Sustainable Beauty: Here Are Brands That Offer Refills
Opt for that refill, make your empties matter, and save some cash in the process!
From store to vanity, from vanity to bin, from bin to landfill. Rinse and repeat. This is the cycle we contribute to each time we restock on our favorite beauty products. Some of us feel a little guilty each time we toss an empty into the bin, but frankly put, there’s not a lot of wiggle room to make the noble choice. Not all containers are reusable. And after we cart them off to “recycling"… well, what happens in the end is still a big mystery.
The rate at which waste is actually recycled cannot keep up with the rate at which we consume.
It’s no great secret that the beauty industry is one of the biggest offenders when it comes to waste accumulation. Plenty of brands still use plastic for their receptacles—perhaps to keep price points down, among other reasons—adding to the already problematic situation. Fortunately, some brands have seen the light, issuing packaging using recycled materials and giving customers the option to purchase refills. This allows us not just to give our empties a new lease on life, but to save money as well.
The system is far too strained at this point. Refillable beauty isn’t going to fully eradicate the problem, but it will make a significant dent in the way we look at consumption.
Keen on joining the refill moment? Swipe through the gallery below to see which brands have committed to play for Team Mother Nature. Hopefully, more of our favorites follow suit soon enough!
Refillable Beauty
Refillable Beauty
Hermès
When your lipstick comes in a tube this pretty, it’s only natural for you to want to reach for it again and again. Fortunately, the Rouge Hermès collection supports the refill philosophy. Priced at $42 (around P2,100), the refill is compatible with all lip products in the line, allowing you to switch between shades and finishes as you please.
Hourglass Cosmetics
In love with the sleek gold applicator that houses your Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Refillable Lipstick? Worry not—its name alone speaks of an extended lifespan on your vanity. Alternate between your favorite shades and keep this award-winning, clutch-worthy lip product around for as long as you’d like. Refill options for the Curator Eyeshadow palette are available, too.
Kiehl's
Life with less plastic = pretty fantastic. Kiehl’s encourages its customers to reduce, reuse, and recycle by providing refills for hair and body products. Refillables come in the form of one-liter pouches, the contents of which can be transferred to any existing Kiehl’s empty or by availing of a pump bottle. Empty pouches can be returned to any Kiehl’s store to aid in the brand’s recycling program.
Fenty Skin
Riri was really setting us up for the long haul when she made product refills available for her skincare line. Stock up on bestsellers such as the Butta Drop Body Cream, Instant Reset Brightening Overnight Recovery Gel-Cream, and her very favorite Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer + Sunscreen for a fraction of their original prices, and save even more when you purchase the online exclusive refill bundles.
Charlotte Tilbury
Sustainability is one of the core beliefs of the Charlotte Tilbury brand. The company has been providing refillable options for both its skincare and makeup lines for awhile now. Refresh your empty lipstick tubes and bronzer compacts when you’ve run out; likewise for your eye cream and moisturizers. Charlotte Tilbury regularly updates its refillable beauty line, so keep your eyes peeled for more products.
YSL Beauty
Luxury giant YSL, too, has gone the way of the refill. Its Pure Shots skincare range, which reboots your skin in 3 simple steps, sells refill options for nearly all the serums in the line. Designed with a truly luxe case that is meant to be refillable, the Le Cushion Encre De Peau foundation is more than just pricey vanity eye candy.
Tata Harper
Crazy expensive but also crazy good, any product from the Tata Harper skincare line deserves a place of honor on your vanity. The Water-Lock Moisturizer is a lightweight, silicone-free hydrator that treats uneven textures, dryness, and dullness. Plus, it comes in a pretty green and gold bottle that you may regret tossing. Available now is a refill pod that will lock right into the jar once you’re out.
Dior
To reduce its environmental footprint, Dior has provided the Rouge Dior lipstick line with refills in four finishes: satin, matte, metallic, and new velvet. Once done, switch your old lipstick up with a new shade or finish for a new look. It’s a totally glam way to be environmentally friendly.
Humanrace
Pharell’s skincare line believes that refills are revolutionary. Packaging comes with inner units made from over 50% post-consumer recycled landfill plastics, which can be popped out once you’re done. The next step? Order a refill. In addition, refill units are heat-sealed instead of cap-sealed, which saves over 1,200 single use plastic caps per hour in manufacturing.
Jane Iredale
This beauty brand has been into refills before sustainability became a big deal. Jane Iredale came up with a refillable mirrored compact that fits PurePressed Base, PureMatte, BeyondMatte, and Bronzer Refills. Definitely a product for keeps!
Guerlain
The French luxury cosmetics brand created not just stunning lipstick cases with built-in mirrors (hello, touch-ups), they made sure to make the lipstick tubes refillable too. You simply have to pick out your favorite case design, then refill it with your chosen lip color of the day!
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