Between this post and “My Cleaning Cabinet,” you’re getting a peek into parts of my house I never thought would be on display. If you’ve wondered how all my tips and recommendations throughout my blog play out altogether for a real person, now you’ll now. Here’s my bathroom cabinet.
Usually I leave my blog photography to the professionals, but I wanted to be completely honest here, so I took these myself. Though I did tidy up the cabinet beforehand, these pictures encompass what I use – and all I use – on a daily basis.
Let’s dive in.
Bottom shelf, right to left
Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree Castile Soap – My daily facial wash – just a couple drops – and for cleaning my nightguard and makeup brushes. The Tea Tree Castile Soap in particular was part of balancing my skin when battling adult onset acne. I thought about getting a fresh bottle for this picture, but the four-year-old bottle that I refill is more honest.
Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Toothpaste – Although my grandfather advised that you can brush your teeth with the Castile Soap, I was super glad when we developed this toothpaste. People’s first comment about it is usually that it’s low foaming, which is due to the absence of SLS or other synthetic detergents. Now I’m so used to it that the copious bubbles of convention toothpastes feel suffocating.
Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Coconut Organic Hair Crème – After towel drying my hair, I run 1 ½ pumps of this through it with my fingers. This keeps the frizzies at bay. It’s like lotion for your hair!
Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Organic Lotion – This light lotion is my go-to for whole body moisturizing.
Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner – It’s a bit incognito here in this little bottle, but I keep Sal Suds in my bathroom for a bunch of reasons: to treat clothing stains quickly, to handwash a garment in the sink, and to wash any random objects that need it.
Middle shelf, right to left
Dr. Bronner’s Virgin Coconut Oil – One jar for the kitchen, another for the bathroom. This one is for removing makeup, hair masques, facial masques, moisturizing anything, shaving, and using in the Coconut Sugar Scrub further down to the left.
Coffee & Bar Soap Scrub (bottom) – This dry scrub, made from 1 part grated Dr. Bronner’s Bar Soap to 2 parts dry used coffee grounds, is super for intense exfoliation of feet and elbows. The coffee is also an excellent deodorizer of stubborn smells on the skin such as gasoline or garlic.
Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Organic Magic Balm – Another versatile heavy hitter. I use this for healing tough cracked skin, for overnight hand and feet treatments with gloves or socks, for chapped skin, for chaffing prevention, for helping cuts to heal quickly, and for any dry itchy skin in general.
Sugar & Coconut Oil Scrub (bottom) – This simple combo of 2 parts sugar to 1 part coconut oil is a nourishing exfoliator for hands. The sugar sloughs off the dead skin and the coconut oil nourishes the new skin beneath. I use this in the evening when the coconut oil will have more time to soak in deeply. In the summer, I also shave with this. I rub it on to my legs til the sugar dissolves. Then the coconut oil provides a smooth shave and nourished skin.
Sugar & Soap Scrub – This simple scrub of 1 part Liquid Castile Soap to 5 parts sugar is my daytime exfoliant for hands. It washes off cleanly, leaving my hands ready to go.
Dr. Bronner’s Arnica-Menthol Organic Magic Balm – I use this for muscle aches and congestion. Its powerhouse blend of menthol, camphor, and mint, plus the arnica, is a super herbal healer.
Top shelf, right to left
Lume Deodorant (Unscented) – Probably topping the list of requested items that Dr. Bronner’s does not make is deodorant. It’s been on the “maybe someday” list for many years. In the meantime, consumer demand has brought many healthy options to the market. This one works best for me and has well-reviewed ingredients.
Dr. Bronner’s Organic Hand Sanitizer – You might think you know what this is for, but in my bathroom, I don’t use it for sanitizing hands (not when I have access to soap and water). Instead, I use this for a midday underarm refresh (bacteria is what causes odor, and the alcohol in this kills them), itch relief from bug bites, cleaning my phone (spray a tissue then wipe the phone), and de-streaking my sunglasses.
Dr. Bronner’s Organic Lip Balm in Unscented and Orange Ginger – Besides the straightforward use, I also use this for some nourishing lip color: I line my lips with lip liner and then apply the lip balm, rubbing it to blend it all in. I also use it for softening hardened cuticles.
