10 best refillable beauty products: Ditch the waste with these make-up and skincare buys

Every product in this pioneering brand’s extensive range is packaged in refillable casing. It’s been that way for a decade now, thanks to Danish-born make-up artist Kjaer Weis being hot on environmental issues. Shoppers now get a choice of the brand’s signature metal case that lasts a lifetime or “the red edition”, which is lightweight, biodegradable and are the fraction of the price (£8). We love that a luxury name like KW has considered accessibility because often stylish sustainable beauty can be too pricey for many cosmetics lovers.

Refills cost £28 and come packaged in recyclable cardboard. Both cases are easy to refill – simply flip it over and poke a pin or pen tip through the hole by the label. The empty pan will pop out, ready to be replaced with a new one. We’re suckers for the buildable and easily blendable cream blush, which smells slightly of vanilla and comes in 11 pretty shades. Check out the cream foundation and mascara too.

We had great fun trialling this build-your-own makeup palette, which comes in a high-quality white case with a mirror. There are 70 products on offer – everything from a concealer, blush, and setting powder to an eyeliner, lipstick, and eye shadow. We love that you end up with just the products and shades that you use – all of which give great colour pigmentation and last all day. The magnetic, recyclable pans can be easily swapped in and out, and we were thrilled that our refills arrived carefully secured in a cardboard envelope to minimise waste.

The case and trays cost £16 when bought individually, and refills vary in price and start at £8.

Faith in Nature is a long-standing favourite brand of ours, to the point that we’re regular customers ourselves. We love the all-natural, vegan-friendly body washes, shampoos and conditioners, which come in cheerful squeezy bottles. The refills arrive in huge 5l cartons and will last you months and save you money in the long run. Once they’re empty, either recycle them or take them to one of 450 UK health stores to get it refilled. Our go to is the grapefruit and orange range. Both fruits have cleansing qualities and we love how quickly their zingy citrus scents wake us up in the morning. If you like to shower before bed, the lavender and geranium scent is a relaxing treat.

Japanese brand SUQQU is a go-to for brow products, so we were pleased to find a refillable eyebrow pencil in its range. When bought individually, the black holder costs £14, which seems steep, but it looks chic and features a brush. The waxy, wind up pencil refill also costs £14. It comes in four shades and has an oval cross-section tip for precision and softening. Slotting it into the holder couldn’t be easier – it simply clicks into place. Our only gripe is that the refill comes housed in a small, but needless, plastic tray.

This jazzy new skincare capsules brand sells 100 capsule refills for its lifetime jars. The product arrives in sealed compostable bags, and the colourful capsules themselves are zero waste – each one contains the ideal amount of product for your daily skincare routine and the pearlescent seaweed shells that case the cleansing gel dissolve in water. Refills cost £45 for 100 drops.

Eco brownie points aside, we like how portable these skincare capsules are for taking to the gym or on overnight stays. The hero product in Bolt Beauty’s four-strong range is its brightening vitamin a game – it’s a smart choice for retinol beginners as you can’t overdo it and end up with peeling skin. There are cleansing, moisturising, and anti-acne options too.

The second Japanese brand on our list, Decorté, has added refillable products to its make-up range – including powder foundation, lip liner, eyebrow pencil, gel eyeliner and liquid eyeliner. We tried and loved the latter, which has a fine tip for creating the most precise corner flicks possible and has good staying power. It’s available in glossy black and brown and comes housed in a luxe, weighty holder that resembles a fountain pen. Locking in the cartridge is simple and satisfying. While £27 can feel a lot for a liquid liner, refills cost a mere £11 – a steal.

Hourglass knows how to do A-list worthy packaging. Black, gold, and shiny, this refillable lipstick has Oscars goodie bag written all over it. The ultra slim pointed applicator allows for precise definition, while the product itself is creamy, highly pigmented, and will stay put all night, even when you’re sipping cocktails. It gives a classy satin finish and comes in 30 shades of nude, pink, red, and plum. Refills are £22 and are easy to place into applicator – simply pull the old barrel out from the base and replace it with the new one.

Not tried solid perfume before? We’re converts, not least because you don’t get a sore throat from accidentally breathing in a spray. British fragrance house Jo Malone has been quietly selling a smartly designed refillable palette for a while now. It has two trays for mixing and matching scents to create your perfect perfume. The pure beeswax base holds fragrance well and smears easily into your skin. To replace your perfume, simply pop the old pans out using a pin. There are three pre-set mixes to choose from, or you can build your own by buying the palette and the perfumes separately. The individual palettes cost £24, and refills are £14.

We were delighted to find out that this leading self tanning brand (and IndyBest Buy in our fake tans round-up) has started selling refill pouches for its best-selling tanning water. Made with 81 per cent less plastic than the spray bottles, but the product inside is just the same. It’s formulated with coconut, chia seed and avocado oils to help keep your skin healthy and hydrated during long, sunny days on the beach. It’s available in light, medium and dark, depending on how bronzed you want to go. The tan looks natural (goodbye, tangerine streaks) and the colour doesn’t transfer onto your bed sheets. The refill couldn’t be easier to use – simply twist open the nozzle, pour the contents into your original bottle (Boots, £12.63) and ta da! You’ve helped save the world.

This lipstick collection proves that refillable beauty needn’t be boring. There’s a choice of five holders in jazzy patterns – including animal prints and stars. And there’s 11 shades in the range, all inspired by icons – Kylie Monogue, Susan Sarandon, Olivia Palermo, and even Charlotte Tilbury’s mum, Patsy, gets a tribute. Each colour is available as a bullet refill, which costs £19. The pigmentation is great, and they leave your lips feeling moisturised. If you love Charlotte Tilbury, try the new refillable airbrush bronzer too – it comes in a glam golden compact and is available in four shades.