When I tried to make my beauty routine plastic-free, there was one thing I learnt pretty quickly: refillable was better than recyclable. Of course, recyclable packaging is certainly one step ahead of throwaway plastic, but it’s even better if you can avoid waste altogether by using products that can be refilled.
In terms of sustainability, recycling is problematic. Due to the long life span of plastics, including those designed to be recyclable, disposing of them is difficult and can often place huge pressure on resources and the environment. In fact, if you buy a refill instead of a completely new product, you save 70% on CO2, 65% on energy and 45% on water, according to research conducted by The LCA Centre. Up until earlier this year China dealt with majority of the world’s recycling (the UK shipped 2.7 million tonnes of plastic to China and Hong Kong in the last five years, Greenpeace reported) but with the Chinese government banning imports, the recycling problem is set to get worse.
This is why when makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis created her eponymous beauty line, Kjaer Weis, investing in a refillable system was key. Each one of their makeup products is housed in a keep-forever metal case which can be refilled when finished. “Refillable packaging is very important to me because it really cuts down on the overall amount of waste that we produce and leave behind on this planet,” Weis told Refinery29. “We see the consequences of not recycling everywhere, especially in the oceans with the enormous amount of plastic buildup. It has had serious ramifications that haven’t been paid enough attention to.”
While Kjaer Weis are pioneering this movement, with more and more consumers now looking for eco-friendly alternatives, a whole host of beauty brands are starting to offer refillable options. Even better, refills are often also wallet-friendly – much like when you get a discount for bringing a reusable coffee cup for your latte, buying refills is often cheaper than a brand new product.
Convinced? Click through to discover some of the best refillable beauty brands out there.
Sustainability is one of the key focuses at Floral Street. Each scent is housed in a recyclable, biodegradable box, and the Instagram-worthy brand now offers a fragrance refill service in their Covent Garden flagship store. This goes for any size scent and there is a 20% discount off the retail price.
Must buy: Floral Street Arizona Bloom Eau de Parfum 50ml, £60, available at Floral Street.
Why: New to the collection, Arizona Bloom is equal parts warm and fresh, evoking balmy summer evenings thanks to a blend of jasmine petals, salted musks and Balinese coconut.
Floral Street Arizona Bloom 50ml, $, available at Floral Street
French brand L’OCCITANE has always been known for it’s natural approach to beauty, but the brand is now taking it’s commitment to the natural world one step further by providing eco-refills for a wide range of shower gels, bath products and skincare items. Using 90% less plastic than the regular bottles, the 500ml refills are great for getting more bang for you buck while taking care of the environment too.
Must buy: L’OCCITANE Precious Cleansing Foam: £22, refill: £31.50, available at L’OCCITANE
Why: This light weight mousse is all you need for soft and supple skin. Filled with tons of moisturising ingredients, this cleanser doesn’t come with the dryness associated with some foaming products. Plus it’s one of the few pump action cleansers on the market to come with a rechargeable refill.
If it’s family-size refills you’re after, then Faith In Nature is about to become your new best friend. Stocking 5 litre refills of some of it’s best-selling shampoos, conditioners and shower gels, the containers can be filled up at a variety of independent shops all over the UK, making it easier to shop zero-waste than ever before.
Must buy: Faith In Nature Dragon Fruit Body Wash: £5.79, refill: £41.25, available at Faith In Nature
Why: If you want to smell like a rainforest when you step out of the shower, then this body wash is precisely what you need. Packed with dragon fruit and lemon extract, this paraben-free shower gel is perfect for those with sensitive skin who still want to smell sweet.
Chances are you’ve spotted Kjaer Weis’ Instagrammable metal packaging on your feed. Designed by Marc Atlan (the creative force behind the iconic Comme de Garcons and Helmut Lang packaging), the beautiful silver compacts can be used again and again. Simply pop out the cartridge and refill with a fresh new one.
Must buy: Kjaer Weis Cream Blush, compact: £41, refill: £24, available at Cult Beauty
Why: This is a buttery soft blush that blends like a dream. It lends cheeks a subtle hint of dewy colour and that natural-looking flush we all crave.
Cult fragrance brand Le Labo, known for their minimalist shelfie-worthy bottles and standout scents, offer a refillable service in store. Take your much-loved perfume into one of their boutiques where they will refill the bottle and give you 20% off the original price.
Must buy: Le Labo Rose 31 Eau De Parfum, 100ml: £180, refill: £144, available at Liberty
Why: This is a modern take on the classic Grasse rose with the addition of warm and woody notes such as cedar and centifolia. It’s a fragrance that always gets compliments.
Ayurvedic bath and body brand, Rituals, have recently committed to a number of greener practises and now offer eco-friendly refills for their body creams, day and night creams, hand washes and fragrance sticks.
Must buy: Rituals Ritual of Namaste Hydrating Overnight Cream, original: £29.50, refill: £25.50, available at Rituals
Why: Packed with hyaluronic acid and Indian rose, this deeply hydrating formula works while you sleep to ensure you wake with plump and glowing skin. When finished, pop out the bottom of the jar and replace with a refill.
Surrat is the brainchild of makeup master Troy Surratt and thanks to their high-performance yet skin-friendly products, the brand has a loyal legion of fans. They are making steps to reduce packaging with the eyeliners and brow pencils available with refillable cartridges.
Must buy: Surratt Auto-Graphique Liner in Chat Noir, original: £40, refill: £16, available at Space NK
Why: Inspired by the tools used in Japanese calligraphy and artistry, this inky black eyeliner lets you create a super sharp cat-eye with ease. Plus, the pigment stays put all day.
Do you struggle to find an eyeshadow palette where you use all the shades? Buxom might just have the solution. Their refillable palette lets you pick your very own hues from the 40 strong range, and then simply refill when you’ve hit upon on one of your favourites.
Must buy: Buxom Cosmetics Customisable Six Shade Refillable Compact Eye Shadow Palette, palette: £8, individual shades: £8, available at Debenhams
Why: Highly pigmented, every single one of these shades gives good colour pay off. Throw into the mix the primer-infused formula and you have the makings of the perfect long-wear eyeshadow.
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