is a sustainable brand, Zero Waste, Plastic Free, Preservative Free, Leaping Bunny Certified and gives back 1% For The Planet. Their body balms are super affordable and are made with few ingredients : Shea Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, , Mango Butter, Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E Oil), Essential Oils . Their balm comes in 8 different scents (including unscented).

The body balms can be purchased individually and they have a paper packaging, the tin can be purchased separate, if needed only!