© shutterstock
It’s clear that everyone has a part to play in cutting their own plastic consumption. Countless film wrappers and empty packages pollute the environment and put pressure on entire ecosystems. One excellent way to push back is with refillable beauty products — here are the sustainable cosmetics brands offering refills.
By: Sarah Marx
How Plastic Burdens the Environment
According to WWF, 78 million tonnes of plastic packaging are used globally each year, and 32% of it ends up in the environment uncontrolled. Once there, its chemical makeup — plasticizers and flame retardants among them — takes a toll on plant and animal life. A standard plastic container, for instance, can take up to 400 years to fully break down. Along the way, it fragments into ever-smaller pieces that animals living in and around water can accidentally ingest — and those microplastic particles eventually make their way back to us, unnoticed, through the seafood we eat.
Recycling Is Good — Refilling Is Better
Most decorative and skincare cosmetics come packaged in plastic tubs, bottles, and pump dispensers, and unfortunately, not all of them are recyclable. A shampoo bottle wrapped in a plastic film sleeve, for example, can only be disposed of as mixed plastic and incinerated.
Happily, more and more cosmetics brands are shifting to plastic-free packaging, or skipping outer packaging altogether by selling creams and the like in simple glass jars.
Some brands go a meaningful step further, committing not just to recycling but to refillable packaging outright.
Molton Brown
The Refillable “Infinite Bottle” in Recycled Aluminum
British perfume house Molton Brown’s “Infinite Bottle” isn’t just a striking addition to any bathroom shelf — it’s a genuine milestone in refill design. Made entirely from recycled aluminum and built to be refilled again and again, it cuts energy use by 95% and CO2 emissions by 83% compared to new aluminum.
Every Infinite Bottle holds one of three iconic Molton Brown bath fragrances, crafted from sustainably sourced, RSPO-certified palm oil derivatives. The paper used for the recyclable outer carton and label is 40% recycled material and 15% agro-industrial waste, reclaimed from repurposed plant byproducts of the food and beverage industry. Paired with 400 ml refill pouches for bath and shower gel, the system cuts plastic use by 63% compared to standard bottles.
The Refillable Glass Bottle for Fine Liquid Hand Soap
This sustainable glass bottle for hand soap is made from 100% recycled glass and reduces CO2 emissions compared to plastic bottles. It comes filled with liquid hand soap in one of three beloved scents: Orange & Bergamot, Delicious Rhubarb & Rose, or Coastal Cypress & Sea Fennel.
Kjaer Weis
Danish makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis didn’t just create a natural, skin-friendly cosmetics line — she designed a genuinely premium, environmentally conscious packaging system to go with it. The sturdy, weighty compacts are made from a silver-toned zamak alloy and stamped with her initials, KW. Once the powder or blush inside is used up, a refill pan, packaged in recycled cardboard, can simply be purchased and slotted into the existing compact — the same goes for KW’s lipsticks and mascara. All products from Kjaer Weis are cruelty-free and manufactured in Italy.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kjaer Weis (@kjaerweis)
Baims Natural Makeup
At the heart of this German-Brazilian beauty label is a passion for premium natural cosmetics. Every product is certified vegan and cruelty-free by The Vegan Society and PETA, with ingredients that are 100% natural in origin. Baims’ complexion, eye, and lip products come in appealing, sustainable bamboo packaging that can be topped up with the brand’s own refills.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by BAIMS Natural Makeup Germany (@baims.official)
Hourglass
The cruelty-free American luxury label Hourglass has made a name for itself above all with its refillable “ultra slim” lipsticks — and the sleek black-and-gold packaging instantly turns each one into an accessory in its own right. Hourglass lipsticks are especially beloved for their creamy, richly pigmented texture and expansive shade range. Once a product runs out, the refill simply clicks into the gold applicator with an audible snap, and you’re ready to go again with a fresh application.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hourglass Cosmetics (@hourglasscosmetics)
Le Labo
Le Labo is synonymous with luxurious, hand-blended perfume. Each of its more than 20 fragrances is made by hand, bottled in simple glass, and shipped in recyclable cartons. Le Labo also invites every customer to bring empty bottles back to the store for a refill, priced lower than the original purchase — good news for the environment and the wallet alike.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by LE LABO Fragrances (@lelabofragrances)
Myro
Last but not least, Myro and its 100% natural solid deodorants. Free of aluminum, parabens, phthalates, and other chemical additives, they let their natural ingredients do the work — and they look great doing it. The colorful packaging is sturdy and even dishwasher-safe. The refill, currently available in five scents, simply replaces the spent deodorant stick, cutting down significantly on plastic waste.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Myro (@itsmymyro)
These are brands worth supporting, doing real work through refillable cosmetics in the fight against global plastic waste. For more ways to cut plastic out of your everyday routine, check out our piece on The Ocean Cleanup Project.
