Have you ever had a hard time getting used to a sustainable product? After using, for example, a solid shampoo, have you thrown in the towel and gone back to packaged products? Does the idea of ​​using a wooden toothbrush seem strange to you?

These questions and many more arise when you want to make the move to a more sustainable lifestyle. The truth is that some products require some time to adapt to them. Sometimes, the difference in use, texture or smell, for example, of a conventional item is far from one that is ecological or made with natural raw materials and it can take a little time to get used to it.

With this post we want to help you, on the one hand, to shorten these periods . We will give you some key points to keep in mind to get used to certain sustainable products in less time. On the other hand, we will invite you to be patient . In some cases, you have to give your body the chance to get used to the product. In these cases, we will give you time frames so that you know if it is still worth waiting or if it is time to try something else because, truly, that product is not for you.

CLEANING PRODUCTS

We know that switching to non-toxic cleaning products can be a challenge. We found two main reasons:

1. They are generally less foamy

We've been fooled! The marketing of 20th century household products convinced us that the more foam, the better it cleans. And that's not true , not at all. You just need some time to adapt and you'll see that what we say is true. In my specific case, I can tell you that it took me a while to get around to trying bar soap for dishes and now I don't want to use anything else. We have two options at Alma Eko, Marseille soap and Zorro d'Avi soap. I couldn't say which one I like best. They don't create as much foam as conventional liquid soaps, but, honestly, they clean better and have a brutal degreasing power. They surprised me a lot. Even so, if this foam thing is something you find difficult to adapt to, we suggest you use Marseille soap, which is the one that creates the most foam. In addition, it is very cheap and long-lasting.

2. The smell may be less attractive

Natural cleaning products are usually odorless. If you are used to conventional ones, which have many added perfumes, the change is quite big. Personally, I don't mind this. I even appreciate it, because I don't tolerate strong smells very well. But, if you want your cleaning products to have a scent, essential oils are your great allies . In addition, some have cleaning, bactericidal, antifungal, etc. properties , which will help even more in household chores. Oils also have the advantage that you can choose the scent you like best .

As for scouring pads and, above all, scrubbing brushes , they are handled differently. They are generally stiffer. You will need some time to get used to them, but once you have, there is no turning back because they are super effective. In addition, our online store has many different options, also very affordable, so you can try the one you think will best suit you and try other options, if you feel like it, over time.

One last very important aspect: take good care of your products . Soap, scrubbers and brushes should all air dry . Keep in mind that they are made from noble raw materials, without preservatives or treatments. Proper drying is essential to increase their durability. A soap dish with drainage is essential.

TOOTHPASTE AND TOOTHBRUSHES

Regarding natural and non-toxic toothpastes, there are two things that make the biggest difference:

1. The taste

Natural toothpastes are generally not as sweet as conventional ones. Many contain baking soda, which makes them even salty. It can be a big change, we know. It's just a matter of getting used to it. So, we suggest two solutions:

• Start with the Ben&Anna White natural toothpaste with mint and sage that we have at Alma Eko, it has a very mild flavour. You can also try the sage toothpaste tablets with fluoride from the Hydrophil brand , also with a mild and sweet flavour.
• Don't combine it with conventional toothpastes . Radically switch to the sustainable option. If you combine them, the adaptation process will be longer.

2. They generate less foam

And this is not a problem at all. They do not clean less because of this . In general, this is one of the major difficulties in adapting to sustainable products because they tend to be less foamy.

In the specific case of natural toothpastes, what happens is that they do not contain sulfates, an ingredient that can be harmful to our health . So, it is really important to give yourself the opportunity to make this change.

To make the adaptation process more bearable, we suggest the solid bar options from Alma Eko toothpaste, as they are the foamiest, without containing sulphates.

Regarding toothbrushes , after many years of using plastic ones, it can be a very strange feeling to use wooden ones. Some people tell us that at first they were scared to death. We are going to recommend the same thing as with toothpaste: switch to wooden toothbrushes immediately . Do not combine them with plastic ones. This way the adaptation process will take less time and one day, without you realizing it, using them will not seem strange.

ORGANIC COSMETICS

A large part of organic cosmetics is based on oils, rather than water , as is often the case with conventional products. This makes the texture very different and also the way of applying it.

These are less fluid products that require a little more effort when applying them. This, contrary to what it might seem, has two major advantages .

• Organic cosmetics last longer . Much less is used than with conventional creams and lotions.

• They activate the skin's circulation . As they require a little more insistence when applying them, we perform gentle massages on the skin that encourage the circulation to activate, with all the benefits that this has.