Mineral Fusion Moisturizing SPF 40 – After one fortunately small and early-caught incident of skin cancer on my face, I use this daily, even if I don’t think I’ll be spending much time in the sun.
Various brands of makeup – Makeup for me must have three criteria: be cruelty-free, have healthy ingredients, and look good. Again, consumer demand has brought some good options to the market. I usually have a mix of Mineral Fusion, Honeybee Gardens, Pixi, and Jane Iredale.
Now for the shower
Oh, how I do not miss those days of myriad bottles cluttering up my shower floor! Falling over, getting moldy – yuck! The only reason there are this many products in the picture is because there is some fluctuation through the seasons, as indicated. I usually only have two of these at one time.
Dr. Bronner’s Almond Castile Soap – My favorite. The Almond makes me happy. It’s so warm and cozy. I use more of this soap than all the other ones combined. For most of the year – spring, summer, and fall – I wash with this from head to toe. Yes, hair too.
Dr. Bronner’s Lemongrass Lime Organic Sugar Soap – This kicks the moisture up a notch as the weather starts to dry out. Again, I use this from head to toe.
Dr. Bronner’s Lemongrass Lime Organic Shaving Soap – Check out the last word there: Soap! Although this is labeled for shaving, it’s actually the most moisturizing of all Dr. Bronner’s soaps, with its thick formulation of Shikakai powder and sugar. When the weather gets super dry in January, I switch to this for head to toe.
Apple cider vinegar, diluted in half with water – This is my hair conditioner. Conditioning is about pH. After I’ve washed my hair with one of the three soaps mentioned above, I run a cup of this mixture through my hair and then rinse it out. Soap is alkaline and causes the follicles on our hair strands to stick out. The acidity of vinegar smooths all this out. After towel drying my hair, I apply the Hair Crème.
But what about shaving? When it comes to shaving, I’m not picky. I’ll shave with any of the above since they all work well. If my skin needs a little extra boost, I’ll use the Coconut Sugar Scrub that I mentioned above, which exfoliates, lubricates, and nourishes all in one go.
I never thought I’d invite so many people into my bathroom! Now you know what all I use in my personal care, and you didn’t even have to sneak away during a party!
Further reading
- GIY All-Purpose Cleaning Spray
- The Low Cost of Green Cleaning
- Benefits of Shikakai for Hair and Body
This tip and many more are in my book, Soap & Soul: A Practical Guide to Minding Your Home, Your Body, and Your Spirit with Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, available now in hardback on DrBronner.com or at your favorite bookseller, and as an eBook and audiobook (read by me!) from wherever you download or listen.
Thank you for sharing a peek inside your home. I know this article is a few years old now, and things may have changed a bit because I can’t find The Mineral Fusion products. The Lume Unscented is rated a 4 on EWG skin deep, which concerns me. Have you updated any of the products to meet the EWG standards (obviously not the Dr. Bronner products) like the cosmetics and deodorant?
Hi Jenn – Thanks for reading. Yep, there have been a number of product changes since I took this pic. Mineral Fusion was bought out by Seaweed Naturals, which also owns Andalou Naturals. They have discontinued a number of the products I used, including the SPF moisturizer and the beauty balm, probably because they had overlapping product lines. I’m still trying to find a new fav for these. Regarding the Lume rating on EWG, looks like they have the same product (Unscented Cream Deodorant) evaluated a number of times, with scores ranging from 2-4. I took a look at the one with the 4 rating, and the ingredient list on that page includes “Fragrance,” which is an automatic 8 from EWG and bumps up the whole product score. I checked my product’s ingredient list, and it does not include fragrance, so I think that is a mistake on the EWG site. Skin Deep is a fantastic resource and a great starting place for researching any product, but they are tracking thousands of products and sometimes there’s an error. Another site I do research on is INCIdecoder.com, which lists the product here: https://incidecoder.com/products/lume-unscented-cream-tube-deodorant. Great ingredient breakdowns and explanations.
