Are all-in-one products the answer to saving money, space and earth?

When it comes to skincare, haircare, cleaning and more, I like the idea of all-in-one products, especially when it comes to travel or if you are tight on space. However, the products you see on supermarket shelves tend to just be hair and body wash combinations and stop after that. This tends to be a similar situation to the eco-friendly alternatives I’ve tried. But is it possible to expand on the all-in-one product possibilities in a sustainable way? One brand I have discovered recently is Dr Bronner’s*, a brand which specialises in all-in-one products.

*This post contains an AD – PR product. Please see the disclaimer for further details.

The leader of all-in-one products? Dr Bronner’s

When the chance to try some of Dr Bronner’s products arose, I was curious to see if what they claimed was true. That is an 18-in-one castile soap that can be used for face, body, hair, shaving, food dishes, laundry, mopping, pets, and just generally all things cleaning body and house.

Unlike most soaps from the supermarket which are heavily chemical-based, castile soap is made from plant-based oils which are kinder to the skin and planet.

Dr Bronner’s is a certified fair trade company and uses organic and fair trade ingredients in their soaps. There are also no added synthetic fragrances, preservatives, detergents or foaming agents.

So far, so good.

Are the products effective and skin-friendly?

As someone with sensitive skin, I chose to try the Baby Unscented as this was recommended for sensitive skin. I have the bar and liquid version. I also tried the Lemon liquid soap as I wanted to try this for cleaning. I also received a lip balm in my delivery, which works well and keeps lips moisturised, which is what you want from a lip balm.

So far, I have tried Dr Bronner’s as a hand and body soap, shower gel, shampoo, shaving foam, bubble bath and surface cleaner.

Overall, I have been pleased with all uses, except as a shampoo. I have found other designated shampoo products to be more effective and beneficial for my hair. But for any sort of body wash, shaving or general cleaning around the house, then I would happily use my Dr Bronner’s soap. I don’t have any pets, so can’t provide feedback on that side of the product.

The Baby Unscented range has also been fine with my sensitive skin and I found that for uses such as shower gel or shaving foam, a little goes a long way and I don’t need to use much product.

Do you save money using all-in-one products?

Given the versatility of Dr Bronner’s and the organic and fair trade standards, a bottle or bar of Dr Bronner’s soap does cost more than what you find on the high street.

For example, a 946ml bottle costs £21.99. This may seem like more money than you are used to paying for other toiletry products. However, once you add up the costs of separate products you would buy, in actual fact, it works out to be more cost-effective and saves you money in the long term.

Saving space: home storage and travelling

The obvious benefit to downsizing your toiletry and cleaning product collections is the space you save around the house. You certainly get more cupboard space available, which means you can store other things which have previously lived elsewhere around your home, perfect for keeping your home tidy.

There are real benefits when it comes to travelling. Rather than trying to fit everything into a wash bag, and indeed remember everything, an all-in-one product removes a lot of that hassle. The soap bars or smaller liquid bottles would be ideal for travel.

Buying Dr Bronner’s in the UK

Dr Bronner’s, like many major companies, has a global presence, distributing products to 25 countries. With origins in Germany and the U.S., it does not fit the bill of wanting to support local businesses. This is something that is a downside for me in terms of sustainability, but as of writing this post, I am yet to discover a local UK brand which has products with as many uses as Dr Bronner’s.

While preferring to shop from independent local businesses with less shipping involved, Dr Bronner’s deliveries in the UK are still carbon neutral and their packaging is a mixture of recyclable and biodegradable materials.

The verdict?

As with so many products these days, finding something that ticks all the sustainability boxes and is within an affordable price range is often not feasible for many families. If you are looking to start reducing the number of toiletry and cleaning products you buy or are seeking a space-saving, travel-friendly alternative, then products like Dr Bronner’s All-in-One are an ideal beginner’s option.