A gentle reminder…in the bathroom

What to buy, what products we use, and how we use them is a constant struggle for me. I enjoy having possessions that reflect my beliefs, and try my darndest to spend my money on ethically made products. Yet anyone who has spent a quarter of their paycheck at Whole Foods buying organic, free range soap knows the sting that can come with such purchases. “Why not just buy suave?” I find myself asking. “Do I really need Aveda facewash when I can just go to Walgreens and buy whatever is on sale?” My boyfriend’s meticulously kept and expensive assortment of organic soaps and shaving creme just makes me feel guilty. I want a product that supports me, not chides me.
“I can’t believe you just put that crap in your hair,” I imagine my lavender/tea tree oil soap shouting at me. “Do you know how wasteful that is? How many toxins there are?’

Actually I do. And I enjoy well made, quality body products much more than their generic counterparts. Which is why I was tickled when I found a body wash and shampoo that really did shout at me. It’s message, however, is one that I think we can all enjoy.
STOP THE WATER WHILE USING ME products is a company I recently discovered. Since they are based out of the UK and Germany I haven’t had a chance to try their products, but I am tickled by their mission statement and the aesthetic design of their products.

Their shower gel, toothpaste and shampoo all declare in large, funky letters “Stop the water while using me!” because, as the website reminds us, “Why leave the water running when you brush your teeth? Why not think about how to use water when you’re in a hotel?” and other apt questions.

I love the fusion of practicality, politics and beauty. The bottles are snazzy and their message is inspiring. Surrounding yourself with positive statements has to be better than bland supermarket bottles of shampoo.

While price for the STOP THE WATER WHILE USING ME products is reasonable, the international shipping is keeping me away from it for now. In the meantime, I’m thinking a little bit harder about what I bring into my home. Do the products I buy support my lifestyle or undermine it? A little reminder of the choices I have committed to is sure to go a long way.

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