Hi Lisa,
I just finished your book and I loved it, I devoured it like it was a thriller! I have a question for you, what is your opinion on “intimate body wash”, i.e body washes designed for the exterior of the genital area? I have one at home that I bought before I read your book, and now looking at the ingredients I don’t see anything different than any soap, except maybe for the pH (I read on the company’s website that their product is pH neutral). They also claim that they are antibacterial but I googled the ingredients and none of them are specifically antibacterial. Do you think such products are needed? What do you think about them?
Hi Shirley- Thanks so much for your kind words about my book! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! There certainly have been some dicey moments around here. Regarding an intimate wash, you do not need anything antibacterial. You just need a mild cleanser. The Dr. Bronner’s Castile with the milder essential oils is best for this- anything except the Peppermint and Eucalyptus. Just a drop or two lathered in your hand or a dollop from a foaming pump (diluted 1:3 with water).
Hi Lisa! This might be a weird question – since the Hair Creme and the Lotion have similar ingredients, would I be able to use the Hair Creme as a lotion for skin, not just hair? I really enjoy the texture, but I know that the ingredients have different quantities in each product so I’m not sure if it would be okay to use the same product on my face/body as I use on my hair. Thanks!
Hi Maddie – I love that you are reading ingredients! Well done! And yes, you could interchange the products. The Hair Creme is not as thick a formulation, but the ingredients are the same. In fact, I often describe the Hair Creme as lotion for hair.
I love reading your blog.
My cabinet is much the same but with Dr Bronner Unscented Baby Soap for my face and Peppermint for hands/body/cleaning my face cloth.
I agree, the toothpaste is nice but, if you want more bubbles, you can run your brush over the bar (the lovely mushy bits which occur when water has got in the soap tray and absorbed back into the bar) then pop your toothpaste on. It gives a super deep foaming clean like no other.
Awesome deodorant and no baking soda irritation, by mixing a pea sized amount of baking soda with Dr. Bronner’s lotion. Simple, effective, non irritating …and no plastic tube!
I recently tried the Sugar Soap and I’m in love! Might have to get the hair creme too. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve been using your Unscented Magic Balm and I love it. I also have your organic hand and body lotion. I do like it but because of eczema and very itchy skin problems due to cancer treatments, I need something more.
I’ve been using Aveeno Eczema Therapy because it contains colloidal oatmeal. I sure wish Dr. Bronners made a lotion or cream with this ingredient because I really trust your company.
My husband and I are retired and usually buy your products at The Vitamin Shoppe or The Fresh Market to save shipping costs.
I’ve been buying Sal Suds for a long time and use it to clean nearly everything and tell everyone I know about it. Big fan of yours.💕
Hey! Quick question! I have searched high and low, and I want to refill my foaming hand soap with castile soap (I love Dr. Bronner’s!), but I’m having trouble finding the correct dilution to fill a dispenser. Some people say 1 oz of soap to 1 cup of water, others say 2 Tbsp to 1 cup of water, and I was wondering if you could offer the definitive dilution rate! Thanks!
Hi Anna – I tell people to start with a 1:3 ratio, which would be 1/4 c. of Soap to 3/4 c. of Water. You can adjust it from there to your preferences.
4 in 1 lemongrass lime organic soap. Maybe I’m just tired and missing it but what is the ratio for the vinegar and water.
Hi Jeanette – For the Apple Cider Vinegar rinse I use on my hair, it’s a mixture of half water, half vinegar.
Hello!
I have been using the unscented baby soap bar for a long time and love it. Recently, I added it as a shampoo, following with rinsing with vinegar/water solution. Do I need to use ACV with the mother or would any type of vinegar do the trick? Also even with this solution, my hair still gets tangled. Am I not using enough? I also did use the Dr. Bronner’s Hair Rinse with the same issue. Should I perhaps use the sugar soap instead as it is more moisturizing? Thank you for your input.
Hi Isabelle- The main difference between true soaps and conventional shampoos is that soap has a higher pH. This can make our hair very tangled unless we balance it out with a low, or acidic, pH. The acidity of vinegar or the Citrus Hair Rinse is needed to balance out the pH of Castile Soap. Any brand of ACV will work, as it’s the pH that is doing the work. The Organic Sugar Soap may help with tangles, and leave-in conditioners are great for improved moisture also – I use Dr. Bronner’s Leave-In Hair Creme or pure coconut oil.
