If you’re working to cut down your plastic footprint, you probably have a reusable tote bag on hand at all times and pack the occasional meal in your tiffin carrier. But have you considered what happens to the packaging of a beauty product once you’ve tossed it in the bin?
That’s why we’re gravitating toward refillable beauty items. Not only does the packaging system reduce the amount of plastic pollution, but also helps us save some coin so we can get more of our favourite products for less.
To get you started, we’ve gathered the best-performing, chic-looking products which are our makeup pouches mainstays.
With each slim lipstick gilded in a gold, Hourglass’ refillable lipstick crosses the line between beauty and accessory.
The creamy formula goes on smooth, delivering long-lasting, saturated colour in a swipe. We like how thin the applicator is; it’s easier to control so we can define and contour our lips without making a mess.
When veteran makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis created her eponymous beauty brand, investing in a refillable system was key. Since her products are made with natural, organic ingredients, they’re good for your skin too.
We recommend this sleek metal compact; it houses a buttery blush that gives the cheeks a subtle hint of dewy colour for a natural-looking flush. The shade ‘Sun Touched’ is also comparable to NARS’ iconic Orgasm Blush, making it an ideal sustainable swap.
Once you’ve scraped out every last bit, simply pop the empty tray out and replace it with a fresh one. Here’s how.
Also committed to reducing single-use packaging is Alima Pure, a natural beauty brand that uses minimal, high quality ingredients for maximum impact.
Unlike most powder foundations, Alima Pure’s mineral formula contains argan, evening primrose, and rosehip seed oils to soothe and moisturise, so it won’t dry out your skin or leave it looking cakey.
The compact comes with a soft sponge applicator too, convenient for touch-ups when you’re on the go.
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It’s difficult to maintain the sharp shape of most automatic brow pencils, which is why Shu Uemura has given their version a built-in sharpener for precision.
The smooth formula glides on effortlessly, so it’s easy to feather in gaps with hairlike strokes. There’s also a spoolie at the other end to blend lines for natural-looking brows.
Full size: $81
Refill: $25 per pan
With three shades for contouring and three shades for highlighting, KVD’s longwear formulas are velvety, non-greasy, and easy to blend, setting it apart from other cream contouring products.
Once you’ve hit the bottom of the pan on your favourite crème contour shade, just pop in the magnetic refill and customise your contour palette.
Nestled in a chic compact that looks like a lipstick case, Fenty Beauty’s blotting papers are made with natural botanical fibers — the same way traditional Japanese papers are created.
The smooth, absorbent sheets sop up excess oils, while the continuous scroll gives you full control over the size of every piece.
If this is what RiRi relies on to keep her makeup looking fresh, we’ll take a few refillable rolls to go, please and thank you.
Case: $4 to $8 (Sizes XS to XL)
Refill: $24 per pan
If you’re struggling to use up every shade in an eyeshadow palette, it might be time to get a refillable one.
Make Up For Ever has a range of metal cases for you to customise with the brand’s Artist Face colour refills, so you won’t have to neglect a single shade from your palette.
Take your pick from 28 pigmented colours in 5 blendable finishes: satin, matte, metallic, diamond, and iridescent.
Take your sustainable practice to the next level and save up some cash by stocking up on these refillable beauty products.
This article was first published on 27 August 2018 and last updated on 11 July 2024.
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