Ethique Review – Bar Minimum, In The Buff, Butter Block & Nectar

I’ve been interested in trying Ethique for a while so when Electric Collective reached out and offered to send me a couple of items to try I was really excited. I had previously looked at their range and they didn’t have as many unscented options as they do now.

I’m so impressed with how committed Ethique are to being environmentally conscious. Their ingredients are ethically sourced and vegan. Their Babassu oil is certified from the Orangutan Alliance. They are a certified B Corporation and made in New Zealand. Even their stickers are compostable! All of their packaging is home compostable, but even if you don’t have a compost system, you can tear it up and bury it in your potted plants to biodegrade.

Before I delve into any more details, I’ll try and describe my hair. I would consider it pretty easy to manage, in terms that it dries quite straight without heat styling. That’s not to say it’s nice though. I often just throw it up in a bun, otherwise it’s normally flat and a little frizzy. It’s generally not that smooth unless I take the time to dry it with my VS Sassoon Hot air styler (which I only really do if it’s for an event). It’s on the thinner side but waist length, so easily weighed down I stopped using conditioner and fairly balanced in terms of being oily or dry. After a few days my scalp definitely gets oilier but at the same time I often have pretty bad dandruff because of alopecia areata. I can go about 4-5 days before having to wash it again, depending on how well I’ve washed it. If I want to extend the time in between washing, I have to take the time to properly scrub my scalp and clean the entire lengths.

Bar Minimum Unscented Solid Shampoo Bar / $22.00 AUD for 110g

Ingredients

One ‘Bar Minimum’ is equivalent to 3 x 350ml plastic bottles and also 2750ml of water.

Full disclosure, I’ve tried shampoo bars before and I really disliked them because they left my hair feeling coated with wax. I actually tried this on my husband first because I was so nervous!

I find it easiest to wet my hair and then swipe it directly on the roots and through the strands. It takes a little bit more massaging to make it lather like a traditional shampoo but it can be done. I would describe the lather as creamy, rather than bubbly. Since it can be difficult to reach my scalp, I divide hair into two sections to ensure I do. If you’re finding it difficult to lather, add small amounts of water in between massaging. Not enough to wash it away but I find it helps increase the lather. Once I’ve massaged it into my scalp enough, I simply wash it out. With my old A’kin Shampoo, I had to do this twice. I only have to do it once with the Bar Minimum.

I really love how well this shampoo soap bar washes out. There are absolutely no traces of wax or oil left. My hair feels very soft and smooth once it’s dry and that’s without any styling. Overall I really love how well it’s working for my hair and I’m interested to see how long it lasts. They’re unscented but the raw ingredients definitely have a very sweet scent which is noticeable, a touch cloying but it goes away very quickly.

In The Buff Unscented Solid Conditioner Bar / $25.00 AUD for 60g

Ingredients

One ‘In the Buff’ will save 5 x 350ml plastic bottles being created and also 5050ml of water.

I haven’t used conditioner for years because my hair is easily weighed down, so I was a little hesitant to use this. I run the entire bar over the mid lengths and ends of my hair and rub it between my hands. You can leave it sit for a little, but I wash it out immediately and it still conditions and leaves my hair silky.

My styling routine consists of air drying my hair, while running a comb through once or twice as it dries and it’s never been this nice. I’m lucky that my hair is naturally straight, but this leaves it so soft and smooth, whilst also being very manageable.

I could definitely get away with not adding this to my routine as I haven’t conditioned my hair for years now, but I really liked how silky my hair felt after using this.

Nourishing Unscented Butter Block / $20.00 AUD for 100g

Ingredients

I really like the idea behind this body butter, especially since there is no waste. I just smooth it over my legs, arms and anywhere else I need it. Since it’s mostly wax it is a little stiff and it needs to warm up a bit. Don’t press too hard, just let it warm up with your body heat. It’s not an emollient or oily body butter so you can’t really spread it. It’s easier to apply if your skin is a little damp.

The body butter block has the strongest sweet smell out of all the items but it does go away pretty quickly. It leaves a slight tacky feeling that I can imagine bothering some people, since it doesn’t feel like a traditional body butter.

One ‘Nourishing Butter Block’ will save 2 x 250ml plastic bottles being created and also 1300ml of water.

Nectar Unscented Lip Balm / $12.00 AUD for 9g

Ingredients

The lip balm is quite firm so either warm it between your hands before using or press it against your lips for a bit before applying. Otherwise it can pull a bit. It is a definitely a balm, not really slick or oily. If you’re looking for a heavier, slightly waxy balm it’ll be a good option for you. If you prefer a glossier one it might not be the best. I find that it wears off after a few hours and isn’t as plush as I’d expect from something with a base of waxes and butters.

Final Word

It is so fantastic that Ethique have created such an impressive range that’s effective and still so environmentally conscious. I really love that all their boxes are compostable, even their stickers. In terms of value, I’d say they’re probably in the mid-range. They’re not the cheapest shampoo bars on the market, but they’re definitely not the most expensive. My hair is the longest it’s been for a few years, so I’ll have to see how much that affects it’s longevity. You can also extend their life by making sure they are out of the shower stream. I place mine on a soap dish by Nuebar and then place them on the window sill so the breeze can help dry them.

That said, the main selling point for me is the ability to reduce my waste. I’m already happy to replace my shampoo with this, so that’s at least one extra bottle I’m removing from my routine. We never used conditioner, so it’s not a bottle we had to replace, but I think it’ll be good to have as it has really improved my hair already. I’m also pretty happy to keep using the Nourishing Unscented Butter Block, though I was only sporadically buying body moisturisers. The only item I probably wouldn’t repurchase on my own is the lip balm and that’s simply because I have so many lip products to use up already! I’d also prefer something that has a little more slip, like the Okoko Cosmetiques lip serum or the Fitglow Night Lip Serum. Overall, I’m so happy to have been sent these. I’m really looking forward to finishing them and exploring more of their products.