Thank you brilliant ❤️
The shave cream is possibile to apply also with shave brush?
Hi Claudio- Yes, that’s a great way to use the Organic Shaving Soap. It’s a liquid form rather than a foam, so one option is to squirt a small amount into a dish or cup, then lather up with your brush.
Do you have GREEN TEA Bronners”
Hi Rita- Green Tea and Cherry Blossom are seasonal scents here in the U.S. They will be available through our webstore (https://shop.drbronner.com/) in April and May.
Thank you, Lisa! I just ordered most of that stuff you posted for myself and my husband! Some we can share and the others are all peppermint and tea tree for him! I’m going to try Almond too- since it’s your fave- and you are def. the expert.
It’s really appealing to have a full line of products that are green and streamlined. I’ll be looking at your recipes soon too. I’m going to try the ACV 50%/ H2O 50% for the conditioner. Thank you for making it easy and simple. I have a toddler and am in grad school- no time to check every label. Just wanted a brand I TRUST!
Hi Meridith – You’re very welcome! I’m so glad to be of help!
My father used and advocated dr. Bronner‘s Castile soap‘s all my life and I still continue to use the products. He would have been 122 years
Hi Robin – Wonderful to hear! He must have been part of the word-of-mouth spread of the soap in my grandfather’s day.
This is wonderful, Lisa! Thank you for giving us a peek. I love Dr. Bronner’s and will send a photo of my cabinet sharing the products I use most.
This has inspired me to try a few new items as well. Many thanks.
Hi Na-Rae- It’s great to hear my sharing has inspired you! I’d love to see a photo of your bathroom cabinet. Email it to goinggreen@drbronner.com.
I love Dr. Bronner’s and love your blog! These tips are awesome!! Thank you Lisa for giving us a peek!!!
Hi Joanne- I’m so glad to hear you find my blog helpful!
Thank you for sharing!
Hi Lisa! Good peek of your bathroom products and what they are used for! Also, I was thinking about trying other castile soap fragrances but I was curious if you recommend fragrances for specific purposes? Like the Tea Tree for acne or (besides that one) is just a matter of aroma preference?
Wish you a great “new” year!
Happy new year to you too, Adrian! For the most part, it’s a matter of preference. However, Unscented is great for babies and those with sensitive skin, while Almond, Citrus and Rose are mild enough for nearly any skin type. Peppermint is cooling and refreshing on a hot day or after vigorous exercise, but because peppermint essential oil is intense, it can be drying for those with dry skin. Take a peek at the “My Favorites” blog post for a deeper dive on what scent I use where: https://www.lisabronner.com/my-favorites/
Thanks so much for your straight forward bathroom products and why you use what you use! I love all Dr. Bronner’s products, and I may try a couple new ones!
Excellent!
Love your newsletters and information about the Products.
They are Fabulous!!
Which soap is best to use as a shampoo for colored hair which tends to be dry and frizzy at times. It is wavy. Thanks
Hi Kay- Unfortunately, we don’t recommend our soaps for colored hair. The alkalinity of the soap opens up the hair follicles, where the color resides. The color will drain out and fade quickly. Colored hair needs acidic products only. (Soap, by nature, cannot be acidic. Only detergents (shampoo) can be.) The Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) is a great resource for finding better products.
Looks like a lot of plastic containers. Plastic can’t really be recycled – especially in the U.S.
Lisa,
Can you please recommend a recipe for the ratio of LCS and water to put in a container for the shower to use as a body wash? I’m afraid that if my family uses it directly out of the LCS bottle, not pre-mixed with water, then a lot of it will be wasted when trying to apply just a couple teaspoons to the wash rag.
Thank you!
Hi Sheri- I don’t pre-dilute the Castile Soap because dilutions are inclined to be cold. However, I know there are reasons why you might want to predilute, such as if you have kids who don’t understand the word “concentrated” and squirt half a bottle on themselves. A foaming pump dispenser is good for this. For hands I recommend a dilution of 1 part soap to 3 parts water, but for a body soap try 1 to 6. If you don’t use a foaming pump, putting this in a regular (non-pump) bottle is fine.