In the live broadcast with Matarrania, available on Instagram , we put a lot of emphasis on this aspect. We invite you to watch it because it was very interesting.

SOLID SHAMPOOS

With shampoos you have to be a little patient . It is possibly the product that requires the longest adaptation time for two fundamental reasons:

1. When you've been using conventional shampoos for years, your hair needs time to adapt . Sustainable solid shampoos generally don't contain sulphates or silicones . Silicone coats the hair fibre to give it shine, but at the same time, it prevents the nutrients that hair needs to look healthy from penetrating. Only sulphates can remove this silicone layer, but they are considered a potential toxin, endocrine disruptor, which also reduces hair's vitality.

When we switch to sustainable shampoos, without sulfates or silicones, we have to give them time to eliminate the silicone residues with much gentler surfactants. At least 3 washes are necessary to eliminate the silicone residues and a month until the hair adapts to the new product and absorbs all its nutrients. During this period you may notice that your hair looks very strange, as if it has less life and is difficult to manage, but it is only a temporary matter.

2. It's not easy to find your ideal shampoo on the first try. We're not saying it's impossible, we know it's happened, but there are many people who have had to try three or four different brands until they found their ideal shampoo.

At Alma Eko we have three brands that generally work very well. We will put them in order of probability of success:

• TheMalvaflor
  
• Beauty Cubes
  
• Golconda
  

  

SUN PROTECTION

Are you having trouble adjusting to sunscreens with physical filters ? We know it's a considerable change from conventional chemical filters, but we highly recommend you use them. For two reasons:

• They are better for your health
• They do not pollute the waters or damage coral reefs.

Where is the biggest difficulty in adapting? In that they are generally less fluid creams . The truth is that they are thicker and you have to spend a little more time applying them, but at the same time, they are more effective . With a small amount, you cover more skin than with conventional creams.

At Alma Eko we have three brands: Sol de Ibiza , Fuka Eri and Nuura . The latter has the most fluid texture and we recommend you start there.

For the others, the ones that come in a can, we're going to give you a trick that a client gave us. It turns out that if you tap the cream with your fingers before applying it, when it's inside the can, it spreads better. We don't know exactly what science is behind it, but we've tried it and it works! We suspect that the cream warms up and that's why it spreads better. You should get some little peaks out of the cream by tapping it quickly with your finger.

SUSTAINABLE MENSTRUATION

If there is one powerful change on the path to sustainability, it is switching to eco-friendly menstrual care tools.

This change may be the most radical if you have been using conventional products for years. It requires a 180-degree turn , not only in changing products, but in how they are used, cared for and, above all, in the process of self-knowledge of your cycle that they will entail.

In this area, we can only recommend patience and an open mind to explore which is the best solution or solutions for you. Switching from conventional pads to cloth pads, for example, is a very big change. The use of the cup is also very different from that of tampons. In addition, you can consider non-medical options for managing discomfort and pain during the menstrual cycle. The range is very wide and the change is considerable.

We also recommend that you inform yourself well. You can start by reading the post we have on our blog or watching the interview we did with Berta, from Siembra de Luna on Instagram.

REUSABLE WRAPPERS

In reality, in everyday use, there are practically no changes . They are used in the same way as plastic film or aluminum foil. What does change is the care they require, since they are generally reusable .

You're just going to have to spend some time cleaning them . Sometimes you'll just need to wipe them down with a damp cloth, other times they can go straight into the washing machine, and other times you'll need to wash them by hand - it depends on which sustainable option you choose.

The planet deserves that you give these reusable wrappers a chance.

DEODORANTS

At Alma Eko we have many options because each person has a different one. To make it easier for you, you can consult this guide that we have prepared with the aim of giving you a series of guidelines that will help you to choose your ideal deodorant the first time .

Of course, it is important that you like the smell , but you should also choose based on your level of sweating and whether or not you have sensitive skin . But, in addition to these aspects, you should keep in mind that, if you have been using conventional deodorants, with aluminum salts , it will take a while for the body to adapt to those made with natural ingredients, which are not sweat blockers, but breathable and absorbent. This transition period can last between 2 and 4 weeks. During this time , the body will be expelling the antiperspirants that have blocked the pores of the skin , preventing toxins from being expelled. Alma Eko deodorants do breathe , allowing toxins to escape, but preventing the proliferation of bacteria, which is what causes bad odor.

You see, switching to natural deodorants is not only a question of sustainability, but also of health .

We hope that this review of the products that are the hardest to adapt to and the tricks we give you will help you move forward in building a more sustainable lifestyle . If you have any questions or have a trick that has helped you, we would love for you to share it with us.

We'll soon bring you another post to talk about products that are easy to get used to. What do you think about the idea?